New Maestro Radio Solution

When I placed my order, I specifically asked that they didn't include entune/nav... but we all know the story. You can't get the refresh without it.

I wasn't happy about that.

What do you mean without Entune? Without the touchscreen stereo or without the app suite? The radio retains full music functionality without using the Nav or the app suite. I've actually used 3 different versions of the Entune app suite, and it finally seems to work as expected. The destination search and sync w/ the built in navigation works pretty decent.
 
What do you mean without Entune? Without the touchscreen stereo or without the app suite? The radio retains full music functionality without using the Nav or the app suite. I've actually used 3 different versions of the Entune app suite, and it finally seems to work as expected. The destination search and sync w/ the built in navigation works pretty decent.

Sorry, yes. Without Nav or any of the factory garbage. When I placed my order at the time, you could select it without the Nav unit but this was changed the configuration sometime between when I ordered and when production began. (Or so I was told)
 
Sorry, yes. Without Nav or any of the factory garbage. When I placed my order at the time, you could select it without the Nav unit but this was changed the configuration sometime between when I ordered and when production began. (Or so I was told)


I'm pretty sure that touchscreen has been standard since 2012.

Having had the original Bluetooth capable, non-screen unit in my 2010 SR5 and the screen unit in my 2016 TEP, give me the touch screen every day of the week.
 
I'm pretty sure that touchscreen has been standard since 2012.

Having had the original Bluetooth capable, non-screen unit in my 2010 SR5 and the screen unit in my 2016 TEP, give me the touch screen every day of the week.

I was almost certain you could receive a 2013 and prior without the touchscreen, which is what I wanted. I didn't want to waste money on something I'd likely dislike due to function and reliability, and would likely have to replace. Which is where I am now.

It's a pet peeve more than anything. Griping to Gripe.
 
[MENTION=131466]Superjet[/MENTION]I'm looking to pick up one of these units as soon as the Kenwood DDX-9903s comes out, which is supposedly very soon. It's first one to have a capacitive touch screen and it also has 5v pre-out, which will be nice.

When I was putting everything together on Crutchfield they suggested the Maestro, and after looking at the cost of all the other adapters for the back-up cam, steering wheel controls, etc. it's not even that much more to buy one of these and get all the cool diagnostic features as well.

One question... It says you need a Windows laptop configure the device and flash the proper firmware on there. I'm hoping the answer it that it doesn't really matter, but it says it does not support Windows 10, which is on the only laptop I have. Did you use a Windows 10 laptop?
 
I flashed mine with Windows 10, need to use Internet Explorer not Edge or any other browser. Open the website with Edge, then top right go to options anf select "open with internet explorer". Install the software/driver before plugging in the module.

Be sure to use my shopping list and you won't be disappointed.
 
Does the Kenwood headunit with Maestro seamlessly integrate with the stock backup camera? ie. automatically switch to camera mode when vehicle is in reverse?
 
Does the Kenwood headunit with Maestro seamlessly integrate with the stock backup camera? ie. automatically switch to camera mode when vehicle is in reverse?
No issue with OEM camera, pretty detailed installation manual.The Maestro even supplies a 6v power for the camera.
 
Tentative

Thank you for posting your experience with the head unit and Maestro. I am thinking of doing something very similar to my 2016 4Runner (SR5 Premium). I was wondering if I could ask a few questions before I jump into this modification.

After you installed everything, what functions were you able to program the steering wheel buttons to do?

What do the up/down/left/right, back, and mode/mute buttons on the left side of the steering wheel do?

What do the push to talk, phone off hook, phone on hook buttons on the right side of the steering wheel do?

What about the disp button? Does it still cycle through the options on the display between the speedometer and tachometer?

I understand the factory backup camera functions just like it did with the stock head unit. Is that the case?

What about the factory navigation GPS? If I installed a head unit with navigation (e.g., Pioneer AVIC 8200NEX), would it use the factory GPS?

I installed a Kenwood DDX9902s in my old 2008 4Runner in conjunction with an Axxess ASWC-1 steering wheel button interface and was able to get the volume up/down buttons, up/down buttons (mapped to jump to next track/previous track), and mode button (mapped to long press to activate Siri) with good results. I also installed a backup camera by running wires through the headliner (a pain I hope never to deal with again). I loved CarPlay and have really found the stock head unit in my 2016 with Entune Premium to be severely lacking in functionality.

Thank you for your time and expertise.
 
Thank you for posting your experience with the head unit and Maestro. I am thinking of doing something very similar to my 2016 4Runner (SR5 Premium). I was wondering if I could ask a few questions before I jump into this modification.

After you installed everything, what functions were you able to program the steering wheel buttons to do?

Anything you want reallym depending on the radio's capabilities. For instance, it has a press and hold feature. I programmed it to mute if I hold volume down. My steerin wheel has a back button, but the radio doesn't need it so I set that to play/pause. If I hold the up arrow down, it rings up the custom gauges.
What do the up/down/left/right, back, and mode/mute buttons on the left side of the steering wheel do?

What do the push to talk, phone off hook, phone on hook buttons on the right side of the steering wheel do?
Each button is custom programmable for press and release and another function press and hold. Go toe the Maestro Website and there is a link there for "Test drive Maestro", then select RR as the product. It will walk you through a simulation on programming it.
iDatalink - Maestro - Home


What about the disp button? Does it still cycle through the options on the display between the speedometer and tachometer?

I understand the factory backup camera functions just like it did with the stock head unit. Is that the case?
yup
What about the factory navigation GPS? If I installed a head unit with navigation (e.g., Pioneer AVIC 8200NEX), would it use the factory GPS?
I placed my Kenwood GPS antenna in the same place as the OEM one, you'll see it mounted behind the OEM radio on a metal bracket underneath the dash. CarPlay for now only uses Apple maps. The Kenwood DNX-573s has built in Garmin navigation or uses Apple maps in Carplay, but that radio can be $200 - $300 more than a DDX-9703s.

I installed a Kenwood DDX9902s in my old 2008 4Runner in conjunction with an Axxess ASWC-1 steering wheel button interface and was able to get the volume up/down buttons, up/down buttons (mapped to jump to next track/previous track), and mode button (mapped to long press to activate Siri) with good results. I also installed a backup camera by running wires through the headliner (a pain I hope never to deal with again). I loved CarPlay and have really found the stock head unit in my 2016 with Entune Premium to be severely lacking in functionality.
CarPlay rocks, no doubt. Even better now that you can finally re-arrange the icons with iOS 10. My talk button brings up Siri no problem.

Thank you for your time and expertise.

See above
 
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Thanks!

Thank you very much for the info. I played around with the maestro simulator but was confused as to why I could not find an option for advancing to the next track or going back to the previous track. There's seek +/- but I think that is for fast forwarding/rewinding during a song. Maybe I'm wrong.

Were you able to wire the head unit into the USB and headphone input jack in the dash?
 
Factory microphone?

I forgot to ask if you were able to use the factory microphone or if you had to install a 3rd party mic.
 
To retain USB you need an adapter plug from metra, the part number is in the shopping list on the first post. It did not retain the 3.5mm jack and I didn't bother doing anything about it because it's not needed for me.
I didn't bother trying to splice the OEM microphone. From past experience on other vehicles it doesn't work well. Kenwood has a noise canceling microphone and you want it pointing directly at you. It's just to the right of my overhead console and works well.

The track up has me a little puzzled, I no longer have CD's and listen to Pandora exclusively. Right and left arrows if I remember correctly are set to seek + and seek -. With Pandora it skips to the next song.
 
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Thanks!

Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope this dialogue helps me and other folks who are looking to upgrade the stock head unit.

I don't listen to CDs either. I mainly listen to music through CarPlay and just wanted to make sure that the Maestro "seek +" button would jump to the next song as opposed to fast forwarding through the song currently playing. On the stock head unit, when I press the up steering wheel button, the head unit jumps to the next song (playing song on iphone through bluetooth). When I press the right steering wheel button, the head unit starts fast forwarding through the song that is currently playing (which I *think* is called "seek"). I don't need fast forward... I need to be able to jump to the next song, though.

For normal driving around town, Apple Maps does a good job. I'd like onboard navigation for those times when I'm out in the boonies and Apple Maps can't get a signal to help me get where I want to go.
 
iDataLink Parts

Fabulous! Thanks.

It looks like iDataLink has released a couple of new products to take the place of the Metra parts in your original shopping list.

iDataLink UTO2 USB connector (like the Metra AX-TOYUSB-2). I assume there's no difference in the parts as they simply conduct electricity from one place to another.

iDataLink STO2 has connectors to go from the aftermarket stereo to the factory GPS antenna and the satellite (XM) antenna. I assume:
  1. I won't need to use the GPS that comes with the Kenwood because I can tap into the existing factory antenna.
  2. I won't need to run an external satellite antenna because I'll tap into the factory one (I will need to purchase an XM tuner, though).
  3. I will still need the Metra 40-LX11 because it looks like it will go from Kenwood to factory AM/FM antenna (it doesn't look like the STO2 connects to the factory AM/FM antenna). If anyone can confirm these assumptions, that would be great.

I'm going to pull the trigger and buy (from Crutchfield) today. My shopping list will be: Kenwood DNX893S, iDataLink Maestro RR, TO2 wiring harness, STO2 satellite/GPS antennae connectors, Metra 40-LX11 AM/FM connector, Metra AX-TOYUSB-2 usb connector, SiriusXM SVX300V1 tuner, Scosche dash kit.

My hope is that I will retain GPS-based navigation for those times I'm out of cell range, XM radio, AM/FM radio, steering wheel buttons, and backup camera. I'm hoping to add CarPlay and the cool Maestro gauges, especially tire pressure. From what I've read, I will lose the compass heading that appears in in the info screen between the speedometer and tachometer, which is a bit of a bummer.

Here goes nothing!
 

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