May someone clarify if it indeed Sync is needed?

 

Crutchfield is running sale on pioneer DVD players with Bluetooth for $279. The netra kit is $200 and another $80 or so for the wire harness. You can get a better head unit with more functionality for less if you go that route.

From what I've seen and read, this Raxiom kit is basically a monitor with a bezel. You need Sync to have it work or you'll just be able to see what radio station and CDs are playing. Of course you can still use the headphone jack for sound but it won't be controlled by the head unit or steering controls.

 

Still waiting to see where others decide mount this rear view camera and run the wiring into the car. I want to hide it as much as possible and hide the wiring as well. I don't want a wire draped over my bumper leading to the trunk. I have the other end of the connection already run to the trunk and I'm just waiting to see some pics of how others did it before I mount mine.

 

Its looks great and I think I will put it on my build list. Im just a little unsure of the antenna. Its looks a little boxy and out of place over the window.

 

I hve mine mounted on the back deck inside the rear window. Where the child safety seat mounts are. Clear view of the sky, and no ugly piece outside. No one would even know it's there.

 

Solved my mounting issue with the camera. I popped out the tag light housing and ran the wire in there and snapped it back in place. It secures the wire nicely and doesn't seem to have damaged it and it won't move which is good. Then I ran the wiring from the trunk down through the grommet at the bottom of the spare tire well, and cut out a notch to allow the wire through and allow it to still seal. Then I taped the seal inside te trunk for extra insurance and connected the wires and I'm all set. Mounted the camera using double sided tape, and you can't even tell unless you get under the bumper and look up at it from an inch or two away. In the picture you can see the wires going into the spare tire well. The camera connection was sealed tight with a lot of electrical tape and I zip tied it to the rear valence mount underneath discreetly and protected the connection further by zip tying it up above that one mounting plate kind of thing so it's not getting road spray right up into it directly. Best I could come up with, without drilling. Everything is as discreet as possible.

I also included a picture of how I mounted the GPS antenna inside the car. I put a Velcro strip (the rough half of Velcro) on the bottom of the antenna and it sticks securely to the carpeting on that back deck by the child seat anchor points. The wire is tucked under the side trim and just runs straight out to the antenna. You can't see it from the inside of the vehicle unless you stick a camera up there like I did, and from the outside the wiring and antenna are the same color as the carpeting pretty much so you'd never know. Again, this as discreet as I can get it in hiding it from the outside to keep a clean look. Now I'm finally happy with my Raxiom system!

 

^That looks nice and clean. And if you limo tint your back windows no one, including yourself would even notice the antenna.

Matthew

 

Thanks. I tried to hide it as best I could. With it being Velcro I can always move it and hide it better. And you're right about the tint. No one would ever know.

 

The more I think about it now though, the camera to harness connection is still a little too exposed for my liking. There's plenty of wiring that would allow me to hide it up into the bumper more to keep it more protected and drier. I'm going to make that modification today.

 

Yes, your Mustang needs to be equipped with a Single disc CD player and SYNC for this Navigation to work properly. Stay tuned though, we're going to see about putting something together for guys without SYNC!

-Dan

That looks awesome! Very clean install, this is exactly where I mounted the GPS antenna and the Back up camera.

-Dan

 

Thanks! I managed to clean it up even more today. Very happy with everything so far. Works flawlessly.

 

Hi, my name is sri. i ordered this nav unit and going to fix this today or tomorrow. i saw your pics for the rear view camera and gps antenna in above msg. if you find a better way to place them plz let me know. pics will be real helpful.

Thanks in advance.

 

Yeah I'll let you know but I say around for 4 days straight trying to think about it and ended up going with a combination of thoughts I had and those that people on here have me. This is about as clean of an install as I could do without ripping parts off of the car and putting it back together. Only thing I did different was wedge and secure the connection up into the rear bumper area itself. I could barely get my hand in there so there's no way I can get a camera in there. It's basically tucked inside the bumper support/frame now.

 

I am following this post from few days and i am also thinking in different ways of placing these things. i dont want you to go inside to get pics..i am just expecting some pics to get some idea and try it in. thanks for quick reply.

 

If that's the GPS antenna, I placed my GPS antenna for my Pioneer unit under the dash in the front of the car. you can still get a great line of sight through the plastic dash cover. I popped off the front speedo/cluster cover and felt around with my hand and found a ledge to mount the antenna to. This was a couple of years ago, so I don't have pics.

 

That's what I was thinking. I have seen these types of aftermarket radios with GPS and people have always said they have mounted the antenna under the dash. If this unit, which I like over the other options, requires the antenna to be on top of the car or even in the back like the above posters have done I will be less likely to do this.

 

Anything available for non-sync cars?

 

+1 for the now sync mustangs. All I want is navigation with an OEM look. Double thinking not getting the premium mustang with sync. But it so much more for just sync and leather. Especially since I got leather take offs from roush for only $500. I have a lot long distance trips next year and I would love to have a dash kit by then. Might have to pull the trigger and just get a kenwood.

Pensacola, FL --> Ft. Smith, AR
Ft. Smith, AR--> Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX --> Pensacola, Fl
Pensacola, FL--> San Antonio, TX

 

You can do the iDataLink kit and Kenwood unit and not connect SYNC - the only thing you lose is the stuff you won't use anyway with the Kenwood onboard (Navigation, Bluetooth Audio, Bluetooth Phone). I have mine connected and haven't used SYNC since the day I installed the Kenwood. Seriously. I only connected it because it's there.

 

I will admit I was a Raxion Nav unit hater. I HATED it when I first saw it. But I think I am slowing coming around to it. I looked at the IDatalink unit with AM HU but dont see any that look right to me; they just done look OEM which is what I want. Yes the screen is smaller than I would like to see but you have to admit it does look like it came with the car. And the price is right; $700 vs. how much for a good HU and Datalink? I think I may be converting...I am really liking it more and more.

I do have a few questions if Dan or any Raxion owners care to answer them:
How do the maps get updated?
Does the screen display band name/song title, info when on radio or cd?
Does it display the same info when using BT, or USB audio input? Or does it just say "Blue Tooth", and "USB Audio"?

Thanks guys!