The Great HU Install of 2023

If you don't read the instructions you just wonder why you have those left over.

 

I have mine mounted in the same spot. I did a test call to my wife and she said the same thing, that she is getting an echo of her voice. Has anyone had success with the mic in a different location?

Also any tips for an affordable front camera that works with the kenwood?

 

I ran mine up the A pillar and stuck it next to the visor. I asked a couple of people how it sounded and they both said better than it usually does. I need to pull a bit more slack so the wire is not as noticable.

 

Get the Natika front camera off scamazon - pick your flavor, there’s a couple options.

 

Thanks I will look at that one. I actually have an old camera installed from the anyTimeBackUpCamera that I did. I would like to just retain that camera if possible. I cut the camera end off the existing harness and it exposed 3 wires which I presume is +,-,and signal. I have an RCA plug from the kit but it only has two available wires. Anyone smarter than me know how I would go about wiring this camera up? maybe just buy a RCA end with 3 wires. Or would it just be best to buy the Natika.

 

Wire the+ and signal together and link that to the one available non-RCA. If that doesn't work, then you'll probably need another camera, but it'll likely work.

 

I guess I’m not entirely following what wires you cut. The HU should have a female RCA for camera input, and the old anytime camera (which may be a Natika depending on the kit you r originally bought) should have had a male RCA plus a trigger wire.

 

It was not directly to an RCA. The camera came to a split. One wire went to a relay the other went to an RCA end. Which is why I cut the 3 way part out and was just going to solder in a single RCA connector. I think I will probably just end up buying a new camera. I appreciate the replies though!

 

the single wire going to the relay was likely the trigger wire to send power to the camera.

 

I just installed a Natika to my Kenwood Excelon DMX709S yesterday. Installation couldn’t have been any easier. Power, ground, and RCA input to the head unit. You’ll have to set it up in the head unit after installation. And for some reason the Maestro RR allows programming one of the steering wheel controls to display the front camera, but once hooked up it doesn’t seem to actually work. (The camera works, but the steering wheel control won’t activate the camera.)

My only complaint, if you could call it that, is that the power and ground leads are configured so it was much easier to wire them into the underhood fuse box rather than under the dash. I used a fuse tap to the USB fuse, and increased the fuse from 7.5 to 10 amps, but mainly because I also added a QC3.0 port at the same time.

I also used this mount from Yota LEDs to mount the camera to the grill. It’s a little pricey for what it is, but it was worth it to avoid drilling a hole in my grill.

 

Do I need RCA cables for Kenwood/Maestro to factory JBL amp?

 

No.
The factory JBL amp has nowhere to plug RCA cables into.

 

Got the knob installed this evening. Relocated the microphone into the cubby but still has an echo. None of the settings seem to do much. But I am done tinkering and will never open that dash again until I rip it out to sell / trade the truck.

 

How’s the knob function?
I’m not a big fan of it sticking off the side, but I think it can be mounted anywhere, right?

 

Thought my stereo was possessed today.
The other day the screen started flashing between map and car play screen. I reset my phone and drove the couple of mins home no issue.
Today was a couple hour drive and it starts doing it again. Reset. Still doing it. Disconnect the phone and the radio stations start changing.
I have a Ram mag charger on a ram mount next to the screen. When the phone is on and charging it freaks out the screen. Holding the phone next to the screen no issue. With the phone off and charging no issue. Phone on and charging it goes nuts. I moved the mount a couple inches away from the screen and it’s fine now. Except I can’t get to settings. Which it did the after the first time it happened but I didn’t relate the issue. So I have to pull the unit out again. Disconnect and reconnect the bypass and keep the charger and phone away from the screen.
Or maybe it is possessed and just tricking me to pull it apart again.

 

it’s actually not bad; once you tap it it will pair in a few seconds. You can mount it anywhere - I just chose to the bracket it came with. I may eventually relocate it but happy with it for now

 

Is your screen sitting up high enough to access the pocket? And if so, do you or anyone know why mine isn’t accessible? Mine is covering the pocket

 

I have a strange question. After the install, done by the Best Buy experts, my auto dim headlights don’t work. I noticed it when at night my dash wasn’t lit up. I have to manually switch them. Any ideas?

I have another, much less strange question that I just thought of. Is there a way to make my tire pressures show up? They currently just say N/A. I have the Alpine Halo 11, and I should point out the truck is a 17 Platinum, and it was originally out of Canada. That may or may not mean anything, but they’re not entirely identical to the American ones (ie, Entune and the features that come with are similar but not identical)

 

I can answer the TPMS question! Our systems don't report the individual wheels, it's purely an on-off switch.

 

Booooooo. But thnx!

 

Pop your center speaker grille off and make sure they plugged your light sensor back in

 

Thnx! I’ll try that for sure

 

Ok I got my kenwood installed a few days ago and so far it’s been pretty good with one exception. My wireless CarPlay is week. My music gets glitchy and I have even had CarPlay completely freeze up a few times, and maps lag. Happens almost every time so it’s frustrating for sure. Any ideas how to get wireless carplay more stable? I have tried putting my phone in different positions. I don’t have any magnetic phone mounts just simply keep my phone in my pocket or the cup holder.

 

have you tried checking to see if there a firmware update for the head unit?

 

Have you tried updating the firmware to the headunit? I have a 907s that had similar issues, after I updated the firmware they went away.

https://www.kenwood.com/cs/ce/mm/firmware/2020/2020g/eng.html

 

Question #3 - the “foot brake” wire doesn’t exist in this newest generation of Alpine radios, so there’s nothing to connect the yellow wire to.

 

wow yeah I'm way behind... currently running 1.4 and looks like the lates is 1.7. Not sure why I did not think to update firmware from the get go.