It has been a few years since I have done an aftermarket radio install, so I was a little concerned. The Crutchfield installation instructions for Pam's 2005 Honda CRV are spot on. It was not nearly as difficult as I had expected. The pictures made it clear how to properly remove the faceplate. There is a warning regarding the airbag sensor coming on after installation, but I didn't have any problems.
Disclaimer: Pam and I are not part of the iPod generation. I still use a 2nd gen Nano and my wife still uses a 1st gen Nano. Neither of us plan to upgrade until we must. We buy and listen to these shiny discs called CDs.
The DEH-5000UB has three key features - USB/iPod control, AUX input and optional XM receiver (currently free after rebate).
- AUX input - a basic 1/8" stereo mini headphone input. Works great. You have to turn the iPod volume all the way up. The AUX input on my F150 factory headunit is the same way. I think it's typical.
- MP3 CDs - What can I say? Burn a bunch of files and/or folders to a CD-R, insert, play. The up/down buttons change the folder, left/right changes tracks or FF/REW (if held down). The Display button switches between a bunch of combinations of track info. Very complete. Not complicated. Works great.
- USB with memory stick - Works great with a 4gig Kingston DataTraveler. With the USB stick, you just plug it in and it automatically switches the source to the USB input. The up/down buttons change the folder, left/right changes tracks or FF/REW (if held down). The Display button switches between a bunch of combinations of track info. Very complete. Not complicated. Works great. Like many CE devices that play from a USB stick, the tracks are played in the order that they are copied to the stick. If you want to sort them alphabetically (critical for audiobooks), get a small utility called DriveSort (http://www.anerty.net/software/file/DriveSort.php). When you change the source away from the USB stick or turn the car off, then return to the USB source it picks up right where you left off. This is great if you are listening to an audiobook. The root directory is directory #0 followed by the rest of the directories in the order they were added. DriveSort will sort the directories as well. The easiest way to use DriveSort is configure it to sort all directories and subdirectories. Then you just open the stick, click Sort, click Save and you are done. The List button shows a list of the current directory contents. Scroll through the list and pick a directory or song.
- USB iPod control - works great with both 1st and 2nd generation Nanos. You can only control these particular iPods from the headunit. When the iPod is plugged in, the iPod gets charged just like when the iPod is docked on your computer. If you were listening to your iPod before plugging it in, it picks up were you left off. However when you disconnect the iPod, it goes back to the Main menu. The Now Playing menu option is available so you can get back to the track you were listening to, but it forgets where you were in the menu structure. Because of this, we will probably use the USB stick more than the iPod. For iPod playback, we will probably use the AUX input. I did some experimenting anyway and here are the results. If you are listening to your iPod and switch to the another source or turn off the car, disconnect the iPod and later reconnect the iPod, the HU will remember the last track and position. Pressing the List button gives you the top level iPod menu (Playlists, Artists, Albums, etc). Using the up/down buttons or turning the dial will scroll through the menu. Enter (or Center push) will select the menu item on the top line of the 2-line display. The left/right buttons change tracks or FF/Rew, just like the playing a mp3 CD or memory stick. If the iPod is plugged in and the ignition is turned off, the iPod disconnects and turns off in the usual amount of time. iPod battery drain shouldn't be a problem like some have reported with other headunits.
- XM Receiver - The CRV already had a SkyFi2 installed, but all the extra wires and the mediocre FM modulation really prompted this headunit upgrade. The XM option for the DEH-5000UB is the Terk XM receiver(XMD1000)+Pioneer adapter(XMDPIO110). I read a lot of complaints about the unit on other websites, but I haven't had any trouble with this one yet. And besides, it's free after rebate. There is no way to directly access a channel (no number keys on the remote). Scrolling through all the channels to setup your presets is painful. There are 18 presets. The display options are also pretty limited. The display button switches between Artist/Track Name/Category. Only one shows at a time, because the top line of the two line display always says XM Tuner. The USB input has lots of combinations for display. I had already installed the XM antenna for the SkyFi2 and assumed it would work with the Terk receiver. The Terk receiver and antenna have a purple plastic clip that surrounds the real connector. The real connector looked just like one on the existing antenna, so I trimmed back the purple plastic on the receiver just enough and the existing antenna fit right in. No problems. The sensitivity of the receiver seems comparable to the SkyFi2, which I think is great. I haven't figured out a way to see the signal strength, but I manage to get a signal inside the garage with the door shut.
- The factory headunit is double DIN. The (free from Crutchfield) installation package that came with the unit has a small cubby hole underneath the opening for the Pioneer that is perfect for coiling up USB and AUX extension cables. Drill a 3/4" hole in the back and feed them through.
- The (free from Crutchfield) installation package that came with the unit allows for ISO (instead of DIN) mounting. This is a huge bonus for stability after installation.
- You have to pick between showing the clock and the info related to the current source.
- The Terk XM receiver+adapter is really big. And the cables are bulky. The cables are just short enough that they won't reach under the seat. On the other hand, they are too long to bundle up and hide behind the dash.
- XM Update 1 (21Apr2008): It's been a few weeks since the initial install and I still haven't found a good place to put the XM receiver+adapter. I sent Crutchfield tech support an email requesting additional info about disassembly of the CRV dash. They responded quickly with the info.
- XM Update 2 (27May2008): Still haven't tried to find a better install location for the XM unit. But the XM unit isn't working. A little investigation showed that the fuse holder for the XM unit behind the dash cracked and couldn't hold the fuse securely. Probably my fault. I think I had it in an odd position that put stress on it at the point where the two halves twist together. I'll have to pickup a new one at Radio Shack.
- XM Update 3 (14Jun2008): Bought the new fuse holder at Radio Shack yesterday. Installed this morning. No problems. I taped everything real good and made sure the wiring harness is in a good place.
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