[Carl242]

So the Pioneer AVIC U-310BT is in my car and I'm loving it. I hid the GPS antenna underneath the plastic bit above the center air vents, and wired the ipod connection into my glove box. The unit doesn't crash at all after upgrading the firmware.

I noticed that you can do some cool things like change the splash screen and even the display colors with the AVIC Feeds software. I already downloaded some .csv's of locations from Poi-Factory.com (shell gas stations, costco gas stations, and brewpubs in CA) and converted them to KML's for my unit. It turned out to be a great use for a 16mb SD card I had lying around.

I also made a splash screen with my smart on it, but I'm wondering--has anyone done anything cool with the AVIC feeds? Anyone managed to match the RGB values of the hardware key illumination to the colors of the smart's interior LED's? If so, what values worked best? I currently have mine still on the default cycling colors.

 

[jetfuel]

...can somebody please translate what Carl just said?

jetfuel....

 

[Carl242]

Hehe, I'm hoping those with the Pioneer GPS units will know what I'm talking about. The systems come with a detachable LCD monitor that contains the "brain". With an SD card you can use this software from Pioneer called "AVIC Feeds" that enables you to do things that range from modifying the color of the illuminated buttons and dials to custom sets of POI's for the GPS. You can even make a custom list of markers on the map for a road trip on your computer and import it into the GPS. Main thing I want to know if if someone out there has found the best colour code to match the smart's interior illumination.

 

[chumly]

Huh?????

 

[jetfuel]

..thanks Carl...no time to look at the pretty colors...for GPS notification the bride has a book...

jetfuel....turn here

 

[Wdhitch]

I have a AVICF700BT... the yellow back color matches the dash perfectly. I also have a back splash with Dracha on it... thought I did the whole thing by hacking the unit... it's just a windows NT computer base... very easy to change.

 

[Carl242]

also have a back splash with Dracha on it... thought I did the whole thing by hacking the unit... it's just a windows NT computer base... very easy to change.

Tell me more

 

[Kermit]

I just use green....don't know why.....it just felt right. Of course all I have is a D-3. Ohhh, I have yet to do a backsplash.

 

[Wdhitch]

Tell me more

Everything you need is at AVIC411.com

 

[geeber]

Hey Carl! I just started my AVIC-U310BT install over the weekend. Spent most of yesterday just on the door speakers alone and running the extra wires for the rear speakers (which I am doing custom) and also the XM Radio antenna.

Question... will the GPS antenna work correctly sitting underneath the plastic cover where you put it? I thought it had to be exposed to the sky? I was thinking of putting mine directly on the dash surface over on the pass. side - to the right of the defroster vent.

 

[wrumbarger]

AVIC custom cursor?

Anyone figured out how to modify the AVIC standard arrow cursor so it is anything else (smart preferred)
On my old GPS there was a whole library of alternate icons to use?

 

[fredthe]

Question... will the GPS antenna work correctly sitting underneath the plastic cover where you put it? I thought it had to be exposed to the sky?

In general, GPS antennas will work just fine under a bit of plastic... just don't put them under metal.

 

[Wdhitch]

Hey Carl! I just started my AVIC-U310BT install over the weekend. Spent most of yesterday just on the door speakers alone and running the extra wires for the rear speakers (which I am doing custom) and also the XM Radio antenna.

Question... will the GPS antenna work correctly sitting underneath the plastic cover where you put it? I thought it had to be exposed to the sky? I was thinking of putting mine directly on the dash surface over on the pass. side - to the right of the defroster vent.

Yes, it will work just fine under the radio cover.

 

[chieftmc]

....Question... will the GPS antenna work correctly sitting underneath the plastic cover where you put it? I thought it had to be exposed to the sky? .....

For what it's worth, I have a windshield mounted GPS in my class C RV. That puts it UNDER the cabover and I've had NO problems I'm guessing as long as it's not metal, it's invisible to the antenna ??

chief...........don't know squat

 

[Terry Stibal]

Both the GPS antenna and the XM Radio antenna on our smart passion coupé Pioneer navigation unit were installed under the radio panel atop the dashboard. Both work just fine with the sky view through the front windshield.

 

[wrumbarger]

No custom cursor available for AVIC?

I asked the pioneer site about getting a custom cursor.
They replied
"Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc.

There is not an option to change the cursor.


Thank You,

Rocky
Customer Service Representative"

Anyone care to disagree and/or offer options?

 

[Carl242]

I asked the pioneer site about getting a custom cursor.
They replied
"Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics, Inc.

There is not an option to change the cursor.


Thank You,

Rocky
Customer Service Representative"

Anyone care to disagree and/or offer options?

I'd leave the cursor be. A disagreement with Rocky going too far could result in a KO, unless you are a big Russian guy.

Carl - getting strong now

 

[geeber]

Both the GPS antenna and the XM Radio antenna on our smart passion coupé Pioneer navigation unit were installed under the radio panel atop the dashboard. Both work just fine with the sky view through the front windshield.

darn..... and I spent all that time routing my XM antenna to the back, through the rear window seal and double-sided taped to the rear of the roof. Well, at least I can put the nav antenna there. Good to know!

 

[Terry Stibal]

One of the gripes about the Pioneer AVIC F7010BT now resolved

One of the pet peeves that we both have about the AVIC F7010BT unit was the worthless, low profile, slippery little knob that controls the volume and a good number of the functions of the unit. In our smart, we found that there was too much pitching to reliably use the knob due to the short smart wheelbase rolling over the poor streets here in Houston.

That problem has now been resolved. A visit and search on the AVIC411.com website revealed that we were not the first to complain about this by a long shot, and (even better) someone took the bull by the horns and started producing high quality metal knob covers that fit over the tiny little Pioneer ones. For our unit at least, they came in silver or black, and in knurled and smooth versions.

Even more incredible was the fact that the producer lives and works here in Houston. Not only did he sell us the knob, he even installed it for us (it's a very snug fit over the Pioneer one, and it goes on without glue). Can't beat that for service.

All in all, it's well worth the $22.00 that he charges for the little things. If you too are frustrated by the unusable AVIC knob, contact Tom Hohl through [email protected] and ask him if he has a knob suitable for your AVIC unit.

 

[Carl242]

@Terry, that's GREAT! The Pioneer knob is the bane of my existence when I'm driving and I want to change the track. I hope it fits on my U310BT