jkd

Is an upgrade from AVIC-Zxxx to NEX "worth it?" Well, Pioneer hasn't done a map update for the Z-series since 2012.

However, that raises the relevant question of when they will quit doing map updates for the NEX series. I'd have to

look, but I think they only did 3 or 4 map updates TOTAL over the lifetime of the Z-series despite charging significant

$$ for each update. Since the AVIC units (old & new) are Pioneer's "high end" products, I find it annoying that they

keep shafting AVIC customers in this way.

As someone who has owned all three of the Z1/Z2/Z3 models for close to ten years now, I must point out that, for this series,  Pioneer has NOT ISSUED A MAP UPDATE SINCE 2012! There is also another topic on this "No Map Updates" subject that claims Pioneer has said that there will be NO MORE map updates for the Z1/Z2/Z3. I also own several models of Garmin portable GPS units, going all the way back to the StreetPilot series. Unlike Pioneer, Garmin is STILL issuing new maps for these units. Considering that the Z1/Z2/Z3 models were Pioneer's "flagship" models with serious (~$1000) prices, the lack of map updates is Pretty Damned Annoying. I like my Z-series, but if Pioneer is going to fail to support their "high end" hardware, should you really buy even a newer unit? Will you not be in the same (expensive unit, no current maps) position a couple of years from now? SERIOUSLY. Even my Z-series Pioneer unit has a pretty quick User Interface, etc. However, Pioneer's lack of support is going to make me look at the comparably high-end units from Kenwood ("Excelon") and Alpine. If I can get map updates for either of those directly from Garmin (who does Just Fine with long term support) then my Z3 will be up for sale.

Garrett and I tried an experiment for a week or two - installing a Transcend 60GB Solid State Disk instead of conventional (rotating) 60GB drive. Through no fault of his, that didn't work. Transcend doesn't (yet) correctly emulate the "security" features of the rotating drive in the firmware for their IDE/ATA SSD product. He went back and forth with Transcend's tech support for several days, but no luck. I funded this experiment (paid for the SSD) - he did all the work.

 

After the Transcend SSD was returned to the distributor and the purchase cost (less the expected 15% for "restocking") refunded, Garrett shipped me a normal Toshiba 60GB drive, and refunded the $44 differential that I had paid for the SSD.

 

The new Toshiba drive works Just Fine. Using an SSD instead would have been such a SWEET thing if it had worked. SSD drives have much lower seek times, zero rotational latency, etc., etc. However, this was an EXPERIMENT and it was MY idea. It cost me very little to avoid the SSD vs. Toshiba compatibility (aggravation) issues. Garrett did an excellent job. In fact, I might wait six months and, after Transcend has improved their firmware, TRY IT AGAIN! I'd still like to minimize the appearance of those little spinning CD ("please wait") icons in the AVIC.

Sprint/Nextel
Motorola i880
- Transfer Contacts: (untried)
- Calling: fully functional

I've dialed from the handset and from the AVIC's phonebook and dial-by-digits menus. The hands-free works in all cases.

what do you guys think?? i want the bluetooth buttom on the steering wheel, wut do u guys think

 

I have the CD-SR1 installed in my '06 Subaru Forester XT. For me at least, it barely worked when I installed it, and now, it's not working at all.

 

I think of it as the "Nighttime Only Steering Wheel Remote." Whenever sunlight interferes (even slightly) with the IR transmitter in the remote, it just doesn't work reliably. It took me a while to figure this out. Note also that, at least in the Subaru Forester, an AVIC-Z1 installs almost completely FLUSH with the dash face and there is no part of the dash creating an overhang. Thus the IR sensor on the Z1 is never "in shadow" from an overhanging dash part.

 

This may not be the case when the Z1 is installed in other vehicles. However, in the Forester, I get "sunlight interference" even at 9:00 AM when driving east into the sun. It also happens at mid-day, etc.

I did an enormous amount of research prior to installing my Z1 in my new '06 Subaru Forester XT. I purchased the Z1, GEX-P10XMT XM & xmNavTraffic receiver, ND-BC1 backup camera, and the ND-BT1 bluetooth option mailorder back in April/May for $2100. I then had Audio Images in Burlingame, CA (near SF Airport) do the install. I was familiar with them from a couple of prior Alarm system installs, etc.

Audio Images charged me $1200 for 28 hours of labor for the entire system install. In addition to the AVIC-related stuff above, they also installed front and rear door speakers, custom-fabricated a subwoofer mount for a JL Audio 8" sub, and custom-fabricated a wooden "support cage" to go over the amp I had mounted under the cargo floor in the back of the Forester. The cage keeps the floor level on top of the new amp.

They are a pretty high volume higher-end-than-Circuit-City install shop. I have NO COMPLAINTS AT ALL with the install quality or the cost. One of the reasons I chose them was that they had prior experience with the Z1. They also didn't give me any grief when I showed up with *ALL* the system parts NOT purchased at the shop. I had two minor problems: buzzing in a front door speaker caused by a slightly loose mounting screw, and poor AM/FM reception caused by not hooking up a 12v power feed to the factory antenna booster for the on-glass antenna. Both problems were rectified at no charge with 15 minute visits to the shop. They are REALLY fast at getting into and out of dash and door panels, etc. This validates my choosing them based on prior experience and installation work volume. Definitely recommended.

I bought TWO of the flashers prior to my Z1 install. Now I have a spare just in case any questions about it EVER arise in MY mind or my installer's. :) Don't forget, it's not like you can run down to Radio Shack for one if a "situation" ever comes up.

This is just an FYI: My AVIC-Z1 is installed in my '06 Subaru Forester XT. The installation fit in the XT seems pretty close to perfect in that the head unit _exactly_ fits the factory dash opening. It is neither recessed nor protruding. I also have the CD-SR11 steering wheel remote mounted at the 5 o'clock position on my wheel. I can't mount it higher due to the existence of protruding factory "thimb grips" on the inside of the wheel rim.

When I first picked up the car after the install. I randomly tried the remote a couple of times and it seemed DEAD. A day later, I dismounted it from the steering wheel mount, and waved it around while pressing buttons and it still seemed dead. I subequently reseated the battery with no effect. Later, I remembered that the CD-SR11 is INFRARED!

Because my Z1 is truly flushmounted in the dash, it REALLY doesn't like SUNLIGHT. The Sun will interfere with the CD-SR11 around mid-day every time. It will also interfere, depending on your direction of travel, in the early morning/late afternoon. Basically, if I have sunlight shining on the Z1's IR receiver, the CD-SR11 is almost guaranteed to work only intermittently or not at all. So, if you are thinking about adding one to your system, try it out at the dealer to see how much impact the sun will have.

In my Z1 install in my '06 Subaru Forester XT, I've occasionally seen what can be best described as "snow" over the BC picture. Think about watching a UHF TV station using a "rabbit ears" antenna. When the symptom arises, it's similar to that. It doesn't happen all the time though. My BC is mounted on the outside top of my tailgate.

>Hey jkd, I'm also from the Bay Area (San Jose) :)
>
>Where did you get your Z1 installed? I'm looking for a good place in the >South Bay to install my Z1..

I'm going to have mine installed by "Audio Images" in Burlingame. I had them do alarm installs in a couple of othere cars and those came out OK. Also, they're a "The Fast & The Furious" -type shop. I'll let you know how the install turns out. They've supposedly already done -Z1 installs in Ferraris, etc. The're also within 50 yards of the Burlingame CalTrain station. So, even though they're not in the South Bay. You can take CalTrain back south (on weekends anyway) if you drop your car off on a Saturday...

I bought mine from savinglots.com. They were one of the first to pop up in the Froogle (Google) search engine. I got on their "let me know when it arrives" mailing list and ordered it within a couple of days of the email arriving. I paid $2078 (shipped) for the Z1, the ND-BT1 bluetooth adapter, and the GEX-P10XMT XMradio adapter. It turned out that the ND-BT1 wasn't initially available. There were widespread shortages from Pioneer. Anyway, I received the "it's here" email from SLDC on April 7, and finally received it on April 25. I then waited a few more weeks and finally cancelled the ND-BT1 line item. They refunded their $110 item for that charge.

In between the order placement and the final delivery came the WEASELLING. First there was a delay "due to a religious holiday" in NYC. Then I had to stay on them by phone to get the order to (finally) ship. Despite, their website noise about customer service, etc., they often don't answer their phones and let calls roll to an answering machine. They have NEVER EVER responded to an email. That may turn out to be a good thing.
Last week, long after cancelling the ND-BT1 line item AND having received the $110 refund to my credit card, the adapter SHOWED UP! :)
The (UPS ground) delivery date for the Z1 and the XMradio adapter was April 25, nearly three weeks after the "it's here" email.

I thought about it for a few minutes, and finally sent them another email describing this situation. Despite all the hassle, I'm just not a ripoff artist. If they want to charge the $110 BACK to my credit card, fine. Naturally, they haven't responded to THIS email either. :D Well, I'm not going to CHASE them any further.

Bottom line: SLDC did in fact deliver the items ordered at a reasonable price. The "customer service" really isn't worth a damn and they did make up stories (different from person to person) several times during the process. Will I order anything else from them in the future? No.

HOWEVER, if you see something you want from them at a low price AND you're not in a huge hurry, you can run the risk. I'd recommend CALLING first to make sure that the item is REALLY available for immediate shipment though. Best times to try calling are in the mornings or late afternoon, their time. Good luck.

Folks, an FYI: I had ordered my -Z1 and related options back on April 9 from savinglots.com. The price for the AVIC-Z1, the XMradio adapter (GEXP10XMT) and the ND-BT1 was $2078 delivered. While the SLDC people *did* engage in some "mailorder weaselling" with respect to delivery times, order status, etc., they did in fact deliver the the first two items reasonably quickly. I had given up on the ND-BT1 and finally cancelled that line item from the order. They did refund the option's $109.95 cost to my credit card.

Well, imagine my surprise with the ND-BT1 actually showed up today. :P

I mention all of this because I've seen Ebay auctions for the ND-BT1 at $375!! So, it looks like Pioneer may in fact be clearing the ND-BT1 backlog.