Tag Archives: car stereo

fixed : where’s the Bluetooth on my JVC KW-XR816 car stereo

Posted on by
Reply

Question :

I want to connect my iPhone to my JVC KW-XR816 car stereo using Bluetooth, but I can’t find the Bluetooth option in the settings menu…

What is wrong ?

 

Answer :

The problem you are encountering is probably caused by the fact that the JVC KW-XR816 car stereo doesn’t have the Bluetooth-receiver built-in… it is different from other car stereos in the respect that the Bluetooth-receiver comes as a separate USB-dongle in the product packaging…

So, find the USB-dongle in the product packaging and stick it into the USB-port on the front of the JVC KW-XR816 car stereo (or, if you slide out the entire JVC KW-XR816, you will see there’s an extra USB-port on the back of the car stereo that’s even more suited for the Bluetooth-dongle). And if the Bluetooth-dongle is plugged-in, the Bluetooth option will ‘magically’ appear in the settings menu…

If the Bluetooth-dongle is plugged-in, but the Bluetooth -option still isn’t showing in the setting menu, plug it out and then plug it back in and make sure it’s connected properly.

That’s it 😉

If you want to consult the full manual of the JVC KW-XR816, you can find it here :

JVC KW-XR816 – User Manual

enjoy !

Donate Button (MacManusNL)

Advertisement

fixed : how to reset RT3 car navigation system

Posted on by
Reply

Question :

I have an old Peugeot with what-once-was a state-of-the-art navigation system : an RT3 car computer by Magneti Marelli. When trying new navigation CDroms, I encountered an error. The dealer says can it should be fixed by a restart of the RT3 car computer by doing a “Dark button”-reset.

However… no-one seems to be able to tell we where that mysterious “Dark button” is located…

Can you please help me ?

 

Answer :

There are two ‘official’ reset options for your RT3 car navigation system :

option #1 :

press the DARK-button until the screen goes black and the RT3 then restarts

Note : the DARK-button is not some mysterious unmarked button, it’s simply the button marked “DARK” that is normally used to darken the screen to not shine too bright at night

option #2 :

  • turn off your car and take the car key out
  • unscrew the Torx10-screws that are hidden inside the two tiny holes next to the “MP3” and “GSM” printed text (note : the screws don’t come out, the just come loose and stay inside the panel)
  • pull the menu-wheelbutton to slide out the ‘car radio’
  • flip open the metal lid that is just above the big barcode sticker
  • take out the yellow battery pack
  • unplug the white connector that is halfway the battery pack’s cable
  • wait one minute
  • plug the white connector back in, but the battery pack back, close the metal lid, slide the ‘car radio’ back in and tighten the Torx10-screws

According to the Peugeot mechanics, option #2 should work if option #1 doesn’t…

Good Luck !

Donate Button (MacManusNL)

fixed : can’t pair iPhone to Bluetooth JVC car stereo

Posted on by
54

Question :

I have paired my iPhones to my JVC KD-X250BT car stereo in the past, and this has worked great ever since. But when I recently switched to a new iPhone I had to upgrade the Bluetooth iPhone-pairing I couldn’t get it to work any longer… even with the manual at hand I couldn’t figure out how to do it… the manual doesn’t reflect the actual situation, and I can’t remember how I did the pairing previously…

What is the right procedure ?

 

Answer :

As you mentioned, the JVC KD-X250BT manual isn’t exact, so it isn’t very helpful…

So here are the right procedures for pairing and unpairing your iPhone(s) to and from the JVC KD-X250BT car stereo [ these directions might also work for other JVC car stereo sets ] :

paring your iPhone :

  • on your iPhone [ only if it has been paired before ] – in Settings under Bluetooth : delete JVC UNIT (*)
  • switch Bluetooth OFF
  • switch Bluetooth ON
  • in Bluetooth, at Devices : select JVC UNIT
  • on your car stereo – the text BT PAIRING is displayed
  • check if the code displayed on your iPhone is exactly the same as the code on your car stereo display
  • if so, – on your car stereo – press once on the MENU-button (the main big round tuning button) to accept
  • and – on your iPhone – click OK
  • now pairing is in progress : – on your car stereo – PAIRING is blinking on your display
  • when pairing is successful : – on your car stereo – your display says COMPLETED
  • now – on your iPhone – check in Settings under Bluetooth if JVC UNIT is registered as Connected ; if not, initiate the connection by selecting JVC UNIT from the list

…that’s it : you’re done 😉

 

unparing an iPhone that’s not around :

  • switch OFF Bluetooth on all iPhones (and other Bluetooth-devices around) in your car
  • on your car stereo –  press and hold the MENU-button (the main big round tuning button) until DEMO is displayed on screen
  • turn/dial the MENU-button until BLUETOOTH is displayed on screen, then click
  • then turn/dial to DELETE PAIR, then click
  • then turn/dial until the iPhone’s name is displayed, then click
  • then turn/dial to DELETE YES, then click
  • when DELETED is displayed, the unpairing is complete
  • to finish, switch Bluetooth back on in all devices that previously had it

…that’s it !

(*) unpairing an iPhone that you have nearby :

  • on your iPhone – go to Settings, then choose Bluetooth
  • in the list of paired Bluetooth-devices (MY DEVICES), click on the ‘info-icon’ at the right of JVC UNIT
  • in the screen that opens, click on ‘Forget This Device’ and wait…
  • when you’re automatically put back into the previous screen and the JVC UNIT is no longer in the ‘MY DEVICES’-list, you’re done…

…that’s it 😉

Donate Button (MacManusNL)

 

tip : most basic car stereo with good iPhone & iPod compatibility

Posted on by
Reply

Question :

The car stereo in my (rather old) car has broken down, so now I need a new one…

What is the (most) basic one that has good compatibility with a recent iPhone for playing music ?

Answer :

Considering that the relevance of any suggestion regarding buying electronics is always a temporary advise, as technology keeps progressing rather quickly and always depends on the way and intensity of your use…

…the best value-for-money deal you can get is :

Pioneer MVH-160UI car stereo (2014 model)                     find it in the UK or Germany

or it’s predecessor which is technically similar, for which you might get a better discount deal :

Pioneer MVH-150UI car stereo (2013 model)                     find it in the UK or Germany

The main advantages of these are :

  • certified iPod & iPhone compatibility, including “Direct Control” of your iOS7-device from the car stereo’s interface
  • front-accessible USB (for use with iOS-device, Android-device or USB-stick) that will also charge your iPhone or iPod during driving
  • AUX-in (for any other music player)
  • no CD (or cassette) player
  • quality radio tuner (with RDS, Traffic Announcement & Radiostation-presets)
  • quality sound output (with 5-band graphic equalizer and 4x 50W RCA pre-amp output)

Of note is that there is also a Sony car stereo with similar pricing and similar capabilities, but unconfirmed rumors say it’s not compatible with the latest iOS7-devices…

Sony DSX A30 car stereo (model 2013)                         find it in the US, UK or Germany

If you are in need of a telephone carkit also, your will be even more happy with a car stereo  that adds Bluetooth connectivity to your iPhone also :

JVC KD-X250BT car stereo                                          find it in the US, UK or Germany

or the Bluetooth car-kit versions of the Pioneer car stereos mentioned above :

Pioneer MVH-X360BT car stereo (model 2014)             find it in the US, UK or Germany

or it’s predecessor :

Pioneer MVH-350BT car stereo (model 2013)               find it in the UK or Germany

Donate Button (MacManusNL)