need feed back on 2 choices Eclipse AVN726E or dnx 6140

X2 to sirsaechao

My largest quirk is that the navigation doesn't even attempt to get a GPS fix until you agree to the safety conditions. In some units (my old AVIC Z3 at least), this isn't a problem since it can get a pretty accurate estimate while the GPS gets a fix of your position based from its internal inertia sensor and connection to the vehicle speed sensor. The 726E has neither of these, and relies solely on GPS for positioning.

All GPS systems have a cold start and warm start time. It takes about 60-120 seconds for the 726e to get a fix from a cold start, and >30 seconds from warm (vehicle off <15 minutes or so). This becomes cumbersome 1) when you are in an unfamiliar area and need navigation prompts as soon as you begin your trip 2) you are driving, have not passed the safety confirmation, and suddenly require navigation. Having the GPS system begin getting a fix at power-on would solve #2, no dice for #1 though. My antenna is installed under the dash, but I don't think moving it would help as once I have a position lock I have signal from all visible satellites.

Overall I am extremely happy with my 726e. Every time I looked at my AVIC Z3, all I could think was "I paid that much for this interface?!?". Seriously, it was bad. The 726e is much more user friendly and the interface much more attractive and intuitive. Browsing my 240gb ipod is a breeze, where on the AVIC scrolling to an artist in the middle of the alphabet would sometimes take longer than my commute (30 minutes!) PC-style DVD menus would be nice (just press the item you wish to select instead of the soft remote) but to my knowledge all the mobile DVD-NAV systems work that way.

Oh, and I have to say that the first time I drove in the mountains with this I was smiling ear to ear. Those 3D terrain maps are THE shit.

 

Yeah I love the 3D map. My antenna is also under the dash and it does take some time for it to connect. I find that if I have it on from point A to B...shut the truck off and then go later from point B to elsewhere...the GPS connects faster...

 

Yea, like if you stop at a gas station on a trip the nav will be ready almost instantly.

The tradeoff for faster positioning is a more complicated device that requires a connection to the speed sensor. The AVIC requires this, the 726e does not. This makes the install simpler. honestly, unless you're a pizze delivery boy you wont NEED the nav so much that it's a problem.

if you're bored, you can read up on why that is: http://gpsinformation.net/main/warmcold.htm

 

I'm looking into getting either the pioneer avic-z110bt or the eclipse avn-726e and I've read extensively on both units. Since you all are talking about them on here, I figured I'd ask a question that will sell me either one of the units.
For the pioneer owners, is it true that when you disconnect your ipod and reconnect it later, it will take a long time(maybe 20+ min.) to sync the voice recognition to your tracks? And during that time, you have limited use of your ipod? I read this on cnet and was wondering if anyone ever experienced this.

 

I have 11 gigs of music on my ipod and it takes maybe 2 minutes at the most to update the VR. (usually way less) I really have no big complaints with this unit and after hearing some of the problems with the eclipse I am VERY happy with my decision on the avic

 

I put my girlfriends' AVN 726e in her Tiguan two days ago. Thing is freakin sweet and I haven't had much time to play with it yet. I'll be putting mine in this morning. I found the thread where someone posted the directions for wiring up the steering wheel controls to the eclipse; I'll comment if they work afterward!

 

Thanks guys for your comments, I'm going to pick up a unit tommorrow after all the reaserch and the fact that they are getting harder to find.

For those who installed a backup camera: is it true you HAVE TO USE A ECLIPSE CAMERA?

 

Negative, it is just a composite RCA input. Although, I believe the factory camera is manufactured by eclipse or their same supplier, and will work with minor modifications.

 

was going to go get it today but then I was wondering last night:

-what about future updates for the nav?
-if I want to add sat or hd radio in the future will the moduals still be available?

guess its a chance to take, i'll try giving eclipse a call and see.

 

i have been wondering same thing. i am going to buy withen the next week and i am still not sure. but i am leaning towards the avn726.

 

are you guys referring to the rumored demise of eclipse?

 

yes

 

yea, I don't know what's going on with that. I'm not too worried about map updates since I live in a very developed area and this unit will be outdated before missing roads and POI's become a serious issue. The maps are very current by comparison FWIW (my 2004 rx-8 had a map disc that was missing roads built in 2002!). I would like to see a software update to address a few quirks, but of the stuff that could be fixed with a software update if none of it happened I still think the unit outperforms anything else on the market.

I don't do satellite radio, but I'd imagine the receivers would be available on the second hand market for a long time.

 

Eclipse IS actually closing it's doors. Their parent company, Fujitsu Ten is going to be an OEM manufacturer only. I believe support will still be available. The SAT radio stuff will be available as long as there is ebay!

 

thanks for the help. i will be ordering the avn726 in the next couple of days.

 

As of april first of this year there will be no more eclipse from what I read.

I was just at the only local guy around who has any of the avn726e and he has only a display model left, he said he couldn't get a xm satellite radio accesory 2 months ago out of eclipse and had to get one online from a a competitor for one of his clients, also was told that to use a non eclipse backup camera you needed a special connector cablethat was no longer available but was still doable with some soldering, I think I'm gonna sit on the fence with this one and wait to see what the next best thing will be, voice controls is something I would definitly like, I gonna do a bit more searching and decide within a few days, but if not for the going out of buisness deal i would have got one for sure.

 

I was able to tap the steering wheel control harness for the AVN 726e. The steering wheel controls work like a charm. You actually have the ability to set them to do what you want. I made my MODE button my MUTE button because I use that more often.

 

still om the fence lol, i'll decide in the morning

 

well i bit the bullet and decided to puchase the ECLIPSE here is what i just ordered:

ONE ECLPSE AVN 726 E HEAD UNIT
ONE ECLIPSE BEC 108 BACKUP CAMERA
ONE IPOD AUDIO/VIDEO CABLE FOR THIS HEAD UNIT
ONE SET ECLIPSE SC6900 COMPONANT SPEAKERS
ONE SET ECLIPSE SP6510 POINT SOURCE SPEAKERS
DASH KIT FOR 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB TRD (sliver)
WIRING HARNESS FOR FOR 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA DOUBLE CAB TRD NON JBL
2 SET OF TEMPLATES TO MOUNT SPEAKERS IN SAME TRUCK

later on i will add amp and a sub.

 

for those of you with the 726e and have sat radio, can you use the factory shark fin antenna?