ctsmith

Version: 3.02 Model: F700BT Legitimate: Was it ordered from Pioneer? Yes Opinion: Significant improvement over 2.0. Changed boot order brings radio/ipod up much faster. Screen brightness dims quicker as well when booted at night with the car lights on. New maps are a big improvement over previous version. Keys seem more responsive with little lag. Sounds associated with the menu and map keys are much less annoying. Possible Improvements: It often does not recognize my Ipod is connected. Seems worse now than with 2.0 and you have to disconnect/connect to get it to interface with the hea

VR on my F700 seems to work pretty well. I suspect what problems I do have with it are related to the microphone quality and perhaps location. The AVIC makes a VR directory of your Bluetooth connected phone contact list and uses it just like it does the directory contents of your Ipod. You press the VR button, wait for the chime and say, "Call 'contact name'". And it calls that person. If your contact has more than one number associated with it, such as a home, mobile or business phone you could say, "Call 'contact name' mobile" and it will call their mobile number. It is a really

You have a diversity antenna and need the proper adapter. I ordered this one from the UK: http://www.lowcostcaraudio.co.uk/lcca/4 ... id/9802739 Works fine in my VW.

I had the software bypass and got half way through the update process when I could not get the unlock code. At that point, the update had erased the old speed value (I had previously used 128.0) and I got the warning message. I installed the hardware bypass in the interim and finished the update last night. No problems. My hardware bypass is working fine. Could it be a loose wire as previously suggested?

Jason, Monday has come and gone in Japan. Would you mind please? This is beginning to wear even my patience. I appreciate whatever you can find out. Thanks.

I hate to agree as well but there simply is no excuse for the site to be down this long. How hard could it be to transfer the database to a mirror and direct the web site to the new mirror? There have to be host organizations all over the world that would do this for them if they do not have the internal resources. Pioneer could not have possibly planned for an (or multiple) earthquake with regard to something like this. But they could react in a positive and affirmative fashion to the incident in less than three full days.

Same here. Glad somebody got hold of Pioneer before they closed to find out what the problem is. Thanks. Be patient folks. Poop happens even to the most prepared.

I also ran into problems with getting my unlock code. The Pioneer website returns "Error Code 1 Input Device Number is not correct". There is no transcription error. I am entering exactly the device code the program is reporting. Tech support closes at 5pm eastern so I have to wait until next week to straighten this out.

Just installed one of these myself in the Jetta. Does wonders for FM reception but cannot receive any AM stations. It is little loss though as there is literally nothing worth listening to on AM anymore.

Garmin charges $70 for an annual map update for my nuvi. New this year is a $120 lifetime update fee. Garman says the lifetime update is good for the life of the device. I've not yet seen how they define life of the device. The special intro fee Pioneer is charging is an excellent value.

Jon, Many (all?) late model VW's also have the diversity antenna. My 06 Jetta does and suffers the same reception problems you mention. I do not know of a splitter for this and am seriously considering installing a OE type roof mount antenna. I hope you find one before I drill a hole. Good luck. Charlie

I have an 06 Jetta TDI with an F700BT installed and I can offer an antenna placement suggestion. Put it behind the instrument cluster. Just above the steering column, remove the bellows by pulling the plastic trim piece at the bottom of the cluster straight out. It will uncover two T15 Torx screws. Remove them and pull the cluster straight out. The cluster plugs into a socket attached to a metal bracket. You can place your antennas on that bracket as it is steel and will hold using the magnets in the bracket. The antennas will have excellent sky exposure and work very well for me. Plus,

I have to agree with Bloodninja. Its an investment and unless you're a Rockefeller, all money is hard earned. Like some here, I got my F700BT for about $350. Now add $130 map upgrade and you have a really decent, up to date GPS for under $500. At the risk of ripping-off The Who, I call that a bargain. Charlie

Yesterday, out of the clear blue, my F700 tells me that its lost GPS signal. Pulling up the status screen I see there are plenty of satellites, good signal strength. The speed, altitude and signal quality are bouncing all over the place. Signal lock is going on and off and for no reason at all. Was headed to a meeting and four hours later, come back out; no problems. It hasn't happened since. I was beginning to think my antenna had fallen into oblivion somewhere in the dash but that surely hasn't happened. Has anybody experienced this before? Kinda creepy. Charlie

Because its well done and is according to the tastes of many others monitoring this thread. And while we're on topic, if any of you are Jetta TDI folks, I have one that's specific to that background and a couple others you Diesel folks might like. And its been fun using this to learn more about Photoshop. Thanks group for all you do. Charlie

Just bought my 700BT from Ebay (streetstereo) for $435. They offer two year warranty plus bought a 3 year warranty for $40 from SquareTrade. The unit was a 2.0 firmware unit and absolutely 100% complete. Its in and working fine. Charlie

Plastic is invisible to radio waves unless its painted with a paint that has metal in it. In that case it may be partially invisible then, but it depends on how much metal is in the paint. I have mine under an aluminum vent grille on the dash of my Jetta. It works but the grille reduces the signal strength so I'm looking for a plastic replacement now. Charlie

No need to freak out friend. The install book is available as a download from Pioneer's website. Here's the link: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/ ... 00BT?tab=D

Figured it out. Turns out to be a U.S.E.R. error. Didn't realize that the very same illumination intensity control gives independent control over the display brightness with lights on vs with lights off. Just adujsted the display to what I wanted with the lights off then, turned my lights on and made the adjustment again for what I want with my lights on. Viola! It works fine. Nice little unit.

My Samsung i617 Blackjack 2 on ATT using WM 6.1 seems to work fine. It took a couple trys to pair the F700 up to it but once it connected, everything went smoothly. I have sent calls and received calls with very good voice quality on both ends.

I've just installed a 700BT into a 06 Jetta. When I turn on my lights, the display gets a bit brighter. Not exactly what I had expected. I have to use a PAC adapter to interface with my car's computer so the wiring is really straight forward. Still, this doesn't seem right. Any ideas? Thanks.

According to Pioneer's website, 6ave is an authorized on-line reseller only for home entertainment products.

According to Pioneer's website, 6ave is an authorized on-line reseller only for home entertainment products.

Excellent review. Thanks. I wrote Pioneer tech support last week and was told no map updates were available. When I wrote back and asked when they anticipating an update for the 700BT they wrote back and said they were introducing new models this spring and at that time they would have information regarding new maps. Now this seems to me it could be an announcement of new maps or an announcement that you have to buy one of the new models to get new maps. Who knows? Charlie