So i decided I hate the ipod interface with the z2, even with genres as artists. It just takes too long to go through everything. It is so much quicker to use the ipod scroll wheel, and hook the ipod up through the av input or aux. BUT, then you lose the screen on the z2. If you use the aux in its just blank, and if you use the av input you get a black screen. That is what sucks about the iPod, it doesnt give you the UI with the TV out.

I did some reaserch on the zune. The zune DOES give you the UI with a tv out. So now i got the best of both worlds.... I got quick and easy access by using my buttons on my zune to control, and it shows all the menus on my z2 screen. I now get album artwork and everything else that you see on the zune player itself on my z2 screen.

The only CONS are: You cant control the zune from the z2. But as I stated... the pioneer interface for the ipod is horrible. It is so much faster and safer to use the buttons on the actual player.

I will post some pics later.

please post pics and insturctions on what you did. I have a zune and wanted to do what you did, but I am an idiot and can not figure out what you mean my TV output and such. What do I need to buy and where do I stick it in?

No problemo. I will post some pics very soon.

I actually added a bit to it now. I bought a Zune dock with a wireless IR remote. I put the dock in my arm rest. Unfortunately the IR doesnt go through the arm rest so I had to wire up the remote with a extra IR cable I had. So now I can keep my Zune hidden in my arm rest and have complete control with the small wired remote. The Remote buttons are set up the exact same way the Zune buttons are, so again its total and complete control.

Dude, what a concept!!! I just got an upgraded Z2 and love it. I use my Archos MP3 player and was thinking about getting an Ipod to hook up, but I love your idea! The Archos has video out and a remote. I I can do exactly like you describe and just controll it without having to look down at the Archos.

Once I get it set up I will upload pics as well!

Great IDEA!!!!

Thanks!

There are some threads on the site too where you can cut one wire in the iPod interface and have full manual control of the iPod, but I believe the screen still shows all the info.

yeah i cut the wire from my ipod but it did NOT show the info and you could no longer control it from the z2.

Do you know if the Zune charges from the av inputs from the avic? I also use the Ipod with the AV inputs, it worked great until someone stole it!! Now I am considering purchasing the 120gb Zune and wondered if it charged from the AV ports like my Ipod did?

I came across the same Idea when I got my d3 a year or so ago, and I already a Zune and never much cared for the iPod. So I bought the Home A/V kit for the Zune hooked it up to the through the A/V ports in the back and got a USB to 12V adapter and wired to the Units power source so that when my car turns on it will automatically power up my dock which in turn will keep my Zune completely charged. Mine fits nicely in a space under my dash so I didn't need to wire the remote, mine is still wireless and its completely out of the way. Its awesome! I recently upgraded to the F900BT and just unpluged the A/V's and swapped it out and it still works fantastic. Would recommend to anyone!

Oh, and to answer the question, NO, the Zune will NOT charge just through the A/V ports.

Where are the pics? Waiting

damn i never thought of mounting the av dock under my dash. i have no clue where i would put it lol.

No problemo. I will post some pics very soon.

 

I actually added a bit to it now. I bought a Zune dock with a wireless IR remote. I put the dock in my arm rest. Unfortunately the IR doesnt go through the arm rest so I had to wire up the remote with a extra IR cable I had. So now I can keep my Zune hidden in my arm rest and have complete control with the small wired remote. The Remote buttons are set up the exact same way the Zune buttons are, so again its total and complete control.

This whole wired IR remote sounds kinda ghetto, I'm pretty curious how that looks. Just bought my Z2/GEX-P10XMT/CD-SR1/ND-BT1 setup and when I get home to hook it all up on monday I also bought a Zune dock to hook it up to. All in my Tundra of awesomeness. Been deployed for 6 months so I'm still trying to remember in my head where the best place t mount the dock will be. But I'd like it to be out of the way as much as possible. I'll definitely be hardwiring it into the system for full charging capabilities.

Please excuse me if this question sounds retarded... I do not have my AVIC yet but, can you still use the navigation while listening to the Zune in this manner?

Interested in this idea because I'm trying to maintain my irrational anti-iPod stance

yes

Took some pics of my setup

Kdoll, you control the zune through the avic or you have to manually do it? I never knew the unit had a UI for anything other than an iPod. sweet.

Kdoll, you control the zune through the avic or you have to manually do it? I never knew the unit had a UI for anything other than an iPod. sweet.

read the post and you will find your answer.

Kdoll, you control the zune through the avic or you have to manually do it? I never knew the unit had a UI for anything other than an iPod. sweet.

 

read the post and you will find your answer.

OP has a Z2, smartass. Kdoll has the 900. And there was no mention of how it's controlled with the F Series...

Think before you post

Catchme I have seen this before with the Zune on this forum. I believe everything is controlled with the remote that comes with the docking station for the Zune. There is definitely no on screen interface on the F series for anything other then an ipod.

Catchme I have seen this before with the Zune on this forum. I believe everything is controlled with the remote that comes with the docking station for the Zune. There is definitely no on screen interface on the F series for anything other then an ipod.

That's interesting. I didn't know Zune's can be controlled via remote. It's odd then that in Kdoll's picture, it looks like when the Zune is active, the splash screen comes up and it shows the categories. Would I be correct with that assumption?

The dock receives the remote signals. You can see the circular receiver sensor at the front of the dock. All the screen does is act as a monitor to display what your scrolling through with the remote.

I came home from S. Korea on my midtour for a month for the month of November and had ordered pretty much everything you could think of for accessories for the Z2, including the H/U itself. I also ordered the dock for my 80 GB Zune so I could interface it with the Z2. I probably spent 3 weeks downloading whatever movies and music videos I could find until I left for home.

After sleeping when I got off the plane I spent a full day installing EVERYTHING. Had almost all of my interior to my 07 Tundra out in the grass running antenna wires, speaker wires, power wires, fabing and installing mounts for my amp and subs. I couldn't believe it, but after everything was installed, EVERYTHING worked the way it was supposed to the first time!!! Haha, everything was installed right, no lose wires, no mixed wiring, nothin!

Okay, to the Zune. Guys, from what I've heard for horror stories about the iPod interface... a simple 80 GB Zune, a dock, and the IR remote for it works awesome!! Obviously the Z2 was bypassed when I installed it and I had a 1100 mile trip to Oklahoma to do as soon as I had the stereo installed. I left at 6:30 pm and had the road all to my self the whole night. Poppin, hoochie dancin music videos.... kickin bass... and from what I saw was an almost flawless GPS nav... it's great!

To answer the question about the zune controls... No it doesn't interface with the Z2 itself, just works through the RCA aux input. So you still have to manually go through the zune yourself. But honestly... as long as you keep the remote right there, that's even easier than reaching up to the H/U. I donno, maybe it's just a pain for me cause I'm a lil guy and there's a gazillion sq ft of space in my Tundra.

If I was home I'd take some pictures so you could see.

Hope this helps. Sorry I'm so long winded.

Vinweasle pretty much summed it up. I just use the dock and IR remote hooked up through the rear inputs and it works flawlessly. And as he said, I also prefer using that remote to touching the screen in this case, its just easier and I don't have to lean forward to do it which is a safety thing. Its no different than using the A/V kit to hook up the zune to a TV, I just hooked it up to inputs and had to get a cig adapter for the end because it comes with a wall plug-in.

I'd recommend it anyone w/ a zune!

keep in mind that the 4/8 GB zune's DO NOT have video out.

Please excuse me if this question sounds retarded... I do not have my AVIC yet but, can you still use the navigation while listening to the Zune in this manner?

 

Interested in this idea because I'm trying to maintain my irrational anti-iPod stance

I share the same stance lol..I have never owned an apple or mac product in my life:)

does the video screen shut off or anything once you put the vehicle in drive?