Using Jap Pioneer GPS reciever in UK?

MegatronUK · 09-10-2004, 06:15 AM

I got my car imported from Japan, where it was already fitted with a pretty high end Pioneer AVIC-9 DVD navigation system and Pioneer GPS reciever... what are the chances of using the reciever with a car pc (the nav system won't work in the UK... well, I can't seem to get it to work, anyway)? It powers on, and the screen just stays blue with a short section of Japanese characters across the centre (I presume it translates to "Ha ha, you must be joking if you think you can get me working!") ....

Not particulary interested in a nav system at the moment, but it would be nice if I could get it working, rather than forking out for addons for the car pc.

This seems to be the package it has installed; except that mine has the much better motorised 7" widescreen headunit:
http://www.pioneer.co.jp/press/release68.html

Guess it's hoping a bit too much to have any chance of it working as-is, here in the UK......

Enforcer · 09-10-2004, 07:05 AM

It should be just a matter of getting the UK discs for it.

MegatronUK · 09-10-2004, 09:00 AM

Any ideas where I could find out about which dvd is compatible with it? Tried Pioneer UK, they didn't want to know and just said 'It is not compatible'.

Enforcer · 09-10-2004, 10:07 AM

Guess you need to find someone emigrating to Japan who has an english version and is willing to do a trade.

MegatronUK · 09-10-2004, 10:10 AM

Doh! Its a shame I can't use it... the UK equivalent AVIC-9DVD with the nav disk is about £900 :-(

pip · 09-10-2004, 10:14 AM

Well, the only way of finding out is to ask Pioneer. I really doubt they have UK disks for it. If the screen has a composite in, and the GPS receiver is standard (both of which are doubtful) then you may be able to re-use them.

Dominik · 09-13-2004, 07:14 AM

Take a photo of the blue screen with the Japanese characters, and i'll try to translate them for you.

Btw, i dont know why the GPS wouldnt be 'standard', isnt the GPS standard a global standard? My last car was a 1992 Japanese import with an OEM navigation system. The setup mode of the navigation system showed satellite signal strength, and it had signal here in Australia (mind you the maps were only for Japan, and a proprietry format)