Had the F900 installed in my truck and am going to have it taken out next week, this thing sucks. Horribly slow start up, bluetooth phone doesnt work, you would think Pioneer would have the echo problem fixed when they went through the same problem with the Z2. The screen looks good but it is so dim you cant hardly see it and the clock is almost invisible. The MSN direct doesnt work the only good thing about it that I will miss is the voice controls for the ipod. Im getting the Kenwood unit installed next week and will bid good riddance to the F900.

Had the F900 installed in my truck and am going to have it taken out next week, this thing sucks. Horribly slow start up, bluetooth phone doesnt work, you would think Pioneer would have the echo problem fixed when they went through the same problem with the Z2. The screen looks good but it is so dim you cant hardly see it and the clock is almost invisible. The MSN direct doesnt work the only good thing about it that I will miss is the voice controls for the ipod. Im getting the Kenwood unit installed next week and will bid good riddance to the F900.

Kk.

You sure it was installed correctly? Was the bad startup time due to the ipod?

Im positive it was installed correctly and the boot up time was added to by the ipod but as I said in my post the screen is so dim you can barely see it and the bluetooth phone is nothing but static and an echo MSN direct didnt work even though I checked with the MSN direct and they told me that I was signed up and should be getting a signal, as I said I know everything was installed correctly because a professional did it who has done work for me for years so I know that it was done right.

Does it dim with the headlights? Sounds like the dimmer wire is showing voltage during the daytime causing it to dim all the time.

What kind of vehicle was it put into?

an F-150 truck

Well, I wouldn't be that sure about being installed correctly. the installer could have hooked the dimmer wire to the negative one thats in your truck, thus it would be dim during the day, and bright at night, just the opposite effect. There may be a setting on the radio to change it to negative trigger, the D3 had it. Another problem may be your headlights and parking lights come on automaticaly during the day, thus dimming the radio. It also may just simply be hooked up wrong. Your installer may be a profesional, but I'm sure that he can make a occasional mistake, just like everybody else does from time to time. If you look around the forum here, I'm sure alot of people would be mentioning that they cannot see their display during the day.

The MSN service does work on these units, many have used it already. Msn Direct works off your antenna on the truck. Did you give it some time to activate it? It will not turn on right away, and sometimes may take a day or two if the radio is not powered up for a long period of time, especially if your only making short trips. Are you getting good fm/am reception on all your channels?

Lastly, you can speed up the boot time by turning off the feature where the deck scrolls through your ipod everytime you start up the radio.

Hope this helps!

an F-150 truck

Depending on the year, there may not be a dimmer wire in the factory harness. Ford started using a canbus interface around 2003-2004. Not all vehicles use it. Not even all f-150s use it. some do, some don't. depends on the trim package.

AS far as msn direct not working... Did you get an HD radio adapter, by chance?

No I did not get an HD adapter

Hmm. Not sure then. Could just be coverage in your area.

Check the map.

http://www.msndirect.com/NavigationDevi ... b=Coverage

I even called MSN direct on the phone to verify that I had coverage and they told me I was in a good area and it still doesnt work

How do I turn off the feature where it scrolls through my ipod upon startup?

Well, I wouldn't be that sure about being installed correctly. the installer could have hooked the dimmer wire to the negative one thats in your truck, thus it would be dim during the day, and bright at night, just the opposite effect. There may be a setting on the radio to change it to negative trigger, the D3 had it. Another problem may be your headlights and parking lights come on automaticaly during the day, thus dimming the radio. It also may just simply be hooked up wrong. Your installer may be a profesional, but I'm sure that he can make a occasional mistake, just like everybody else does from time to time. If you look around the forum here, I'm sure alot of people would be mentioning that they cannot see their display during the day.

 

 

Hope this helps!

superjet,

What about cars with always-on daytime running lights? Is it possible my installer hooked that up causing the screen to be permanently too dim? I have heard a ton of people complain about the dim display though (and mine's cranked up to the max). If it's the DRL's, is there a simple solution?

I just went driving around. It's been cloudy and I've been travelling (not in the car) alot. Today was the first really bright, sunny day and I couldn't believe how UNREADABLE the display is. Forget about it if you're wearing sunglasses for sure. But in broad daylight I can't see anything. When I turn the headlights on and off nothing happens.

Are other owners satisfied with the brightness level?

turn off vr catalog

How do I turn off the feature where it scrolls through my ipod upon startup?

Daytime running lights is really not an issue, unless the parking lights or dash lights come on also.

Disconnect the orange/white on the decks harness and see if it resolves your issue.

Basically, if orange/white sees voltage, it dims the radio.

When you turn off the VR catalog that cancels out your voice recognition for your ipod also though doesnt it? So what good does that do?

I'm having the same issues... did you get your MSN service resolved?

Also, when I make a bluetooth call, people can hear me, but I hear NOTHING through the speakers...

I tried my MSN service again today and wasnt getting a signal at all, my radio was coming in fine though so I dont know why my MSN still isnt working On my bluetooth phone I can hear the person Im talking to ok but the person on the other end hears a LOT of static still and an echo

Are you using the external mic?

With my external mic, placed on the top of the steering column behind the steering wheel... the calls sound decent on the other end, and all the voice commands seem to work first try.

While I am getting my f900bt tomorrow so I don't have any experience with it yet, im going to assume a few things.

1. Unless you swaped the unit out with another one and it too had the same exact issues, how can you be sure its the device itself in general and NOT user error/install error? Why give a bad rep to something that can have so many install issues?

2. Once again just like a lot of other people you came to this site to complain, or find fixes to your issues. Do you think you would of posted to this site if its working perfectly and you were extremely happy? Right, thats what I thought.

So, try 3 things.

1. Check and recheck all connections. Every last one.

2. Swap out the unit with a replacement.

3.

Think about how many variables there with every single issue you said.

1. How many bluetooth phones are there? Could there be an issue with the phone?

2. Could your antenna not be plugged in all the way or corretly?

3. defective units DO happen! and YES user error must be a NIGHTMARE with complicated state of the art hard to install car multifunction devices.

I mean seriously, think about that for a second. These devices are incredible! There are so many variables, with SO many features, how this thing works at all is beyond me. Blows my mind if you ask me.

So look into that you might be surprised.

While I am getting my f900bt tomorrow so I don't have any experience with it yet, im going to assume a few things.

1. Unless you swaped the unit out, how can you be sure its the device itself and NOT user error/install error? Why give a bad rep to something that can have so many install issues?

2. Once again just like a lot of other people you came to this site to complain, or find fixes to your issues. Do you think you would of posted to this site if its working perfectly and you were extremely happy? Right, thats what I thought.

So, try 3 things.

1. Check and recheck all connections. Every last one.

2. Swap out the unit with a replacement.

3. Varify taht weird color wire is REALLY the one your looking for!

Think about how many variables there with every single issue you said.

1. How many bluetooth phones are there? Could there be an issue with the phone?

2. Could your antenna not be plugged in all the way or corretly?

3. defective units DO happen! and YES user error must be a NIGHTMARE with complicated state of the art hard to install car multifunction devices. I feel bad for companies like this, I bet 89 percent of their returns are people either not knowing what their doing, or didn't bother to read instructions. Amazing how they stay in business, they must be doing something right eh?

I mean seriously, think about that for a second. These devices are incredible! There are so many variables, with SO many features, how this thing works at all is beyond me. Blows my mind if you ask me.

So look into that you might be surprised.

I can't wait to see you posting on here tomorrow about all of your problems. I hope you don't, but I'm sure you will.

Hopefully I'll get mine tomorrow or Thursday. I'll post impressions once I get it installed as well - good or bad.