Alpine Blackbird B200 first impressions
#1
Alpine Blackbird B200 first impressions
I received mine yesterday after months of waiting. Apparently only one place had it in stock and now they don't anymore.
It was really easy to hook up - just remove the cover plate behind the W205's LCD and slide in the Blackbird. There are two wires to hook up in the back - GPS and mic. I ran both out above my vents temporarily and need to take the dash out to make a more permanent install.
Plusses
-Navigation works fine
-Up to 10 waypoints for navigation, plus has traffic capabilities and it's easy to detour around streets
-Plays MP3s from SD cards
-Has Bluetooth to connect to phone for calls
-Unit charges while docked
Here are some pictures
I haven't used it much in handheld mode, but it has an FM transmitter for playing the audio over a stock radio so that seems good for people without the W205 or in rental cars.
It was really easy to hook up - just remove the cover plate behind the W205's LCD and slide in the Blackbird. There are two wires to hook up in the back - GPS and mic. I ran both out above my vents temporarily and need to take the dash out to make a more permanent install.
Plusses
-Navigation works fine
-Up to 10 waypoints for navigation, plus has traffic capabilities and it's easy to detour around streets
-Plays MP3s from SD cards
-Has Bluetooth to connect to phone for calls
-Unit charges while docked
Here are some pictures
I haven't used it much in handheld mode, but it has an FM transmitter for playing the audio over a stock radio so that seems good for people without the W205 or in rental cars.
#3
I think the b100 didn't have it, but does this one have 3d maps? As far as PDA phones go, supposedly they work in a different way and so would not work as well as other phones when it comes to integration to navsats and the likes.
#4
If it's anything like the old blackbird, you have to set the "visual" to nav while you are playing a cd or the radio, then you will get music while you use the nav. If you have it directly on "nav" you won't get music, other than the mp3 player and the sound quality on that sucks.
#5
Originally Posted by bernardos70
I think the b100 didn't have it, but does this one have 3d maps? As far as PDA phones go, supposedly they work in a different way and so would not work as well as other phones when it comes to integration to navsats and the likes.
Originally Posted by dugzillaxb
If it's anything like the old blackbird, you have to set the "visual" to nav while you are playing a cd or the radio, then you will get music while you use the nav. If you have it directly on "nav" you won't get music, other than the mp3 player and the sound quality on that sucks.
#6
Originally Posted by Cabana
That works, but then it doesn't speak the directions over the audio. That's my complaint. The sound quality from the SD cards is the same as from another MP3 source.
#7
Originally Posted by dugzillaxb
Is there a setting for "navmix" That is what I have with the IVA D310, when you turn it on you can set how loud the nav voice is and it will "mix" with the music.
#10
Originally Posted by dugzillaxb
I would think that they would have left that feature in there, but maybe it was just with the D310?
#12
I am very interested in hearing how it works going forward. I am torn between this Alpine combo and the Kenwood solution.
Any chances you might take a pic of it in 3d map mode? And it just works? No antenna required? My garmin needs to have a clear view of the sky to work.
Any chances you might take a pic of it in 3d map mode? And it just works? No antenna required? My garmin needs to have a clear view of the sky to work.
#13
I would think it has a gps antenna, but with mine I ran the wire inside the dash and the end is right in the middle of the dash and it looks good. It also gets great reception in any type of weather. I get reception on the handheld unit inside the house, I had another handheld gps that wouldn't work unless there was a clear sky.
#16
Okay I checked the headunit settings and nav mix fixes that one problem, thanks for that.
I just got off the phone with Alpine and they are supposed to call me back about the phone support. It works as a speakerphone when it's in handheld mode, but when docked both ends just get silence.
I just got off the phone with Alpine and they are supposed to call me back about the phone support. It works as a speakerphone when it's in handheld mode, but when docked both ends just get silence.
#18
Thanks for the pic! And yes, that's a ton of wiring.
I was looking at alpine's site and I saw this: http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...CE-300BT&tab=D
So that kinda confuses me. Maybe the blackbird will not work as a bluetooth adapter for the IVA-W205, maybe it'll only work as a stand alone. When you call a party, and you dock it, does the call hang up or does the other party just hear silence? I wouldn't put it above them to make you purchase the bluetooth for the IVA-W205 to use it in that manner.
I was looking at alpine's site and I saw this: http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...CE-300BT&tab=D
So that kinda confuses me. Maybe the blackbird will not work as a bluetooth adapter for the IVA-W205, maybe it'll only work as a stand alone. When you call a party, and you dock it, does the call hang up or does the other party just hear silence? I wouldn't put it above them to make you purchase the bluetooth for the IVA-W205 to use it in that manner.
#19
It doesn't require the other adapter. The guy at Alpine said it should work so we'll see. Maybe I have a faulty unit. If you don't want nav you can buy that bluetooth adapter to use the phone.