I've started researching in-dash nav systems and wanted to see if i can get some feedback here. there's plenty of info on the web but a lot of it is hard to compare and contrast.

what i'm looking for:

- double-din size
- navigation system
- capability to input POIs in lat & long format
- bluetooth phone connectivity
- am/fm, don't care about satellite radio
- play mp3s from either a USB drive or SD card
- ipod integration, although I'm sure all units could be considered ipod-capable if they have aux input

The Pioneer avic-f700bt unit meets these criteria but some reviews say it is slow, buggy, and that the GPS won't track if you go off a known road.


Who here has one of these units? what do you think about it?

3/30/2009 3:07:41 PM

build your own carPC

3/30/2009 3:13:09 PM

^I want to build a carMac when AT&T allows tethering to the iPhone. Figured a mac mini could get the job done. I already have a in-dash touch screen lcd

3/30/2009 3:29:48 PM

^^ i want to buy something that "just works" instead of futzing around with homebrew computer crap and lots of different software to do different functions

3/30/2009 3:35:16 PM

i've got one of those cheap chinese units you can get on ebay. does everything you want at a fraction of the cost of "name brand" units. my requirements were pretty much identical to yours and i'm pleased so far, especially considering the price. definitely some things that could be better and it's no pioneer, but i don't need it to be either.

3/30/2009 4:23:14 PM

Quote :

"^I want to build a carMac when AT&T allows tethering to the iPhone. Figured a mac mini could get the job done. I already have a in-dash touch screen lcd"

i think you'll find the support for touch screen pc apps for the car to be much more mature than the mac side of things - especially on the front end side of things

3/30/2009 4:32:31 PM

^^ damn that looks interesting, I hadn't seen these before until I just started looking on ebay. no-name brand E1026N on ebay from Hong Kong has craploads of features and looks like it might be worth trying out for only $250 shipped

3/30/2009 5:36:42 PM

^^I hadn't thought about actually using the touch screen interface but have a bluetooth apple keyboard (since they are small in size).

Hmm...Maybe I'll just run windows 7 on a mac mini since the device would fit perfectly behind my glove box.

3/30/2009 6:23:12 PM

I've got an avic d3 and have been loving it

3/30/2009 6:31:27 PM

I had the N1 back in the daay and it was awesome

a D3 would be at the top of my list.

[Edited on March 30, 2009 at 6:37 PM. Reason : a]

3/30/2009 6:36:36 PM

I have the D2

3/30/2009 8:13:00 PM

Alpine IVA-W505 w/ P1 nav & Imprint processor is where it's at.

3/30/2009 8:24:51 PM

ivan could find anything on ebay

4/4/2009 7:23:23 PM

Taking ivan's advice, i ordered an Eonon 1026N unit on ebay.

It support Bluetooth function!

4/6/2009 4:43:58 PM

i bet its bluetounge or some chinese crap

4/8/2009 12:14:13 PM

How's that unit working?

I'm thinking of getting the Pioneer AVIC-F90BT, any good places to have it installed around here?
Also how hard do you think it would be to fit in my 2001 Camaro?

5/6/2009 9:29:16 PM

mine has been working great. it's been really nice with all the traveling i've been doing lately to have multiple entertainment options. the route 66 gps has done very well. i've tested it against my dad's garmin nuvi and telenav on my sprint phone. they all agree for the most part. i tried iGO briefly (the other software that comes with most of the chinese units) and it SUCKED. i liked the layout/functions a lot better, but the maps are terrible and it loses signal pretty much anywhere off a main highway.

5/6/2009 10:11:50 PM

I'm looking for the same thing, except I don't care for NAV (but with a decently large TS & DVD playback) and less than $400. I don't see how these things are still so expensive....

I'm weary of using the cheapo chinese models - do they really work that well? And does anyone know about the longevity of them?

[Edited on May 7, 2009 at 7:50 AM. Reason : .]

5/7/2009 7:48:09 AM

cheap or good, take your pick

5/18/2009 8:18:34 AM

The Premier F90BT rocks. There's a hacking community as well. Very customizable (it runs windows CE) the iPod interface and voice control of iPod & Phone & sources works great (THE NAVIGATION IS NOT VOICE CONTROLLED). It comes with the iPod cable and I got mine for ~ $550. def. invest in the steering wheel control adapter and it's better than 95% of factory units. It has a nice external mic for voice commands and blutooth handsfree. An SD card on the front of the unit for custom POIs and music. Videos only available on iPod or CD/DVD but it will play DIVX.

slow start up is a problem ~ 30 seconds for it to be up and running after ANY power interruption, not that big of a deal to me though for the functionality it offers. It can't be always on using CE environment, it is a computer after all.

5/18/2009 6:13:36 PM

^link to hax0rs? mine runs ce as well, wonder if anything would correspond...

5/18/2009 8:04:50 PM

I ended up with an Eonon E1026N unit: http://96.31.74.124/shoppingdetail.aspx?rpd=562

I bought it new for about $325 on ebay, shipped direct from hong kong.

pros:

- touchscreen
- bluetooth function works very well (good quality sound)
- am/fm radio works well
- plays mp3s on cd/dvd well
- comes with a remote control (useful for tailgating)
- lots of connectors (video in, video out, preamp, backup camera)
- sound quality and volume is pretty good without an amp
- gps has an external "antenna" which is easy to install but doesn't require a large external GPS box like I've seen for some units.

cons:
- the GPS function is a 3rd party application and not integrated (for example, you can't listen to the radio and use the GPS at the same time)
- quirky UI is a little weird and takes some getting used to
- remote has tons of buttons, not very intuitive. better than no remote though.
- no steering wheel controls, but touchscreen does allow for pretty quick adjustment
- about 1% of the time I start up the car, the unit won't start correctly and I just have to turn it off and back on. minor annoyance.


its a very unique device, sometimes I laugh just looking at it. I definitely laughed reading the user's manual with poor translation. I haven't messed with the GPS much yet but its possible to use a different GPS application (possibly a tomtom one). It runs windows CE but I'm not sure how hackable it is besides loading a different GPS app. You can also listen to mp3s from USB jump drive and SD card but I haven't tried that out yet.

if you're considering one i'll be glad to let you play with it.

[Edited on May 19, 2009 at 5:39 PM. Reason : masdf.]

5/19/2009 5:35:45 PM

give a give a give a garmin

5/21/2009 7:50:05 AM

Do yourself a favor and get one that has Satellite radio capability. I can't even begin to explain how superior it is to AM/FM.

5/21/2009 11:21:21 AM

welcome to 1984

5/25/2009 4:17:59 PM

http://avic411.com/forum/

h4x0rs

5/26/2009 4:41:42 PM

jesus most of those guys are idiots

OMG I GROUNDED THE PARKING BRAKE WIRE!1!

HAXOR SKILLZ

5/26/2009 4:54:34 PM

lol, i never knew i was so l33t

5/26/2009 11:47:16 PM

it ^ cant do it with a sawzall and a sledgehammer, it can't be done

6/20/2009 12:16:30 PM