gruvncubn

Typo sorry Jan 1st 2012

Whats the purpose of the higher voltage pre-outs?

High power pre-out are better, they send cleaner sound and more higher signal to your amps. This means you don't have to turn up the volume to achieve the same sound with as a unit that doesn't have high power pre-outs.

If price really is no object, get the Z110BT.

I agree...if money is no object get the Z110BT... much better unit and smooth running unit. The only downside is that you have to buy the MSN Direct unit separately but don't waste your time on it anyways since Microsoft will no longer be offering there service after Jan 1st 2912. I would look into the XM Traffic.

I received an email from Microsoft stating that they will no longer offer MSN Direct after Jan 1st 2012. Here is a link on the MSN Direct website.

https://www.msndirect.com/MSNDirectServ ... ement.aspx

I add the branded POI's to my F90 but not all the icons shows? I have to manually a sign icons to the POI like Wendy's or Jack In The Box... some don't even have icons or the F90 doesn't display them so you can add them. Does anyone know how to correct so they all show or at lease so you can a sign them?

Thanks in advance

After installing my update I find that my boot time is a little longer however the music from the radio, hd radio, cd play right away, iPod plays about the same as it did before. Touch screen is much more responsive and MSN Direct displays content within a couple minutes, maybe faster. MSN before was hit or miss on the weather and movies, now weather and movie info comes up right away as well as the gas station prices and traffic. The new addition of stocks, news and local events are nice all of which display content right away. As much as it pains me to say, Microsoft did a good job on the firmware update for the MSN Direct kudos. Note: after firmware update you have to manually select the re-rout traffic other wise it will calculate the rout through traffic and wont avoid traffic. BTW Samantha sounds a little better, she is not as annoying as before but she still give way to much information when giving directions but I can live with it. My backup camera always worked before for me but I have noticed that it goes into backup mode the second i put the car in reverse.

The only grip I have is the slow boot time and in my case it is actually slow than it was before. Pioneer should have addressed that on this update. That was the number one problem with the F-Series. Also the HD presets still don't display the station id... really? The HD unit has the ability to display the station id but Pioneer seemed to over look that on this update.

Anyway this is what I have noticed on my system.

I just did mine as well on my F90BT but noticed two things. First the POI Icons are all the generic icons... bummber because X-series says all the branded icons are installed, no need to mod. Second there is now a new icon in the source screen that says Traffic but is ghosted out. I wonder if I can hook up the XM Traffic. Any thoughts

gruvncubn

Honestly does anyone search or browse the thread lists? So much time is wasted, with these back and forth, repetitive Q/A sessions. Questions about the hardware differences, Read this Thread....

 

http://avic411.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=24318

Thanks, but I did do a search but I was at work and didn't have time to do a in depth search.

I know this is dumb question but does anyone know what processor in the F-series? The new X, Z have 600Mhz processors.

 

The processor in the F-series is a 600MHz SiRF Titan dual-core ARM11. Same one used in other PNAs like the HP iPaq 310 series. ARM1136EJ1 core, ARM V6 instruction set.

 

Summary of the proc's at http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=cpu&id=a11gst

Thanks... so in my opinion the X and the F series are the same units inside, the only difference is where they placed the Pioneer logo and new knob. Just a marketing ploy to make people forget all the issues of the F-series had.

Also, as far as I can see, you can't just buy the service directly from MSN... you HAVE to buy it from Amazon or Best Buy, which blows since they're both $130, instead of MSN's advertised price of $99.

That is not true... you can buy off of MSN Direct site.

link?

You have to rub their system to get the link to pay... but once you get past this page (link below) it gives the option to pay or do the free activation. I believe that is what I did when I did it. I did it couple of weeks back.

https://www.msndirect.com/Activation/en ... t-key.aspx

I know this is dumb question but does anyone know what processor in the F-series? The new X, Z have 600Mhz processors.

Also, as far as I can see, you can't just buy the service directly from MSN... you HAVE to buy it from Amazon or Best Buy, which blows since they're both $130, instead of MSN's advertised price of $99.

That is not true... you can buy off of MSN Direct site.

To be fair Pioneer is not charging a cent firmware update. They are charging us for the map update. What SUCKS is that they are forcing us to pay for the map update to get the firmware fixes. I don't know if I would buy another Pioneer product again... that includes tv's, dvd/blueray players etc. just plain bad customer service.

Disregard my last... I was looking at the AVIC-F500BT update page.

Thanks,

Now we know what they fixed. What bothers me is that it say compatible with AVIC-F500BT. Does that mean it is only compatible with F500 or it will work with F500 as well as all the others?

 

It shows compatability with all units here.. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... CNSD-100FM

Really because this is what it says on the top of the page:

CNSD-150FM

Map Upgrade for AVIC-F500BT Navigation System

Suggested Price: $130.00

Here is a detail list of fixes Pioneer has on their website.

-------------------------------------

Coming Soon!

Model year 2009 TeleAtlas database on SD Card, featuring nearly 12 million POI, US and Canada coverage (including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico).

Includes firmware version 3.0, including heading-up option in 2D view, Highway Sign Boards, enhanced map UI with improved contrast, and more. MSN Direct features 3 additional channels (news, stocks and local events) and traffic flow displayed on map.

Compatible only with AVIC-F500BT.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... CNSD-150FM

-------------------------------------

Now we know what they fixed. What bothers me is that it say compatible with AVIC-F500BT. Does that mean it is only compatible with F500 or it will work with F500 as well as all the others?

That is such a shame they couldn't get it right.

I would wait 24 hours and see if something appears on Pioneer the US site, when ver 2.5 was released on the EU site it was not posted on the UK site because the changes mainly affected german TMC users, or Pioneer don't consider the UK to be in the EU .

 

This time the firmware is also posted on the UK site and mentions stability improvements in addition to German TMC updates so maybe there is more to this one than they are making public, I am just going to upload it into my EU F900BT I don't expect I will notice any immediate difference but my curiosity compels me to do it.

I am sure we all are very interested in how the unit performs after you install the update, please keep up posted.

I wonder if the firmware for EU is compatible with US units?

I'm happy with my F90bt, just give me an update for faster boot up and response times!

Ditto!

I agree with gruvncubn, leetlauncher proves hat its all about software/firmware If I were leetcoder, I would sell it to pioneer and say here now fire your stupid programmers, get new ones, and get your head out of your ass!

 

I dont know leetcoder's experience, but I thought a big company like pioneer would go get the best of the best, well who knows maybe leetcoder is better then the best hes the bestest! Either way, its sad how one man created something better then pioneer even in BETA.

 

Brad

The one thing that Leetcoder had that Pioneer didn't was this forum and it's feedback. I am telling you I am extremely amazed how well he put that together. If I was the head of Pioneer I would be reverse engineering the Leetloader... lol!

How do we know that these issues can be fixed with a firmware/software update?

 

Because pretty much almost all complaints about F-series are for either bugs or design deficiencies in the software.

 

I don't know if we can be certain slow boot times and sluggish interface can be blamed on software. I hope it is the software, but there is no proof. Same goes for the bluetooth problems. I know for sure my ipod problems (one channel sound) was hardware...

The proof is in the pudding... meaning that if you look a Leetloader it boots and runs about 4 time as fast as the firmware and that is a hack/mod running on a SD card... yeah we can narrow it down to firmware.

The F-Series is basically just a small PC or Smart phone without the phone. It use firmware like a PC uses a driver for a printer or network card. Leetloader was written by one person and he is taking the time to make his mod work for everyone, why can't Pioneer get it right with a fleet of programmers? My guess is they will... but when?

See for a while I was planning on getting the Alpine w505 but then I saw this forum (avic411) and I saw all the awesome hacks/mods that could be done with the F-Series in particular and I was amazed. I'm a hack and mod guy by nature (computer engineer by trade). I'm unaware of any Alpine modding/hacking community. The only thing is, I don't want to sacrifice functionality just because of the possibility of modding. At the same hand I don't want to sacrifice a good nav just for better iPod integration... why I can I find a unit that's like the best of both worlds? LOL

From the reviews I've read, the P1 nav unit for the W505 is garbage and the BT capabilities are laughable.

Now I'm stuck... do I go with better Nav and modding or better visual UI quality and iPod interface??? I'm going to try my best to wait for Pioneers fabled new product that is supposedly coming in a couple of weeks... All I know is I can't wait any longer than the 23rd of June... I'm getting an Head Unit by then one way or another. LOL

I don't think Pioneer is coming out with a new line... F9110 is only for VW as an option. The F700BT, F900BT and F90BT are the unit lineup for this year, they didn't even come out with any news during CES this year for a possible upgrade or replacement. I believe they might add to the line up and for all us that own a F-Series an update will be released. It doesn't make sense to RnD a new product line when their current line is not without issues that can be fixed with a firmware update. I could be wrong but from what I read about the D-Series they are rock solid but that wasn't the case when they were first introduced. The F-Series was a direct replacement of the D-Series so you can see Pioneer has some sort of plans to continue developing the F-Series... again I am sure next year they will come out with new F-Series. My F90BT has issues true, but for the money and features that it provides I can deal with most of them until the update is release this June-July.

Man this SUCKS LOL... I have no idea what head unit to get... the Alpine w505 looks good as far as music goes and iPod integration and ease of navigation etc... but the GPS sucks... I don't know what trade offs I'm willing to take.

I want a good sleek interface, great iPod control AND a good robust GPS including voice turn by turn... I also want good BT and 'voice command' options although voice command is a feature I could live without I guess... Why I can't I find a unit that is good at all of these things? It's like searching for a mythical unicorn that doesn't exist lol.

Alpine by far is the better headunit as far as music and iPod integration than any other brand hands down. Pioneer's F-series has a nice iPod interface but lack some features in this area. For instance if you select a playlist and want to view the current list and where you are in the playlist it cannot be done. This is standard feature in iTunes which what Pioneer is trying to emulate with they're iPod, control panel interface.

As for the navigation part Alpine is struggling in with it navigation and bluetooth. For a while they recalled the docking unit that gives the w505 navigation and bluetooth capabilities, but have been fixed. I haven't heard anything on how they work now.

I don't think it is the P10 or P20 unit itself that doesn't work. I believe it is more of how the headunit works with the add-on device. Many people stated that it works on other radios but as we all know it doesn't work on the F-Series units. It has to be the firmware that interacts with each device. Did Pioneer take the time to make it fully functional... not so much.

Well whats your budget and did you like your F900? If you did like and can deal with the annoyances then get another one, you can pick one up for around $350-$400 and at those prices its pretty hard to go with something else. Let us know what you get.

 

where can i pick one up at that price?

My bad I was thinking the F700BT was that price... here is a link.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... ps-sellers

And if you do some searching I am sure you can find it for less on special.