The Great HU Install of 2023

The latest USB upgrade (v5.0.001) was updated on Sept 8th, and prior to that was v5.0.000. Wouldn't hurt to make sure you grabbed the latest or check on the OTA update screen... but just be warned, the process is a little buggy. It'll say "couldn't connect to server" or something, but if you go back to the previous screen and back into the OTA update screen, it should check the next time.

 

I stole @AZTundra's idea and mounted the RUX-HO2 knob at the front of the center console - after a little troubleshooting, it seems to be working pretty well!


I had an issue that I think was already described on here, where it wouldn't reconnect after the initial pairing. I had to unpair both my phone and the knob, restart the HU, pair the knob first, then the phone. Since then, things have been working as expected. This location is perfect for me since I'm usually resting my arm there.

 

Like I said, best on the web! I’ll do that asap. I did buy the MRR2, and the first update I did wasn’t buggy at all and fairly quick, from my iPhone/AT&T hotspot, and went quickly. Crossing my fingers it’ll go similarly

 

I had the same problem. It seemed heat induced - would work fine cool, flicker when warm or hot. Replaced it with new camera.

 

I have the Nakita camera- it seems to cut out 15 seconds after putting it in reverse. Does it for just a second, has always done it since day one.
I figured it was just the electronics talking.

 

Weird, so has mine and my wifes

 

does someone make a black HU dash trim kit?

 

If anyone is interested in picking up the screen protector or the volume/bass knob (or whatever else) from Trail Grid Pro here is a 5% off code: HIGH5

Not much, but figure maybe someone can benefit from it.

 

Finally!

 

Anyone having an issue with Waze on the head unit? I downloaded iOS 17.0 and after that the maps on Waze are taking forever to calibrate when I am in the truck. Like 20 minutes searching for location and jumping around on the map……

 

$32 Metra 99-8246HG Single DIN Dash Kit for Toyota Tundra 2014- (High Gloss Black)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I6409QW?th=1

 

Welp, that sucks. I DO have the most recent update. I’ll have to let BB know since I purchased the protection plan. Idk what they can or will do, but I seriously just lose all sound. Booooo

 

Is there a huge difference between the Dasaita and Metra dash kits for the install of the Alpine unit?

 

Dasaita has metal side brackets (not nearly as thick as the factory ones though), and do not have a filler for the single DIN opening. Metra are plastic.
I don't have any experience with the Metra kit in this installation, but I am about to finish up plugging in the Alpine with the Dasaita unit. I know I'll be back in there again for my COM install and will figure out a closure for the open hole then...

 

Question: I have my alpine unit hooked up and I'm trying to get a Roku stick to play videos from the head unit. I have a HDMI and USB accessory block hooked up to head unit. Roku symbol comes on screen and I can see my apps load up on the screen but I cannot navigate at all afterward, like the screen is frozen. It says "not connected" on the top right of the screen. I turned on WiFi hotspot on my phone and connected it to the headunit. What else am I missing?

 

Don’t connect to headunit wifi, connect roku to cell wifi.

 

She's in!


Earlier this afternoon when testing connections.


What a fucking rat's nest, and there's no good way to clean it up. The way Alpine does the connections on this thing is nuts. One harness I don't need anything in except the microphone connection. And the camara connectors requiring extra dongles, or having 4' long USB ports...there's a lot of extra crap back there that simply shouldn't be there. Whatever - it's done (for now).


Here are my thoughts and notes on the specifics that I did that might help others (though I'm pretty sure I'm late in this game).

I have a 2021 TRD Pro CrewMax w/ JBL Audio. I set up the system using the factory JBL amp, speakers, and subwoofer. Sometime in the future I will swap that stuff out, but for now this is all I'm going to tackle.

• I have the factory rear camera
• I have a Natika front camera - wire the trigger lead at the RCA jack to the Amp Turn On lead that is taped/heat-shrinked on the Maestro harness
• I used the
  $34 Dasaita 2Din Dash Kit for Toyota Tundra 2014-2021 w/Metal Brackets & Multi Installation Kit - Upgrade Your Truck's Audio & Tech!
  Dasaita dash kit, and will eventually figure out something to cover off the single DIN section that isn't closed in.
• For HDMI and USB-2 (the grey USB) I used this dual-purpose port, and put it in the center console to replace what I had in there before. The 6-ft cable leaves plenty of space, but a 3' might be cutting it close. I routed the cables along side the shifter in the center hump, then out that side trim along the left side of the AC box and up into the radio space high along the top vents.
• I did not bother with a SiriusXM tuner (I don't use it)
• PAC Audio TR1 for Video in Motion bypass - follow the wiring shown in the second diagram in this post
  
• For Radio Integration components
  • Maestro RR2 (bluetooth programmed, and I may add one of the extra controls at some point) - flashed to use the factory amp (connects two RCAs to the front L/R amp pre-outs) and followed the wiring instructions for it
  • Maestro HRN-HRR-TO3 harness "plug-and-play"
  • Maestro Alpine harness ACC-HU-ALP1
  • Metra 40-LX11 radio antenna adapter - and I made sure to wire the blue power cable that comes with it to the power antenna wire on the Maestro harness
  • Maestro ACC-USB-TO3 to retain factory USB port
    
  • Discount Car Stereo SUMI-CT21 to retain factory GPS antenna
  • Enfig Car Stereo MIC-TOY1 microphone that clips into the pre-2019 microphone location in the overhead console
  • Alpine KCX-CAM1 for connecting the front camera RCA to the Alpine harness

I used VHB double-sided tape to mount the Maestro unit on top of the head unit. I put the HU in the bottom mounting position, and then lowered the screen one set of screw holes from where it shipped from factory (I believe the manual referred to this as the -15mm position).

Connect the green/white "speed" wire pigtail from the Alpine secondary harness to the Maestro HU adapter harness.

The WHITE antenna is GPS. The BLACK antenna is SiriusXM. They are the same shape.

Plug everything else in.

You will have these three factory connectors that do not hook to anything. They are part of the Navigation system ECU, which is the LOWER part attached under the factory head unit.


A picture of the mic location in the overhead console


Do your best to shove everything up and to the sides behind the new head unit while you slide it into place. Hope like hell you didn't forget anything (I forgot to install the HDMI retainer...), and hope even more that nothing got pinched, clipped, or otherwise disconnected.

Then fire it up and give it a test! I also downloaded the 5.0.001 firmware to USB and updated that as well.

 

That is all I am finding also is the gloss black which matches nothing on the dash. Bummer

 

I guess you can say I cheated... I know a guy that owns his own business and he came over and was here for 3 hours and it was in and tuned. We talked a lot so he actually only took about 1.5-2 hours. I did nothing for the sound at this time and have removed my rear seats and that subwoofer is in the way. We made a plan to upgrade here in the future and installed it based on that. I can hear sounds from my iPod I have not heard since listening from my head phones.

Thanks to everyone for the posts, without that I would not have this on my dash now

 

I pinched the mic cord the first time around. Ended up wrapping the new one in tape for the first foot or so. The wire is so thin and who knows what it is hitting when everything gets put back in there.

 

I forgot to add:
The navigtation "page" in the instrument cluster is still there, but it is blank.
And the Toyota app (I subscribe to the basic remote start/lock function) still shows vehicle status, fuel tank, mileage, etc. and can remotely lock/unlock the doors and remote start. Looking at the wiring, the black/white connector that is not used in the aftermarket/Maestro setup is what connects the DCM module to the head unit, so I would expect that the SOS button function won't work because the DCM module won't have a microphone or speakers it is connected to at all. That black/white connector is also what connects the Navigation ECU to the factory head unit, so that's likely why the navigation page in the instrument cluster is blank.

 

The nav pane will work if you have an aftermarket HU with actual navigation - the Alpine doesn’t, just phone apps, so won’t populate it. It’s a bummer.

I want to say the SOS stuff has dedicated hardware for all functions though. Have an overly paranoid coworker that wanted to remove or disable all of that in his Tacoma and was talking about all the different systems he had to touch.

 

I wonder about getting the Alpine GPS dongle then...but I don't use anything but CarPlay anyway for navigation. It's interesting that it uses the GPS antenna for radio and to supplement CarPlay, but doesn't directly provide the function. Maybe this is an excuse to get one of those old bubble compasses to mount on the dash.

Looking at the audio diagrams again, you may be right on the SOS stuff. Looks like the DCM unit connects directly to the factory microphone and then passes the signal to the factory HU.
(*3) is wiring for "w/ Safety Connect" so you can see the mic runs to the DCM and then the DCM just sends a + and - signal to the head unit. Now I wonder if I could adapt that signal to the aftermarket HU more easily than adapting the factory mic on non-DCM rigs...


The gray wires above from the DCM unit go to the GPS unit - presumably to communicate regarding location, but that connector is not connected to the new HU at all.

And it looks like it actually directly connects to the front passenger dash speaker and tweeter by taking the output signal from the amp to the DCM unit and then back from the DCM unit to the actual speaker set in the door.
(*3) is the wiring to/from the DCM unit and J146 is the passenger dash speaker followed by M1 is the passenger door tweeter.


Of course - these are all specific to JBL audio in a 2020/2021 truck.

It looks like the "Premium Audio" (separate amp) 2020/21 trucks also have the DCM module taking the front passenger dash speaker output and from the HU and then re-directing it back to the speaker. And the mic routing is identical to the JBL setup.

Finally, the "Base Audio" does the same thing regarding the passenger speakers and mic.

 

How's the Enfig Car Stereo MIC-TOY1 microphone sound quality when making calls?

 

I got mine in yesterday afternoon as well & I think everything works. Truck is a 2020 Limited DC & all factory speakers and amp (non-JBL). Initial impressions before touching any settings is that it definitely sounds better. Especially via Carplay/Spotify or a USB stick with mp3s on it.

Everything tidied up and ready to go in...



So, it's damn tight in there for sure. I was shocked how tight it was for routing wires. I routed the Alpine microphone over to the steering column b/c it seemed the simplest for now. I still want to add a front camera down the road, so I might change this in the future after seeing the Enfig option, but it works OK. Mounting the

$13 BATIGE USB 3.0 & HDMI to HDMI + USB3.0 AUX Extension Dash Panel Waterproof Car Flush Mount Cable for Car Boat and Motorcycle - 6ft

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CG4FX3H?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 to the lower dash panel (if you take it out completely) is very smooth, but finding room to route the heavier HDMI/USB cables coming from it can be a challenge. I got them up the left side and into the HU compartment using another cable taped to them to pull them through. I fed everything into the dash slowly and almost had the mounting points touching, but ended up popping off the center grill on the dash, removing that speaker quick and reaching in that hole to pull the harness and Maestro up further, which allowed the HU to sit in place properly. I am kind of worried something is up against the fan on the rear of the HU b/c it's so tight, but not much I can do. It's a lot of wires.





All locked in & powered on! I love the position using the lower mounting spot in the dash kit. Really glad I changed that and it seems super solid as well. I never changed the screen up/down, so it's in the bottom how it came and I am happy right where it is.



So, final notes after testing all the basic stuff.

- Used the Axxess AX-TRIG1 for my PB bypass and Settings button is available at all times, so I think that all works. Didn't test VIM, but expect it will work.

- @RainMan_PNW I didn't connect the power antenna wire like you mentioned above, but I am pulling in radio stations no problem so I guess I don't have to? First I saw someone mention connecting this, so I was curious.

- I used the same Sumi GT-21 adapter wire to retain the factory GPS antenna and yes, the compass display is now gone from the dash. I wasn't thinking that these units didn't have their own navigation, so that is an interesting point. Oh well. No biggie.

- Wireless Carplay works like charm. I didn't try wired Carplay b/c well, can't imagine needing it now, but probably should test it.

- Both the main USB (Carplay one) and the secondary USB I added have power and will charge devices. I spend a lot of time in backcountry, so offline music is important to me. I tested a thumb drive loaded with MP3s in both USB inputs and it works like a charm. Great sound as well. One oddity is that I couldn't get either USB port to recognize an "old school" Ipod when plugged in. It will charge it, but it wouldn't recognize it as source I could use or listen to, which is strange. Not sure why. Have to look into this further.

- Tested a Firestick in the HDMI Port and was able to watch things over Amazon Prime no issue.

- Another thing to note is that my F511 shipped on 9/9 and it already came with the newest version of the Firmware loaded, so my issues downloading it are non-existent at the moment. I was very surprised, but they must have started loading it on units before the published it.

- @RainMan_PNW don't worry about the HDMI retainer clip, It wouldn't fit with the size of the plug on the BATIGE unit (if that is what you used) anyway. I didn't use it.

 

I still need to test that. Was a busy weekend and didn't get that far.

 

Great idea on pulling the center speaker to reach down in there and feed that mess. When I pull things apart again to add my comms radio, I'll tidy things up better and do that.

As for the antenna power lead - I saw that my antenna had the power wire in the factory connector, so I decided to retain it.

 

Discovered a "park assist" setting in the camera settings after the 5.0.01 firmware update on the Alpine. You can have it automatically trigger the front camera when going below a certain speed. I turned it on and am going to play with it a bit, but it was great for creeping into my parking space this morning and really hugging up to the bumper in front of me.

 

correct, IIRC if you don’t have the fender mounted antenna, you will have an amplified AM/FM antenna.