[magrillz]

Hi everyone,

Just wondered if anyone out there has either got the Pioneer HD3BT Nav Headunit or has got any experience of them. It seems you can get an add on (software) that allows the pioneer to alert you to speed camera's and I wondered if this was any good.

Also wondered what the Ipod Control was like as my old Pioneer Single Din headunit is slightly lacking and slow when changing tracks/artists.

it looks liek a really nice unit that seems to do everything!

Thanks in advance!

[Schmitty]

Hello,

I had one installed two weeks ago. So far I'm pretty impressed, the navigation system is great, having your music on the hard drive is brilliant, and the voice control seems flawless. Sound quality on CDs and hard drive is good. The guy who fitted it (Greg at Auto Audio, London ) warned me that the AVIC Bluetooth link to the phone may introduce echo, but this doesn't seem to be the case at all.

I also went for Ipod control, but it has proved to be painfully slow. I haven't yet figured out if there's an easier way to control it, but it just isn't possible to quickly scroll down through the lists of albums. In practice I just wait till I reach some lights and then use the Ipod's own controls to choose the music I want.

The other issue I've got at the moment is that radio reception isn't as good as my old (OEM) unit was (it's listenable, but a bit crackly at times). I'm not sure if that's because my OEM aerial isn't well suited to the Pioneer, or if the unit doesn't have a great tuner. I'm going to try upgrading my aerial to a hirschmann to se if that improves things.

Hope that helps - let me know if you have any specific questions.

Mike

[magrillz]

Thanks for the reply Schmitty,

Have you gone for the speed camera add on or not bothered? Just wondered how well it worked.

Shame about the IPOD control being slow. I thought they might have sorted that out now as lets face it they are quite widely used. I have a denon amp at home that whilst not as slick as Apples UI still allows you to flick through really easily. I guess I need to arrange a demo before I buy. (Still haven't got the car yet though).

With regards your aerial problem. Have you spoken to your fitter? I remember reading something that some cars needed an adapter when changing from OEM headunits as the aerial requires power to boost the signal. Might have been my golf I had a few years back. Basically I think the OEM Headunit provdes this but when you swap it out for an after market it needs a boost.

I never had a problem but then I only really listen to Radio 1 which is quite a strong signal (should I admit that).

[Schmitty]

I did buy the speed camera update, but haven't installed or tried it yet. Rather frustratingly the file is dated November 2006, so I'm guessing it won't have all the new cameras they've installed.

I'll probably end up using a separate road angel alongside it.

With regard to the radio reception the problems I'm seeing are only on Radio 1 I noticed any problems - but that. It may be me being fussy - over the last couple of weeks it seems to be better.

[magrillz]

hi,

Hmm, it maybe that the file supplied is old but when you install the software on your pc you then download the latest version. I think they are meant to upgrade them all the time otherwise as you say it would be pretty rubbish!

Let me know how you get on

[Adam M]

sadly the avic hd3 is old technology incarnated.

If you want the hispeed ipod set up you need the non HD version avic d3. The downside of this is lack of harddrive and no text to voice on the sat nav.

Plus it doesn't have a fold down screen and the display is smaller.

Still, I love mine and the display illumination can be changed to match my car, which is a great installation feature.

[magrillz]

Hiya,

Is that the AVIC D3 BTI. Is that much better on the IPOD Control then?

The only thing I noticed on Pioneers web site is it doesn't seem to do speed camera alerts which is something i'm after?!

Thanks for your advice

[Adam M]

I am not sure if it does actually.

It has them as POIs am marks them on the screen as you drive past them but doesn't warn you of them so to speak with a noise and doesn't comment on the speed limit on the road.

The ipod interface is much faster. It is not faultless as you need to set up a-c, d-f, g to j type playlists to enable you to scroll through the artists ata decent speed, otherwise you have to scroll page by page and you never end up listening to music in the middle of the ipod.

The ipod speed itself is MUCH MUCH faster than the HD set up as it uses the new hi speed pioneer link.

The d3 also does not have text to voice in the sat nav like the hd does, but the d3 does have customisable screen and button col0our to enable it to cosmetically match your interior illumination.

Given the list I prefer the D3 to the D3HD, especially given the price difference.

[toothpick]

Just got the HD3 fitted in my 350z, and have downloaded the latest tele atlas speed camera plus data, on their web site it says

"Unlike any other speed camera system:
Tele Atlas Speed Camera Plus analyses your
exact position (road, direction) and only warns
you when necessary"

So I assume it must give you some sort of warning, It didn't come with any instructions so I guess I'll burn it to a disc and see what happens. Has any one else got any info relating to this?

My comments on the HD3 + BT + IPOD + Rear camera + Vebra Digi TV tuner (It has been in for only 4 days) are as follows:

Great screen.
Great sat nav, loads of info, very clear, great voice rec. Love the auto ripping of CDs (some cd title\album info is not recognised, so is a little hit and miss.)
Will only let you do post code search when the hand brake is on, which is annoying if your on the motorway and your partner decides she fancies taking a detour to visit some long lost friend. If it is in the address book then your fine.
You can change the backgrounds, but the blue buttons are there to stay.
All in all a great addition to the car, looks like it is factory installed, one of the reasons I stayed clear of the AVIC-D3BTi, the HD3 is very neat. I have an iphone but I don't have 1000s of tracks on it just 100 or so of my favs, the ipod connector seems to handle them fine.
The digi tv was mainly for kicks, although the screen turns off when your on the move (I hear that this can be fudged) it will output to a secondary screen, audio stays on which is great for digital radio. (Have been told pioneer has not brought out a DAB module, is this true? Seems like they have missed a trick, had a Sony DAB system in my old car it sounded crystal.)

Any how going off on a tangent, the whole set up (all in) cost £1600 from caraudiosecurity (am I ok to say that ), not sure if that is a good price. Hope that helps, if anyone has some info on installing the tele atlas speed plus info then it would be great to hear from them before I give it a go!

[toothpick]

doh, there was a pdf of the download page of tele atlas web site. I should try and pay a little more attention. I see that the system records information about were you have driven does anyone know if there is a way of extracting the information? It could be quite interesting.

[18pcs]

Hello Everyone. I was thinking of replacing my original Navigation DIN 2 display in my 2006 Honda CR-V with this Pioneer. I have one question regarding the Bluetooth tel control. Does the screen display a keypad or phone book and can you dial from the screen. Does it also show the caller ID of incoming calls., I am a Nokia user and as of now have a Nokia N958GB .

[Omiserv]

I bought the Pioneer AVIC-HD3BT about 10 months ago. In the time I have had the system installed, it has worked flawlessly. It keeps the whole family happy, with DVD in the back for the kids, music in the front and satnav all at the same time. The bluetooth sees my phone automatically and lowers the music volume when active. The satnav is very accurate and with the camera data upgrade I am warned of any hazards on the road ahead, ignoring roads that I am not on. However, as I travel daily throughout the UK, I need up to date nav maps. I am very disappointed to hear that Pioneer have newer maps but are only installing them into their new AVIC-HD3-II. With no plans to make updated maps available to existing customers with the AVICHD3BT. The Pioneer website even states that the new AVIC-HD3-II is exactly the same as the AVIC-HD3BT but with updated maps. What do they expect me to do, discard my £1600 unit that isn't even one year old and buy a new AVIC-HD3-II (that is exactly the same) just to get the updated maps.. No way.. what a rip off. The AVIC-HD3BT is a great product but only if you can afford to replace it each year. I’m willing to pay for map updates but this is unreasonable. Well Pioneer, what about your existing customers?

[Bennybeanbag]

Not wishing to bad mouth the Pioneer as it does seem to be a really good bit of kit and those that have it seem really happy with it but....look at the Kenwood DNX8220BT. It has all the features of the Pioneer except the HD. I very nearly went for the Pioneer but realised that as I have an 80gb iPod that would be hanging out of the unit, why would I pay for 30gb inside the HU?

The Kenwood is a few hundred pounds cheaper, the iPod control is instant and you can load speed camera POI's via an SD card as well as many others.

To those who have the Pioneer, I'm sure it is an excellent unit and you are very pleased with it. To those who are thinking about it, look at the Kenwood first. It is a 2008 released unit (in the UK - maybe 2007 in USA) so it is kinda latest technology from Kenwood.

[bitonw]

and because kenwood uses garmin they have every year new map updates for about £80 - £100...

[Omiserv]

Further to my last post, in response to my email, I received the following email from Pioneer. It contradicts what I was told by there customer relations team but good news if correct.

Hi,
An updated mapping set is in development for the existing HD1 and HD3 users, this will give you the same mapping information as the HD3II model.
This is the CN-DV800HD mapping update and can be ordered through any Pioneer dealer.
Regards.
Customer Relations
PIONEER GB LIMITED

sorry to drag up an old thread......had my hd3 installed into my tt today (was in a c class coupe before) but the cable that is needed to send the sound to the front and rear speakers was missing (bought the system two years ago and have no idea what ive done with the cables that werent used at the time, apparently need this one specifically because the car has the bose amplified sound system), so the dealer managed to use a different cable but the sound will only run through the front speakers. does anyone know the name of the cable i need please/where its available? dealer was mentioning something to do with RCA but cant remember the actual name of the cable.

thanks in advance

[IANOLIVER]

If you mean the cable that connects to a amplifier that plugs into the white socket on the rear of the HD3 then this is known as the RCA output cable and you will be able to order one from Northolt Car Radio Repairs www.ncrr.co.uk