GEXP10HD HD Radio module - my impressions

[chefwong]

I guess the same goes for the CD/DVD changer.

I have it on EXT as well and the interface is just crap.

[burniksapwet]

I tend to agree. Not because I think an $1800 deck should work better, but because Pioneer basically told you it wouldn't work!!!! EXTdevice=shitty. We all learned that with previous models. Unfortunately, you have to work with whats available until they fix it (which appears to be the F-series, but who knows until it shows up.)

 

You can hardly complain for a piece of hardawre that was not designed to work for your decks.

 

I don't think buying a new model is a fix. Hopefully if a lot of people complain about it that pioneer would do something. We can only hope.

[dagreat1]

so is it worth it? I mean I was going to buy it today actually but won't if its crap

[dagreat1]

this is the reply I recieved from pioneer:

 

 

Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc.

The GEX-P10HD was manufacture after the AVIC-Z2, The hardware in the AVIC-Z2 does not have HD tuner control built in, therefore the Navigation sees the hd tuner as an external device, nevertheless the navigation can control it and it will display the artist and song information. At this time we do not have a unit with an internal HD tuner.

 

 

 

Thank You,

 

Pablo

Customer Service Representative

[GnatGoSplat]

Silly reply from the Pioneer CSR, it's 100% a software issue, not hardware.

The Z-series runs Windows CE and the only limitations to what it can/cannot support natively is due entirely due to software.

[dagreat1]

i know. and let him know in my response

[dagreat1]

I'm not liking this pablo guy:

 

Unfortunately that is how you can operate the HD tuner when connected to a unit that is not HD ready, as it's the case with the AVIC-Z2 and AVIC-Z3. As I mention before the hardware of the navigation units where not design with the HD control, so therefore a firmware will not be able to update the navigation unit.

 

 

Thank You,

 

Pablo

Customer Service Representative

[GnatGoSplat]

Yeah, you probably won't get much in the way of answers from anyone in Pioneer Customer Support. They're trained on the product and how it operates, just enough to give generic help or tips. They don't know anything more technical than that. Probably the only way the Z-series will get any kind of major updates is if it comes down from the execs at corporate, and they couldn't care less about what you do with your existing AVIC as it's already bought and paid for. All they care about is selling the new models.

 

Sometimes hackers are able to improve an existing product if someone in the software engineering department leaks betas or software development tools. I don't see this happening though, I doubt anyone here knows anyone in the software engineering department at Pioneer, especially since most software development probably takes place at Pioneer HQ in Japan under a very strict NDA.

[dagreat1]

I give up

 

My convo with pablo:

 

Inquiry Type:Feature and Specification

lstPublishers:0002

lstTitles:B00002-Car Products-Navigation

Inquiry:Hi There,

 

I'm currently a proud owner of an AVIC Z-2 and I broke my FM

antenna in a car wash and decided that instead of buying a new

motorized antenna assembly from Toyota to just go ahead and

upgrade to HD radio since it would cost around the same. However

while reading up on the Pioneer GEX-P10HD I discovered that it

doesn’t work well with my AVIC Z-2. I really like how the tuner

currently displays my stations and feel that not only would i be

making a visual downgrade, but having to control the stations

with an external tuner is annoying as well. Since the Z series

is your premier series I was wondering If you all plan on doing

any firmware updates that would fix this problem. I could buy a

whole new radio for the price of the Pioneer GEX-P10HD that has

HD radio already built in. Anyway before I make my final choice

on whether or not to buy the HD tuner I would just like to know

if there is an update in the mix. Thank You

Warner Wilson

 

On Fri Jul 11 10:01:35 EDT 2008,

customer.support@pioneerservice.com wrote:

 

 

Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc.

The GEX-P10HD was manufacture after the AVIC-Z2, The hardware in

the AVIC-Z2 does not have HD tuner control built in, therefore

the Navigation sees the hd tuner as an external device,

nevertheless the navigation can control it and it will display

the artist and song information. At this time we do not have a

unit with an internal HD tuner.

 

 

 

Thank You,

Pablo

Customer Service Representative

 

To: customer.support@pioneerservice.com

Subject: Re: RE:Feature and Specification|B00002|5613868963

[#1196263]

 

I understand that, but have you seen the display on the z-2? With

the HD module, the best you get is 8 tiny charactors, scrolling

in a small window. To make matters worse, you need to choose what

is displayed in the scrolling window, call sign, artist or title.

 

The presets do not have any label like in the FM/AM source. There

are numbers you can touch, but no label. Why I cannot explain.

 

I hoped the HD module would display station, artist, title in

readable letters, like it does on my other car. Using only 2% of

the screen is just plain ridiculous.

 

Also I hear that the Z-3 is exactly the same. I understand that

the Z-2 doesn't have an internal tuner but is there no way to

release an update to make the display look a little better?

 

On Fri Jul 11 12:25:45 EDT 2008,

customer.support@pioneerservice.com wrote:

 

Unfortunately that is how you can operate the HD tuner when

connected to a unit that is not HD ready, as it's the case with

the AVIC-Z2 and AVIC-Z3. As I mention before the hardware of the

navigation units where not design with the HD control, so

therefore a firmware will not be able to update the navigation

unit.

 

 

Thank You,

Pablo

C

To: customer.support@pioneerservice.com

Subject: Re: RE:Re: RE:Feature and Specification|B00002|5613868963[#1196263]

 

I don't really understand why the z2 would be limited by hardware.

Correct me if I’m wrong here, but doesn't the Z-series run

Windows CE? If so wouldn't the only issue here be software? I'm

sure there would be a bit of programming involved, but to say that

it would be impossible to write some code that would convert the

incoming information from the GEX-P10HD into something a little

more user friendly and aesthetically pleasing just leaves me

perplexed

 

In order to run the HD tuner the AVIC-Z2 must have the circuitry built into the unit, its not a matter of programing.

 

 

 

Thank You,

 

Pablo

Customer Service Representative