RonS

I GOT THE Z110BT, WITH A BACKUP CAMERA WIRED TO THE REVERSE LIGHT WIRES. IT WORKS PERFECTLY WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, ETC... NO PROBLEMS THERE. NOW, WHEN I GO THRU THE MENUS I SEE AN OPTION THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GET A REAR VIEW BUT WHEN I PRESS THAT NOTHING HAPPENS. IS THERE A SPECIAL WAY TO WIRE THE CAM TO GET THIS FEATURE TO WORK WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE OR PARK?

HAS ANYONE DONE THIS ?

 

What is the power source for your camera? Does it get its power from the BU light? If you want to use the camera on-demand, you need a power source that is ON when the ignition is on.

I'm about to have the Z120BT installed and I am trying to find some clear answers about the iPhone interface cables.

 

What is the difference between the CDIU50V ipod cable and the CDIU205V ipod cable and I can also throw the Apple Composite cable in too?

 

I guess that one plugs in via USB and the other plugs into the proprietary port.

 

Where I am unclear about is what functionality I will get from the different cables.

 

Obviously looking for full control via the HU and have Audio/Video and Charge my iPhone 4.

 

Please lay down some knowledge.

The Z110 & Z120 use CDIU50V. Get that one - and not an ebay clone. It will do everything you want. The CDIU205V is for the F700bt and F900bt. It is a different cable. The A/V breakout is separate L/R/V RCA plugs instead of a single mini plug.

The z120BT to z130bt update method is cracked.

 

I have a fake v2.004 that runs on Z120BT that will accept any upgrade in the SD. I need to test before it's public (of course)

 

 

Shortfuse,

I'm not the expert here, but from what I understand of your method, it seems like it would be pretty easy for Pioneer to defeat this crack, if they wanted to. Just refresh the patched files with the originals before continuing with the update.

 

So, since no one has seen the Z130 update, or is even sure what it contains, it may be premature for people to start with the hi-5's.

 

But I sure hope you have it nailed.

After I recently updated from 110 to the 120 upgrade. It went smoothly and everything seems to be working nicer. However, this has happened to me twice. While I was in the SD for my source I was browsing through my SD card for music and browsing back to artist/album, it'd automatically restart the system.

 

What's my issue? Too many sub-folders perhaps? IDK, but I'd appreciate your help, thank you.

 

 

Possibly too many files or folders. The Z120 manual says max 300 folders, 2500 files. Also max capacity SD is 16GB. I image some brands of cards may have issues too.

Not sure what happens when some internal memory/storage space limit is reached. Probably nothing good.

It might be that since the unit is so new, they just haven't listed it yet. There are physical differences from the Z110/Z120, so maybe they aren't announcing support until it can be thoroughly tested.

i have an iphone 4 and the z130bt, how do i access my ipod thru the hu, thru the aux jack?

 

Didn't it come with a manual? You need to purchase the correct Pioneer cable (model number is different than Z120, and I dont have it at the moment - you can look it up as well as I can). The cable plugs in to the USB dongle whick plugs in to the back of the HU.

Hey Gang,

I'm about ready to buy the Z120BT and want to do the hack. I've read the "how to do it" but didn't see any images for the wiring harness. Are there any images for this hack so that I make sure it's done correctly?

 

Thanks!

Robert

 

Yes. Look harder. It is the same as for the Z110-BT. Also several Youtube videos.

I have already heard a lot on how bad the bluetooth calling is because of the built in mic. My question is can you purchase an external mic and have it replace the one that is built in? If so which one do you guys recommend?

 

The mic isn't built-in, it is external. I have no problems or complaints with mine, after finding a good location. There is a mini-plug on the back of the unit that works with many mics. However, it does not have noise cancing logic. The AVIC has a setting called "Echo Cancel" or something. I found that improves the quality.

 

Search and you will find some people have had luck with Parrot,Garmin and other mics.

If I put a video from my iphone(dvd plays fine), the image doesn't come on but the sound plays. I've been wondering what i could do to make it work. I've been using a white cable with an audio jack plugged into a dock and the music plays fine but just can't play movies.

Get the correct Pioneer cable. CD-IU50V. If you are using an audio patch cable, it only carries stereo audio. Even an A/V patch cable might not have the correct wiring for the plug. Also, the audio quality is much better with the CD-IU50V. It is Line-out level, not affected by your ipod volume.

 

Also, the night display wont come on, it's stuck to day display and the option in the settings field is highlighted yellow instead of blue.

Could be a bad setting in a couple of places. Easiest is to do a factory reset. (assuming the orange/white ILL wire is properly connected). The manual (Apendix) says "Check the Day/Night Display setting and make sure Automatic is selected (Page 159)".

not optional no excuse not to hook them up. dont know the location/ color i can get it for you jim

 

I agree that if you paid for an installation, there is no excuse for not hooking up VSS and BU. That is what you paid for. However, the unit does function very well without this, so it is optional in that sense. A DIY'er might decide he doesn't care or didn't want to run the wires. Especially BU, when no camera is installed it adds very little in most situations.

Question 1:

After upgrading I lost my splash screen (background) (I had to format my SD for the upgrade)... I made a folder named "Picture" but it didn't work. I also made "Music" and it worked... I just want to change my background/splash screen... Do I just drag the pictures to the root of the SD card or I make a folder with a name (if name what name should it be???)

 

From the manual (pg 99 for Z110-BT):

 

 

Yes, read the manual and do a custom color by mixing the three colours.

Yes, you can adjust the colors for the back-lit hard buttons (pg 165). I'm not sure if that is what the OP meant by "menu". AFAIK the touch-screen menus are not changeable.. But, you are probably right. OP probably meant buttons. I don't know why anyone would feel compelled to customize the screen menu colors to match the car's interior.

 

OP, why don't you download the Z120 manual PDF file. It might be here, or from Pioneer's web-site. Look up Z120-BT product info, you should find a link to it there. It is much easier to search the file for topics than to page through the printed manual, and you won't have to post noob questions.

Hi .

I live in Denmark and has some relatives in US (Wash DC) the price of an AVIC-Z120BT is 50 % less then a Pioneer AVIC-F20BT . But is it possible to buy A Z120BT or similar and make it work here in Denmark , regarding maps,radio etc

 

Did you look in the Hack/Mods sub-forum? It would require installing the EU update ( F10BT -> F20BT ) on a US Z110BT. I'm not sure you can do this on a US Z120BT, since the version numbers are checked first, and it will only install the update if the new version number is greater than the existing one.

 

To be honest, I haven't kept up with this particular issue, but I recall a discussion of converting a US Z110bt to an F20BT. I'm not sure that Z120bt -> F20BT was discussed. Search the Hacks/Mods forum.

 

Also be aware that the DVD drive on a Z110BT is region locked to region 1 (North America). I suspect that the FM frequency stepping is controlled by the software, so it might be OK. US FM frequencies are always odd (ie 98.7, 98.9, 99.1....) and have a separation of 0.2. Whereas EU frequencies step by 0.1. I would verify that updating the software to the EU version fixes this or be ready to accept loosing half of your FM stations to save $$$$$.

It does not sound like an incorrect speedo will affect the GPS at all.

 

That's correct. You can use the GPS speed to check your speedo - if you can maintain a precise speed over a period of time. I found my speedo is off by about 2 MPH @ around 50MPH. Thank goodness the speedo reading is actually +2, so it gives me a small safety cushion from speeding tickets.

Hi guys I'm new here and have a quick wiring question. I just bought a Avic-z110bt and I am in the process of installing it. My question is regarding the "speed sensor" wire and the "reverse" wire. I know the reverse wire is mostly there for a backup camera, which I do not have. Is there a good reason to connect these wires for other purposes? I know the manual refers to these connections helping with the navigation, is this the true? Maybe someone can help me understand what these wires really do. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

The VSS taps into either a pulse wire for your electronic speedo or the ABS controller. All that the Z110 needs is a pulse. It will calibrate over time to figure out how far the car travels with each pulse. So it can dead-recon fairly accurately when the sat signal is lost, or you are in a tunnel or garage, or in a city with lots of sky-scrapers.

 

As you said, not only is the backup sensor for the BU camera trigger, it also tells the Z110 the direction to apply to the VSS pulses. That isn;t so helpful since you typically don't back-up very far.

 

When you start-up your car and start driving, if you didn't hook-up VSS, the Z110 won't know you are moving, so there will be a period of time that it will just show you spining around the same spot (due to the gyro) that it remembered when you last shut-down. I can't tell you how long it will take for the GPS to get a new fix, but it can be 30-45 seconds. It will vary based on lots of things.

 

I didn't hook-up my BU wire, and the only issue I have had is that when I back out of my garage, the satellite fix hasn't occured yet, and the dead reconning logic thinks I'm going forward. Then as I start driving down my street, it looks on the map like I'm driving across my neighbor's lawns. It eventually gets a fix and all is well.

 

It was dumb of me not to run the BU wire since I had to run the ILL wire to my rear parking light anyway. So it would not have been any extra work. Of course both VSS and BU are optional, but they do add value.

 

BTW, the Z110 also has a built-in gyro sensor that can pretty accurately detect your turns, so even in my office parking garage, it still tracks me on the map. Pretty impressive.

Anyone know if you can use Music Sphere to make your own CUSTOM playlist? Perhaps by drag and dropping into 1 of Music Spheres dozens of playlists?

 

I think you can manually edit the M.S. playlists after they are created. At least, it seems like it should work. I believe to the iPod, a playlist is a playlist. And the Z120 loads the lists by name into the sphere. It doesn't know how the songs got there (in the playlist). Give it a try and tell us if it works

 

Or does anyone know if I can create a playlist in iTunes and it will show up on the AVIC? Thanks in advance.

 

Well, of course. But you may be asking if it will show up in Music Sphere. Like ...do you mean can you create your own playlist(s) using the naming convention that MS expects to find? I don't know, why don't you give it a try. It is simple to try. Let us know how it goes...

Hi,

 

I am new in this forum. I just bought an avic-z120bt. i wounder if there is a way to upload navigation maps of different countries.

 

tnx

 

No. If you had a Z110-BT you could theoretically load the EU or AU update to version 2.0 (Z120-BT equivalent) to use maps of Europe or Australia. But not to add arbitrary maps of other countries.

 

Also, I think Pioneer sold an add-on of Mexico for the Z110, but I haven't seen a Z120 version of that add-on.

 

You didn't say which countries you wanted. Helps if you give more details - you might get more specific answers.

[how so? i have thousands of songs, some 20k od songs, which is like 90 gb.

 

 

theirs no hD than other than the HD radio now, the z's were never even worth it. :\

So you are going to scroll thru 20K songs to find the 1 you are dying to hear??? I'd rather say "play the song xxxxxxxxx" or "browse the album yyyyyyy" or "play the artist zzzzzzzz".

 

I'm pretty sure you could cull it down to .... oh say ... 64 GB. I really don't think you need your whole MP3 collection and all your favorite vidoes with you on every trip. Once you see the convience of the iPod interface and (dread) Music Sphere, you will understand that it is not all about mass storage.

I am sure it doesn't provide enough current to spin-up a HD. Maybe an SSD. I think others have tried. Have you searched?

Makes much more sense to use the USB to connect a large capacity iTouch/iPhone. Then you can manage it from the HU interface.

How do i get the au version of the cnsd-110fm?

 

Thanks

 

I have no idea, but since you posted the exact same question in 3 threads, I wouldn't say if I did.

Thanks, john, that should help the noobs. There were a few parts that were ambiguous. It is always difficult to write instructions that work for all skill levels. You have to assume some level of PC competence.

 

However, it seems many, if not all, of your links don't work (at least for me).

 

Plus I thought Pioneer removed the 1.0001 (or whatever) update from their web site. At least it was gone the last time I looked. I could be wrong, but that link didn't work for me.

 

Also a few warnings to those attempting:

1. These updates will require your unit to be operating for about 1 hr (or more). Be sure your car battery is in good condition and fully charged. It wouldn't hurt to connect a charger.

2. Make sure you know any "features" in your car that might shut off the power to ACC (like a timeout, or closing the door, or locking the doors). Some vehicles have these types of quirks.

3. Do not attempt to start your engine while an update is in progress. This will likely reset the AVIC and may brick you unit.

4. There is no way to go back to the previous version. Some people had misgivings about the new user interface. I personally don't care for it, but I also don't use Pandora. I like the old iPod interface better. Decide for yourself.

Is there a way to adjust the increment of the radio frequency of the head unit?

 

Thanks

 

 

No. I'm sure the tuner chipset would support it, but there is no way to change it in the GUI. Also, the DVD is locked to region 1 (North America).

Hi,

 

I just installed the AVIC-Z120BT in my car. I grounded the brake wire and ground cable together. I left the mute wire as original (no grounding or change of position as suggested for the bypass).

 

I just wanna ask the reason behind in moving the mute pin to the left and grounding it?

 

Thanks for the help

 

Have you tried entering a destination or searched for a POI yet? Oh, wait, I see you are in Malaysia. You can forget about POI or entering a destination by address. I'd say the GPS is pretty usless for you. So the PB override doesn't do much for you anyway, unless you want to play videos while driving.

so i'll try it with the green wire and mute wire grounded( hooked up to the (-) in the battery charger... Is that safe for the unit?) Did not try the dvd

though so i'll try that but i dont know whats going on with the update why its freezing up on the password step.

 

That should work.

 

I wouldn't bother with the update for now. You verified that the unit works. The more you mess with it, the more chance something can go wrong. If you accidently disconnect a wire or you loose power during the upgrade, you could brick the unit. It is safer in the car with it permanently installed and a fully charged battery.

 

Are you sure it hasn't been upgraded already?

So i got it to turn on but i cant cant seem to click the system settings to find out what firmware it has. I went ahead and did the steps for updating the firmware but i got stuck on the password. I cant click any letters. Do i need to install it to do all the updating? Even the bluetooth setting i cant click. Any suggestions?

 

Did you install the bypass? I'm not sure it matters, but it might. The Parking Brake lockout prevents a lot of user-interface type things. If you attempted the bypass, try playing a DVD. If it will not play ( I don't know what the message is since I bypassed from day-1), then either you did it wrong, or the pin isn't eated far enough in the plug socket..

 

BTW, you say you can't enter any letters. Do you mean you CAN enter numbers? Or you don't even get the keyboard on screen?