navigation system

[JJW_ND]

Garmin StreetPilot III is pretty awsome!

If you want a navigation sytem that will autoroute (not as the crow flies but on real roads), provides voice feed back, and allows you the ability to updated maps in the future... . the StreetPilot is that.



We have several at work. The screen size if pretty big when compared to most hand held GPS units.



The other thing that I believe is important is the abliity to upgrade the basemap software (new roads, new developments, etc). The SPIII allows you to upload the base maps you want with street level detail. This also includes all ATM, restruraunts, not to mention 500 of your favorite waypoints.



I don't work for Garmin... . just am very impressed with what this little box does. The other cool thing is it only requires a cigarette plug in. We added RAM mount suction mounts to ours and can feely move them from truck to truck sticking the suction to the windshield. Holds it steady in the worst off road driving.



In remote areas, the Metorguide mapping software is better then the newer City Navigator 4. 01 software. Might not be the case in and around big cities.



We did some trips from ND to southern IL and back. Never been their before and never had a map with. It never let us down or led us astray! And it picked all the roads!



jjw

ND

 

[Task125]

it says 4. 1 in screen,won't play DVD movies it's illegal to have that in view of driver. I like it because it fits like stock radio and can add satellite radio to it. what kind of price for the other system? I'm not sure about getting it or not. don't relay need it. but that never stoped me before

 

[Task125]

it also has resturants atms phone book yellow pages, talks to you and you get one free upgrade

 

[Task125]

found the street pilot III for 750. 00,it's cheaper than mopar. but its hard to beat that factory install look

 

[nkiewel]

Originally posted by SilverFox

and price is much better than the Pioneer

You can pick up the Pioneer NAV-SYS900DVD MSRP $3300 on ebay[URL] for about $1800 US... Not to bad and priced close to the Chrysler unit. Not sure if it will fit though, looks like it is two DIN units. I like the 6. 5" screen and the fact that it will play back DVDs.



Nate

 

[Task125]

best price I found was 1350. 00 on mopar,I like how the pioneer will play DVDs,but thats a wreck waiting to happen,I can see me now going down the road with my favorite porn

 

[SilverFox]

Hey, let your wife look at the porn, that way, when you arrive at destination you don't have to waste all that time on foreplay...



Wonder if anybody knows of a *Good* dealer/installer for the Pioneer unit in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I'd like to see if it could be installed to look factory.

 

[nkiewel]

Originally posted by SilverFox

I'd like to see if it could be installed to look factory.

I'd like to know if it can be installed at all, without cutting the dash to hell...

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Cruising altitude 5 feet, 65mph, no plastic tray tables for me!

Originally posted by Task125

it says 4. 1 in screen,won't play DVD movies it's illegal to have that in view of driver. I like it because it fits like stock radio and can add satellite radio to it. what kind of price for the other system? I'm not sure about getting it or not. don't relay need it. but that never stoped me before

two more things worth mentioning here as you have just brought them up.....



(1) The Alpine head units (and most probably also other ICE manufacturers) do not work directly with the Dodge OEM rear of the steering wheel touch audio source select and volume controls. You need a special cable from your installer which will enable this functionality to work (if you had it in the first place (it's called a PAC cable).



(2) And yes there is also another PAC gizmo which will override the DVD playback inhibit on the screen, again this applies to Alpine from my own direct experience, but the other ICE manufacturers should be pretty similar. Obviously I don't condone driving and watching a DVD - its for the benefit of the passengers.



One other thing, you can also get slave screens and install them in the front headrests just like the regular ones that you find in the rear of airplane seats ,which are driven off the master screen head unit.



I didn't bother with the plastic tray tables :-laf :-laf in my 3500 Quadcab. I will try and get some digital pictures uploaded to my website in the next few days and then post them here if you're interested... .



later



JMc

 

[Task125]

Thanks for the info,

the mopar/alpine unit I saw did work with steering wheel controls,and I will look into this pac cable. or if you know where I can find one for it. I would love to play barney dvd on those long trips

 

[nkiewel]

Re: Cruising altitude 5 feet, 65mph, no plastic tray tables for me!

Originally posted by JohnMcIntyre





[color=darkblueI will try and get some digital pictures uploaded to my website in the next few days and then post them here if you're interested... .

[/color]

Sounds awesome. I would really like to see some pictures.



Nate

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

GPS+...the way forward.

The AV dealer I was dealing with at the time is over on the west coast, in Fullerton, southern California. They're called Pacific Audio & Alarm All the contact details are on their website. My contact back then in Sales was a guy called Dan Grant who can still be emailed at:- -- email address removed --. He or one of his colleagues should be able to answer your questions regarding the PAC cables appropriate to you needs, that I mentioned in a previous post in this thread.



If you are serious about ICE, then please also consider some extensive sound deadening material for the floor doors and rear wall of the cab. (i. e. Dynamat EXtreme) It's a time consuming job, but if you only do it once, do it right and it'll pay dividends in miles and miles of listening enjoyment. It's also an excellent opportunity to locate all the amps, crossovers, caps etc. behind the rear passenger seats too. To complete the ensemble consider the twin JL Audio stealthbox subwoofers under the rear seat - or something very similar - they will really rock your boat



If you have eclective tastes in sound, then there's a couple of reference CDs that will "really" test your system... .



"Riccochet" by Tangerine Dream, 1995, HMV Catalogue Number: V21Y40064

"NightFly" by Donald Fagan, 1991, HMV Catalogue Number: CD23696.



... . and if you go for the DVD on the road option, you won't go wrong with any of these... .



Brian Setzer Orchestra: Live in Japan 2001 (DD5. 1 & DTS)

Eagles: Hell freezes over (DD5. 1 & DTS)

Roy Orbison: BlackandWhiteNight (DD5. 1 & DTS)

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: High Grass Dogs - Live from the Fillmore (DD5. 1)



Okay , back to the main topic - GPS. Over here in Europe the GPS systems have evolved with some real-time dynamic routing functions. By that I mean, if you've entered in your destination, the standard GPS will inform you all the regular stuff like how far, time remaining at current speed, etc and give you a couple of routes depending upon your selected preferences.



The current integrated GPS will mute your audio whilst quitely alerting you on screen to the next turning/off-ramp/whatever with voiceover as well. Over here in Europe we now have GPS+ which uses the dynamically updating location information and then factors in live road traffic conditions on your selected route, so that it can automatically and independently auto re-route you around gridlocked traffic downtown, major highway delays etc. - Handy to have if you're in a strange area. The GPS system is only as good as the mapping database software it is using. The DVD option uses one disc rather than flipping multiple CDs, if you were crossing large distances, both in the USA and Europe. Again the preferences you enter will dictate the alternative routes avvailable.



Enjoy the ICEbomb!!



Nate, I'll take some pictures over the weekend and post in this thread early next week.

 

[Task125]

Thanks for your help john,I can use this to find my way to ricksons Mike

 

[nkiewel]

Re: GPS+...the way forward.

Originally posted by JohnMcIntyre

It's also an excellent opportunity to locate all the amps, crossovers, caps etc. behind the rear passenger seats too

Great idea! Then the rear seats will be heated too!

Nate, I'll take some pictures over the weekend and post in this thread early next week.

That would be great. Thank you!



Nate

 

[SilverFox]

JohnMcIntyre, Am looking forward to the pictures and to anything else you have to say on Navigation systems and related!!



This is a great thread. My StreetPilot 111 came today and I'm sending it back. The products discussed here will look more factory and do as much and more than the StreetPilot. I really don't trust my dealer to install anything. Does anyone know of a good installer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I'm going to be in CA in March (assuming my truck arrives in Feb. ) so might have to use an installer out there.

 

[Task125]

dealer said easy install,1/2 hour. just unplug old radio and a few screws. put in new one and ant. mounts under dash. all plug in. sounds easy enough. mike

 

[nkiewel]

The RB1 looks like an easy install. If you go that route, you could probably do it yourself. Supposedly, there is a ledge behind the dash for mounting the GPS antenna. Remove one screw, pop the center dash section off, remove a few screws holding the stereo in, and a unplug a few plugs. Reverse this procedure to install the new stereo. Looks pretty sharp in the pictures.

 

[SilverFox]

Yeah the install of the RB1 sounds easy but I'm really leery of popping the center dash on a new vehicle when I don't have the slightest idea of what I'm doing. I did go by the dealer today and ask about the nav radio and he hasn't seen one yet. The parts man found it in the accessories book and gave me a best price of $1458 plus tax and shop time for installation. The time allowed by Mopar to install the unit is 1 hour. Didn't get into the PAC cable to make the steering wheel controls work. Doubt he would have know what I was talking about and I don't know enough to explain it. In the end I told him if he could get me one for $1350 plus tax to go ahead and order it. Parts man has to check with the manager, who wasn't there, to see if he can sell it for that.



JohnMcI, I'm not that much into music but ask my wife about the albums you mentioned and she has music on her computer by all the artist you mentioned except Donald Fagan.



Just looked at your profile. Wow, now I'm intimidated:--)

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

NightFly

Originally posted by SilverFox

JohnMcI, I'm not that much into music but ask my wife about the albums you mentioned and she has music on her computer by all the artist you mentioned except Donald Fagan.

SilverFox - My guess is that she has heard it or parts of this CD but not yet realised it..... If you do go looking for it, you'd probably have to request it from the back catalogue - most decent music stores might have it already, because it is a classic - if they have it in stock ask for a preview listen on headphones.



Unless there is a compelling reason, I would recommend you go with your local installer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area rather than one in California and then look at the work that they've done for other customers.



Some of these integrated systems are not as integrated "out of the box" as you might have been lead to believe in the sales literature and as with most things, there is a learning curve to consider. There will always be "questions" and various "undocumented features" before you want to look at any personal preferences customisation.....



One small (cosmetic) point not yet mentioned concerning GPS: The selection of and siting of, a re-rediating antenna on the vehicle. Some antennas can look out of place/ugly and you should shop around. I use two low profile units approx size about 1 square inch and just under 1/2 inch tall. One for GPS and the other for my cellphone handsfree facility. They're mounted on the dashboard right up near the base of the windshield and are almost unnoticeable



Nate - FYI am on the road and travelling across Europe back to England this weekend, so pictures will get taken when I return to Germany on Monday. Realistically, I expect the pictures you asked for to be posted around Wednesday 29 Jan.



JMc

 

[Task125]

today I found out the steering wheel controls work without any thing extra,dealer cost is 1215. 00. and the ant. for the unit is under the dash you don't see it. I would like to find out more about pac cable to view DVDs , mike