Adding an aftermarket radio to 07-14 FAQ

[gooffeyguy]

That was my general experience also until I found this one, and it's excellent. I have two - one in my 2012 and one in my Land Rover with the factory Alpine head unit.

Amazon.com

Can this device be used only for Bluetooth music streaming from the phone and not for hands free calls? The OE Bluetooth hands free calling does me just fine especially with the voice commands to call saved numbers

 

[Geotrash]

Can this device be used only for Bluetooth music streaming from the phone and not for hands free calls? The OE Bluetooth hands free calling does me just fine especially with the voice commands to call saved numbers

You'd have to disconnect from the device and reconnect to your truck's handsfree to do that, but I find that the noise cancelling in the device is quite good, and I use it as my primary device now for hands free calls.

 

[Charlie207]

I feel like there was a missed market for a device to bridge the Bluetooth from the factory hands-free system to the A/V (music) system. I have no idea why that was ignored in a 2014 vehicle.

 

[SNES Avalanche]

I feel like there was a missed market for a device to bridge the Bluetooth from the factory hands-free system to the A/V (music) system. I have no idea why that was ignored in a 2014 vehicle.

GM being GM mostly. I added it to mine using

iSimple ISGM751​

 

[Charlie207]

GM being GM mostly. I added it to mine using

iSimple ISGM751​

Looks like it's Discontinued/OOS & not compatible with GMT900 w/Nav.


If there was an equivalent that'd be cool.

 

[SNES Avalanche]

Looks like it's Discontinued/OOS & not compatible with GMT900 w/Nav.


If there was an equivalent that'd be cool.

I use it with my Navigation / Bose / Rear DVD entertainment on a stock 2008 GMT 900 Radio.

 

[PatDTN]

Can this device be used only for Bluetooth music streaming from the phone and not for hands free calls? The OE Bluetooth hands free calling does me just fine especially with the voice commands to call saved numbers

Many phones allow you to control what is allowed on a Bluetooth connection. You can pair with the built-in (On-Star) for phone only AND connect to the radio for audio and data. I have that in my 2009 Tahoe. I bought a Bluetooth adapter from Crutchfield that connects at my XM adapter. That does audio only into my stock stereo. Unfortunately it's getting a little sketchy so I'm starting the research to get an all new system that will do Android Auto.

 

[Rocket Man]

Many phones allow you to control what is allowed on a Bluetooth connection. You can pair with the built-in (On-Star) for phone only AND connect to the radio for audio and data. I have that in my 2009 Tahoe. I bought a Bluetooth adapter from Crutchfield that connects at my XM adapter. That does audio only into my stock stereo. Unfortunately it's getting a little sketchy so I'm starting the research to get an all new system that will do Android Auto.

You can now find wireless Android Auto/ CarPlay units which are nice because your phone can stay in your pocket.

 

[PatDTN]

You can now find wireless Android Auto/ CarPlay units which are nice because your phone can stay in your pocket.

Looking. Trying to keep my steering wheel controls and would like to keep my backup camera, Bose Amp, add another camera. I have to back my boat at a right angle to my driveway with very little room to spare around the corner of my house. A "portable" bluetooth camera that works with the stereo would help. All that and affordable.

I don't really care about my rear entertainment.

 

[Rocket Man]

Looking. Trying to keep my steering wheel controls and would like to keep my backup camera, Bose Amp, add another camera. I have to back my boat at a right angle to my driveway with very little room to spare around the corner of my house. A "portable" bluetooth camera that works with the stereo would help. All that and affordable.

I don't really care about my rear entertainment.

I highly recommend the maestro interface to hook up all your factory stuff. You hook it to a pc through usb to program everything into it like factory amp, steering wheel controls, chimes etc and then unhook it from the pc and install it in your truck with the stereo. Also, most of the Pioneers have inputs for 2 cameras, not sure about other brands. Unfortunately it all comes with a price.

 

[PatDTN]

I highly recommend the maestro interface to hook up all your factory stuff. You hook it to a pc through usb to program everything into it like factory amp, steering wheel controls, chimes etc and then unhook it from the pc and install it in your truck with the stereo. Also, most of the Pioneers have inputs for 2 cameras, not sure about other brands. Unfortunately it all comes with a price.

Thanks. I'll look into Maestro. Incidentally my brother is a rocket scientist.

 

[PatDTN]

I pulled the trigger today:

ITEM​

​

QTY​

PRICE​

	Metra AIP-35AV6​	1​	$12.99​
	Pioneer AVIC-W8600NEX​	1​	$1,200.00​
MasterSheet Installation Instructions​	MasterSheet Installation Instructions We will send your MasterSheet™ by email.​	1​	$0.00​
	Metra 40-CR10 Antenna Adapter​	1​	$9.90​
	Metra 95-3305 Dash Kit (Black)​	1​	$13.20​
	Crutchfield ReadyHarness™ Service​	1​	$24.99​
	iDatalink Maestro RR Interface Module​	1​	$132.11​
	iDatalink HRN-AV-GM5​	1​	$28.07​
	iDatalink ADS HRN-RR-GM5+ Interface Harness (ADS-MRR or ADS-MRR2 module also required)​	1​	$53.67​

​	​	Subtotal:​	$1,474.93​
		Sales tax (TN):​	$143.80​
		Shipping:​	Free​
		Order total​	$1,618.73​

 

[PatDTN]

I'm in the middle of installing the Pioneer AVIC-W8600NEX in my Tahoe. The radio came with a GPS antenna but my Tahoe has navigation and thus has one in a perfect location with the wire running to the stock radio. The connector won't fit the Pioneer. Does anyone know if it's compatible?

 

[PatDTN]

DOh. Just did a search here and see nobody has gotten it to work. I'll try to contact Pioneer and see what they say.

 

[Rocket Man]

I'm in the middle of installing the Pioneer AVIC-W8600NEX in my Tahoe. The radio came with a GPS antenna but my Tahoe has navigation and thus has one in a perfect location with the wire running to the stock radio. The connector won't fit the Pioneer. Does anyone know if it's compatible?

DOh. Just did a search here and see nobody has gotten it to work. I'll try to contact Pioneer and see what they say.

AFAIK it won’t work. Let us know what Pioneer says. These types of antennas are generally tuned specifically for the particular GPS receiver, they’re not like an AM/ FM antenna where they work with any brand of receiver.

 

[PatDTN]

AFAIK it won’t work. Let us know what Pioneer says. These types of antennas are generally tuned specifically for the particular GPS receiver, they’re not like an AM/ FM antenna where they work with any brand of receiver.

We'll see if they respond. I used their online support system to ask my question.

I'm waiting to see which GPS antenna I will be using so my dash is kinda scattered but I found another oddity.

My radio includes the ability to turn on the backup camera for checking on a trailer. Something I really wanted. The backup camera works fine in reverse but I get a blank screen with the button. Even switching between camera inputs.

Then there's the microphone. I hoped to tap into the OnStar mic because it works well and is integrated into the tahoe but then there's nothing plugged into the mic input and indeed it doesn't work.

More to learn.

 

[iamdub]

We'll see if they respond. I used their online support system to ask my question.

I'm waiting to see which GPS antenna I will be using so my dash is kinda scattered but I found another oddity.

My radio includes the ability to turn on the backup camera for checking on a trailer. Something I really wanted. The backup camera works fine in reverse but I get a blank screen with the button. Even switching between camera inputs.

Then there's the microphone. I hoped to tap into the OnStar mic because it works well and is integrated into the tahoe but then there's nothing plugged into the mic input and indeed it doesn't work.

More to learn.

How are you triggering the reverse camera- tapped into the reverse light circuit?

 

[PatDTN]

How are you triggering the reverse camera- tapped into the reverse light circuit?

Yeah, I had Crutchfield make up the cables. It looks like part of it might have some diodes in it. My thinking is the radio sends a signal to activate the camera. The harness Crutchfield supplied is so ugly I'm tempted to redo it without putting pairs of wires into rca jacks then using a connecting rca jack to split them into two wires again about 8 times.

 

[Rocket Man]

Yeah, I had Crutchfield make up the cables. It looks like part of it might have some diodes in it. My thinking is the radio sends a signal to activate the camera. The harness Crutchfield supplied is so ugly I'm tempted to redo it without putting pairs of wires into rca jacks then using a connecting rca jack to split them into two wires again about 8 times.

Ask Crutchfield about that issue since they made the cables for you. They’re pretty good with customer service, they can walk you through. For my mics on both trucks, I just clipped them on the top of the a pillar on the driver side. Don’t even notice them there and it’s easy to run the wire, just pull the a pillars.

 

[PatDTN]

I talked to Crutchfield today. Reverse activates the backup camera with power somewhere. Using the view camera button doesn't apply power. The solution is to replace my camera with an aftermarket one. Not happy.

I routed the GPS antenna and microphone up the right A pillar to the rear view mirror. I'll stick the antenna to the windshield behind the mirror.

I thought I had things settled and closed up the dash. Then since I added a mic I tested my phone. I get a screen that says OnStar active and my choices are end and talk. Talk does nothing. I don't remember changing anything. AARGH.

I can text without touching anything. Need to get a text and have it read it to me.