cavytuner911

i was looking at getting a pioneer AVIC Z3 for my 07 Xrunner, when i ran across this little beauty, in what ways would it be better or worse than the Z3 as far as audio quality/ versatility and GPS??? cause other wise i was just gonna get a regular carputer and try to integrate every thing... im new please help.

MP3Car.com

 

kb9kst

Here is a link to the audio noise I get with the built in am/fm radio. I recorded this on the bench and it is the same when installed in the vehicle. The recording is when from when the GURU comes out of hibernate. If I mute the FM radio input in the sound controls the noise goes away. It is coming from the radio. Doesn't matter if I am tuned to a functioning station or not. Also doesn't matter if it is a fresh boot or coming out of hibernate.

http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...radionoise.flv

I have ordered a DEI HD radio tuner along with Mitch's cable. I will give that a try and see if I get the same noise. I doubt I will.

Jason

Fiberoptic

I can't see your video. Did you use a trial video converter?

What is the make and model of your car? I am curious to lookup your antenna type.


That should be a good test.

kb9kst

I just tossed the actual link in and now it should work. The bonking is windows audio and I muted the FM radio input towards the end so you can hear that it is coming from the FM radio input.

Vehicle is a 2007 Chrysler Sebring. It has a single amplified antenna.

Jason

Fiberoptic

I have not tested the Z3, but I have been very happy with the audio quality from the guru. kb9kst has been very unhappy with his FM audio quality but we haven't been able to replicate that here and it could be related to antenna or installation issues. The answer to this should come with more troubleshooting.

I think most people buying this unit will be focusing on the versatility of having a PC in their car and will be using digital media formats like mp3s, Video files, Podcsts, ect.

As far as your GPS is concerned - For the most part, A GPS is a GPS. They all pinpoint your position within a few feet. The secret sauce in navigation which some people genericly refer to as "GPS" can be broken down into 3 main areas:

• UI or User Interface software
• Navigation data (the location, speed, and details about the roads and POIS (points of interest))
• Navigation routing engine that uses the above data

The biggest difference with a PC in your car vs. an after market device like the avic is that you can quickly switch navigation vendors, ui vendors, or routing vendors to suite your specific needs or desires.

It is also very cheap to do map upgrades as they become available. I always talk about garmin's features but brand new map data with online connected features like gas prices and weather is only 50$. Garmin Link

The UI leaves a bit to be desired with destination entry on the garmin but that is always being tweaked by hackers and developers on the forum. . There are also tons of Front end UI programs that forum members have made.




A lot of people do that just to get started on a budget. It takes more time and a bit more space in your car. If you have an unlimited space and unlimited time budget, build your own car PC. It will give you a lot more control over your final feature set and save a few dollars.


Checkout the newbie section:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newbie/
Checkout this sticki:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/newb...ere-start.html
Here is another link:
http://www.mp3car.com/index.php/Gett...uting-101.html

Fiberoptic

It looks like your antenna part number is 5064253-AB. Based on a quick search, this should be working fine. It will be interesting to hear how Mitch's cable does.

Fiberoptic

One more quick thing. Have you tried increasing the radio volume to the max, or near the max and then using the master volume control to adjust the volume?

kb9kst

Yes I have done that. The excess noise is still present.

Jason

MP3Car.com

 

kb9kst

I have the HD radio hooked up to the GURU. The hideous noise of the built in am/fm radio is NOT present with the HD radio (Directed Electronics) on. I am running Centrafuse and it is having issues propertly switching audio inputs and outputs but thats either my issue or a Centrafuse issue.

Unless my unit has a specific problem, I would not suggest getting this unit with having plans of using the built in radio unless you like terrible background noise.

Jason

jonessc

This looks like a promising product, very high spec with everything you need in a car pc.

I have a few questions about the product:

1. Does it have a form of shutdown controller, so that when the engine is killed, it has enough time to hibernate/shutdown?
2. Does it connect like a regular double din car stereo?
3. Will you still need a separate amp / head unit for the speakers? (Does indicate it has some form of amp built in)

Thanks

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kb9kst

1 - The B/U wire in the diagram appears to be labelled wrong. That is the ignition wire and the main power is hot. With the power managment they have provided the ignition wire puts the unit into and out of hibernation. Works nice.

2 - I bought vehicle specific wire harness for my vehicle and after getting the unit found out that even though many places make double din kits for my car, the radio bezel opening was slightly too small. Thats what a dremel tool is for though and I will have to do some fab work to make it look good. Which I will do in time.

3 - It has a built in radio with software and amplifier. I went with a HD radio though connected via line in and Mitch's cable. THE HD radio blows the built in radio away.

Jason

kb9kst

I am wondering if the power management supplied with the GURU can be modified to cause the computer to shutdown rather than hibernate? I have the GURU installed now (though lots of clean up work left to do) and I don't always get audio out of the HD radio when Centrafuse recovers from Hibernation.

One note, I am in Wisconsin and the temperature here as been dipping into the teens at night. It takes a while for the car to warm up enough for the GURU to boot.

Jason

kb9kst

Well I finally got my bezel fabrication done (by another MP3car.com member) and thought I would show some pics of the GURU installed in a 2007 Chrysler Sebring.

Jason

Fiberoptic

Looks nice. Thanks for sharing.

bemenaker

That is one impressive looking bezel.

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