Stock audio

[thedieter]

F5f:
Thanks for the hands on description. I have been wondering if it would be worth the high cost of a built in navigation system. It seems like a high price to pay for what they do. For someone that drives a lot in strange locations it would surely be worth it.

I agree that a laptop would be a problem to locate in an H3 but the copilot could hold it on his/her lap during brief intense navigating such as through cities. We have had good luck printing out routes and directions before trips with the laptop.

My rant about voice overs was kind of off topic and applies mainly to the programming on TV these days on my favorite channels such as History, Discovery and Military. They play the background "music" so loud that it is drowning out the narration. Where it applies to cars is that many people play their radios so loud that they drown out sirens, etc. It is well known that high volumes damage hearing.

Best regards, Happy Jack

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by thedieter

We have had good luck printing out routes and directions before trips with the laptop.

That does work great if you know where you are going to be going before hand and can get the route printed out before leaving. I know I have done this many times before getting a navigation system. One problem I had with this method a little while back was when I was heading up to Tellico back in March. I printed the route out, had the turn by turn directions but the problem was the roads were not marked very well. The directions from Map Quest or where ever it was I go them were pretty much dead on but I spent a fair amount of time stopping and second guessing them because of the marking on the roads. With a navigation system you don't have to be watch for signs, how far you have driven since the last turn and so on, you just keep an eye on the road and turn when it says to turn. You also get a warning before you need to turn rather than suddenly noticing you are at the next turn and have to hit the breaks. Of course a navigation system can be more dangerous if the driver is paying more attention to it than they are to the road but that can happen with a map just as easily.

[f5fstop]

And besides, NAV systems look cool And the Garmin I mount on my dash takes up valuable viewing area from the small windshield.

I have just come from the store and the Happy on wheels tour and learned a lot. I will post my findings in a few hours. Right now, have to go pick up Land Mines left in strategic places by the pup and cut the grass.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Right now, have to go pick up Land Mines left in strategic places by the pup and cut the grass.

Oh the joy

[f5fstop]

Went to the store today and viewed the Pioneer Drive Happier tour, no H2 at this store, instead they have an Escalade loaded with speakers.

Anyway, learned some things, and also learned a lot of misinformation on AVIC 411, or possibly hard to weed out what is incorrect and what is not incorrect on AVIC 411.

Questions to Pioneer from some information I viewed on AVIC411:
Can you turn off the music when directions are given? Yes, on both the D2 and the Z1. On the D2 it is either on or off, on the Z1 you have 4-positons ?10, -20, off or On.

Does the clock show on all screens. Yes, it can be programmed to show on all screens or only the video screen. (Discussion on AVIC411 regarding no clock on the XM screen on a D2.)

Can?t copy MP3 to the hard drive. True, due to copyright laws and the ?Sony? software used on the Z1. (SONY???? That?s what the man said.)

There is a large buffer built into the D2 for the NAV screens to allow a seamless flow of NAV data (different MAP sets) between them while the system is tracking. Per the Pioneer rep, who drives this vehicle over 50K miles a year, there is no problem with the D1 accessing the NAV system, and it appears as flawless as the Z1. (The Z1 in the Escalade had a D1 until the Z1 was installed, he stated the D2 operates the same and has the same buffer as the D1.) He stated the only thing the HD gives you is a bit faster access to the screen when the initial setup is performed or loading if starting the vehicle with the NAV screen On. Once a route is loaded, the required MAP sets are loaded and as a MAP set is no longer needed it is deleted from the buffer, a new MAP set is loaded (if required) into the buffer. He said if there were no buffer, the DVD would have to be spinning at all times; too hard on the drive. Possibly, if going faster than the buffer could handle would cause jerkiness to the NAV, but we all know that is not a problem in the H3.

He also recommended the Soundgate adapters versus the Peripheral; didn?t specify why, but stated in all their GM vehicles, they had Soundgate's installed.

Things I learned about ABC appliances for those in the MI area, after talking with the Pioneer guy outside for a few minutes:
Salesperson insisted the D2 had two components. One, the double din receiver; two, a second box that had to be mounted under the seat or in another location. I had him check with his installer and he confirmed there is only one unit.

Installer stated I would void my warranty if I did the install. I actually pulled out my cell phone and gave him Pioneer?s technical help, which confirmed on Friday, the warranty is not void, and cannot be voided for this fact, so long as you connect it correctly.

Installer stated only peripheral devices would keep the chime. Told him to go talk with the Pioneer guy and go on Soundgate?s website to learn the real truth.

Their price for the unit, with Pioneer paying the install (up to $200.00) was $1499.99 (plus 6% MI taxes), and they would not budge on penny.

I walked!

Prices from Amazon.com that I have for the two different units:
AVIC D2 - $995.00
Rear Camera (Pioneer) ? $183.00
XM Module - $94.99
Remote ? $28.96
Faceplate - $17.95
TOTAL $1319.89 (plus shipping?No taxes)

AVIC-Z1 - $1571.00
Rear Camera (Pioneer) - $183.00
XM Module - $94.99
Remote ? $20.00 (this is full retail, could not find this on Amazon)
Faceplate - $17.95
TOTAL: $1886.94 (plus shipping?no taxes)

Prices do not include the Digistar adapter which is $132 from Soundgate?s website, or the GM to Pioneer FM adapter. Not sure why I need this, since I have not listened to FM since I have had the vehicle.

This makes the Z1, $568.05 more expensive. So, I sit here still debating which is the better deal, and if I want the hassle at this time.

Thanks to everyone for all your input.

[marin8703]

hey f5,

will you get the warranty if you buy it new from Amazon, or will pioneer not honor it?

Thanks

[Mark805]

like i said earlier in this post... $500 difference is worth it in the long run. And if you really need to justify it.. go with.. z1 has 1/2 more screen

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by marin8703

hey f5,

will you get the warranty if you buy it new from Amazon, or will pioneer not honor it?

Thanks

As long as it is a US and not gray model, Pioneer has to honor the warranty.

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Went to the store today and viewed the Pioneer Drive Happier tour, ...

All great info and thinks for sharing. Based on what he said about the D1 and D2 I would consider even going with a D1 for a couple of hundred less. Take a look at Ebay and you can probably find on with full warranty for $800 if not less. That is were I got my XM Traffic tuner for $120 with shipping and it is brand new with full warranty as well.

Originally Posted by Mark805

like i said earlier in this post... $500 difference is worth it in the long run. And if you really need to justify it.. go with.. z1 has 1/2 more screen

For my purposes, I have yet to see anything on the Z1 that would make me spend the extra $500 for it. Actually, it was over $1K more than I spent on my D1. It all comes down to personal preferences.