T5 transporter aftermarket radio options

[Dennisg51]

Hi, I have just found this thread, after being totally frustrated with my T5 Camper aerial coverage, thus looking for a good upgrade.

Fozpuppet, the Pioneer F80DAb looks great, seems like it has good reviews & I'm not keen on any aftermarket Chinese stuff.

Would yo be able to advise was this a professional install, if so who by?

Does it require some better aerial set up other than the existing rear view mirror aerials?

Have you found any glitches or other advice you could impart?

Thanks Dennis

[Foxpuppet]

Hi, I have just found this thread, after being totally frustrated with my T5 Camper aerial coverage, thus looking for a good upgrade.

Fozpuppet, the Pioneer F80DAb looks great, seems like it has good reviews & I'm not keen on any aftermarket Chinese stuff.

Would yo be able to advise was this a professional install, if so who by?

Does it require some better aerial set up other than the existing rear view mirror aerials?

Have you found any glitches or other advice you could impart?

Thanks Dennis

Sorry mate didn't see this.

Install by Strathfield CarRadios. They didn't do too bad a job.

There's an extra antennae on the windscreen passenger side for the gps I believe.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dennisg51]

Thanks Foxpuppet, I was thinking you didnt have the thread listed as a follow, so much appreciate you found it.

I just returned from a quick trip to Adelaide and had said numerous times to the wife, bl.......y wireless is useless!!!!XXXXX I will definitely have to update it

Now thanks to your rely I have a base to begin with. Cheers Dennis

[Sunny43.5]

Here is the Nissan one please ignore the larger hole being cut in the roof , its folded forwards out of the way for the sunroof install .
I spoke about radio reception problems with aftermarket ones some years back , I think the issue is that the factory radio actually powers up the antennae wires via the head unit which boosts the signal . We found the same problem with our Chinese ones at first , so I ended up fitting a roof mount aerial from a Nissan X Trail it has a power wire built in so I only had to connect that to the headunit and it works a treat . The latest Chinese one I fitted to my work van pulls in even the AM stations from far away plus the FM ones that used to be almost impossible to receive once you were out of the city . The model I am running also has Digital Radio + reception is limited to around 50 km line of site from Brisbane as digital is not well supported just yet . I used to always have Pioneer stereos in all my previous cars but when we bought our first T5 VW GPS became more popular and I could not justify the ridiculous price the major radio manufacturers wanted just for an add on GPS module {like VW do } So when the Chinese started to supply their models with GPS standard I jumped right in . The other nice thing with the Chinese ones are you get the biggest screen size possible our current ones have 8inch screen size because unlike VW they put the knobs at the top where the head unit is widest that means they can fit a bigger screen than the VW one with knobs at the bottom which takes up space . I fitted a fold out screen model Phillips model to my sons VW Transporter T4 many years ago and the Auto barn shop slugged him $650 for the unit and an extra $550 for the GPS module !!

[Foxpuppet]

The pioneer is a nice unit, everything just works without hassle but it comes at considerable expense. it was $2099 installed including the reverse camera and harness/mounting kit for the unit.

Work expense though so not totally rorted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[H8T0W8]

I considered heavily about going for a Chinese unit, although the issues with radio reception, sound quality , reliability and discussions in this forum weighed heavily on me.
So I opted for a RNS510 with 9W7 Bluetooth module, with much patience I ended up finding a secondhand unit for $550 including the Bluetooth module.
I also had to purchase a gps antenna $20, single to dual aerial connector $14 and plug and harness including microphone was $100. Installation I did myself in about 3 hours, recoding took me a little bit to refine and research. But well worth it, I love the seamless integration of the system and quality. I obtained the unit from a wreckers so they included a 3 month return warranty for me. Not trying to steer you away from the Chinese unit cause the connect ability of android was ever so tempting.
The genuine reverse camera is about $300 I think, I haven't purchased this option as yet but is my next on my wish list.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Transporter]

The genuine reverse camera is about $300 I think, I haven't purchased this option as yet but is my next on my wish list.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Good choice.

Non genuine camera works quite well and is around $100 incl wiring.

[Sunny43.5]

Comparison time Chinese head unit DAB+ AM FM radio Bluetooth standard [No Coding required ] plays DVD,s MP3 discs Mp4 WMA and other Discs region free . Digital TV / GPS standard with concealed antennae up under dash . Forward collision camera connected to head unit and stores footage to a SD card $20 . Reverse infrared camera with guidance lines $25 WiFi connection to local network . Mirror Link to IPhone or Android . Monitor engine performance and stats via Bluetooth module to diagnostic port $25 . Built in Graphic equaliser dedicated subwoofer output and extra RCA outputs for amps and also RCA inputs for other devices and also two USB connections with supplied cables . Multiple screen savers . Ok you get the picture why I like them and all this for less than $450 when you consider a RNS system in 4 years time the system itself along with GPS maps will be so far out of date , meantime I can replace the head unit for the most up to date model with all the apps and functions etc every year and still be better off dollar wise . Yes I have read some reports of problematic ones maybe I have been lucky but so far all good .

[Dennisg51]

Ok you get the picture why I like them and all this for less than $450 when you consider a RNS system in 4 years time the system itself along with GPS maps will be so far out of date , meantime I can replace the head unit for the most up to date model with all the apps and functions etc every year and still be better off dollar wise . Yes I have read some reports of problematic ones maybe I have been lucky but so far all good .

Sunny, thanks for yr option v's the cost of the RNS units, any chance you can provide unit name, model, supplier?
When installed is it still utilising the side mirror aerial system? My understanding is that it's these side aerials that would limit a units effectiveness.

[Sunny43.5]

They now have special adaptors for the twin Fakra antennae so they have moved fast to fix that problem . Link here to the item , I will get the model number for you soon . https://www.erisin.com/erisin-es068-...r-vw_p300.html The same company have the various units

Sunny, thanks for yr option v's the cost of the RNS units, any chance you can provide unit name, model, supplier?
When installed is it still utilising the side mirror aerial system? My understanding is that it's these side aerials that would limit a units effectiveness.

[Dennisg51]

Foxpuppet, I noticed in an earlier post you mentioned the Pioneer unit linking to steering wheel buttons. My T5 transporter is bog standard, steering wheel has no buttons, did you by chance update yours? Sorry if this is erroneous but I've never been into this area of vehicle updating before but am really frustrated with the base unit! Thanks Dennis

[Sunny43.5]

I can partially answer this one as our van is also without steering wheel controls , first off you need to purchase a whole new wheel with the buttons I think there is a compatible Golf wheel which fits . Then you need to add the appropriate wiring loom from the steering wheel clock spring and hub down to the BCM . Once that's done you need to get the Computer changed to show the steering wheel controls have been added . There was a good write up on the Forum some years ago with all the stuff listed but not sure where it is now . I tried to do the upgrade to my 2005 Transporter and gave up as it seemed a dead end for that model to find the parts ,.

[Dennisg51]

I tried to do the upgrade to my 2005 Transporter and gave up as it seemed a dead end for that model to find the parts ,.

Thanks for the info, I was assuming that was the case, I'd agree....all in the too hard basket

[Foxpuppet]

Thanks for the info, I was assuming that was the case, I'd agree....all in the too hard basket

Mine came with the premium steering wheel, but I did read someone added a paddle shift wheel without too much difficulty (but they knew what to do with vcds


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Dennisg51]

Update on my Radio Replacement: Purchased & Installed from Frankies @ Nowra - Pioneer AVH8850BT including reversing camera and new external aerial for the bullbar.

All up $1300.00 and I'm very happy......Android Auto is great, the BT handling of phone calls is excellent and generally the Pioneer setup is very straight forward. Reversing camera is clear, has guidelines and switches as soon as reverse is selected.

Many thanks to those on the forum whom help us....hopefully this aids someone else. Cheers Dennis

PS: I just placed a review on Frankies website, couldn't help but notice they have a new special on this Pioneer AVHX8850BT unit....now down to $750......I paid $822.00