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m.hony · 06-25-2016, 08:53 AM

Aftermarket will give you more bang for the buck-
More features for less money and generally better sound quality and reliability-
Kenwood is apparently an exception to that general rule.

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73shark · 06-25-2016, 10:11 PM

The MB radio in mine is the most unintuitive POS that I've ever had the misfortune to try to use. The only tuning control is w/ the seek buttons which prevent one from tuning a weak station that they may just want to listen to or in my case tuning to an unused FM freq. for my XM module.

kscherzi · 06-25-2016, 10:18 PM

I guess I'm lucky the Sony in my 2013 still works. Confusing but Airstream included a handy cheat sheet I still reference.

m.hony · 06-26-2016, 05:41 AM

I've had good luck with Sony head units, amps, and speakers.
Still use Sony home equipment- TV, receiver, DVD player, tape deck-
The Sony in my trailer is nice. No CD player, but SiriusXM ready, iPod, and Bluetooth-

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Protagonist · 06-26-2016, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kscherzi

Confusing but Airstream included a handy cheat sheet I still reference.

Airstream has always been better at documenting trailer systems than they have motorhome or B-van systems.

Haasman · 06-26-2016, 01:13 PM

Kenwood DDX6902S that has Apple Carplay.

Why? because we felt the OEM radio Kenwood DNN992, although in many ways incredibly capable with just about every bell and whistle that could be added, was an overkill.

The Kenwood DDX6902S has a real physical knob to turn audio volume up and down, and if you push it, it reduces volume.

But truly the best part is the Apple Carplay- plug in your Apple phone and Siri connects, use their maps (no more paying for Garmin map updates), ask Siri to read you messages etc.

Very easy on-screen navigation, can still play DVDs etc. Oh it sounds great!

Haasman

(Anyone want to buy a Kenwood DNN992? Like new, hardly used)

m.hony · 06-26-2016, 01:17 PM

CarPlay sounds like a cool feature.

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gmillerok1 · 06-26-2016, 05:06 PM

My Kenwood DNS890HD, which I had installed since the 2011 model came with he stock MB radio, has become haunted during a short ten day trip. The screen display randomly changes. It will go for hours without a problem, then suddenly start up, usually just about the time I need the GPS the most.

The only reason I liked the Kenwood is the Garmin GPS. Not sure what I will do at this point. Send it in, buy something else, or just buy a standalone Garmin GPS.

Also, the transfer switch now transfers to AC shore power when it feels like it, unless I give the transfer box a good whack. I'm not sure how long that will work, so I probably need to replace it.

gmillerok1 · 06-28-2016, 05:15 PM

Actually, I stand corrected. I have a Kenwood DNX7190HD, and it's the model that has malfunctioned.

With such poor quality, I am hesitant to buy another Kenwood product. In looking at my options, I'm pretty stuck on Garmin, and Kenwood is the only head unit that has it. I figure that to fix the Kenwood I'll be out a minimum of a couple of hundred bucks, if not more, to fix a 5 year old unit.

So, I've decided to buy a Pioneer receiver AVH-4200NEX with Apple Carplay features, and use a separate Garmin GPS. The problem with that is that the 2011 Sprinter has a cover over the center dash and no where handy to put the GPS. I saw a 2015 Sprinter model, and noticed Mercedes figured out that the cover was not a good idea and changed it to a half open type tray. I checked with a Sprinter parts guy, you can replace the tray with the cover for the new open tray. So I ordered it and will replace the stock tray. That way, I can use a stand-alone GPS sitting in the front of the tray in sight but out of the way, and have the receiver dedicated to Bluetooth phone and Apple Carplay as well as other features.

It seems to me that the head units with Nav do everything adequately, but nothing well. The reviews are not particularly encouraging on any of them. By separating them, I should have the best of both. Plus, if one fails, it's not as much of an investment as a head unit that has both built in. Anyone have an opinion about this before I order the goods?

SiennaGuy · 06-28-2016, 10:58 PM

You must have read my mind. The Pioneer GPS and Carplay's maps both are fairly full featured. My Pioneer always works and I love Carplay's Siri. Still, there are some features that I miss about the Garmin GPS that was in my godawful Kenwood. The Garmin allowed you to add custom waypoints like the branches of my particular bank, or all of the Camping World stores, for example. Once they were loaded onto the unit, it would alert me when I got close by, if I wanted. Additionally, I could use the Garmin desktop computer app to plan trips and then I could load them onto the unit. It also had a Detour function that would route you around traffic jams.

Since I'm still on Garmin's mailing list, I recently got an email describing their GPS that was made specifically for RV folks. I haven't seen it yet, but it sounds interesting. I have no idea if it inlcudes the above features. It's the model# RV 760LMT and here's the link to it on the Garmin site:
http://sites.garmin.com/en-US/rv/

Harleydeal · 06-29-2016, 06:47 AM

Garmin owns Fusion Electronics which manufacturers the new unit going in the '17 AI.

73shark · 06-29-2016, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SiennaGuy

It's the model# RV 760LMT and here's the link to it on the Garmin site:
http://sites.garmin.com/en-US/rv/

Just read some of the reviews and while most were on units two to three years old, a lot of them were negative. Caveat emptor.

gmillerok1 · 06-30-2016, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73shark

Just read some of the reviews and while most were on units two to three years old, a lot of them were negative. Caveat emptor.

Garmin has been around a long time. In fact, it was the first GPS I owned over a decade or more ago. The GPS in the Kenwood served me well during the four years the head unit worked and I have no complaints. Reviews on the web have to be taken with a large block of salt. Many are subjective.

I plan on replacing the Kenwood DNX7190HD with a new Pioneer AVH-4200NEX, and use a standalone GPS.

Donata · 11-14-2020, 04:58 AM

We just purchase 2016 with Kenwood DNN992. Already hating it! Can't set up account or Wifi. Keyboard doesn't come and and keep on getting"Parking Off" message. Help!!!!

onemorejeff · 11-14-2020, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donata

We just purchase 2016 with Kenwood DNN992. Already hating it! Can't set up account or Wifi. Keyboard doesn't come and and keep on getting"Parking Off" message. Help!!!!

Apply the parking brake