| [GMCnet] Dashboard Radio Upgrade [message #356473] |
Mon, 06 July 2020 23:20  |
Stu Rasmussen
Messages: 130
Registered: January 2019
Location: Silverton, OR
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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A while back I was researching a replacement radio for the in-dash unit.
When I bought the coach it had a non-working OEM (maybe) AM/FM with
integrated CB but the CB microphone had disappeared long ago and the
broadcast receiver functions of the unit were non-functional.
Bypassing the major brands (JVC, Kenwood, Sony, etc) I settled on an el
cheapo $100-ish 1 DIN unit - a BOSS Audio BV9979B.
Now that I have hacked up the dash panel and installed the radio - and
upgraded the front speakers from waterlogged 3.5" OEM to 4" JBLs, here's
a short review:
Synopsis: Not bad for a $100-ish investment
The good:
Plenty of power to run 4 speakers.
Sounds pretty good.
Includes AM/FM radio, CD and DVD Player, USB port, inputs for backup
camera, SD Card, Bluetooth and other peripherals.
Motorized pop-out 7" color display / touch screen. Big display when you
want it, 1 DIN when you don't.
Video output so you can show movies on either the 7" screen or a remote
(and larger) display. Output for subwoofer speaker/amplifier if desired.
Remote control of many functions.
It's a 1 DIN unit so it will fit into the available space of the GMC OEM
radio with just some minor cutting and swearing. I had to space it out
1/4" from the dashboard so the screen would clear the HVAC controls - an
extension bezel was readily available from a local car stereo installer.
The bad:
Loses all memory in low voltage situations - even just low battery
starting the engine (I wired it so the AUX power input is through a
dashboard switch to battery + as I wanted to run the radio without the
key being in the ACC position at least until I rewire the blower fan
motor to be actually 'off' in ACC key position. That may be the cause of
this anomaly but really, flash memory is cheap and brown-out proof
nowadays!)
The user interface is a bit wonky but usable - sometimes it goes off
into the weeds for no apparent reason and needs a power cycle to restore
(if you're lucky) or wipe and reset (if you're not).
Lots of tiny buttons on front panel and layout is not intuitive - but we
can get used to anything, right?
Summary:
All in all an acceptable unit, time will tell how it holds up in a
mobile environment.
As always, YMMV
Stu
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Stu Rasmussen W7QJ
Silverton, OR
'77 Birchaven
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