do i need a PAC SWI-CAN with the SWI-JACK?

 

im ordering my metra kit tomarow or friday. and when i get it ill let everyone know how it is if u dont have it. im excited! :D

 

alright thanks for the info. Got that off ebay today for $46 shipped. Everything should be going into the car this weekend.

I'm wondering if I should bother making use of the sticky metal plate to stick my GPS antenna to. If I put it under the center dash piece, then it'll be upside down, so the metal would be above the antenna, blocking most of the signal. I'll probably tape or velcro it instead. Can't wait to get all this into the car... although I know it's going to be a PITA.

 

No just the SWI-JACK for RX-8. If you are using a JVC Alpine Clarion or Kenwood headunit.


Do you have the bose speakers? How bout the factory navigation? If you do not have the bose you can stick the antenna where the center speaker would be. If you have the bose and not the navigation you can put it right side up where the LCD screen would be. Of course your plan of using velcro would work too.

 

Just in case someone wanna know

Pioneer has released the "FUXKING TOOK THEM LONG ENOUGH" version 2.0 Last week for ALL F-Series except for F500BT.

IT fixed MOST of the problems. Cut boot-up time by around 30 seconds. Screen is more responsive, finding POI Wont take 10 minutes. not bad.

Will see if they will keep adding features like they did to D3.

 

Oh ok I see what you're saying. Yeah I have bose but don't have the nav screen. So there's a ton of empty space underneath there above the red LCD, where the nav lcd would have gone. I'll just stick it back in there then.
Thanks for helping out in this thread.

 

I just got done updating the firmware of the metra kit. It is supposed to fix most if not all of the issues with the display/AC. I will test it for a few days and post results.

For those that are curious.. you pry open the module and there is a 4 pin header on the circuit board where you connect to a special metra cable.

 

Where did you get the firmware upgrade? Is it available for download?

 

Yes you just download the firmware upgrade tool from AXXESS website. Again you will need the special metra USB-CAB cable.

 

hmm, i just got my kit, i wonder if it already has the update.

 

Maybe.. the update was finalized last week. I'm not sure if it has reached production yet.

 

don't think they did. i got mine this week.

 

where can u get the metra special cable?? ><

 

I just ordered one from installer.com They are a bit pricey ($50+) for reasons which I do not understand, but I ordered one from installer.com

 

anyway to make your own cable? 60 bux plus shipping seems expensive for a one time use...

 

kind of like cut the usb cable connect it to a 4 pin head?....somethng like that..will it work? or do we hafta fork out the 60 bux lol

 

Possibly. Anyone willing to post pictures of the cable so we can see how the wires match up with the USB connector?

 

No I'm quite sure the cable has a special chip inside. You can not just splice a USB cable.

If you contact metra they might send you a cable. Also you can borrow one from any installer around your area.

 

ooo, so most installers have one lying around? thats niceee i hope my installer does....

 

I was not having any problems with my axxess box util this morning. It will not change the display on the readout for the hvac mode. It is stuck on defrost and my A/C and rear window defrost lights will not come on. It seems everything is working but I am unable to get the light or readout confirmation. I can hear and feel the air/fan cycling throught the different modes, but I am unsure if the A/C is actually coming on or not. What a PITA!

"WebXXpress Updater" <----This is what I need right? How do we know if the update is ready? There is no way to search which product is available for an update.

On another note, every time I turn on my fan, my sirius looses signal. I have a Kenwood sirius box and it as well as the antenna are mounted under the "nav" cover, (I don't have the OEM nav by the way). Any thoughts on this? Maybe just have to move the antenna?

Thanks, Dan

 

How about some mini "group buys" and have some community cables? Whenever an update comes out, pass the cable around. If we had say 6-10 people per cable, it would take a lot of updates for the shipping to make it as expensive as everyone buying their own. There had better not be that many updates!

jds

 

Yes the WebXXpress Updater, and then afterwards it downloads a USB bootloader program. You connect the cable, install drivers for the cable. Then you run the USB bootloader program, click update. THEN connect the other end of cable to the AXXESS module 4 pin header in the middle of the PCB.

As far as your problem with the serius.. I have no clue. My sirius works fine with the fan on and everything. I'd check your wiring.



And with the cable for updating, I would probably wait a bit for a better update. The current update while is suppose to be more stable, is not completely perfect. Mainly, it has a problem where parts of the screen glitches for a split second every couple of seconds.

 

If people are getting broken axxess boxes from metra, in a kit that is supposed to come working out of the box, then enough of us complaining should get them sending us the cable at no cost.
Otherwise people might start making noise and that would hurt their sales.
There's a certain bit where selling someone something that is broken but telling them it's not is illegal, so they'll have to rectify it. I sure as heck am not going to give over another $50 to fix something that should be working when I paid $180 for it.
Guess I'll cross my fingers and hope it works.

Here's a question: is there anyone here who has installed the metra kit in their car and doesn't have problems? I'd be interested to know how widespread it is.

On another note, did anyone get a map update with their kenwood units? I got a DVD to update the nav maps to 2009 with mine and it says the update can take up to 2 hours. Has anyone done this and can confirm? Seems kind of a long time to leave my car turned on.

 

Yeah, I downloaded both programs, but I do not have a cable. I was going to check some of the local stereo shops for a possible loaner. Thanks for the info on the update, I guess I'll wait it out for a bit before I go on the cable hunt.

On the screen glitch issue, I have seen mine go crazy twice just before start up, but if I turn the key off and back on it clears up.

As for the sirius, the wiring is good. Everything is where it is supposed to be. There is only one wire coming from the sirius box that goes to the stereo, (it goes to the disc changer port). I guess I'll try rerouting some wires first, then go from there.

Thanks again for the help and info.

 

Oh BTW on your AC settings. That is the major problem with the version 1.0 of this box. The controls will all work 100% but the LEDs and the position display will be frozen.


raphy3: I'm pretty sure everyone who has this unit will eventually have the problem. It is just a question of time. So with that in mind I'm sure metra will have some way of getting the update out to everyone once the problems are all ironed out.

Too bad none of you are in southern california.. I'd be able to update your unit at a meet.