guys, I don't know what's going on here but here's my experience:

 

I installed the appradio yesterday and out of interest I put the handbrake wire to an earth point just to see the routine.

 

To my surprise, it worked, and continued to work even while driving!

 

So, i thought I'd update to 2.45, just incase i no longer worked, but it still did.

 

For your info, I'm thinking this must be a difference in the EU and USA firmware (I'm running the EU/UK version) although I don't know what other differences there would be, I'm guessing the radio for a start, we run different frequencies to you.

 

Maybe someone could splice the firmwares together or something? I can post a video if needed to prove....

Hello - I'll be installing my appradio some time this week.

Can you tell me how you did this?

Grounding of P brake is all that required for non US units. US units will not bypass with just a P brake ground.

Grounding of P brake is all that required for non US units. US units will not bypass with just a P brake ground.

But surely this has to be a software thing from pioneer? Could you not find a way to splice the firmwares together, to enable the P brake to work the same as non US units, but keep the settings (radio etc) that you guys need over there?

Sorry if I'm being stupid here, was just trying to help!

Well I would assume its much easier and a lot less time consuming to just figure out a bypass method then slaving for hours over hacked firmware. And as far as I know a workable bypass has been developed for US units.

i just ordered this $10 thing on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/...#ht_1734wt_1396

 

I can't justify fitting any more crap in my dashboard and this seemed like a best solution. I'll update more when I get it.

so did it work?! I know pretty much nothing about wiring and stuff but I got this radio and I want to watch video, this looks pretty simple if it works.

I took the parking brake wire, hooked it to one side of a button switch I bought at radio shack. I hooked the other side to ground. Screen pops up, click the button. Simple

so did it work?! I know pretty much nothing about wiring and stuff but I got this radio and I want to watch video, this looks pretty simple if it works.

The relay setup has been a bit dodgy since the latest firmware update. I would recommend a switch like the next "Maccrap" post suggests. I know it is a bit more effort to flip a switch, I wish the relays were more consistent, but the switch is more reliable. I didn't want to have a switch installed, nor did I want to have to use it every time I want video. But it seems like the right choice now.

The relay is setup to send the break signal after the radio powers up (on the remote signal), which has worked for the appradio in the past.

Although after the lastest firmware, it appears the appradio may check the break status after going into the "advanced app mode", rather than after powering up. Making the relay ineffective.

Nevertheless, even if it works, there is no guarantee it will continue to work. Using a switch will always work, because you can directly simulate any parking break activity (e.g. if pioneer goes crazy and decides you have to put the break on and off 5 times you can do it).

I took the parking brake wire, hooked it to one side of a button switch I bought at radio shack. I hooked the other side to ground. Screen pops up, click the button. Simple

I used a 3 prong switch.

Hooked the parking break wire to the lead.

The ground to either of the other prongs (the prong choice will only affect if you leave it "on" or "off" to send the ground signal, this simulates the break on).

The last prong is empty (just serves to break the ground signal, that is it simulates the break being off).

just got my stereo the other day, read this thread about using the switch and its working great. just used a 2 prong switch.

Just to reiterate, I'm using 2.22 and my parking brake relay works perfectly. I posted earlier a YouTube of how we did it. One thing you need to understand is that it appears to not be working while an app is loading, but once the app has completely loaded, the warning screen disappears. None of this is the case for 2.45. With this version installed my brake bypass will not work. People using the switch say theirs works with 2.45.

Just wanted to add my two cents, I broke down and removed my relay, which was working prior to 2.45 and I installed a small push button on/off switch from radio shack, and I absolutely love it! I will post pictures if interested, external only. I finally closed up my dash after a painstaking few days.

http://www.radioshac...oductId=3159591

It is an illuminated switch but I actually did not opt to bother with that, its the perfect size, and functionality I needed and it also was the easiest to install and cleanest looking.

So if I use an on-off-on switch, will one push of that switch simulate parking brake on, parking brake off, parking brake on?

I'd like to use this switch since I already have one:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8738/ele-394/White_Illuminated_Bulgin_Style_Latching_Vandal_Switch_-_16mm_-_Silver_Housing_-_Ring_Illumination.html?tl=g44c343

Will this do what I would like it to (simulate parking brake on, parking brake off, parking brake on) with one push?

Anyone?

So if I use an on-off-on switch, will one push of that switch simulate parking brake on, parking brake off, parking brake on?

 

I'd like to use this switch since I already have one:

http://www.frozencpu...html?tl=g44c343

 

Will this do what I would like it to (simulate parking brake on, parking brake off, parking brake on) with one push?

Anyone?

I just used a small SPST on/off switch from radioshack and it worked. You have to connect the green parking brake wire form the unit to one side of the switch then the other side goes to a ground point on the car. Once you do that the switch will act as your parking brake and it will connect or disconnect the circuit telling the head unit that you have applied the parking brake.

Thanks timmiii. So if a standard on/off SPST toggle switch works, will this switch work too?

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/8738/ele-394/White_Illuminated_Bulgin_Style_Latching_Vandal_Switch_-_16mm_-_Silver_Housing_-_Ring_Illumination.html?tl=g44c343

Thanks timmiii. So if a standard on/off SPST toggle switch works, will this switch work too?

 

http://www.frozencpu...html?tl=g44c343

 

I honestly don't see why it wouldn't.I would try to get some quick disconnects on the ends of the wires you plan to connect to that switch because it seems like the internal circuit is complex and if you don't have a wire diagram of the switch you'll be confused as shit and have to revert to either a multi meter or trial and error when connecting it all together.

I also don't recommend flashy switches that also light up because after all this thread is illegal in most parts of the US the same may apply in Europe as well) so to attract less attention to you from police stopping you or already stopped and at your window i would hide it and use a plain toggle SPST.

Has anyone tried the PAC-TR7? Although if I have to, I'll go to a button, I'd really like a background switch.

I bought my AR1 in March 2012 during the Best Buy sale ($200) but I assume it still has the old old firmware 2.22 on it, since it doesn't show what firmware I have under settings on the AR1. I installed a regular 5-pronged relay because my wife didn't want to have a switch on the dash.

The only way I can get AR1 to play videos is to do the following:

-turn car on --> wait for AR1 to load --> when it loads, plug in your iPhone --> wait for it sync with AR1 --> click on the "Apps" icon on AR1 --> warning will come up but you cannot click "ok" to go beyond this point

--> turn off your car with your iPhone still connected --> turn on your car again --> AR1 should load up quickly --> click on "Apps" icon again on AR1 --> should go to a different screen to tell you to connect your iPhone --> click "ok" --> takes you to a blank screen --> start video/youtube on iPhone and video should play back on the AR1

Okay I just discovered this by accident. I have a brake bypass relay. It worked great through 2.22 but would not work with any of the newer versions. I by accident updated to AppRadio 1.7 which messed things up. So I went ahead and updated to firmware 2.50. 2.50 definitely is faster and Bluetooth works much better, but I couldn't use any of my apps because the brake bypass was broken. I also have Mike’s AppExts on.

Here’s the discovery; in my car if I start my car and wait till the AppRadio has booted up with AppRadio app up, I can’t use my apps. If I leave everything plugged in and shut off my car (take my key out) and then restart my car, everything works. So for now till I come up with another fix this works in my car everytime.

Update: I don't have to start my car, just turn the key till accessories come on, wait to boot up, turn off, key must come out, put key back in. You can either start the car or just turn to accessories and either way the brake bypass works. So if we could put a delay on the relay for about a minute, I think it would work.

is anybody having issues with the switch on 2.5? i tried to use maps and motionx to type in an address for directions but it wouldnt allow me to type, the warning screen came up and i used my switch but only cancel showed up and nothing about accept.

possibly just a one time issue, have no tried since

Stop using a relay people...Just install a switch.........so much simpler and it only took all of 30 min to do

Installed a relay a few days ago. Works like a charm . Took about 30 minutes and I bought the relay from junk dealer for 2$.

I just picked up my App Radio 2 unit today from best buy. After a playing around with a relay, I accidentally stumbled across a much easier fix. Basically you just need a switch. Hook up the parking brake wire from the harness to the switch and ground that wire to the car also (you will either need a second wire or you can cut some of the parking brake wire to ground it). Do not do anything else to the switch and it will work perfectly once you flip it on and off a few times.

You can test it out by taking the parking brake wire from the harness and touching it to the frame of the car a few times and it will read it is the parking brake being released and unreleased (touching frame=parking brake on; not touching frame=parking brake off). Leave it against the frame and press the okay button and you are good to go. When you remove the wire from the frame, it will show up as the parking brake being deactivated. The switch does this for you when you flick it on and off.

Edit: The switch is just a basic toggle switch that I was using to turn my radar detector on and off easier.

Edit2: Wiring Diagram of how I hooked it up. Hope it helps. http://i.imgur.com/fnamG.png

I just picked up my App Radio 2 unit today from best buy. After a playing around with a relay, I accidentally stumbled across a much easier fix. Basically you just need a switch. Hook up the parking brake wire from the harness to the switch and ground that wire to the car also (you will either need a second wire or you can cut some of the parking brake wire to ground it). Do not do anything else to the switch and it will work perfectly once you flip it on and off a few times.

 

You can test it out by taking the parking brake wire from the harness and touching it to the frame of the car a few times and it will read it is the parking brake being released and unreleased (touching frame=parking brake on; not touching frame=parking brake off). Leave it against the frame and press the okay button and you are good to go. When you remove the wire from the frame, it will show up as the parking brake being deactivated. The switch does this for you when you flick it on and off.

 

Edit: The switch is just a basic toggle switch that I was using to turn my radar detector on and off easier.

 

Edit2: Wiring Diagram of how I hooked it up. Hope it helps. http://i.imgur.com/fnamG.png

Stop using a relay people...Just install a switch.........so much simpler and it only took all of 30 min to do

+100000!

Take it from someone who's tried a relay and a Pac TR7. They both worked......for a short time. Save yourself money and aggravation, the switch is the best way.

 

 

+100000!

 

Take it from someone who's tried a relay and a Pac TR7. They both worked......for a short time. Save yourself money and aggravation, the switch is the best way.

I'm switching alright, to a different HU and brand. I've had it with this fiasco. I'll I want to do is get in my car and be able to use my head unit. There is constantly something going array. I'm finding myself lately not even plugging my phone in, which makes it almost totally useless except the radio and the ironically the Bluetooth works. I'm switching to a unit that doesn't require an iPhone connection.