Hi,

Can someone please help me on how to activate my MSN Direct service which I am anxiouslly waiting for. Where do I find my product key?

I tried finding it like it said in the operations manual - going to Destination --> MSN Direct --> Status, then all I get is 'MSN Direct is Connecting', and the Product Key never comes up!!!

Plz Help!!

The key shouldve been at the botom. But the status shouldve read "inactive" if you never activated it.

bottom of what? the screen?

the only msg i had was "msn direct is connecting".

plz help me with this issue as i am really excited to activate this service.

THANKS!!

The directions you followed should've given you the product key. So my advice to you is call 1-866-658-7032...which is the number to activate MSN direct. Hopefully there you will be able to get some answers.

They are usless over there. I called them before I posted this Thread. And this lady literally read the instructions off of the manual and said she cant do any more than that.....

Pure stupidity....

hey did you ever find out how to recover your product key? I'm in the same boat. It only says it connecting.... indeffinetily. Of course Pioneer provided no written key on any documents .

hey did you ever find out how to recover your product key? I'm in the same boat. It only says it connecting.... indeffinetily. Of course Pioneer provided no written key on any documents .

Press the reset button.

I tried that. no good. I even called MSN Direct. They claim its a problem with pioneer. Problem is, if the code is displayed once, it will not display again.. only a connection screen will show after that even if you haven't activated yet. so if you missed the product key display screen when it is first displayed, you;re screwed cause it will not show again. If anyone knows a recovery method let me know.method let me know. thanks!

who told you it only shows once? Mine syill displays and mine is not active yet

Are you sure your reset as Boris recommended. That should and has always reproduced the product code screen on mine. I am connected and still able to see the activation code when I select status, but have needed to reset a couple of times when I lost the connection.

If you are seeing "connecting" the unit is trying to activate but can't. Try the reset again. Sometimes it takes more than once. If this does not work it looks like you are going to be calling Pioneer.

MSN direct will be no help since they cannot diagnose a head unit issue. Whoever said the connection screen or activation code will only show once does not know what they are talking about.

I am having issues with my MSN as well. Back and forth between MSN and Poineer. Each one blames the other but with no resolution!!

Tried numerous re-activations and resets...no dice.

Before I did anything I did a software bypass and without a hitch. Someone had mentioned that maybe this is the cause???

I dunno because everything else seeems to be okay.

any suggestions??

Thanx,

Bud

..Can't you get your product key by pressing destination, MSN Direct, Status, or something like that? then you go on the site that is given to you and follow the instructions there? Unless I'm misunderstanding the OP's problem, I don't see where the confusion is with activating it.

Has anyone found a way to resolve the missing product key issue? I have two refurbished units and both of them are missing the key.

Talking to Pioneer and MSN has proved to be an exercise in futility.

on my F500BT when I tried to connect to MSN direct to get the product key it would not get past CONNECTING message. I had to put it in the car and plug in the antenna wire and after it connects to MSN direct, you can get the status screen with the product key. It could also be that msn direct doesn't have good coverage in your area. I am in an area that should be well covered and even with the antenna the signal is very weak. I am glad I didn't pay for the feature.

The reason most of you are having this problem is because someone else has had their hands on your unit before you got it and activated the free trial. Now the trial is expired and the unit is confused. Without the original account info, meaning the name and address of the person who activated the service, your probably not going to get it to work without swapping your unit. You can try to reset the nav portion of the unit by going to: SETTINGS - NAV SETTINGS- RESET NAV.

Specter,

Thanks for the info. That will certainly take care of the issue. Appreciate your quick reply!

Vblue,

The problem is not as simple as you state. I'm not trying to activate a free trial - I'm trying to purchase a year of MSN Direct coverage. Even though I'm offering them money, they cannot activate without the product key, and Pioneer hasn't helped with recovery. Assuming Specter's workaround comes through I'll finally be able to purchase the service.

Thanks for the input guys.

I understand you arn't trying to activate the trial. The reason why you cant activate further is because the trail is already active and expired by someone else. The reason you cant see the product key is because, under normal circumstances, it would not be needed. If the solution you stated doesn't work, you probably are out of luck unless you swap your unit for one that has not already been activated. Most of the time this happens because the unit is either a refurb or was bought and returned after the MSN trial was activated. With the number of cheap F series out there, I think this possibility is most likely.

We certainly agree on why this issue exists. Still, even a refurbished unit should have the ability to activate the full/paid MSN Direct service, and yet neither Pioneer nor MSN seem interested in providing a solution. It's a bit crappy on both their parts. Yes, the unit was used and returned and the free trial product key has expired. Still, when Pioneer refurbished the unit they should have provided a new key. I'd like my unit to have the full array of services available to it. When I purchased a refurbished unit nowhere did it state that some services may or may not work.

We'll see what happens. Currently the unit I'm testing still displays "Connecting to MSN Direct" when placed in the cradle and powered on in the car. I'll search around and see if I can find a solution. Stay tuned.

You certainly are right with your feelings and I agree. It is unfortunate though. We are talking about the F series and this would not be the first problem we have had to discover and be disappointed with and no indication of a positive response from Pioneer. Good luck.

Ok guys, problem solved.

For the F500 owners that stumble across this post, here's a rundown.

The MSN Direct receiver is in the cradle. Make sure you have your power cable (whether AC @ home or DC in vehicle) connected to the cradle and not the unit. Once the cradle is powered the receiver will connect to the MSN Direct service and report that your unit is inactive, and then provide your product key.

Simple enough.

Quick addition: Funnily enough, the unit was not previously activated. I have the free 3 month account up and running now.

Ok guys, problem solved.

 

For the F500 owners that stumble across this post, here's a rundown.

 

The MSN Direct receiver is in the cradle. Make sure you have your power cable (whether AC @ home or DC in vehicle) connected to the cradle and not the unit. Once the cradle is powered the receiver will connect to the MSN Direct service and report that your unit is inactive, and then provide your product key.

 

Simple enough.

be sure to plug the antenna that came with your unit into the plugin that is located on the right side of the cradle. The antenna is just a wire with a single plug and 2 small suction cups on it. stick it on your windshield.

Ok guys, problem solved.

 

For the F500 owners that stumble across this post, here's a rundown.

 

The MSN Direct receiver is in the cradle. Make sure you have your power cable (whether AC @ home or DC in vehicle) connected to the cradle and not the unit. Once the cradle is powered the receiver will connect to the MSN Direct service and report that your unit is inactive, and then provide your product key.

 

Simple enough.

This is the correct answer. Good job uncouth!

I had the same problem last month when I first got my F500BT, and could not figure it out until I called Pioneer and a tech there named Oliver told me that I have to have the power going through the cradle and the antenna connected for MSN Direct to present the activation key. Afterward I was not that impressed and no longer use the service and just use the GPS and music player.

I'm surprised it took two pages before someone gave the correct answer. Sometimes for simple people like myself it is best to go into great detail including the most obvious steps.

Along the same lines, I am having trouble with my MSN direct...when i hit the status screen I get a Firmware upgrade failed, please reload a proper firmware. has anyone encountered this problem and even better has anyone found a resolution for it?

I didn't read all the responses in this thread yet, but I had the same problem. What I found out is that u need to use the fat cable and have it plugged into the stand. The stand is the actual MSN Direct tuner. Once I powered up the unit using the cradle/fat cable I was able to get the MSN Direct product key.

The product key is like the mac address. It doesnt matter if it was activated by someone else, it should still work.