Alpine INE-Z928HD New Radio Install

SUB'D

 

I did not retain the aux port since I have no need for it. I believe I remember reading how others have made it work but I can't be certain.

Let me know what you find.

Thanks!

 

BTW......just as an update (5-23-13)....

I am still very pleased with the radio, or course the recent addition of some new speakers and a sub have certainly helped! The radio itself has been problem free. Nav works great, my only issues is that cancelling the route is a pain and changing the route type is a hassle. (i.e. Fastest, shortest, etc..)

The USB drive works and I have played music from a USB stick without issue. It's also the only input that actually displays album art right now.

CD works great, no issues there other then the lack of album art. (I am currently looking into burning new cd's with it. Although I am not making much headway.)

Sirius Xm works great and I have no signal issues with the antenna mounted on the roof. Only on the heaviest overcast and trees or long bridge will it cut out, but it comes back quickly. I like the direct input on channel feature! My only disappointment is that the station art doesn't display. I have made calls to both Sirius and Alpine on this issue and got nowhere. Sirius was much more friendly and helpful but we both felt that the problem was related to the unit itself and Alpine. Alpine support wasn't the friendliest and tried everything to get me off the phone as quick as possible. They ended it by saying they would speak to their engineers and call me back. (Never happened!)

The Bluetooth calling works good as well with one exception, when someone calls it doesn't display the name from the phone book, only the phone number. My phone book downloaded onto the radio so it should work. Again, Alpine support had no answer for me and never returned my call.

BT Pandora doesn't work for the iPhone, that's only meant to be used with Android phones. (Per Alpine support's comments.) Us iPhone'rs have to use the BT Audio function to stream, which loses the ability of the thumbs up/down feature in Pandora. (Not the end of the world but still disappointing.) It does stream well though, no issues other then what I stated above.

The actually radio and HD radio do work, although I barely listen to it.

I never played a DVD, so no comment.

I've never used the aux input, not hooked up.

Again, all the issues above are minor in the big scheme of things. It could be a lot worse! The 8 inch screen is awesome though and I very happy with this unit. The perfect fit kit that Alpine offers made the installation a lot easier and the steering wheel controls work great!

Just as an FYI....my wife wants a new radio and she's been eying the recently released Kenwood DNN990HD. It looks cool and seems to have a lot of cool features. It will be interesting to compare!

 

Update to the AUX issue. I couldnt dig up a concrete answer so I looked for a workaround. It should be fairly easy to piece together a hybrid USB male to AUX female from scrounge parts or a trip to your local electronics store. The breakdown on crutchfield states that Auxiliary input isnt handled. Not really a game breaker in my opinion, but still kinda bummed that Ill have an empty port. Im anxious to get mine next week

-J

 

I can give an update on my Alpine as I think Fletch and I have had it about the same amount of time.
The Nav functionality should be a little more friendly to use. Pioneer's UI is much more simple, but Alpines does get the job done.
iPod connection works really well with the latest 160 gb ipod. Flips through songs very fast and the ipod video function plays well on the big 8" screen (not when driving of course! )
I've used the DVD player function as well, works with burned DVD's, audio/video alike, works fine.
HD radio works, don't listen to it much as I hate commercials
BT works great, I've changed Android phones a few times and had small issues with my Samsung S3 but nothing major. I now have an LG Optimus G Pro and this phone works really nicely with the HU. Streaming, Pandora, Phone calls, all work well. I also have the issues of not seeing whom is calling and the album art work is only displayed for the ipod songs. Not a deal breaker for me, actually I really don't care
As for the sound, well I replaced the front speakers in my DC SB, added a amp and sub, and some sound deading so its much different from stock. One thing I can comment on, is the MX or Media Expander. I really don't care for this thing and turned it off. It made my door speakers way too bright!
Sat radio works great, all be it no album art, see above comment...
In the end I would do it again, I love the display, its bright and vivid. The Nav could be easier, and I rarely use the favorites option. I don't see how this unit is even usable without the bypass, a total must have.

 

This comment never registered when you made it but I finally came across the video you were speaking of. And it works!....I get full Pandora tools and album art when hooking up like they said in the video! Here's the video if anyone is interested.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clNY-jebAs0

 

I have seen where others have used Axxess

$9 AX-TOYUSB - USB-Auxilliary Retention Harness - USB adaptor to retain the OE USB in select Toyota vehicles

AX-TOYUSB to retain the factory USB location, but I don't know if it allows the AUX port to still be used.

 

I noticed that the TOYUSB specifically states that it is for the 2013 taco. I have the 2012 model so I dont think it should be very dissimilar in how the hookups are concerned. What the heck, its cheap enough to experiment.

-J

 

Updates?

 

Another successful install. I wouldn't even attempt it without the Perfect Fit kit. The TR-7 I got is going back to Amazon. Didn't work. A competent professional here locally was able to set me up with a work around. Very happy so far. Phone book won't load but I'll figure it out (Android).

 

Nice job, you'll have to post pictures when you have some time!

 

subbed.

 

Am I missing something? I am installing mine and don't see the factory connector that plugs into the Alpine's harness for the steering controls to work?

Never mind! I figured it out. Needed to connect the other harness to the back of the unit.

 

Update for me: I'm going to have to go back to my installer to have them check the grounds. My head-unit restarts very sporadically (read: about once every 3 weeks to a month). I'm guessing its a bad ground connection or that the unit is overheating. Its pretty hot here in the summer so that could be an issue. Its more of an annoyance than anything. Still a great head-unit, and it sounds amazing.

-J

 

Got mine installed and love the sound. BIG difference from stock. Amazing how it makes the stock speakers sound so much better.

Quick question though, did the top portion of the trim panel on any of yours have a slight gap on the right side instead of sitting completely flush to the dash pad?
You can hardly notice unless looking from above.

 

I have the same issue, there is just the slightest gap on the top portion of the panel. My gap is equal from left to right, but you can't see it...it's so minor. I wasn't sure if it's due to the fact that there is so many wires back behind the radio and such little room that it doesn't go back all the way. I took it off and tried several times to tuck wires to the side but kept getting that slight gap. It's not a big deal to me, you really can't see it, you can only feel it.

 

Yeah, I did the exact same things thinking it was the wires or something I didn't have right; because it is called "Perfect Fit." It does make me feel better knowing that its not just me and must be in the manufacturing. But like you said, its not really that big of a deal.

 

Wanted to update this thread. Seems I am having an issue with my steering wheel controls. Specifically the up arrow, or the track advance button. It does not function right, it's doing the opposite of what its supposed to do. Instead of advancing to the next track, its actually replaying the track, or playing the previous one. There must be some issue with the pulse logic that is getting interpreted as the down arrow even though I am pressing the up arrow. Its really annoying. It does not happen all the time and seems to be cleaned up when I restart my truck, but its seriously annoying when it happens. I might reset the whole system by removing the neg battery terminal or reset the HU. Anyone else have this issue yet?
BTW this just started happening and worked great before then.

 

Reset the HU, and of course its still not working.
Sent a message to PAC's for technical support, but I have no confidence in that bearing fruit.
On to killing cancer by removing the neg battery terminal for a true reset. If that does not work, I'll have to crack it open and have some 1:1 time with that module.