This unit works great. Its got to be the most user friendly GPS I have ever worked with. Easy to enter address info, even for a guy like me. It tend to fat finger everything when it comes to touch screens. This one is flawless.

The graphics on the maps are easy to read, The voice turn by turn directions are very clear and understandable. The biggest help on that is that they are played through the stereo speakers.

The coolest part of this Nav unit vs. any other one I have seen on the market is the fact that you can remove the face and program your directions. Also you can take it into your home plug it into your PC using the mini usb port.

Using the Avic feeds software from pioneers website, you can add different points of interest. Set up software that will gauge fuel usage for trips. And even pre program a selected route to go somewhere.

I love the bluetooth hands free phone portion as well.. The unit comes with a microphone that you can mount anywhere. I chose to mount mine on the headliner right above the drivers side sunvisor. The reason I chose that spot is that it doesn't interfere with use of the visor.

I have talked to about 10 people so far using the hands free, not telling them that ive got them on speaker. Everyone said it was crystal clear. (I didnt tell them that they were on handsfree until the end of the conversation)

It gives you the option to import your phone contacts to the radio, and dial from there as well. It took me about 2 calls to get used to it but now I love it.:nod:

The Ipod control is one of the best features of the unit hands down. Most head units require you to buy a seperate control unit for the Ipod/Iphone.
Not this one. Its built right in. There is a USB port on the back of the unit. It comes with a 4 and a half foot cable that allows you to plug in USB storage devices of your choosing.

Pioneer sells an Ipod interface cable for it. But I will let you in on a secret. All it is is a standard USB to Ipod dock cable. Since I have a few laying around I just used one of them.:thumb:

Along with the Ipod you can also store music files on USB jump drives or other USB storage devices. It breaks them down into files and directorys just like it does on your home pc. Select the directory and song and play it. Easy as that.

It also has an SD card slot that can be used to either update the GPS software. Or it can be used to play music stored on a card as well

There are several other features such as satellite and HD radio capability (With add on controllers. Not included with unit.)

Switching between GPS and radio modes is any easy one button operation.

The Radio, CD player, and Ipod are all crystal clear. I Love the sound quality.:woot: Its got preset EQ settings and also custom build your own sound settings. All easily adjusted using the selector knob on the left side of the unit. For most everything else. Like changing preset radio stations the touchscreen is used. Even in the radio portion the touchscreen is the most user friendly one I have ever used.

Now the only feature I dont like about this head unit is the large selector knob. My wife says I'm just nit picking but in my opinion it should have some kind of rubber surround or something to make it easier to grip for a guy with larger fingers like me. Dont get me wrong. It works great. But that could be one thing they could change in the future.

In summary I have owned, worked with, or installed head units from just about every major manufacturer there is. The Pioneer Avic U310BT is by far one of the most user friendly ones I have ever worked with. If I had to give it a rating on a scale of 1-10. I would give it a 9.5. It would be a 10 in my book if it wasn't for the knob thing I previously mentioned.

If anyone has any questions please let me know. I will be more than happy to answer them to the best of my abilities:nod:

 

sweet write up, definitely went into detail, makes for a good review covering it all.

Got any pictures of it installed in the truck and working? maybe some of the GPS and the other interface screens and such?

 

I do. I will upload them tomorrow

 

my friend has the same unit in his truck and it is saweeeet

 

um..you sure about the ipod adapter chord? Most of them actually have a specific plug on the back for an Ipod chord. I know with my single din pioneer I used the usb cable my ipod came with. But my friends dual din pioneer needed this cable to make her ipod work. PAC ICPIOP Pioneer to iPOD Adapter Cable

 

The new pioneers come with a Ipod specific cord, and the usb cord all in one. These things were built around the Ipod. I acually have eveything on my ipod now. Sold my 30Gb and bought a 60Gb so i could run all my music, movies, and music videos.

 

I love my Pioneer. I have the Avic-F90bt. Like you the only thing i really hate is the knob. And the fact that theres no wireless remote. Or any remote for that fact. But if you become a member of Avic411.com there is a guy on there that makes billet knobs. Im pretty sure he has them for the U series too, if there not all the same. There is alot of mods you can do to these things too to make them more personal, and user friendly.

 

The process is pretty easy in the 05-07 trucks. Turn the key to the run position and shift the truck to low gear if you have an automatic trans. Engage the parking brake. Tilt the steering wheel all the way down.

Firmly grasp the upper dash panel and pull it free. There are no screws that hold it in place. Unplug the headlight switch, Interior air temp sensor 4x4 switch, and heater controls. Take the dash panel and place it somewhere out of the way.

After you are done with that. Take a ratchet, extension and 9/32s socket or nutdriver and remove the bolts that hold the radio in. Unplug the radio harness, and antenna and set the factory radio out of the way. Take the new head unit plug in the main harness and antenna. And in the case of this unit plug in the GPS antenna and USB cord and route them to wherever you choose.



Bolt the new unit in place using the existing screws from to original unit.

Then Take the dash panel, plug all the wire harnesses back in. Double check and make sure that you got them all plugged in or you will have to pull it off again:doh: I forgot the interior air temp sensor :hehe: Then snap the dash in place.

Here's the pics

 

 

looks good and nice write up on removing the dash and such. It really is pretty easy to get it out, a little flat headed screw driver or pick might come in handy for removing some of the connectors but otherwise a quick and easy.

 

Definately right on the pick part. I knew that. Too much beer that night thoughLOL

 

I have an AVIC Z3 is this the newest model?

 

No that is one of last years models. Although a very good one

 

Where did you get the kit for a Double DIN?

 

Best buy is where I got my kit.

Any audio shop should have em though

 

I'm installing my AVIC-X940BT this afternoon, wanted to bump this thread because it is very helpful! (Yes I know its old!)

 

Wow that is old

did mine a few years ago it's a cake walk and when I bought at sonic electronix they include the din and wire adapters so the only extra thing i needed was the steering wheel control module

 

Yep I have a wiring harness, dash kit, wiring kit for my amp, the traffic module, the steering wheel adapter, and all the radio stuff. I've installed two of these before in other vehicles, in my Tahoe it was a pain because of all the Bose stuff and how the radio harness controlled pretty much the entire vehicle ha. I expect this install to be a breeze.

Here's the harness I built for my Tahoe...yikes.

 

My other vehicle is a Tahoe I purposely skipped a Bose model because I thought they didn't sound very good and I knew I'd be ripping it all out LOL

honestly this truck with just satellite tweeters sounded better than most any GM I had been in

 

I'm actually impressed with the quality of the stock speakers, hope the AVIC wakes them up some.

 

try some sat tweeters on the sail covers or whatever their called ( black covers over mirror bolts)

that and a sub and I haven't even messed with the OEM speakers yet and I have some nice ones ready to go from my last truck