impo81 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hello everyone, I'm willing to buy the Pioneer AVIC-F900BT from US ebay. If you want to know why it's really simple, it costs less than the half actual price in Europe!! So I think it's worth to try annoying stuff on hacking it! My questions: - Is there technical problems for voltage and connectors for European cars? - Is there incompatibility problems with US bluetooth and EU phones and GSM technology? - Is it simple to add EU maps on it? - Are there problems with voice recognition (I'm Italian)? I've read some posts about similar problems but I don't really get everything. If someone is willing to help me I would really appreciate! thank you everyone and have a nice day! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BorisM Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 - Is there technical problems for voltage and connectors for European cars?- Is there incompatibility problems with US bluetooth and EU phones and GSM technology? - Is it simple to add EU maps on it? - Are there problems with voice recognition (I'm Italian)? 1. Connections should be the same. 2. I believe people have bluetooth working. Parrot in the AVIC does not really care if you are using GSM, CDMA, or any other phone. 3. Adding EU maps is reasonably easy, but you'll have to download a hacked iGO executable, a license file, and maps. 4. There's no Italian voice recognition on US units, so you'll have to talk to it in English... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
impo81 Posted January 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thank you BorisM! But I really need to know if it works! I read many posts but I need to know if it's just plug and play or you need a converter or things like that even if the connections are the same I guess voltage isn't... The only "problem" according to what you said it's the voice recognition but it doesn't really bother me to talk to it in english. You said it's relatively easy to change the maps. Is there a step by step guide made by someone here? thank you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BorisM Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Thank you BorisM! But I really need to know if it works! I read many posts but I need to know if it's just plug and play or you need a converter or things like that even if the connections are the same I guess voltage isn't... The only "problem" according to what you said it's the voice recognition but it doesn't really bother me to talk to it in english. You said it's relatively easy to change the maps. Is there a step by step guide made by someone here? thank you You're welcome. There's a thread here about adding newer/different maps (basically, replace existing iGO executable with a hacked one, drop in a worldwide license file, and load your maps). Connections and voltage should be the same (I think most cars run on 12V even in Europe and at worst you might need a harness adapter. The only problems would be radio (US FM is different so you'll lose some stations) and traffic. I believe all of European models come with TMC receivers, but in US only 90 and 900 have MSN Direct receivers instead, which will not work in Europe... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
diegoapavi Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 One last thing, US radio settings are different than European (I´m Spanish). You can´t tune for example 97.0 , you only can tune 96.9, 97.1, 89.9, and so on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
impo81 Posted January 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 Hi again, didn't know about this difference about FM radio. In Europe FM goes from 88.00Mhz to 107.00Mhz i think. Is't it like that in the US? Diego, I don't understant why you can tune 96.9 and 97.1 but not 97.0. How can I know what I can tune in EU? By the way, that makes me think that maybe it's better to buy it in Europe, BUT IT COSTS 1000€!!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jreimers Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 In the US all FM frequencies are on odd numbers, ie. 97.1, 97.3, 97.5 etc. 97.0, 97.2, 97.4 cannot be tuned to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jreimers Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 Why am I getting double posts when I try to post? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jwq Posted January 25, 2009 Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 In addition you'll probably also have problems with the DVD region coding... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
impo81 Posted January 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2009 Ok guys, I think you convinced me, I'll buy it in Italy ... Too many problems with the US version. It's surelly much more cheaper but I lose a lot too!! Thanks to all of you! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plehto Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I've been thinking just the same thing to buy a US unit to be used in here in Northern Europe. I'm aware of the FM-tuner step related problem. For most of the units (as in my Jag's original radio) it's just a matter of changing the set continent through a key combination. The hardware FM-tuner is the same for all the units I would imagine and it's just set in sw-side to use continent based tuning steps. Right? I would imagine this to be so in Pioneer's case as well? Does anyone know what would be the key combination / root setup or such where you can change the continent value? If this can't be done directly from any menus/hacks, would it be possible to do a clean install with a new European firmware? Thanks for your help! The price difference is around $1000 in Europe and US so it might be worth the hassle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
impo81 Posted January 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 It's just what I'm saying to myself! The price is soooo attractive! I would change my mind if we can solve the tuner problem as you're saying plehto. Can anyone sell me the whole thing with cracked maps and modified Tuner? It's really expensive in Europe and for that I'm watching for JVC systems which are "cheaper" and and also crap brands like Audiomedia. But even if I buy those brands they are still more expensive than the Avic-F900BT in US. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dumpystig Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Just goes to prove exactly how bad it is for us in Europe, getting ripped off yet again........... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BorisM Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 For most of the units (as in my Jag's original radio) it's just a matter of changing the set continent through a key combination. The hardware FM-tuner is the same for all the units I would imagine and it's just set in sw-side to use continent based tuning steps. Right? That's possible but I would not bet on it. Euro-tuner has TMC receiver built in, and US version either has MSND or nothing. Depending on how it was implemented, tuner hardware might be different... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alien2000a Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 And BorisM is there a way to hack a US unit to recognise a local language. Altough copied rge voice and lang files into APL\IGO\CONTENT and setting the parameters in the USER/SAVE/system.ini file still the local language is not displayed as an option. But they work in my European Model. Many thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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