Kenwood DNX6160

ryanbt

ryanbt

New member
Kenwood DNX6960

Finally did some software updates to my Kenwood HU today and it's running much better than it did. I'm hoping all of the flakyness is gone! I also customized the start-up screen, background and also loaded a "4runner" as my vehicle while in Garmin Nav from Vehicles for GARMIN nuvi.

I just wanted to share my start-up screen. (Regular background is the same image without any of the text logos, just the Toyota emblem).

This is a DNX6960, (Typoed in the Subject line)

<a href="http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g76/ryanhudecki/?action=view&current=photo-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g76/ryanhudecki/photo-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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I am about to order the 6960. How do you like it? Where did you buy it from? Anything I need to know before I buy it? Thanks
 
I had Car Toys install mine. Here are some of my random thoughts:

1) Make sure whoever installs it puts the USB port somewhere accessible. This is what you use to update the Kenwood side of the unit. Car Toys buried mine behind the dash of which I had to disassemble and reroute into the glovebox (The Cable is about 6' long too! Why they coiled it up and shoved it behind the climate controls is beyond me! You need it accessible for firmware updates!! Grrr). I then plug my iPod adaptor or my flash drive into the USB port in the glovebox.
2) Buy the Urban Runner Stereo Trim piece otherwise the head unit looks dumb sticking out (IMO it's well worth the $85. I bought mine from ToyotaPartSales.com, Part Number PZ365-35904)
3) Get the steering wheel control adaptor. I am still trying to figure out a way to get the steering wheel controls to navigate through my presets instead of seeking through the radio or Sirius. I put out a request on KenwoodForums.com • Index page, and will post an update here if I get one. The controls work great, they are just a little slower responding.
4) It does take about 20 - 25 seconds to boot. - Just something to get used to.
5) Once you get all of the sound settings set the way you like it (You have to do an equalizer setting for each input (iPod, Sirius, FM, etc) go to the System menu where you can save these settings. Otherwise if your battery dies, or you do a firmware update (or even put your own startup screen in place) these settings are all lost. You can restore them if you saved them. The equalizer takes some getting used to and it's not really easy to use, so you will really want to save your settings once you get them just right.
6) My unit has arbitrarily rebooted 4 times since I've had it. I reset the unit when I put my custom startup screen on the other day and it hasn't happened since
7) Bluetooth has a known issue with the iPhone and doesn't always automatically connect. I often have to manually connect either on my phone or through the HU. Kenwood is supposed to have a patch for this in the next firmware update.
8) Car Toys mounted both of my antennas (Sirius and Nav) on the roof just above the center brake light
9) Garmin updates are done through a MicroSD card on the front. This unit doesn't come with a MicroSD card. Garmin has not released any map updates for this unit as of yet. When they do, they can be found at Garmin | Kenwood Software and Map Updates
10) You can set the HU to use the Garmin's sensor to dim the display at night.
11) There is a $100 rebate for this unit and it takes about 8 - 10 weeks to process. Then they send you a "Visa" gift card.

That's about all I can think of for now. If I think of anything else I will add to this post.
 
Looks nice. I plan on getting the Kenwood DDX616, not sure if it is customizable like yours was, but it fits my needs.

I did use the vehicles for Nuvis site, that is GREAT! I just added some characters for when the kids are in the car, think my son will like watching SpongeBob walk his way to Disney next week... Thanks for the link.
 
Figured out the steering wheel controls to go through presets instead of seeking, you hit the "Seek" button. Although visually the button never changes this now allows you to scroll through presets instead of the next station.
 
Thanks for the tips. When you talk about the usb port, do you mean the iPod cable? Or is it something different? If I buy the metra kit #95-8210, will that not look right? I don't have an iPhone, but I do have a Bluetooth phone. Is there any way to check if my phone will work? If I buy the unit off amazon or ebay, can I still get the rebate? How do you like the unit? Sorry to drill you with all the questions.
 
There is a USB port that is supposedly (I haven't seen the back of the unit itself) attached to a wire harness coming out of the unit and is on a long cord. From my understanding there is only one USB port, therefore the iPod cable and flash drive, etc must share it. This is why you want the cord out of the back of the unit routed to somewhere accessible. As for the Bluetooth check out the Kenwood forums in my earlier post. It's a great forum for answers (like this one!). I think the rebate is only for authorized resellers and I don't know if amazon is one. You can probably find out that answer on the Kenwood forum too. Don't worry about the questions. Glad I could be of help. Overall, yes I do really like this unit. Good luck!
 
ryanbt said:
Finally did some software updates to my Kenwood HU today and it's running much better than it did. I'm hoping all of the flakyness is gone! I also customized the start-up screen, background and also loaded a "4runner" as my vehicle while in Garmin Nav from Vehicles for GARMIN nuvi.

I just wanted to share my start-up screen. (Regular background is the same image without any of the text logos, just the Toyota emblem).

This is a DNX6960, (Typoed in the Subject line)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the links and all the thoughts/tips. I just ordered my DNX-6960 from Amazon a few minutes ago. It was only a couple more dollars than the DNX-6160 and comes with the remote and a longer warranty.

I have a couple of questions for you.

I downloaded the 4Runner but noted that on the garmin site, it indicates that you have to connect the 'garmin unit' to your computer to transfer the images. How did you put them onto the Kenwood unit?

Also would you be willing to attach you background images (or I could PM you with an email address)? I love your startup screen and would like the same one on mine.

I agree with you on the trim. I ordered the urban runner one as well.
 
I personally like the Urban Runner Trim piece better. It has a better fit and is the correct color to match all of the other trim plastics. -Plus the Urban Runner Trim piece takes about 1.5 seconds to install!!

For the Icon updates, you have to do that through the MicroSD slot on the front of the unit. Just put the Card in your computer, copy the file (unzipped) over to the card. Put the card in the HU and go into navigation mode. Then click "View Maps". Press current speed section in the lower right of the screen. A speedometer pops up. Then push and hold in the center of the circle speedometer. You will then be placed into diagnostic mode. Click "Developer Info". Next scroll down to "File Manager". You should then see your Micro SD card and can navigate to it and copy over the new icons. I believe you then have to exit out of that mode and reboot the system. Once you do so and go back into settings you will see the little gray T4R as an icon option.

PM me with your eMail addy and I will eMail you with the links to the instructions and images for the start up screen and general background. It was kind of a pain the first go around, but I think I've got the hang of that now.
 
I followed the instructions on these 3 sites to get the start up screen to work:
KenwoodForums.com • View topic - HOW TO: Change start up screen (DNX9960 ONLY)
KenwoodForums.com • View topic - Anyone know how to change 6960 startup screen?



YouTube - How to change Splash Screen Boot Image on the Kenwood DDX-512 Headunit[/url]

Steps not noted in the above 3 sites:
1) Save all of your settings in the System menu. You are resetting the system so all of your Presets, Equalizer settings, etc will all be restored to default if you don't. Once you reset the system you can then load your saved settings back.
2) When finished with the steps outline in the youtube video you have to hit the reset button with a pen, or everytime you boot the HU you will be booted back into the startup screen change menu

Ill share my startup screens with anyone just PM me. Note: if anyone has a vector or high res raster image of the 4th gen 4runner logo I will update the startup screen since it has the 3rd gen logo.
 
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