best alternative to factory nav/radio package

[glocke12]

After six months with the XM/nav package in my trail edition 4 runner, Ive come to the same conclusion as others. It is really, really, really bad....

The interface for the ipod is not that great, now that the trees have leaves here on the east coast the reception is horrible (when I had my sirius stilleto running in my 4th edition I never had any issue with reception at all), the nav system itself can be very frustrating to use at times...

What is the best in-dash after market product that has GPS, is sirius (not xm based), and will allow use of the back up camera?

 

[Ducmonsta]

My personal preference is Pioneers lineup. Some say the best iPod interface but leaves nav a little to be desired. Not bad though, definitely better than factory. I hear Kenwood nav is better but iPod interface is not that great. Depends what you want to sacrifice.
I know, for a fact, that steering wheel controls and back up camera work with Pioneer. It even allows you to drive with back up camera on. Don't know why you would need this, but it works none the less.

 

[glocke12]

pioneer units have no sat radio?

 

[Johnny Utah]

pioneer units have no sat radio?

check out the "aftermarket stereo" thread a few pages back in the 5th gen section.

Basically the pioneer units have a sweet user interface and it's smooth. BUT, Pioneer uses TOM TOM for the nav software and apparently sometimes its crappy and takes odd turns/makes weird decisions.

Kenwood is another good head unit maker, but, their user interface is a little clunky and is slow at times, BUT kenwood uses Garmin for their nav software which is a lot better and more Superior than Tom Tom.

I've actually been researching these head units too. And i think i'm going to go with a pioneer AVIC-Z130BT.

also my boy Foques has installed a avic-z130bt and put up some good pictures. Check out his thread, i believe it's called 2011 Magnetic gray 4runner or something

 

[Johnny Utah]

BOOM


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/89789-2011-magnetic-gray-sr5.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/61082-aftermarket-stereo.html

 

[adio3x]

Can't go wrong with Pioneer Avics.

 

[gamerc]

Can't go wrong with Pioneer Avics.

I took a long hard look at the AVICs, but ultimately decided the nav sucked enough to choose a Garmin platform, so I ended up with a Kenwood. To me, this was the biggest factor, because when you need navigation, you need navigation....

I'm pretty pleased with it, although I wish there were some better interface controls. It does integrate with the backup camera and has Sirius or XM (although they are the same company, so I'm not sure why you prefer one platform over the other?). Either way, it does both. I'm not a huge fan of the mic and iphone controls, but that may be a product of a year old head unit, an iphone 3 running the iphone 4 OS, and a variety of other factors.

 

[SeattleMike]

...

... has Sirius or XM (although they are the same company, so I'm not sure why you prefer one platform over the other?). Either way, it does both.

...

XM's satellites are in orbit much closer to the equator, while the Sirius satellites are over North America. Sirius also has a better repeater network, so you get fewer dead zones in the cities. While they may be the same company now, they are still running two very different sets of equipment.

 

[adio3x]

I love my avic, the nav is pretty good too. I don't need any crazy fancy sirius or xm, I haven't even touched the radio ever on my avic or the stock stereo. I just like all the neat extra things the avics come with like pandora. IMO the interface is so much cleaner and easier to use than any other brand out there.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I love my avic, the nav is pretty good too. I don't need any crazy fancy sirius or xm, I haven't even touched the radio ever on my avic or the stock stereo. I just like all the neat extra things the avics come with like pandora. IMO the interface is so much cleaner and easier to use than any other brand out there.

adio..did you get your steering wheel controls and your back up camera to integrate with your avic? If so, What 3rd party controllers(is that the right word?) did you use?

 

[adio3x]

This is what you need for the steering wheel controls.

Amazon.com: Metra Axxess ASWC Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface (Black): Automotive

Mine work, even the bluetooth button. As far as the rear camera goes, I didn't tap into the wiring for the camera, I like using my rear mirror camera while looking into the actual mirror.

 

[glocke12]

XM's satellites are in orbit much closer to the equator, while the Sirius satellites are over North America. Sirius also has a better repeater network, so you get fewer dead zones in the cities. While they may be the same company now, they are still running two very different sets of equipment.

What he said.

I was a sirius customer for over three years (using a sirius stiletto) and do not recall having lost reception ever...rain, snow, tree cover, middle of cities, etc..I never had a problem.

With this XM based reciever that toyota uses, my sat radio is, at times, practically useless. Even driving back from point pleasent NJ last night I was on a highway that had no tree cover, no buildings, and the sky was fairly clear, and it still dropped out.

Its very frustrating to me as I like to listen to talk radio alot, and I miss entire segments of conversations...

As soon as I have the cash available to me this thing is getting ripped out and replaced. Unless of course XM gets smart and fully merges with sirius and uses their sat/repeater network.

 

[Johnny Utah]

This is what you need for the steering wheel controls.

Amazon.com: Metra Axxess ASWC Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface (Black): Automotive

Mine work, even the bluetooth button. As far as the rear camera goes, I didn't tap into the wiring for the camera, I like using my rear mirror camera while looking into the actual mirror.

sweet. thanks Bro! I think my boy antman has tapped into the review camera line already. So with this kit, and with antmans geniusness..i'll be good to go. Thanks man!

 

[jake halligan]

per my sig, i went with the JVC KW series. you can't get a better bang for the buck for around $700: integrated BT, HD radio w/ Total Traffic Plus for real time traffic (in big cities), news, sports, weather, BT music streaming, iPod interface (although front usb imput mars and otherwise clean install), phonebook transfer, removable faceplate, NavTeq software, DVD...

sad, the NT3HDT i purchased in March is already obsolete. the two new models (KW 30HDT/50HDT) add an iHeart Radio app feature and Pandora support. however, the 3HDT is cheaper and w/ support for BT music streaming, any music app is capable.

matched up with the Kappa Infinity 3.5 speakers that are a fav here on T4R, it's a great setup.

just my .02

 

[Mr.T]

It does integrate with the backup camera

I was under the impression that the factory backup camera couldn't be used with the Kenwood. What head unit are you running? What is the factory camera's connection setup?

 

[Johnny Utah]

I was under the impression that the factory backup camera couldn't be used with the Kenwood. What head unit are you running? What is the factory camera's connection setup?

we are talking about the Pioneer series head units. Don't know about kenwood.

from what i've read, you CAN get the factory backup camera integrated on the AVIC screen, you just gotta know which wire to splice into. I believe some posters are able to get the backup camera on the rearview mirror AND/OR the avic screen.

Most of the guys who are looking at the Pioneer are looking at AVIC-Z130BT or the AVIC-Z120BT, the 130 is newer

also, check out the 2 links i mentioned up above, one of them talks all about aftermarket head units

 

[Johnny Utah]

This is what you need for the steering wheel controls.

Amazon.com: Metra Axxess ASWC Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface (Black): Automotive

Mine work, even the bluetooth button. As far as the rear camera goes, I didn't tap into the wiring for the camera, I like using my rear mirror camera while looking into the actual mirror.

This is a photo of the zb120, which is what you have...according to a review of that metra conversion kit, you need a 3.5 mm head phone type jack..I think i see it on the left side below the green jack. Does that look right to you?

this is the z130BT

you think the headphone jack is above the blue jack?

 

[Mr.T]

I believe he was talking about the Kenwood series. I recently purchased a 9980 DNX and I was told the factory backup camera wouldn't jive with the h/u. I called Kenwood and they told me if it doesn't (the factory camera) have a universal connector then it wouldn't be compatible. I haven't been able to find out the answer myself, which is why I questioned gamerc's statement. That would be cool if it did.

Gamerc what h/u did you go with?

 

[lmoody003]

:worthless

i would love to see pictures some aftermarket head units in some 5g's

 

[Johnny Utah]

I believe he was talking about the Kenwood series. I recently purchased a 9980 DNX and I was told the factory backup camera wouldn't jive with the h/u. I called Kenwood and they told me if it doesn't (the factory camera) have a universal connector then it wouldn't be compatible. I haven't been able to find out the answer myself, which is why I questioned gamerc's statement. That would be cool if it did.

Gamerc what h/u did you go with?

not sure if your question was to me or not, BUT, if it was...i was talking with adio3x, and he does indeed have an avic120BT (its in his sig)...