OttoNavi OEM Look Navigation for Tacoma 05+ ( Review )

So I recently bought the OEM look navigation unit from Otto Navi for my 06 Tacoma. This is a brief review I will add to as things progress. I've had the unit for about 2 weeks and will be taking a driving trip this weekend so I'll get more time in with it. People have been asking for reviews so I thought I'd give some feedback and provide some pictures. Hope you find this information useful.


**UPDATED Review** 2/24/12

So I recently took the truck on a day trip;drove about 1k miles. Unit was on the entire time, used the navigation to get myself around in Socal, worked fine made adjustments fairly quickly when needed. One nice feature is the unit will show the exits as signs on top of the screen as you approach. ( looks like the freeway signs over the road ) Things I noticed:

-When playing Ipod the unit doesn't always start from the last point, sometimes it plays a random song instead of the one I was last listening too.
-Ipod doesn't have sound sometimes after a stop ( engine off, key out ) Have to switch to radio or other type of audio then switch back to Ipod to get the sound again
-The unit sometimes resets with the ipod so it starts the shuffle all over again instead of continuing from the last song played
-Radio Reception is still so/so
-Even after 6hrs of straight use unit seemed to be working fine, no lag


Pros:
-OEM look & great fitment
-OEM steering wheel controls all work
-Ipod, Bluetooth, Back up camera,dvd,mp3, GPS abilities
-Simple to use Remote with good range ( works when standing at the back of the truck )
-Multiple outputs for audio and video
-Works with JBL systems
-Sounds as good or better than OEM radio
-Fairly Easy to use menus
-Back Up Camera works well, small unit with IR leds for night vision and distance lines
-Video is very clear

Cons:
-Radio reception is not as good as OEM, radio stations that I usually get in super clear aren't so anymore. ( Still using OEM antenna )
-Navigation takes about 15 seconds to load (if the app is not already open)
-The unit itself takes time to "start" up ( if I jump in the truck and start the truck and throw it into reverse the camera won't show until the deck finishes loading )
-Takes kinda long for the Navi to switch the audio back on ( audio is paused during navigation talking or functions )
-Instructions provided are not very useful
-Bluetooth sync'd my phone book but the unit arranges name in alphabetical order by LAST name; not the order it is on my phone. And have not found a way to search phone book versus scrolling ( which causes accidental selections )
-Ipod "menu" does not go to normal menu, only lets you choose shuffle mode/repeat, no way to search through playlists for specific songs

Notes:

-the OEM side brackets have dimples that don't perfectly line up with the Ottonav unit, I still bolted it up and it's been working.
-you will need to remove the 3 yellow clips from the OEM radio and put onto the new unit.
-if there is no sound hold the right knob down until you see lines with an "I" across the bottom, once you see that turn the knob and the "I" will change to "E" and you should get sound. I had this issue with mine.
-Check your firmware to make sure it is the latest one for the Tacoma.
-When in radio mode, go to the settings make sure your region is set to United States
-I copied the info from the 2g micro sd card over to a 16g ( so I could fit more songs/movies ) and everything works.
-Some video files do no work ( not sure why yet, may be due to format )
-Ipod sound levels are lower than other formats ( radio,cd )
-I Mounted my GPS antenna on inside top left corner of the windshield
-Bluetooth Mic is clipped to the A-Pillar ( make sure when you run the wires that they are clear of the air bag system )

Conclusion: Thus far I like the unit, now that I got everything figured out. It's nice being able to just add songs/videos onto a micro SD card and listen/watch. Navigation is not too bad between the initial wait time. Unit recalculates pretty fast. Bluetooth I've tested but haven't used much yet. will report back on the sound quality.

I will update this as time goes one. Total I paid for the unit was $700 shipped ( 650 for unit + camera + tax )

Navigation Pictures:

Menu:


Points of Interest:



Sub Menu:


Menu for entering in information:


Options: ( Mute/Dimmer/Logo/Record )


Navi Map Daytime:


Navi Map Daytime w/Route:


Navi Map Night time w/Route:


Radio:


Bluetooth:


Ipod Screen:


Ipod @ Night:


Back Up Camera:


"Movie" viewer goes to file browser ( there is also an app for all file browsing )


Music Video from SD Card:


Back Up Camera Mounted:

 

sorry if i missed it but does it have sat radio?

 

No sir, no sat radio. Doesn't seem to have the capability so it's not a software upgradable item either.

 

How was the backup camera install? Wondering if I would be able to just splice my OEM camera into the input wires on the head unit...I've been wondering about this unit since I saw them at SEMA.

 

The unit just has a standard Video plug ( composite ) in the back harness and a wire that needs Power to trigger the unit to switch to back of camera mode. I'm sure you can splice the OEM wires into a standard Video plug and connect the Trigger wire to the reverse light.

 

Thanks very much for the excellent review. You're doing all of us a great service.

I'm on the fence about this unit because of three things.

1. 1 - I'd like a better iPod interface that shows album art and mimics the iPod controls.
2. I'm concerned the GPS doesn't have good coverage in small towns, like mine. We bought a Nissan with factory GPS and couldn't use it for the first year because the nearest detail mapped area was 60 miles away. I had to wait a year and then spend big bucks to get what the Nissan dealer promised me when I ordered the car. The vendor webpage doesn't show what areas are and are not detail mapped.
3. I'm hoping the G3 update introduces a better iPod interface.

The vendor requires a 15% restocking fee to return it, so if I can't stand 1, 2, and 3, then I'm stuck with it or out 100 bucks for the experience. I guess if Otto Navi would sell it with a true money back guarantee, I'd go ahead and pull the trigger.

 

Does the backup camera mount in the same place as the factory one, or did you mount it somewhere else?

 

Yeah I would liked to have had better Ipod interface as well. It's annoying that I cannot search for specific songs easily. For the G3 we'll have to wait and see. What town are you in? Maybe you can give me an address of something in your area and I can try to set my navigation to it and see if it turns up.

You could possibly mount in the same location as the OEM ( if you don't have one go buy the handle for the camera and then just rig up a mount for this one ) I mounted the camera between the gap of my bumper and tailgate. ( Keep in mind I'm running an ALL-PRO rear bumper so I have more space ) I'll get a picture of it later today for you.

 

The NAV looks just like the Eclipse 726E. I wouldn't be surprised if this unit was made by FujitsuTen; the company that made Eclipse.

 

Added pictures of the Back up camera mounted, haven't decided to keep it there or not yet.

 

I ran this nav on an old pocket PC like 6 or 7 years ago. It was called iGo... Your Eclispe was probably powered by Windows CE

http://www.techrific.com.au/techrif...ew-zealand-powered-by-igo-my-way-8-p-492.html


Here is an undated version of the NAV. Seems if its WinCE, one could actually modify the OS pretty easy and run other interfaces.

 

Oooo, interesting

 

T

 

nice write up...

 

I have seen screen shots from other customers that displayed the artist picture in the iPod interface...lets see if i can still dig it up

 

I'd like to know how to get it to do so, also I remember someone did the Toyota logo on the start up screen.

 

Same....Let me get this right, you can only shuffle all songs or play playlists? No scrolling through artists/albums etc?

 

as of right now you can browse artists, albums, I haven't found a way to search through playlists like you do on the ipod itself. The way I prefer to use it.

 

gotcha I had it backwards then.

 

Dude....Awesome write up. I personally am waiting because I heard mention of the G3, but I think from what I see here you get a lot for 700.00. Its nice having the factory look.

Great Job...