I just have a couple questions regarding installing a Pioneer HD Tuner. The wiring has some kind of inline module and a inline 2 amp fuse link. The instructions state this must be connected to a "constant" 12v supply terminal. Sorry to sound bumb but, where would I find this other than to run a line directly from the fuse box? What is the reason for needing a constant 12v supply?

Also, do I need an antenna splitter if I'm not using MSN Direct? The instructions also state:

If you use this unit with a navigation system that can receive traffic information from the built-in FM tuner, connect the car antenna cable to both this unit and the navigation system with an antenna splitter or to a separate antenna.

Is this only for traffic updates and stuff? The normal analog FM signal gets passed along from the HD tuner doesn't it or will I only have a HD signal without splitting it off to the head too?

The constant 12V is the (yellow??) wire behind the radio I believe. Thats what I tapped into for my HD radio install.

You don't need a splitter on a F700.

[rant]

I hated that stupid little box... PIONEER could you have made that wire any harder to try to pull in small spaces like behind my glove box????? Is it that hard to incorporate that dumb box into the tuner or at least make it detachable for running the wire.

Oh and while your moving that box, PIONEER, why don't you fix the software on the F Series to actually show labels for presets on the HD radio tuner? There must be a room full of monkeys somewhere that serves as a QA department.

[/rant]

As stated above, you will not need the splitter since you don't have MSN Direct on your F700

I will disagree with the yellow wire. I haven't installed the HD tuner, however, my Sirius tuner also stated to put the yellow wire in a constant +12v source. I don't like waking up to to a call while I'm 80 miles offshore from my wife telling me the battery is dead.. so I put it on my +12v switched ACC line. This has thus far caused no problems, perhaps it would be the same for the HD Radio module.

With the XM tuner (and I assume the HD Radio tuner) it receives a turn on signal from the headunit when selected from the source menu. Just like the OEM VW Sirius Tuner my car came with. It received a signal over the car computer bus from the radio telling it to turn on when selected as the audio source.

Easy way to tell, if its accessible, is feel it. When its on it gets warm to the touch if off it should be the same temperature as the rest of the car.

Well, as I figured I was over thinking this. Everything on the harness is color coded to match. After talking to the Metra Tech Support they told me that the yellow wire on their harness is the constant 12v line from the battery. Their wiring legend calls it out as "battery" as does the Pioneer harness with a tag that reads "battery". All are yellow just like the yellow power cord for the HD unit (yellow to yellow to yellow). After connecting everything it seems fine and no dead battery (yet).