I always went here with my older AVIC's, your two links are new to me.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/GPS-Navigation/AVIC-X950BH?tab=firmware

Guys, as always if you are getting a message about the parking brake it always means one or both of the following issues:

You did it wrong or you have a loose connection. I don't care how careful you think you were when you added or relocated the wire if you are getting issue its not done correctly. Go back and check your connections until the issue goes away. That is, if the procedure you guys are following is even the correct one.

Also firmware updates will be posted to Pioneers site usually on the front page in a flash banner when you go to their site. the update files will be located under the section on the site for that unit.

Lastly, shitty product support from Pioneer is nothing new and you shouldn't expect much from them. Its been that way for years and probably will never change. You can learn much more from this site then you ever will from the staff at pioneer.

Epsilonkore - you mention you are running XM. I assume the 950 uses the SXV200V1 XM tuner - can you change XM presets from your steering wheel control or on the Unit? With the 940 running the GEX-P920XM Tuner, you can't skip from preset to preset station - you have to pick the preset you want from the screen otherwise it just skips from non-preset station to the next.

I do not have steering wheel controls on my FR-S so I couldnt tell you, but hitting the "next" button on the side goes to the next channel, not the next preset. I figure the steering wheel controls will be the same. I am running the SXV200V1 tuner, and loving it compared to my old one. Time shifting (being able to pause channels, rewind, fast forward etc) was an unexpected bonus and I wear it out. Plus it seems to be able to record the 5 channels on your currently selected favorites menu at the SAME TIME. Very impressive, once I move to another preset (as long as its not on the second or third screen of presets) it will have the same amount of time shift available as the last channel.

Guys, as always if you are getting a message about the parking brake it always means one or both of the following issues:

 

You did it wrong or you have a loose connection. I don't care how careful you think you were when you added or relocated the wire if you are getting issue its not done correctly. Go back and check your connections until the issue goes away. That is, if the procedure you guys are following is even the correct one.

 

Also firmware updates will be posted to Pioneers site usually on the front page in a flash banner when you go to their site. the update files will be located under the section on the site for that unit.

 

Lastly, shitty product support from Pioneer is nothing new and you shouldn't expect much from them. Its been that way for years and probably will never change. You can learn much more from this site then you ever will from the staff at pioneer.

Ironically, I knew more about the upcoming products then the folks at the Pioneer booth knew at CES.  Apparently they are trained quickly and hired just to do the trade shows.  They didn't even work for Pioneer.  If I nailed them with a hard tech question, they always had to get the one or two techs over from Pioneer to answer it.  Anyway, you're right.  There's more info here than from Pioneer.

@S.A.M: the answer is no.

I just checked to see if the 2.1.0 AppRadio software fixed my AppRadio, it did not.

 

I did not use the mute wire cable, I added a new wire to the empty slot next to the mute wire and grounded it (along with the parking brake). The mute cable has tape around it, and is not connected to anything. If it is not inserted into the molex connector, I do not get the error saying "parking brake wire incorrect". I always have the parking brake wire grounded, without it nothing would work at speed. Do you have your VSS wire plugged in? I am wondering if that is throwing my results off since it can still detect vehicle speed.

I have my VSS wire connected (for tunnels and poor reception areas) and my bypass still works. Head unit sees the VSS pulse as well so I know it's connected properly. Hope that answers your question

Actually let me elaborate a bit. If you have the PAC interface you can program the controls for preset skip for radio stations but you will loose track skip for all CD/DVD, USB, and any iDevices. So it's either track skip for iDevice and other media forms or preset skip for radio presets, either or.

I thought we needed to wait for a head unit firmware update to address the Appradio issues with the iPhone 5 (not the Appradio software) but I'm not 100% sure.

 

I don't have the unit yet but I was wondering about the VSS connection myself (although you need that for tunnels, etc.).

 

I don't even have this unit yet and I'm frustrated as I'm not too eager to dive into these issues.  The Appradio 2.1.0 reviews on iTunes were all poor.  Everything's broken according to the reviewers.  Pioneer really has some work ahead of them it seams.

I have my VSS wire connected (for tunnels and poor reception areas) and my bypass still works. Head unit sees the VSS pulse as well so I know it's connected properly. Hope that answers your question

I also contacted Pioneer Tech Support last night about the firmware update. They might be blowing smoke up my ass but the guy said they expect it to roll out next month.

Actually let me elaborate a bit. If you have the PAC interface you can program the controls for preset skip for radio stations but you will loose track skip for all CD/DVD, USB, and any iDevices. So it's either track skip for iDevice and other media forms or preset skip for radio presets, either or.

I can control track/preset changes (including via Bluetooth) for all sources via steering wheel control and on the 940 except for XM. But for some reason Pioneer can't figure out now to do it with the older GEX or the newer SXV XM unit - but my other OEM units could do so - I wonder if other brands can control Sirius / XM preset changes on their head units and/or via steering wheel controls...

Ok let me elaborate once more. You cant do preset scan and track skip with the same two buttons. If you have more then two buttons that you can program for tack skip/station scan and preset scan then you can do it. However if you only have the standard up/down and volume up/down buttons its not possible to do both. With only one set of buttons, track skip will always correspond to station scan only and there is no way to have it do preset scan. This is a limitation with the unit and it has been that way for years and has been complained about many times to Pioneer support.

This is now bothering me as well.  I installed my X950Bh tonight and was hoping I may have better luck than some of you.  No Dice.  Bypass works well, but no app mode or ipod control at all.  I went through all the settings and changed ipod from 30 pin to digital av and still nothing.  I was hoping the firmware was already on the unit, since the ones they had on demo for CES were connected to the iphone 5 and working.  Must have been a beta though.  Hopefully soon, as Iphone 5 support was the main reason I bought this thing.

I have my VSS wire connected (for tunnels and poor reception areas) and my bypass still works. Head unit sees the VSS pulse as well so I know it's connected properly. Hope that answers your question

 

I also contacted Pioneer Tech Support last night about the firmware update. They might be blowing smoke up my ass but the guy said they expect it to roll out next month.

Thanks for the info.

Next month for the firmware update?  OMG... These units are rolling out now and they still haven't released the correct firmware to complement what's being advertised?  As for now, I guess just the wired iPod functions and some non-video functions work on the iPhone 5?  I would almost just use my iPod Touch in the meantime but it's the older 30-pin 4th Generation device so I don't want to keep paying for adapters.

Ok, thanks.

I'm not sure about next month on that firmware update. They have now removed Spring from their description on iPhone 5 compatibility. They actually could get in trouble for false advertising at this point. That description would make you believe that the firmware is available, thus motivating you to purchase it. The iPhone 5 compatibility description should be worded as "with an upcoming firmware release".

You are right TechUplugged, they DID remove the "Spring" part from the description! Spring started on March 22nd, so I guess they missed that deadline... I know the #1 reason I sold my F series and moved to this new x950 was for full iPhone support and AppMode.

I still see Spring listed on numerous pages which shows that even their website is inconsistent.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/Accessories/iPod-and-iPhone-Cables/CD-IH202

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/2013+Pioneer+and+Apple+Compatibility

Regardless, this update really needs to be released fairly soon.

After 2 hours on phone with Pioneer tech. He confirmed firmware will be released april 18th to resolve all issues with HDMI receivers.

gotta wait another week i guess..

Thanks for the info.  Sorry for the noob question but do I need to register this unit first in order to get the update?  I'm having it installed today actually.

Thanks.

No.

No.

Thanks.  I wasn't sure.  My last unit was an N3 so it's been awhile since I changed HU's.

BTW...how's the iPad setup going for you now?  I remember you posting some vids a while back on it.  I almost went that way myself but decided to try the Pioneer HU route one more time.  I really wanted to interface the X950BH with an ipad Mini but wasn't in the mood to jailbreak it to adjust screen size issues so I picked up the iPhone 5 to work with the unit (ah...hopfully after April 18th that is). Are you still using the full size iPad as your main HU?  I do think in time that's going to do away with these traditional setups.  I think if there is less customization needed in the dash it will pick up faster for sure!

Thanks again.  I guess I'll just look for the firmware download on Pioneer's site afer the 18th.

I sold the car that I had the iPad in so I am no longer rocking that setup in the car I have now. I may revisit that idea in the future with an iPad Mini but at this point I have most of my needs with the App Radio 2. Its much easier to go with the AR2 sense I don't have be concerned with building a custom dash to accommodate an iPad.

That's what stopped me was building a custom dash.  I just bought a brand new car and I wanted to keep the stock look (for now).  So, I had the installer put in the X950BH along with a Bel STiR Plus and Blinders Quad kit.  Should be decent with the exception of the X950BH not working well with the iPhone 5 but hopefully that will change after the firmware release next week.

I guess with the AR2 you maybe somewhat limited with apps working in the head unit vs. having the whole iPad in the dash.  Seem like we always have to give up one for another!

At this point I am not missing anything with the AR.

That's good to know.  I thought only those apps listed on the Pioneer AppRadio section were the only ones that worked (or may work through the HU).  I've never had one so I don't know.  Can other apps not listed on their work with the unit?

Anyway, I'm having the X950BH installed today but haven't picked up the car yet to test although I believe we have to wait for the 18th to get the update anyway for it to work first.

Thanks.

That's good to know.  I thought only those apps listed on the Pioneer AppRadio section were the only ones that worked (or may work through the HU).  I've never had one so I don't know.  Can other apps not listed on their work with the unit?

Officially only Pioneer approved apps work with the unit and the ones that are available are satisfying my needs at this point. There is a Cydia tweak called App Radio Extensions that will allow you to use any "unsupported" apps you want for a jailbroken iPhone but that function isn't supported for iOS6 at this point. That will likely change soon however so if I do have an unsupported app I want to use I will be able to. But for now Im good to go.