I was shocked to find out this unit has no POIs to speak of. Pioneer has a hundred dollar solution, buy their SD card with updates. I would not purchase this had I found out before it was installed in my dash. Audio features are fine and bluetooth is OK, albeit a little confusing. Had to reset after removing the SD card for some reason. Who wants a GPS that can't locate a gas station?Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Get it now!
I was shocked to find out this unit has no POIs to speak of. Pioneer has a hundred dollar solution, buy their SD card with updates. I would not purchase this had I found out before it was installed in my dash. Audio features are fine and bluetooth is OK, albeit a little confusing. Had to reset after removing the SD card for some reason. Who wants a GPS that can't locate a gas station?Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Buy Now
I did a lot of research before I bought this product. I knew going in to it that I was getting a CD, iPod, Bluetooth, and GPS unit. The problems I've heard about it were that there was a limited amount of Points of Interests (which is upgradeable for $100) and the settings and controls were a little confusing. Once I got the unit and had in installed I found all those thing to be true. One additional problem I found was that you cannot connect the faceplate to any Mac OS, but only to a Windows OS. The only reason I was trying to connect it to my computer is you only can customize the button color (beyond the 5 colors they give you, red, amber, white, purple and blue?) if you connect your faceplate to a PC.
Other then those small complaints, this unit is great! The system starts up right away and I never have to wait it to start, and the iPod controls, although a bit confusing at first, make a good amount of sense and let you navigate through your music quite easily. The bluetooth function works great, from the few times I've used it. The "Sync Contacts" actually worked with my phone, which surprised me because I just have a LG env2.
And for those of you installing professionally, DO NOT GO TO BEST BUY! Best Buy was going to charge me $200 for installing this, and one of my local shops was going to charge me $160. Obviously I did not want to pay that much so I did a little more looking around and found a great shop that would do it for $85 and guarantee the work for a year (Cellular Universe in Gilroy, CA). So just make sure you don't get scammed by people charging that much...
And speaking of installing, its probably best to buy a dash installation kit and wire harness online too...
(I have the Scion tC pics in the images section)Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Order Now
This is not a bad unit. I like the features and functions a lot. However, when the reviews tell you that the POI database (points of interest: restaurants, etc) is "limited", this is a gross understatement. There are virtually NO POIs in the database, but Pioneer will happily sell you the missing POIs for another $100!!! This is how they lure you in for a cheaper price, but then HOSE you for another $100. You have no choice, if you want a usable GPS with a database of POIs. Even the cheapest entry level GPS unit has more POIs than this. This is unquestionably an intentional bait and switch by Pioneer. They should be ashamed.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Decide Now
Sorry for the long winded review, but I want to provide as many details as possible for people to understand the unit better.
I bought this unit after seeing some so called professional reviews online. I did see their notes about very limited POIs or lack there off, no video etc. But I was not looking for Video or not even lot of POIs.
I liked this unit for the fact it is always in standby state and will come on instantly. For Pioneer F series that has a major complaint about start up time. I installed this unit a week ago and did lot of experimentation so far and here are my thoughts.
Looks and installation:
I liked looks of the unit for it simplicity, not too many buttons, and able to control Major audio functions without using Touchscreen etc. Installation went very well with excellent documentation provided(courtesy Crutchfield).
Phone, Bluetooth Module:
After everything is installed, synchronized my iPhone with bluetooth module and tried to make some calls. I can hear other side verywell, no issues here. But other party can hardly hears my voice. If I hold Microphone within few inches from my mouth it was acceptable, but if that is the case I would very well hold my phone instead of Mic. Tried lot of positions, and nothing helped. So, I looked around avic411 forums and saw quite few people having problems with supplied Microphone and used either Parrot Mic or Garmin Mic. So, I went ahead bought the Garmin Mic from local Frys electronics and installed it( Garmin Mic wire length is shorter, only 10 feet). Now the quality improved substantially and usable. But it still had problem with boomy echo(even with echo cancellation), but that was partially because of location. Moving the Mic close to head liner( above rear view mirror) somewhat reduced it, and now I thought this is usable. I was able to transfer the phone book quite easily from iPhone 2G(My other car Toyota Prius built-in system has problems with iPhone 2G for Phone book).
In total I drove the car 4 days, and out of 4 days, Bluetooth system hung 3 times. The symptoms are, bluetooth does not connect. But when to click on Phone button in Menu, it goes to phone screen and shows Bluetooth off and connections button disabled. When I click on Bluetooth to turn it on, it keep circling and nothing happens.
Trying to do a F. Reset does not do any good. Only way to get it working again is doing Hard reset by pressing the small reset switch on LCD frame. This does fix problem, but also resets everything else. Phone Book is completely gone, all Illumination color, Radio presets, Song details Display preferences, Eq settings, and Navigation preferences(ATT, Mute etc) are gone. We have to do set everything again back from scratch.
RESET OBSERVATION NOTE : We can reset the unit after taking out of docking position. This way unit does not reset AUDIO/NAV settings.(Contacts/Phone Book and Some Nav settings seems to be lost).
Also, the volume adjustment is independent from main audio system, so if you raise the volume to hear over road noise during a highway drive it would not reflect in bluetooth volume.
Another bummer is, you can not access the numeric pad after call is connected(it is disabled). That means, you can not select IVR systems voice menu option which is quite common if you call any customer service, and even more annoying, there is NO MUTE . But atleast you can do it from actual phone.
Navigation:
Size of the screen is small, but I think it is okay size as long as it is not too far away from driver. Menu structure, selecting options, settings etc are fine.
Just to clarify, DETACHABLE SCREEN DOES NOT WORK AS PORTABLE NAVIGATION. It does not have any built in GPS antenna/GPS processor. You can browse maps like paper maps, or create route etc.
This system uses Tele Atlas database(instead of NavTeQ) for Navigation which does not have good reviews. Despite being the latest database it does not have main roads( Bus route) which are 4-5 years old. Even for old neighborhood like 30 years old does not have correct road information.
Now the routing, I got to tell you this got to be worst navigation I ever used(Garmin, TomTom, Omnitech, Toyota in built). It lags much behind the actual vehicle position(not a signal problem), sometime a street or more behind actual location. I think unit is taking too much time reading the data, calculating position and representing on the actual map. It may not be a problem for most highway driving or sub-urban driving, but for downtown it is pretty close to useless.
For some reason it does not show the all the road names. It's 3D mapview is not good, 2D is ok. It does not know the difference between a walking trail vs roads, it will insist on driving on trails!
Text To Speech is pretty bad too, it says take a slight turn when infact it is very sharp turn. Sometime it lags, and sometime it all together forgets to tell you that you need to turn. Sometimes, it does not even show you on screen whether to turn or not(you come to a T-junction, but it does not tell you which direction to take.
I tried to compare same route with portable Omnitech Navigation unit(Destinator software). That is 100 times better in routing, shows better details on screen and providing direction properly.
And now the POIs, it is not the problem because of just 500k POIs. It is the categories they intentionally removed. The most commonly used categories, restaurants and Gas stations are missing, and do you believe they have Cemetery there? There is an option to feed the locations using AVIC feeds, but that does not come as POIs or category or even based on location unfortunately.
BTW for Navigation there is option to set voice, either to mute music, ATT music or simply say directions while music play at full volume(default, which does not make any sense).
Audio:
Audio portion I liked it. It is able to play music from recent thumb drive( 4 years small thumb drive did not work), and works wonderful with iPhone. Sound quality is pretty good, Radio reception is ok. Joystick navigation is ok, menus are easy to understand once you read the manual.
It seems many retailers listed saying this unit can music from SD card, but that is not true. YOU CAN NOT PLAY MUSIC FROM SD CARD. It can only be used to upload AVIC feeds(color, Locations, trip data etc). Pioneer confirmed it also See notes from Crutchfield editor to one of the reviews.
The illumination color can be selected or can be fed with custom color using AVIC feeds software. The LCD never turns off even when you turn off the unit. It only turns off when car keys are taken out(out of acc position). There is a button to turn off screen, but this is to turn off while system is on. Good thing about it is, you can turn off screen entirely when driving long distance during night. It comes back right away if you touch the screen.
Note: As of now there are no firmware updates available to fix any above issues I described, and quite few people have problems with Navigation Freezing. I think overall hardware is good, but it is the software/firmware that is problem.
12/04/2009: Another update. I can confirm after the Europe Firmware update, I did not get any bluetooth hangs anymore(4+ weeks). It also seems routing is little better(TTS voice is still bad). But I am having problems now-and-then with USB drive. During the playback it suddenly has problems with reading the USB, and I also saw the same issue with iPhone playback. Unplugging and plugging in back fix the problem temporarily. I checked the routed cable in my console and it seems fine, but I have not check behind radio to see if it moved(Highly unlikely as I anchored all cables with zip ties). I will update once I check it out.
11/03/2009: I did a partial upgrade using Europe firmware as Pioneer did not provide any updates to this unit in US. This seems only upgraded the Bluetooth module. But this change/improvement seems to be significant enough to report. First I no longer see the "Cell Phone disconnected" message after I turn on my car as Bluetooth module was not aware that I shutdown the car before and just started again(Just embarrassing if someone in the car). Now the change is that, when I shutdown the car(out off ACC postion to off/lock), the Screen does not shut-off immediately, but waits for about 5 seconds, identifies that Bluetooth module is disconnect, then shutdowns(It may look weird as you took your keys from car, closed the door behind, but this thing screen us on). The good thing is because of this change Blue-tooth connect quickly next time when you start(approx 18 secs vs 34 seconds without any other app running/audio/nav etc). This also reduced Bluetooth freezing episodes(not completely gone, but ran more than week or two with out freezing). Bluetooth freezing happens more frequently if Contacts are synced.
But Nav issues are still there, it thinks I am driving somewhere without roads, that is with fulll GPS signal( not just my unit, other too), Only way to correct is undock and dock it again( restart does not work).
And AVIC feeds, which I was excited about as I can create my own POIs is really restricted to the point that is not useful. Like example if you want to add all SHELL GAS stations(5000+), it only takes first 100. Ofcourse you can add 100 of each gas stations or restaurant. And you can not search these POIs like inbuilt POIs.
And AVIC Feeds for iPhone, it is joke for this unit( again highend units are ok). If you add a POI, it adds like a contact in your phone(like you will have McDonald as your contact) and you need to sync complete phonebook again from scratch to get single POIs from iPhone to AVIC-U310BT. But on the higher-end unit you can simply transfer that one contact.
09/16/2009: Now, even Navigation unit is hung. I tried normal reset, but that did fix problem. I had to hard reset keeping unit in head. All settings are lost as expected, but atleast navigation and bluetooth are working again.
Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Right now
Pros:
Instant On!
AM/FM/Single Disk CD Player with 18 FM presets; 6 AM presets
Total iPod control thru unit
Basic GPS with text to speech
Hands Free Bluetooth (when it works)
Detachable faceplate
Cons:
There's a software glitch in the bluetooth software that requires re-pairing your phone with the base regularly. Menus might seem initially confusing.
Summary:
I installed the AVIC U310BTs in my 2009 smart car after reading that this unit would be offered as the "official" GPS upgrade on the 2010 model smarts. I picked up a unit on eBay for $370. Another $30 for the iPod cable plus $50 for the double din face plate and wiring harness and another 50 bucks for new speakers and for $500 I had an upgrade that the dealer will offer for $1300.
The GPS is basic but adequate. The lady in the box giving directions has a very slight flutter to her voice but she gets me there just fine.
The radio/CD player work great and the units puts out a lot of sound. Paired with decent speakers, you will not be disappointed.
With a 120 Gig iPod, my Holy Grail has been a way to navigate through the hundreds of artists and thousands of CDs to play the tune I wanted without killing myself while driving. I've found that the AVIC U310BT succeeds in allowing me to search with a minimum of clicks and twists to the exact song I wanted-- while driving! However, here's where the confusing menus might make you want to read the manual. Once you "get" the menu flow, it all makes sense in some weird way.
My biggest disappointment with the unit is the software glitch with the bluetooth. About every 4 starts of the car the bluetooth hangs and will not work with my phone. It requires a faceplate reset which takes about 30 seconds then you must re-pair your phone which takes another couple of minutes. This is really the only thing that I do not like about the unit. I take a star away for the bluetooth hassle.
Pioneer AVIC units in the past have been criticized for slow boot times. On the 310BT however, the unit comes on instantly because the battery in the removable faceplate keeps it in standby when the car is off. The instant on function seems to be the culprit that somehow causes the bluetooth to hang upon occasion.
The U310BT has only been on sale since June so I expect that as more owners report this bluetooth problem there will be a firmware update to correct, but until then I'm not as happy as I could be.
Update: I've found a workaround to the bluetooth problem and my phone-- once I paired my wife's phone to the unit, it began working flawlessly! Dropping and re-connecting my phone from the unit now seems to fix the lockup. On reconsideration, I give this 4 stars!Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Lowest Price Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
I got this unit because I wanted an in-dash navigation unit that I could remove from the car to prevent theft. The price was right and at first the unit was great. I found out pretty fast that it has problems.
Navigation: The nav freezes up often, usually when I first start out. It takes sometimes up to 3 or 4 minutes to get going and usually it has no idea where I am, showing me going off road and "flying" across rivers. Eventually it catches up and finds my location, but by then I've stopped caring. Also, there are no POIs that anyone would care about. If you want the good stuff, like gas stations and restaurants it will cost you an additional $100 for the SD card from Pioneer.
Bluetooth:
The Bluetooth is worthless. It worked for the first few days but then it wouldn't come on at all. I had to reset the unit to get it working again, only to find as soon as I turned the car off it would break again. I tried re-pairing my phone and even upgraded the bluetooth software on my LG phone to see if that would fix it. No luck.
There is some good. The sound quality is excellent and I am very happen with the iPod control. Some of the audio settings are confusing but nothing that reading the manual wouldn't cure. I gave it a rating of 3 stars because I think the unit will be great if and when Pioneer releases a software update to fix the bugs.
Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Low Price Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
Works great for me, paid 325.00 for an indash unit. bluetooth works good, ipod control works ok, navigation works good, stereo works good. doesnt have a ton of options ,but everthing it has works good. In my opinion the best feature is the usb drive, down loaded 300 of my favorite songs , controls through the stereo its like having my cd collection at my finger tips, screw i pod, plug your flash drive into the usb cable and forget about it ,controls thru the stereo. I had questions about some features and called pioneer tech support, they were great !! walked me thru each question and made sure I was satisfied before I hung up ,they were awesome. FOR 325.00 YOU CANT BEAT IT !! WANT MORE FEATURES SPEND MORE MONEY !!for the price its a great unit !! (the sd card doesnt play music its just for updates and upgrades ,its a bummer) I ran the usb and aux in with cables to my center console so everthing is hidden looks goodGet more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Save Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
for the price, this is a winner. its loaded with features.
best features? A) detachable face. need this for theft prevention, plus kinda useful if you want to plot in advance. B) music is instant on. when i plug my iphone in it remembers the last song that was playing and picks it up rightaway. C) voice nav works well -- plenty of time to make my turns. i like the "intersection view". it re-routes quickly when i go my own way.
problems? A) when using bluetooth, you cannot type digits on the display! this makes it *impossible* to navigate telephone systems w/o using your phone's handset. lame. B) ipod interface is clunky. luckily they let you switch to ipod-control if you prefer. C) charging xtra for POIs is a jerk-move. luckily you can just use your iphone or whatnot instead. D) the "Avic Feeds for iPhone" application for sending an address to the unit is pretty lame, doesnt work as one would expect it.
...all in all tho, for $320-400, its a pretty cool little upgrade to the stock unit. i got a "Pro Clip" custom clip that holds my phone in place on the dash, so its all pretty slick.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Discount Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
Road ready and audio dynomite! Bluetooth and sound are flawless! The NAV needs the POI upgrade to be useful. The AVIC feeds is cool - allows you to create your own POI's and group them. Many do it yourself-ers have posted their POI's. IPOD control took a little getting used to. Currently cranking the itunes from my iphone!!Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Cheapest Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
Hi there, I just wanted to say a few words about this unit. It is a great unit for the money and great for someone that doesn't need video playback ability. Installed into my Dad's Kia Rondo with Ease. He loves the Navigation system, and also loves the fact that he can take the faceplate off for security reasons when parked in Manhattan.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Cheap Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
I really like this unit. I did the Firmware update as soon as I got it so I don't know if this solved a lot of the problems people were talking about. Also mine was made on August 2009 so maybe I received a better microphone because it works great. I have had no problems with this at all. One annoyance is that the contact transfer from my phone (LG Rumor2) shows all contacts as cell phone number even though in my phone it shows House or cell phone. May just be my phone. I am not sure I don't have that many contacts so I went in and adjusted my phone book to say the name and what it is. To everyone having trouble read the book completely this will solve problems like changing the color and getting everything just right. There aren't very many points of interest but as long as you have the address you can find just about anything. Every address I have typed in has been found. I had trouble at first but I wasn't scrolling down to additional choices. I centered my GPS antenna on the dash until I had the most signal. It seems to be very accurate compared to my old system that I had to hook on to the dash. I am going to put my old gps in the glove box and when I travel and need to find something very bad I can pull it out and find it on there. I have a Sandisk USB and it works fine with this unit. I have my whole music collection on this (8GB drive). The cd player worked fine I used it a couple of times but will probably not use it since I have all my music loaded into my Flash Drive (wont Skip). I haven't had it skip in this unit but in my factory radio they would every once in a while. I like using a flash drive because when I get new music I can update it and don't have to burn another CD or worry about there being problems with them scratched. Also hooked up my Sirius Radio through the AUX jack and it works great. I like it this way so that I can control it on a separate unit that I can take in the house and use. This way I don't have to pay for two radios. The reason I chose this unit was for security purposes so I can take it off with me and not have to worry. Also entering information into it in the house is nice. I don't have an IPod so I can't comment on that end of things I have a Zune. I was concerned about purchasing this because of the reviews but I am very happy with this. I really think the Firmware fixed alot of the problems.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Buying Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
A simple unit...The only problems are once in a while freezing, and have to purchase seperate POI card. ok unit.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Buy Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
There are enough reviews already listing the pros and cons of this unit, I won't rehash them here. What I will point out is my biggest peeves.
Pioneer recently released a new firmware with appears to have fixed a lot of the Bluetooth lockup problems. However, the firmware didn't address any of the many other issues. The most annoying for me is the delay in navigation prompts. When I am using the navigation, I would literally drive just past my turn before the voice prompt comes on to direct me to turn. This is entirely unacceptable as it makes the driver focus on watching the map rather than the road. If you are still considering this unit, think carefully if you will need POIs because if you need real POIs, then you will have to budget in another $99 for the POI SD card. Pioneer really tried to screw us with the POIs!Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Purchase Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
i got this stereo not to long ago. the first stereo i bought would freeze every morning so i had to restart it everytime. but since i bought it from an autorized pioneer dealer i was able to return it and get a new one. the one i have now works great. i am able to detach the face whenever i am leaving my car unatttended, one of the main reasons why i got this model. the price is also a plus. the sound quality is great, pioneer never fails in that department. only stereos i buy are pioneer, same with speakers. the ipod control is so fast when looking for songs or artists. it even has a button that links the song to artist, album or whatever. its awesome when ur drivering and feel like listenning to that same artist. i havent used the bluetooth. ive used the gps. works pretty good. i so wish it had restaurants and gasoline stations. the display color is changeable, although im not sure how to ucustomise a color to match my interior lights. later on im thinking about upgrading to a pioneer with gps and a dvd player.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Order Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
This product does exactly what it says. YOU MUST DOWNLOAD THE FIRMWARE UPDATE from the pioneer to make this work seamlessly! See the below link or go to Pioneer's website and look it up on your own. The firmware update is easy, especially if I can do it. I am no tech guy by any means.
[...]
Pros:
1. Great Navigation Tool
-Turn by turn directions spoken over speakers
-Screen automatically zooms to show turns
-Screen shows when you need to merge onto different ramps or overpasses on the highway using a highway view mode. Very cool!
2. Ipod control is seamless
-Gives you ALL music functions you normally have on your ipod
-Gives you the ability to sort by artist and album
3. Bluetooth works very well with my palm pre and my wifes samsung
-Microphone sounds good and cancels ALL echo
4. Good control of factory speakers
-I was thinking about installing aftermarket speakers in 2003 Tahoe stock stereo system. No need! Major base and treble boost from this system
5. AM/FM Radio and XM Radio
-Gives you 15 presets for radio stations, and 15 presets for XM radio. Yes, that's 30 presets in all!
-Gives you the same screen options on any GOOD aftermarket XM radio receiver. Meaning you can see artists, albums, ect.
6. When you use CD's from itunes you can see Artist and Album name on screen.
7. The faceplate is detachable so you can program addresses inside your home running off its built in battery (the GPS unit is in the radio, not the faceplate)
-Great for deterring theft if parking you car for long periods of time!
Cons:
1. Only one. There are not any preloaded POI's to speak of in the GPS. Not a problem for me since I get my addresses in advance for everything. If you really want them, you can also buy them from Pioneers website ($100).
My OPINION:
EXCELLENT PRODUCT FOR THE PRICE!!! You get everything the expensive units have for half the cost (bought on amazon for $314 including shipping) plain and simple! The screen is a little smaller, but who the hell cares when it works this well for this price! I am VERY satisfied. Good shopping!Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Where To Buy Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
WOW is all that I can say about this unit. For under 300 bucks this is probably the nicest head unit that you can buy. The NAV worked great out of the box and a quick update with the included USB cable made pairing this with my iPhone via bluetooth awesome. The unit is supposed to fit in a 2010 WRX sedan but I had to make some adjustments to the dash-kit in order to get it to fit. That's how it goes with car audio though, and it looks and sounds great. The receiver offers great Navigation reception and I wired the antenna inside to the back of my car. It is powering 4 Polk Audio db 651s 6-1/2" Slim 2-way Speakers and they sound awesome. The harness was very easy to setup and only took a few minutes to assemble. The mic works really well and the call quality is very good, I placed my mic on the steering wheel and have had no complaints. For the price you cannot go wrong, just make sure that it fits in your car. If you do not have experience installing receivers, you may find yourself frustrated when the dash-kit does not work as advertised due to the large trim on this receiver, but as I always say, there is nothing a Dremel can't fix! The extra trim actually makes the unit look wicked slick with a custom dash-kit job. Thanks to Amazon for the fast shipping and best price out there! One last thing, if you are going to hook up your iPod or iPhone don't bother with the adapter, any iPod cable will work.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Shop For Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
radio does everything advertized well. I don't use an IPOD so I cannot rate it there, but it works fine with my MP3 player. The voice over for the navigation is great, you do not have to look at the screen at all. I was worried about the size, but since I don't have to look at it except during setup it is fine. I would buy it again.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
I read all the reviews on this product before I decided to buy it. I was sort of apprehensive. However, I am extremely pleased with the product. From what some people had said, I thought that the GPS wouldn't work at all. To be honest, on my boyfriend's GPS, we never used POI's so it is not something that I miss. I think that it is really accurate and I haven't gotten bad directions at all.
I do not have the bluetooth set up, though I definitely want to.
My iPod works great with it and again easy to use.
All in all, I think this was a great buy. I see similar systems priced hundreds more. Insane, I feel like it is a steal. :)Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Review
The boss (Wife) had the stock 6 CD changer in her 2006 Explorer XLT. She wanted a new radio that would allow her to listen to her iPod and have Bluetooth for her phone. I also wanted to add GPS, since if I was going to replace the darn thing, I may as well give her all the functions she might need for the future.
I looked online for a new head unit but it seemed that all the units were in the above $500 range. I saw that Amazon had the Pioneer AVIC-U310BT on sale for $259.00. I did some research and found a mixed bag of reviews, for every good review, there was a not so good one. After a bit of thinking, I decided to bite. I'm glad I did.
I bought the head unit along with the PAC Can Bus module05-08 FORD RADIO CAN BUS MODULE INTERFACEand the Scosche Scosche FD1426B Double ISO DIN Kit for 2004-Up Fordmounting kit. The harness was about $80 and the mounting kit another $15. If you look at a lot of the head units out there, they offer Bluetooth as an option, not include it with as with this radio. That would have added another $100 to many of the competitors out there.
I opened up all the parts I bought and read all the documentation on all the items BEFORE I went outside. I prewired the Pac module, connecting all the wires to the wiring harness from the radio. This made it easy when I went out to the truck. Plug and play, the only wiring I need to do was routing all the wires for the microphone, GPS antenna and the Aux output wire for her Sirius radio.
About that Sirius, Pioneer offers the built in module for Sirius or XM. Both cost $100 and you have to find a place for the big Sirius modules under the dash. They don't offer some of the features the little Plug and Play units Sirius offers; pause, FF, and favorite song or artist reminders. We decided to keep her existing Sportster 5 and plug it into the Aux port.
I got it all installed in about 90 minutes. I placed the GPS antenna under the top tray on the dashboard. The antenna sees right through the plastic tray, and stays hidden. The iPod cable is simply the USB cable that came with the iPod. You can buy the cable from Pioneer for about $40. I don't see the need, as it works fine with the Apple cable. I put the iPod in the glove box, as you don't need to access it, all the controls can be reached from the head unit.
The sound from the radio is great. The GPS navigation seems to be good, but I can tell you more as we use it in real world driving. Some people have said that they had issues with Bluetooth not connecting consistently. I started and turned off the truck about 20 times so far, and each time it finds and connects to my iPhone....no issues at all. The sound quality of the included microphone seems good, so far. Again, we will see how it goes in real world driving conditions.
Overall, it isn't as neat as the $500-$1000 dollar head units out there, the screen is not as big, and it may not have all the features of its higher priced cousins. But to have GPS, CD, iPod and Bluetooth for about $350 total, it cannot be beat.
Edit 4/27/10 After a week of use:
Wanted to add a few items on the use of this system. First, some have complained about the quality of the microphone that is supplied with the unit. For us, it works well. I have been involved in both ends of phone conversations as both the sender from the truck, or as a reciever of a call from the truck. Both come in loud and clear. Perhaps other people had issue with the location of the microphone? We clipped it directly to the driver's visor.
Sound quality is fantastic. This head unit really takes advantage of the factory sub woofer in the Explorer. We never heard such powerful bass from the stock unit.
The iPod control takes a little getting used to, but once you figure it out, it works well. My wife has simply put the iPod on random from the head unit controls. It is like a juke box with thousands of songs.....it is playing songs we long ago forgotten that were on the iPod.
GPS navigation has been fine. Sure, not a lot of POI's, but we simply enter in addresses. For my wife, it is no big deal.
Using the PAC Sys can bus module made the wiring easy. The system knows when the truck is moving, it knows to dim the display when the headlights go on, etc. It is just like a factory installation.
Overall, we are still happy with the purchase.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Top Quality
I'll start by saying the graphics on the GPS are good....having said that, there is nothing else good to say about it. If you like it and must buy it, plan on spending more to get the additional POI memory card. If you plan on listening to the radio, buy something else. Pioneer must have taken shortcuts on the radio feature. Radio reception is absolutely ZERO! Maybe an FM antenna booster will help.
Spend a little more and buy something else.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth This instant
I love this radio, I bought it for my wife she drives a (Ford Explorer 03) and the Install was completed in 30 min, the navigation and the voice command are really pleasant. End of the Story - 5 Start product really easy to install, 5 Start GPS Capabilities and 5 Start Audio Quality.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Immediately
I got the unit thru amazon a week ago, installed it myself with out any issues and love how it looks in my dash. The background color selector was a nice touch, since my dash uses the old green color found in most fords. I really love the navigation, its pretty accurate, and gives you a nice display on turning distance... the voice is pleasant, but sometimes slow to tell you about a turn if your going a little fast. I have been using the nav on my android phone the past few months, and I love this navigation much more. Over all I think this unit is worth the price, would be nice if it allowed bluetooth stereo streaming so I could use Pandora from my phone, but it does have an AUX input, so its not a complete loss.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Best Quality
The title says it all: Great Entry Level Navigation Car Audio Receiver
I installed this in my 2002 Toyota Tundra without any issues overall I love this stereo. It has a great bang for the buck - but it is not for everyone as it is an entry level unit... Here is a brief run down of the pros and cons of the unit.
Pros:
-Quick start up - it is ready to roll just a second after turning on the vehicle.
-Bluetooth Compatibility for hands free cell phone calls - It pairs with my iPhone 3G with no issues. I use this feature all the time without any issues due to the updated firmware fixes (already preinstalled on the unit.) Unlike others, I do not have an issue with the microphone - but you must place the microphone in a place that you voice can reach it!
-Works with iPhone and iPods - Control the music from the stereo or control the music from your iPod/iPhone. It works both ways. It works great with Pandora running on my iPhone through a standard iPhone cable!
-Plays CDs, MP3, WMA, AAC - Plays the major music formats.
-Touch Screen for easy control - the touch screen makes controlling the unit on the drive easy as pie.
-USB, AUX inputs - The USB input can accept an iPod/iPhone or a jump drive with no issues. You have a AUX mini-jack input for all other non-USB devices.
-HD HD Radio and Satellite Radio Ready (not included) - the unit can add HD or Satellite radio with the purchase of additional parts.
-GPS - Never get lost with GPS in your ride.
Cons:
-Navigation system: No POI (points of interest). You can download or pay for updated POIs - but this is a pain. It is also important to note that the navigation system interface is very generic and not very visually pleasing when compared to other models. The Navigation system is a bit odd to work with as well. There is no "direct" address input. You have to enter a city, then a state, then the address - all on three separate input fields. Navigation is kinda slow a picking up as well. The verbal directions help - but you can still pass the street you should turn on before the system can catch up. Overall, the nav system is OK but it is very crude and it is an entry level setup.
-AVIC FEEDS Software for iPhone - great idea poorly executed. Hard to use (especially when your iPhone is connected to a Microsoft Exchange account). You have to add an address to your contact list in the AVIC feeds iPhone app -> which adds the address to your main iphone contact list -> which adds the address to the contact list on the nav unit memory allowing you to use nav system.
-No expandability - no ability to add features such as steering wheel controls or back up camera or divix/dvds. Plain flat out stupid...
-No Bluetooth audio streaming - you can not stream audio from your iPhone to the unit unlike other models. Not that big of a deal since you can hook up your iPhone with a standard iPhone/iPod cable.
Overall Review:
A great entry level car stereo that excels at hands free calling and iPod/iPhone connectivity and control. Great sound and easy to use once you get use to the operating system. A sub-par GPS navigation unit. This is a great product for you if you really only want is a killer stereo with hands free and iPhone connectivity and limited nav system uses.
CNET Link for additional reviews:
[...]Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Get it now!
My favorite thing about this stereo would have to be the Bluetooth feature. I'm not having any issues with the mic so far, like some of the other reviewers, and my iPhone 3GS easily connected to the unit. The unit does not support streaming of music via Bluetooth however, which is a bummer. The navigation is not the best (compared to Garmin), although it does calculate routes faster then Garmin. It does not speak street names straight out of the box. You have to install the TTS file from the CD that comes with the unit, by transferring the TTS file onto an SD card and then loading it onto the removable faceplate. I strongly recommend updating the firmware the same way (accept that the file is on Pioneer's website). For around $250 you can not beat the price for the features you get, when compared to their more expensive products. The stereo looks absolutely awesome on my 2001 Honda CRV and I'm very happy with my purchase. Now lets hope it doesn't look too attractive for car stereo thieves in Chicago!!!Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Buy Now
I have owned alot of head units from Alpine, Sony, Kenwood, etc. but this is one of my favorites. The simple interface could be more intuitive, and sometimes selecting items with the control stick/knob is tricky but otherwise it is a fantastic unit.
I have mine installed in a 2008 Hyundai Elantra, and have a small MTX 4 channel amp providing power to Infinity 6.5" separates in the front cabin area and Infinity 6.5" door speakers in the back. The installer noted that I would not be able to run a sub amp from the existing pre-outs, and would need to use work around to get signal to another amp (monoblock) that I want to install.
The iPod interface does not require an extra cable as the head unit comes with a USB external cable that typically goes into the glove box. It receives any USB device or cable (such as the iPhone or iPod connect cables or a USB flash drive).
Navigation feature is amazing and easy to use. I don't use Points of Interest (POIs) so the lack of comprehensive POI data does not bother me much. What is tricky is that when the nav feature is on and the system is directing you to your destination, when the turn navi screens pop up, you lose control of the system. If you are in the middle of navigating through a 60gb ipod library, you will need to start over.
At $270 dollars this unit is a steal. If you need more input - contact me.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Order Now
If all you want is a car stereo, than this thing may be fine. BUT if you're being seduced by the claims of Bluetooth support and iPod control, think again. While it technically does include those items, their implementation is awful.
Here are my primary gripes. For Bluetooth, it does not support voice dialing through your phone at all. So I'm supposed to take my eyes off the road to dial? It seems to me the whole reason to pay for Bluetooth integration is to avoid this problem. This alone is a deal killer.
Second, at least in my opinion, the iPod control interface is terrible (for example, there is no "pause" button available from the main iPod screen. You have to scroll through a menu tree to get there every time. Not exactly safe for driving.)
Lastly, although I admit that this is sort of a you get what you pay for issue, its screen is significantly smaller than many.
Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Decide Now
After reading many reviews with mixed results I pulled the trigger and purchased this unit based upon the price. I installed this unit on a TrailBlazer with onstar. First, make sure you get a gmos-01 kit and a mounting kit as this make the installation easy and keeps functionality with chimes and OnStar. After installation, the unit will have a lot of freeze ups, etc. So first thing make sure you go on-line to Pioneer and install the 1.0003 software update and that has fixed all the issues. The sound quality if very good. The bluetooth functionality works very good with no problems. The iPod works very well and you don't have to buy any extra cable as you can use the cable the iPod came with. The navigation is probably where is falls short. The POI is practically useless and you will end of buying for $100 the POI card Pioneer offers that has 12 million POI. You can create and download your own POI using the AVIC feed software you can also download. However, this will not replace the POI that Pioneer offers. A nice feature is that you can create directions from Google maps and import that as a POI into the unit. The navigation unit verdict is still out as searching for streets and city is okay but haven't used it enough. Garmin or TomTom is superior to the navigation in this unit. Another note on this unit as the unit requires you to ground it to the parking brake for the nav functions to work meaning you have to stop and lift the brake (common in many units). You can simply bypass this and attach the "green wire" to a ground wire or ground it to the body and it will work fine while moving (this may be illegal in some states). Other points to offer, the face plate comes off which I like for theft reasons. This has no video capabilities so things like backup camera will not be an option. So overall for $250 plus wiring harness, SD card $100 for POI is probably priced right. If you want more you will have to be in the $500 plus range. Also [...] is a good site that helps provide information.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth Right now
Been watching this unit for months and bit the bullet when it was on sale. Installation was easy and only took 2 hours. Works great just make sure you update the firmware.
-Navigation works great, maps are a little dated so some roads may not exist. The detachable face is convenient you can take it inside and put in addresses instead of sitting in your car also a great theft deterrent. Plenty of features like select a tts voice and have street names spoken to you.
-Ipod integration works great you can search, select playlist and use the knob to change songs. The sound quality is great and you don't have to fumble around with your ipod(leave it in the locked glove box.
-Blue tooth is simple to use with lots of features. Syncing the phone and transferring contacts was a breeze. The unit automatically syncs when it turns on. The supplied mic works great and is clear, I have mine mounted on the sun visor.
Unit is simple to use the control knob will take a while to get use to but works pretty good. Can select different colors for the back light scan through and custom colors.
Back of unit has connections for satellite radio and hd radio boxes. This unit works great and has plenty of features for a great price.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Lowest Price Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
I own a sony xav-w1 and had so many problems with it and then I switched to this product and I am so glad I did.The sound quality is so much better than the sony.The bluetooth is very good for driving, my wife loves it and the microphone is very sensitive and crystal clear that caller can talk to any passenger in the car regardless of where they sit.The GPS is kind of in the basic-medium level of GPS, but it gets you to your destination which is what mostly you will use it for.The GPS has a 3D display to show you your exit as you get closer, it also has a lane assist which I love that way you know which lane to be in.The voice guide is very friendly and descriptive, no harsh "TURN LEFT" rather like "slight left turn ahead", "Make a legal u-turn" blablablah.The auto-recalculation is very fast and oh I love the anti-theft feature, being able to pull the display panel off...I love it! Make sure to update the firmware using a blank SD card so that you can get all the fixes.With this device I say good-bye to cd's and hello usb.I connect an 8-gig usb to the usb cable that came with it and stash it in my glove compartment and have loaded all my songs to it.My friends think I am playing sirius radio.Here is the downside of this device - the push in knob can be sometimes frustrating to use causing you to select something else.The poi's (point of interest) for the GPS is disappointing, since you will have to buy an extra sd card loaded with one, this should have been standard.The display screen could have a little bit bigger but overall I love it and never had one problem with this device.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Low Price Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
Hi, I have to start from the point that I am from different country, I am from Azerbaijan Republic, Baky city and not from US. I love Amazon and love shopping on-line. I bought Pioneer AVIC - U310BT (US version, not European version since it makes difference in radio channels and some reading formats. In my case some radio channels did not work since my country in East Europe, Middle East & Asia but I was aware of item's version) a couple of months ago and only few days ago I decided to let the world know my experience with one. I mean the price is perfect for such device, compare to my country's price list, Gosh I don't wanna mention about it. Shipping and handling are perfect as well. Now, about the device: It is OK to use as a music player by all means (reading from iPhone, iPod, usb storage device, CD and etc.). The sound quality is OK as well but it depends for whom and for which kind of vehicle. Now about connection, you should check the connection not twice but trice, especially hands free connection/bluetooth, before, purchasing it, since, sometimes it could be defective or broken. Note: The main purpose for purchasing such kind of devices is bluetooth and iPhone/iPod connection then other features may apply by order next. It is really revolutionary breakthrough to have in one car audio device's everything in it and all gadget features in one. Navigation system is so-so but not the best even for my country. Additional information for people residing in countries like Japan and South Korea, only bum from respected countries might to reconsider in order to use such device or not. Think twice before purchasing it, if for some improbable reasons you forgot to think twice, now scratch it on your brain's memory card, Amazon would definitely for 100%, think twice for you surely. Praise Amazon and thanks God its Amazon! I am not Amazon agent and they do not pay me for one. I returned the broken/defective device/item back to Amazon and the refund was made smoothly without any hustle. This is my own opinion about and experience with Amazon, therefore, if someone would step forward to show itself by criticizing my on-line shopping experience with Amazon, please you are welcome, do it by all means by writing it your own review on your own page. P.S. Do not gamble with words lucky and not lucky, these words have nothing to do with customers' reviews from all over the world. Read reviews and make up your own opinion in order to purchase it or not but that would not change the respected item's profile better in quality stand level. Thank you for reading my review. Have a nice shopping day!Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Save Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
does everything I expected, phone and handsfree work trouble free, phonecall audio quality very good on both ends. bought on a 1-day sale and it certainly exceeds on valueGet more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Discount Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
I found myself driving my Toyota more these days but the stock radio in a 99 does not have MP3 playback compatibility so I decided alright, I need to get me a new radio with a AUX jack and iPOD hookup. So I browsed around and found a few different head units for under 200 bucks. I then find myself being spoiled by having a navi in my other car so was thinking of grabbing a portable GPS system as well because I thought I could save some bucks. I got a Bluetooth headset which annoys me when I have sunglasses on while driving so that's when I started looking into a in dash navi with the bells and whistles. That's when I came across this PIONEER navi. It has Bluetooth, it has MP3 playback, it was a NAVI and the price was very well reasonable, I figured buying a Bluetooth, mp3 head unit and a portable gps I minus well get me a ALL in 1 in dash. I did a whole lot of research in this head unit and decided to buy it. I bought this on the 13th of MAY 2010 and received it around the 17th. I installed plenty of radios in my life, but this was my first NAVI I ever installed with a Bluetooth. I grabbed a wire harness to make life easier, and I recommend getting a wire harness for your car. Being the first time I ever installed this system, I was able to get it done in less than a HOUR, it was SIMPLE, plug and play and wiring your GPS antenna and where you want your mic to come out for Bluetooth is at your preference. I wired my mic to the driver side top visor area and my gps antenna is on my dash board driver side corner. I also wired the ipod connect and AUX to come out of my glove box. I did all this in less than a hour and this was my first time, so of course I was a bit sketchy of the results, well, the GPS turns on right away, it was a little delay but it picked right up. I entered some addresses around my neighborhood to go around to see how quick or laggy it would be (I am from LA county) and it was perfect, turn by turn and SIMPLE. The best part about the NAVI I loved (not sure if all of them are like this, but my scion navi sure is not) is it would tell me to make a right at a quarter mile ahead, but when I get closer it says make the next right, that's the business I tell ya! I was also able to change the volume of the NAVI voice while having my radio on so I can hear how loud it will be over my music, loved that feature. Overall the NAVI part of it being a simple system, I rate it a 9 out of 10, the only weak points I found in the NAVI feature is the POI, there are not many to chose from. Now, to the Bluetooth, I had a really hard time connecting my berry to it at first, it kept saying connected, then terminated and connected and terminated and was annoying me for about 10 minutes. I read a lot of reviews about it having this problem so I decided to try to mess around with it a bit. What I did was I deleted my phone from the PIONEER Bluetooth setting and started the process over, this time I paired it from the PIONEER rather than the mobile phone and the PIONEER head unit picked up my phone and I paired them, entered the PW and bam, I didn't have that problem with Bluetooth anymore, of course by this time my friends were annoyed of me calling them to check my Bluetooth LOL. Luckily I was able to drive around and test it, everyone can hear me clear with my windows rolled up, they didn't even know I was on a headset, so I decided hmmm, let me try to drive with my window down and they told me they can still hear me clear but sounded like I was far from the headset, which is fine to me, so I said you know what, let me get on the freeway and have the window down and guess what? They said they can hear me, but it seems I am on speaker, so hey, that works out just fine right! Now for the big test, I was on the phone, doing a navi to a destination, and while I was on the phone having a full on conversation my GPS still talks to me and doesn't pause my conversation, I loved this. The Bluetooth part of this I will give a 8 out of 10 for me having trouble the first moments of getting dropped every time and finding the perfect place to set the mic. iPOD connect and AUX connect are awesome, I was able to control everything on the iPOD through the head unit but I was not able to control everything through the AUX port, I had to still scroll through my berry for the music to play through the speakers, but that is for every AUX port. As for the iPOD connect, it works miracles like they should, so connecting an outside source via iPOD or AUX, I give it a 10 out of 10, crisp and clear. Swapping from navi to other sources was cake which is a huge bonus for me. The only issue I had and was very disappointed with but can live with it was the MP3 playback, sure it plays it from a CD-R but it did not want to play my MP3 data I had saved on my DVD-R, my scion did this and NO IT DOES NOT HAVE DVD, everyone was telling me its because the NAVI don't play DVD but my stock scion does not play DVD either but was able to read my DVD-R datas MP3, that was the only bummer for me in this Navi. Other than that, I am happy with what I got, the price that was paid for it was well worth it for your basic Navi, Bluetooth, Music needs.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Cheapest Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
It is my first aftermarket radio in many years, and I could not be any more pleased. Although it is not perfect, FOR THE PRICE that I paid I got what I expected and more (I wanted to spend less than $500 on the entire installation in order to allow money to go toward new speakers as part of the factory upgrade). It also looks very nice in my 2007 VW Jetta. I had seen some pictures of the radio installed in other cars, and was surprised at how good it looks on mine.
GENERAL COMMENTS:
The touch screen is very responsive. The big multi-function knob does get some getting used to, and the navigation through the menus is a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it all makes sense.
I will have to check and see what firmware version comes with my radio, as I have not experienced any of the lock ups that so many reviews are commenting on. Being that I just got it just under a month ago, I am wondering if it came upgraded from factory to the latest firrmware.
My most important things when shopping for a radio were excellent, customizable sound, and bluetooth capability. GPS was a nice plus if I could get it within my budget.
SOUND:
I seriously doubt you will be dissapointed with the sound from this unit. My subs in the truck of my 2007 Jetta (previously connected to the factory radio through a speaker to line level converter), now have come to life, being properly connected to a subwoofer output. The sound has improved so much by just reaplcing the head unit that I have decided not to replace the factory speakers. The somewhat parametric EQ (though it does not provide continuous frequency adjustment, it does give you a few key fq to select from, and then an adjustment between narrow and wide, at various levels. I ended up tweaking one of the radio presets, and judt find myself making minor tweaks on some songs to adjust for pronounced differences in the way they were recorded.
This is my first radio with a USB input, and I must say that I love not having to burn CDs anymore. And since I carry a USB stick on my key chain anyway, I just plug it in to the radio, and that's where my music comes from. For some reason, sometimes it does not read the memory stick on the first attempt, and I wonder if it is because I have other files in there other than music!
BLUETOOTH:
The radio connects to the phone just a few seconds after I turn the key on the ignition, and then life is good after that: I can make calls from the phone (the radio will not let you place calls while the car is moving, but you can call from the phone), and receive calls. I have the microphone set on my visor, and people on the other side can hear my kids from the back seat. I have not had any echo issues at all, and have been told that the sound quality is great on the other side. It certainly is very good inside the car.
GPS:
I do not have much to compare it to, other than my wife's nuvi, and I must say that I like mine better. Though the screen is the same size (4.3"), it provides guidance regarding which lane to stay on when driving through exits, etc. I also like how it displays signs for the interstates, etc. and how it brings a bar on the side that wears off as you approach the turn. Regarding the comments about the unit telling you to turn too late, I have only seen that happen once in the few weeks that I have been using it. And I have to say, I would be curious to see if another unit would correct this rare occurrence. I live in the Atlanta metro area and I rarely go downtown.
Other than that, I have not used the AVIC feeds program, though the way the left out such important POI category for restaurants!!! Obviously they want people to purchase the optional POI card, but again, I rarely go out of town in my car, so not too important for me.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Cheap Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
Why all the complaining? This unit is 99% perfect.
Here are a few minor cons:
1) Where is map update feature on the Pioneer Site? Every navigation company offers some sort of annual map update (even for a price).
2) I wish the screen wasn't so bright. It was a little difficult to see during the daylight
3) How come this navigation doesn't show speed? I love that feature in other devices.
Pros:
1) I love the bluetooth in this device. For all the negative reviews I saw, all I have to say is try Garmin before you complain. I could barely pair my iPhone with Garmin. The mic. is so powerful that for the first time everyone that I talked to pointed out how good I sounded.
2) iPhone controls are better than my wife's $1,700 Kenwood navigation that came with her vehicle
3) It looks so sharp that people who installed it (it's a big local store that sells and installs high-end devices) were taking pictures of it in the parking lot. And I quote: "Wow, this looks better than our high end units!"
4) The navigation voice of this device is 1000% more natural than on my $700 Garmin device.
5) Sound is great. I was originally concerned since I am installing this in my limited edition Toyota Sienna with JBL sound. But this unit sounds just as good as factory stereo.
6) I always wonder why does my wife's system plays DVDs? Who watches DVD's while driving. Besides it seems to me that most companies charge extra for this feature and since my Sienna already has a DVD system in the back, this was the perfect choice for me.
Overall, I would recommend this unit for everyone. Do not listen to the negative reviews. I am more than pleased.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Buying Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
Perfect fit, Looks as good as OE units. Lots of usefull features. IPOD controller, GPS & Bluetooth functions work really well. Lots of bang for the buck. Highly recomended.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Buy Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
The old saying you get what you pay for doesn't apply to this unit. You get a lot more than you pay for. Haven't had any issues with the navigation being inaccurate or slow. The detachable face is very cool. So you can take the navigation with you if you park and walk. I thought the sound quality would suffer, but it has plenty of clean power and exceeds the sound quality of many factory systems. And if you want more power you can add an amp. You can add other accessories too.
The iPOD control isn't that intuitive. I find it a bit clumsy, but I got use to it.
The bluetooth works great and was easy to set-up. The phone functionality is great. For those of you who are addicted to talking while driving, this is a great solution. Sort of like talking to a passenger in your car. Ask several how the sound quality is on the receiving end of the phone and no one mentioned any quality problems.
If your looking for an inexpensive in-dash navigation unit with iPOD control and hands-free calling, buy this unit. If you want the biggest screen, best user-friendly iPOD control and shake-the-windows power then you need to look at higher-priced alternatives.
Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Purchase Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
This unit works great for me, I've had it in my car for three days now and haven't had any problems. The POI database does suck. Other than that it's a good unit. Sounds great, I've read some people complaining about tracks not showing up on there thumb (USB) drives, but I haven't had this problem. BT connects fine with my phone (HTC Touch PRO). Just for clarification, the BT does not support media playback, the SD Card is only for the navigation & will not playback media, also not on amazon but on other sites I've read that this unit had MSN Direct... It doesn't.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Order Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
I got this puppy installed by a local car-audio place and I couldn't be happier.
New law requires hands-free phoning while driving and this guy rocks in that dept. Everyone I talk to says I sound very clear, like I'm not on speakerphone.
I've got an ipod in the glove-box now with a bajillion songs on it so bye-bye cd's! Will also hook it up to my iphone occasionally and stream Pandora radio. I have the MLB app. too, so I can listen to any MLB game in the country on my way home.
Never dropped a call or had any of the issues other people are talking about. Who need POI's? I just look up the address on my phone and plug it in...ding!
Now I have to get new speakers and a sub I'm afraid, cause thing this is gonna blow my factories. Sounds really good with my factory speakers, but I'm sure this thing sounds a lot better with a higher amp'd setup.
I would recommend this stereo (and already have) to others.
It's really nice having all your phone contacts and all your MP3's on a "list" on your deck.
People are really complaining about no DVD?? What, you're gonna watch a movie on a 4.5" screen while you're driving?
I've got a drop-down DVD for the back seats and elected to not hook it up to this stereo in case I have technical issues with either one.
Cost me about $125.00 for the installation...not too bad.
There's a bit of a learning curve for the operating system, but once you get it down you realize it's pretty clever.
Comment with any questions please, and have a great time with this stereo.
(After I had it installed I showed it to my buddy at work and he said, "that's what's up", I guess that means it looks good?? haha)
Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Where To Buy Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
Got exactly what I expected. OK GPS (as good as the Garman I had), Good radio with lots of options. I added a GEX-P920XM XM Satellite Tuner from Ebay and so far everything is working great. A few things take a little getting use to but I have not found it necssary to look in the manual to figure out how to do something. No issue with dropped calls even before the software update. GPS and Ipod control all in one unit for a great price. I am very happy.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Shop For Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth
The Pioneer AVIC-U310BT is a great entry level navigation, it works great if you plot out your trips and have a plan. The lack of POI's didn't really impact me since I planned out all the stops and found all the POI's I wanted before I left for my trip. If used everyday it would probably be worth buying the $100 add-on card for POI's. But if you carry a smart phone with a web connection you'd be wasting your money for POI's. This unit is perfect for getting you across country and keeping you from getting lost. One thin I did notice is that a lot of roads that were under construction when the maps were made were completed and you have to take some detours because the maps are about 1-2 years old, so it takes a little thought when using it.Get more detail about Pioneer AVIC-U310BT 4.3-Inch In-Dash Navigation Receiver with CD Player and Bluetooth.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers This instant
I just installed them in my Ford Probe and they produce a very good sound, they didn't distort as I went with the volume up as high as I could.
I like the fact that you can get such a good sound for such a good price.Get more detail about Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers.
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Was looking for something cheap to replace my factory speaker in my work truck. Sound good with the minimum expense, aftermarket stereo system. Would probably sound better with a better system pushing them.Get more detail about Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers Best Quality
If you are looking for a cheap speaker, with full sound, I wouldn't look too much further. They sound good, and were a great replacement for my old factory speakers.Get more detail about Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers.
Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers Get it now!
The quality and performance of these speakers is outstanding. The speaker itself is structurally sound and well manufactured. The performance is very good. The bass/midrange is powerful and tight (not muddled or soupy), the treble is very clear and crisp. For the price, these can't be beat. Unless you demand the best of the best, these are your speakers. Otherwise, you probably wouldn't be looking at these speakers anyway. I'm buying more for my other cars. They are great upgrades from factory speakers.Get more detail about Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers Buy Now
These have worked and sounded excellent since I installed them. I installed them into the doors of a Chevy Metro with a 45W x 4 CD/radio head unit.Get more detail about Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers.
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I nowhere near expected these speakers to be as good as they are for the money! I put them in to replace a set of speakers I blew that cost me more than 5 times as much and they sound WAY better! Sound quality is AWESOME and you can't beat the price!Get more detail about Pyle PL63BL 6.5-Inch 360-Watt 3-Way Speakers.
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