Bluetooth, navigation, back-up camera, oh my!

[skeptic]

I'm looking for some advice, or perhaps to spark a discussion, on these things. The way I see it, I have two options to get these features in my H2 like I had with my H3T. I can either piecemeal it or try to find an aftermarket head unit to support all these functions. The big problem is I know next to nothing about all this stuff.

Piecemeal approach:
*Onstar to Bluetooth converter. Lose Onstar capability, which I don't use anyway, but otherwise appears fairly simple and effective.
*Smartphone for Navigation. Screen is a bit small, but free gps nav, free automatic map updates, and using something like Waze it shows traffic, police, etc.
*Backup-camera with a screen that mounts somewhere on the dash or on the front of the rear-view mirror. I'm not sure I like either of these ideas. Maybe I can swap out the entire existing rear view mirror for a new one will all the existing functions plus camera display?

As for the idea of an aftermarket head unit, I'm completely clueless on this one. I don't know if any include free automatic navigation updates, or even free manual updates... I don't know if they can connect to the existing onstar system (the speaker above the drivers seat) or if that even matters. GMOS-04, GMOS-100, ASWC? Will there be an issue with the existing Bose speakers? Will I lose rear seat audio controls? Like I said, this seems the best solution, but I'm fairly clueless on this one.

I suppose a 3rd option would be to swap in a nav head unit from a newer H2 or possibly other GM vehicle, but I don't know if that would get me bluetooth and I'd be stuck with expensive manual updates to the nav system. On the surface this seems to be the worst option.

 

[Kyle]

Just a thought but, if money was no object id pay someone to build a custom operating system for the stock OEM nav unit and integrate a backup camera and up-dateable nav and bluetooth.

 

[skeptic]

Just a thought but, if money was no object id pay someone to build a custom operating system for the stock OEM nav unit and integrate a backup camera and up-dateable nav and bluetooth.

Unfortunately money is an object, plus I don't have an OEM nav unit. I guess if money were no object I could buy an OEM nav unit then have a custom OS programmed for it.

Right now though I'm just after pros, cons, limitations and gotchas for typical ways of getting these 3 things into my 2.

 

[RamRod]

You can get all of those features in most double din head units.

As for a back up camera it's as easy as plugging in a DVD player after you get all the wires run.

Bluetooth on my unit uses a different mix then the existing OnStar one but with the right kit you can have both hands free and OnStar.

The head unit I have is able to be updated as long as you have a laptop that you can connect to the head unit with using Bluetooth.

 

[06 H3]

I love my Double din pioneer, It does all that you listed. I really enjoy that I can play music through the speakers from my phone without a cord. The headunit has the ability to play music without a cord.

 

[H3Ray]

What hassle with it? Just turn your head and look back.

 

[n0useforaname]

This is easy.. like stated above, there are lots of Double DIN units out there that do all of this.. and you can keep onstar and hands free, and put a backup camera to your Double DIN. I personally am not a fan of in-dash NAV.. I prefer to use my phone, but I just installed a Pioneer x8500bhs into my H2, and it works great.. Coupled that with a backup license plate and I have everything I want.. onstar, hands free calling, etc.. And I think out the door I was at 550.00 from crutchfield for everything.

 

[skeptic]

What hassle with it? Just turn your head and look back.

You mean, why would someone care about a backup camera? I can only assume you haven't used a backup camera. It's not as big a deal in the H2 as it was in my H3T - those things really need a backup camera, the view out the back is pretty bad. After getting used to it in the T, I miss it. Not only do you not have to crank your head around, but you can see the entire area behind you. No guessing at where the hood of that small car or edge of the drop off is, you can see it.

I personally am not a fan of in-dash NAV.. I prefer to use my phone,

I'm not a fan of any in-dash nav that uses yearly DVDs for map updates. I've been happy using my phone, but if I'm going to have a ~7" screen anyway, it might be nice to free up my phone for other things and have a bigger screen for nav. The phone apps are better, or at least more flexible in which type of navigation app to use. I wouldn't buy a new head unit just for in-dash navigation, but I'm willing to spend a little extra to get nav on a screen I'm already buying.

but I just installed a Pioneer x8500bhs into my H2, and it works great.. Coupled that with a backup license plate and I have everything I want.. onstar, hands free calling, etc.. And I think out the door I was at 550.00 from crutchfield for everything.

So help me understand this... At $550 out the door for everything, I'm guessing it didn't require a GMOS-04/100 or the ASWC? Does it use the existing onstar mic for the phone, do the rear audio controls and steering wheel controls still work? Or is there enough room in the MSRP that those adapters + a big discount from the $650 MSRP for the head unit still come in under $550? If so, adding the $300 street price add-on NAV unit would put me in the $850 range for everything. This is very tempting.

One thing that nobody has addressed yet though, the existing Bose speakers. I've seen comments where these can be problematic, as well as being generally crappy. I'm not a huge audiophile, so I can live with meh speakers for now as long as they will continue to work fine and are easily replaced later. If there is more to the story then I'd like to know up front.

 

[twinmill28]

The Bose speakers are run by different amps for front and rear. My understanding is that their input/output numbers are not compatible with anything but the Bose system. I tried to upgrade my system cheaply by adding the Rockford Fosgate setup for $300 which is a small sub woofer in a plastic enclosure under the back seat with it's own amp and a set of door speakers for the front doors. Problem with that set-up is those door speakers sound really tinny depending on what music is playing, they sound terrible with a CD in (yeah, I still play CD's). The RF system does add some much needed bass and puts out nicer noise than the Bose by itself.
I don't know much about that Bose system, but I'm pretty sure I'd install new speakers when you put in the new double din. I don't like the Bose sound and have no idea why Bose is so popular, not enough bass or volume in that H2 system for me. I really loved my H3 monsoon system for a stock set-up--it rocked Robb Zombie's "More Human Than Human" like nobodies business.
On another note, I''ve already blown one of the mini-Bose speakers on the far back pillar and just removed it and it's brother on the other side to get rid of the crappy sounds they were making. I was looking for a replacement but realized I really don't miss them back there.

 

[skeptic]

You are hitting on some of my concerns. It seems that back in the 80s/90s the standard was 4ohm for home speakers and 8ohm for car speakers. Except for certain brands which made them essentially incompatible with the standard. Some of the posts I've read, including yours, hint or imply that these Bose setups may have a similar type of incompatibility. If I'm forced to replace the speakers and/or amps as well as the head unit I'll have to take this into consideration.

Gotta agree with you on the H3 Monsoon vs. H2 Bose systems. I was surprised and somewhat disappointed in the H2 sound quality. I was really expecting it to be as good as or better than the H3, not noticeably inferior. I'm not concerned with overall volume, but I would like more bass and a cleaner sound.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

My android phone does mapping and radar detecting - so why does the stereo need to? I've got the not-very-clever pop out reverse camera (from the rear view mirror).... so honestly, we're back to simply a stereo. My H3 has the navigation on it, to be honest, I'd rather the monsoon system with 6 CDs - especially since XM doesn't work really well in cities, places with trees, or large hills... in short, where I live.

 

[skeptic]

My android phone does mapping and radar detecting - so why does the stereo need to? I've got the not-very-clever pop out reverse camera (from the rear view mirror).... so honestly, we're back to simply a stereo. My H3 has the navigation on it, to be honest, I'd rather the monsoon system with 6 CDs - especially since XM doesn't work really well in cities, places with trees, or large hills... in short, where I live.

That was one of the original options, although in my case it's a bit more complicated. I don't have a pop-out camera screen, so I'm left with replacing the rear-view (if that's even an option), a clip on mirror/screen over the existing rear-view, or a separate screen mounted somewhere. None of which are great options. Then there is the matter of a hands free bluetooth phone connection which my H2 doesn't have. There are Onstar to bluetooth converters available, but I believe they run around $200 to $250.

So, piece together the various bits or go all in on a bluetooth/nav/backup-camera screen capable head unit and take the opportunity to improve the stereo system in the process.

 

[twinmill28]

Gotta agree with you on the H3 Monsoon vs. H2 Bose systems. I was surprised and somewhat disappointed in the H2 sound quality. I was really expecting it to be as good as or better than the H3, not noticeably inferior. I'm not concerned with overall volume, but I would like more bass and a cleaner sound.

You couldn't have summed up my feelings on this any better. Again, I'm amazed that for the initial cost of an H2, that's the best that GM did. I think they got away with this stuff simply because so many people bought these H2's new and ripped out and rebuilt the interior finishes and stereos.

I am impressed that the H3 got a well done interior and a respectable Monsoon stereo out of the box. If you look at the 2006 Alpha H1's you'll see the H3 interiors copied some of the H1 pieces--gauges looked similar, Morrocan leather. Wish the H2 would have had an Alpha package.......

 

[Mb30sdl]

08/09 H2s are technically Alphas (bigger engine, better leather, better stereo, etc.) perfection for H2 line.

 

[n0useforaname]

To OP.. You do NOT have to replace the Bose speakers or Amps.. Call Crutchfield and tell them what you are looking to do, and they will send you everything you need. In my case, they sent me that head unit, the GMOS adapters, and an idatalink Maestro to still use my steering wheel controls. Everything is pretty much plug n play with no splicing of any wires. And the stereo comes with a microphone that you mount wherever you want, and when a hands free call comes in, it mutes your stereo and you talk.. it and onstar are completely different and use different microphones. And if you want to have Nav in the head unit.. then get a head unit with nav.. not really sure what else to tell you there. But these double DIN units come loaded with inputs for backup camera, HDMI, Composite, iphone capabilities, USB, etc.. And yes the rear controls still work too.. the adapters you get make sure of that. Call Crutchfield.. if you buy there you get FREE phone support and they are pretty knowledgeable.

 

[skeptic]

To OP.. You do NOT have to replace the Bose speakers or Amps.. Call Crutchfield and tell them what you are looking to do, and they will send you everything you need. In my case, they sent me that head unit, the GMOS adapters, and an idatalink Maestro to still use my steering wheel controls. Everything is pretty much plug n play with no splicing of any wires. And the stereo comes with a microphone that you mount wherever you want, and when a hands free call comes in, it mutes your stereo and you talk.. it and onstar are completely different and use different microphones. And if you want to have Nav in the head unit.. then get a head unit with nav.. not really sure what else to tell you there. But these double DIN units come loaded with inputs for backup camera, HDMI, Composite, iphone capabilities, USB, etc.. And yes the rear controls still work too.. the adapters you get make sure of that. Call Crutchfield.. if you buy there you get FREE phone support and they are pretty knowledgeable.

:thumbs:

What happens later if I want to replace the speakers? That's not real high on my list, the speakers are adequate but far from great, but I'd like to be able to upgrade them in the future without a ton of added cost and hassle. If easy upgrade in the future isn't an option I'll want to look at upgrading them at the same time as the head unit and factor in that cost into my decision making.

 

[n0useforaname]

That I can't answer.. but I'd imagine that someone out there makes a direct replacement for the Bose speakers. I know Rockford did for awhile.. or maybe they still do.

 

[twinmill28]

I do not recommend Rockford for replacement speakers--I've got that junk in the deuce now and can testify to this.

 

[H3Ray]

Again, do you really need all the jazzy stuff ?

Your Rig and 99.9% of all Motor Vehicles are NOT an investment ....

1. All electronics break over time ( when your OG Deck breaks, then buy new )
2. NAV, buy Best Buy gizmo, or use your Droid
3. Just turn your head and look back ( Back Up Cameras easily break )
4. Speakers? Most states it's illegal to communicate with others, even via speakers system. Can't it wait till u get home?

IMO, spend the $ on a nice Winch!

 

[skeptic]

I don't need all the jazzy stuff, but I WANT a backup camera and bluetooth for my phone. For people that claim turning your head and looking back is as good as a backup camera, all I can say is you probably have never had a backup camera. Whether it's backing up to a short car or doing a multi-point turn on a tight trail, a camera gives you a view of obstacles and drop offs that you simply cannot see through the high rear window. As for bluetooth hands free, what I assume you mean by speakers.. If I understand your statement correctly, you have it a bit wrong. Many states do not allow hand-held phone use, if you are going to talk on the phone you are REQUIRED to use a hands free device. I almost never make calls while driving, but occasionally take them.

I'm fine with using my phone for navigation. The $300 to $500 premium to have navigation in the head unit then wait for yearly paid updates to the maps has soured me to that idea.

My first thought is something like a Galaxy 1000 to convert OnStar to Bluetooth for $250, then anywhere from $50 to $500 for the backup camera + monitor. Since I really don't want an extra monitor stuck on the dash or window somewhere I'd be looking at the more expensive review mirror replacement options. For not much more I can replace the head unit with a non-navigation unit gaining bluetooth, a large screen for the backup camera, and greatly improved stereo functionality.

I'm heavily leaning toward option two, either copying n0useforaname's equipment list or buying something similar.

 

[H3Ray]

I would do this ....

1. Buy simple Wired Ear Piece and take your calls hands free: Best Buy $12
2. Buy navigation gizmo: Best Buy $85
3. Do buy the Back Up Cam - Good idea $300-500 ( Dealer factory Installed Unit )

 

[n0useforaname]

Again, do you really need all the jazzy stuff ?

Your Rig and 99.9% of all Motor Vehicles are NOT an investment ....

1. All electronics break over time ( when your OG Deck breaks, then buy new )
2. NAV, buy Best Buy gizmo, or use your Droid
3. Just turn your head and look back ( Back Up Cameras easily break )
4. Speakers? Most states it's illegal to communicate with others, even via speakers system. Can't it wait till u get home?

IMO, spend the $ on a nice Winch!

I would do this ....

1. Buy simple Wired Ear Piece and take your calls hands free: Best Buy $12
2. Buy navigation gizmo: Best Buy $85
3. Do buy the Back Up Cam - Good idea $300-500 ( Dealer factory Installed Unit )

You are 100% right, they are not an investment.. but to some (like myself) it's my sanity/hobby. And from experience, I can say I don't think I've ever had a stereo/speakers/etc.. just break outside the normal warranty period. And without a backup cam.. backing up to connect a trailer, towing a boat, backing into parking spots, etc.. it way more of a hassle.. And you can get a backup cam off Amazon or Ebay for $4.00 that will last for 5 years. And not sure if the east coast is different, but around here you NEED hands free to make calls or you will get a ticket. Way I look at it is.. for under $600.00 you can have a DVD player, hands free bluetooth, bluetooth audio, HD radio, back up cam, etc.. which I don't think is too bad. Also.. if your phone supports it, you can probably find an adapter that will display your phone GPS on the stereo.. I'm sure monoprice has stuff for cheap that will do the job.

And to the Rockford comment: I have them in my rig right now.. and with the stock head unit, you are right.. they were pretty much horrible sounding. But after adding my Pioneer.. I can honestly say I don't mind the way they sound at all. In my last rig I had all JL Audio equipment.. 5 channel amp (technically 6), two 10" subs, 6 1/2 door speakers, all wired directly to the amp.. all separate wires ran for RCA's, etc.. and it was tuned with an Ohm meter. I thought I would be going back to a setup like that, but I'm pretty happy with how my stuff is now and don't even plan on adding subs.

There are sooooo many options and setups you can do with audio equipment.. it's a pain to figure what is "right" for you.

 

[skeptic]

Out of town for a week (family emergency), just got back last night and thought I'd update this thread a bit. I stumbled across something called MirrorLink. Most of you probably know about it already, but it was news to me. Essentially, if your stereo has MirrorLink support, and you have the right phone + app, you can use phone apps on your stereo. With this in mind I decided to go with a Pioneer Appradio 3 (DVD version) plus backup camera. Unfortunately due to the family emergency the next morning I've only spent about 10 minutes in my H2 since the install (the drive home from the shop), but I'm happy with how they installed everything. Bluetooth mic comes out of the little console above the rearview, I had them install the camera on the spare tire mount cover where the license plate is, they flush mounted the USB connection for the phone below the T2/tow mode buttons. Much cleaner install than I would have done.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/AppRadio/AppRadio+3+(SPH-DA210)

Between the head unit, a good backup camera, adapters, cables and install it came to about $1,000. More than I originally intended to spend, but for the clean install if everything works as expected I'll be happy.

 

[Renagade132]

I have a buddy that owns an auto sound and lighting place, so if anyone needs anything, I can reach out to him anytime, and have the stuff shipped to you

 

[MessiaH2]

I just got into this post a little late and am running out the door now and will be traveling for the next 2 weeks but i can offer you some additional info in inbox of what i did upon my return.

MessiaH2 is a 2003 so the electronics were VERY basic..

I wanted exactly what you wanted and basically what i did was got a new digital touch PIONEER head unit installed. Installed a back up camera on the top of licence plate (kinda cheezy, not hidden)...

The real extra cost and time was more in the wiring and integration. I think i paid about $250 for the wiring harness to tie in the blue tooth to my On-star... ended up NOT working how I thought. the wiring will integrate with Onstar so it allows them both to work. This does NOT mean you are going to use the onstar system as your voice for your phone....The issue was when i picked it up from the guy there was a microphone poking out of the headliner looking at me. (cheezy right?) I was told there was NO WAY to wire into the On-star microphone for my year/model which was very disappointing. (NOW this might only be with a 2003 but ASK first.) With that said the On-Star still works as before and cuts out the radio when initiated. The stock speakers work great. The other thing was i wanted to use all the controls on my steering wheel which if i remember ended up being another wiring harness to integrate that too. LOL

End of the day I probably spent about $900 and have a great touch screen head unit that integrates with my stock Bose speakers, Bluetooth for my phone, 2 extra plug ins in the center glove box (usb & ipod plug), back up camera (Love that thing), On-Star integrated and a good sounding system. I also had them ADD 4 toggle switches into my headliner which now control all my auxiliary lights and i love that. that was also in the cost.

I should have asked more questions about the integration wiring which it seems you are doing.

To do it again, I would learn more and NOT take stuff for granted. I would have insisted on a microphone and camera that look like they are integrated and stock. I am NOT a fan of **** looking like it was added.

good luck