Home > Consumer Reviews > Pioneer AVIC-F900BT In-Dash Navigation Audio/Video Receiver with DVD Playback and Advance Voice Controls

I purchased this unit for my 2003 H2 Hummer. For some reason the unit will turn itself off during operation, regardless of the mode it is in. I don't know if the unit itself is incompatible with the Hummer system, but this scenario is beginning to happen more frequently.

The Navigation system doesn't seem to be up to date, as i notice while traveling it will give a route selection that is abnormal to the better route i have traveled for some time prior to its purchase.

ITS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
This low priced NAV is just that - you get too much for what you pay for. I had this installed in my wife's car and she is a first timer to GPS and she likes this F90BT. I've had a dedicated portable GPS for a long time now and I hate this F90BT, it is too unstable for me Ive seen the maps orientation lock up and then me trying to figure out how do I compensate driving down the map not up like I'm use to - wondering is the next turn on the screen backwards too! you ask yourself ?

I suggest that only first timers to gps buy this NAV unit.
1. I think it will help if this is your first GPS unit because you won't know the difference on how poorly this device functions. The data text information on the map screen borders are almost the same as the background why !!!
2. (or if you really need both you should buy a good radio and a seperate portable GPS) Same cost anyway !!!

I've been using the 900bt for a few months now and love it.

Complaints: the main knob is used for tuning, voice initiation, volume and all that. More time should have been spent on the touch screen programming to include the voice commands and such, the touch screen is defiantly big enough to hold at least six primary icons rather than the three giant ones currently available. Pressing the tuner knob dead center to activate the voice commands doesn't work all the time. Next time leave the tuning/volume knob in its classic config.

Raves: all the add-ons are fantastic!!! Rear cam, mic, ipod, you name it it's out there and works perfectly. The GPS in 3D mode - very cool. Steering wheel control was a great idea. The speech recognition works perfectly and the options well thought out.

Mine was professionally installed so it looks great in the dash. Love the lighting options.

One note on installation, make sure your audio guy installs the Velocity indicator (VI) connection. Better estimates on arrival times from the GPS and the display is cool too.

All in all - GREAT PRODUCT!!!

I installed the Avic-F900BT, along with the Sirius receiver, back-up camera, and Steering Wheel Interface. It is a great little system that will keep me entertained for a very long time.

Installation was straightforward, using a wiring harness adapter and double DIN mounting kit. The trickiest bits were running the wire to the back-up camera lens, and finding the wires that I needed to tap into.

I was extremely frustrated with the unit prior to disabling its "moving vehicle lockout" feature. Unless the parking brake was engaged, you could not control the unit from the touch-screen. By enabling a well documented (but not Pioneer supported) bypass, you can use the GPS and other features while your vehicle is in motion.

Because the unit is based on Windows CE, it is very customizable. It will play audio and video from an iPod, Sat Radio, AM/FM, SD card, CD or DVD disk, or another USB device.

It has built in Blue Tooth support, but does not support streaming music. It quickly uploaded my contacts and music titles from my iPod, and the integration of each is seamless. Note that the iPhone and newer iPods are "unsupported". You get an error when you connect them, but all the controls work. My iPhone 3G will not charge when connected, something I hope to rectify with a CableJive adapter that I've recently ordered.

The GPS is second to none, with auto scaling, and other interesting features. The FM and AM station presets display on the touch-screen buttons. However, the Satellite Radio UI does not show which preset is for which station, and although the unit knows the station, artist and title, it can only display one of these.

Pioneer has been releasing software upgrades, but a number of people have reported installation problems. You can check out [...] to get a feel for the problems (and interesting workarounds) people have had.

If buying new, I would pass on the "F" series, and look at the newer models. If buying used, ensure the unit has been upgraded to version 3.

UPDATE: Downgrade to ONE star!

AS far as I can tell, the GPS maps are by a European company called iGo (not to be confused with the the company that makes mobile power adapters). While the unit shows my exact location on the street, the map's GPS location isn't calibrated to the visual map. Example: Routing takes me to locations anywhere between 2 and 4 blocks away from the actual destination. It claims my home address doesn't exist. When I marked my house on the map it shows an address 4 blocks away. I assume this could be fixed by calibrating the map, but I can't find any information anywhere about how to do this. Pioneer does not respond to emails and iGo refers me to the device manufacturer. Aaaarrrggg!

Never did get contacts to transfer from my phone because the unit isn't compatible with Palm OS devices. The screen for the unit's dial pad isn't accessible unless the parking break is on, so I get to squint at my phone's small dial pad if I need to make a call before I can pull over. I understand the need for safety, but with so many restrictions, I can't do much of anything with it after I leave my garage. I honestly thing I'd be better off with a portable dash-mount GPS unit. Happily, the satellite radio and mp3 inputs work great.

If I could in good conscience take this thing out and sell it to somebody else, I would. I just wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

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I've had the AVIC 900bt for about a week now. I really want to to like this device, especially after paying to have it installed. Here's what I think so far:

Pros:
Bright, colorful screen

Intuitive icons and ease of use

Maps are clear and the GPS is reasonably fast

Sound from radio, AV sources is clear

Cons:
As noted elsewhere, it is very slow to boot up. My last OEM booted up instantly

Phone pairing took many tries (Tip: try the pair from phone option first)

Still can't get contacts to load. The screen says the transfer was successful, but no contacts show up

Phone audio is inconsistent, ranging from acceptable to poor

Last, and most annoying, you can't access phone, system and navigation settings unless the parking break is on. If you want to enter a location, you have to park and engage the parking brake.

Granted, you probably shouldn't enter data while driving, but you should be able to do it while waiting at a red light. If you're on the highway, you'll have to get off before changing your destination. The good news, there is a way around this if you do a search of AVIC forums and have some do-it-yourself skills or a helpful friend, but seriously people, this is really, really annoying. (Same with viewing video, although, I can't imagine why you would watch a video while driving, unless you have a passenger who's watching.)

The phone book transfer seems to be a pretty common one judging from the forums. The unit has an SD slot and USB connection, but I can't find any way to upload contacts using these. I'm going to try to load the contacts again, but if I can't, I will be returning the unit and find something else.