Subaru radio hate thread

[PMok]

Originally Posted by tomkozski

Per the owner's manual for the nav system, real time traffic data is derived from the FM radio, using RDS. Owner's manual calls it the Traffic Message Channel (TMC). So even without a XM subscription, traffic should still continue to work.

Nope, traffic data comes from a XM satellite subscription (separate from the music service) and once the 3-month trial is over, you get no more traffic data (unless you renew/sign up).

[Wafflejuice]

Hm. Canadian BRZs have a different unit... Not sure if it's any different though.

[davidchoi]

US version here.
I love the radio a lot. BT connects quickly to my iPhone 5. I don't really use the nav for directions, just to see freeway alerts otherwise I use my iPhone.

My only gripe is that I wish the voice command button could be used to trigger siri or s voice.

[sdemo]

^ That was my first impression as well. Give yourself a month of using it daily and your positive impression will fade.

[kuhlka]

I took the 200 tollway near DC and the GPS was completely lost. The toll road wasn't even on the map... Considering this is a 2013 car, one would think a toll road built a few years ago would be on the damn map.

The steering wheel controls observation makes sense for this head unit, but having seen the steering wheel controls I'm glad its not in my car. HIDEOUS. The joystick cruise control looks and feels better.

My major gripe about the Navi is that it doesn't let me search by city when using the voice commands. It automatically does 'greater Baltimore' rather than asking me for the city name. This leads to completely screwed up directions miles away from where I actually want to go, unless I pull over and manually enter the address. The POI search is also garbage for voice command unless you're just looking for a quick burger or the nearest hotel (extremely rare, I am almost always looking for an exact name and location). Otherwise, it navigates pretty well in most cases.

Bluetooth has worked fine for me and the call quality has been great. There has only been one time in the past few months where the bluetooth calling got totally screwed up somehow. I couldn't answer the call, my iPhone 4s was ringing alongside the car, and I had to reboot my phone to fix the problem. Once my phone's phonebook was downloaded to the car, calling by name is cake and the mic is pretty good.

Bluetooth audio with my iPhone (6.1.3) is clear but syncs up a bit slow at times. Annoying that I can only play/pause/forward/back and don't have full playlist control via bluetooth, but no biggie. iPod connection works pretty well, but the user interface of the head unit leaves a lot to be desired. No physical track buttons is annoying/distracting and the placement of buttons is bizarre. The size of the buttons are also tiny (which really backs up that 'designed for steering wheel controls' theory). I have to assume sheer laziness on the part of the manufacturer is why we don't at least have an option in the settings for bigger buttons and a more sensible layout. If a really awesome connected iCar head unit comes out, I may just replace the stock head unit, but the current gripes aren't severe enough for me to shell out $600+ for a new navi HU with possibly fewer features.

Oh, and the satellite reception is garbage unless you're driving on a huge open road with zero hills or trees. Audio cuts out completely during my drive to and from work in Maryland so I'm not really motivated to pay for an XM subscription. The traffic stuff almost never works and all of the fancy speed camera BS in the settings menu does absolutely nothing. I've been through numerous construction zones with cameras and got no warning. Seems like the only time traffic stuff works at all is in major metropolitan cities. I see warning icons on the screen, but rarely get voice alerts or alternate route suggestions.

[Perihelion]

Connection from mobile phone has been disconnect.

EVERY FIVE MINUTES. This shit is frustrating.

[qoncept]

Originally Posted by Perihelion

Connection from mobile phone has been disconnect.

EVERY FIVE MINUTES. This shit is frustrating.

Which phone? I just switched from a Sprint Galaxy S4 to a US Cellular S4 and it's doing it. I think they purposely used Engrish to make it even more annoying.

[Perihelion]

Originally Posted by qoncept

Which phone? I just switched from a Sprint Galaxy S4 to a US Cellular S4 and it's doing it. I think they purposely used Engrish to make it even more annoying.

HTC One, I don't think its supported as the phone is relatively new.

What happens is the music quiets for like 2 seconds every so often, then within 30 secs, I get the disconnect message. The phone says its still connected via Bluetooth but the Head unit says it isn't. After about a minute, the connection is re-established, but I need to either hit play again on Google Play or sometimes Google Play gets shut off by itself and I need to re-open it. Most of the time, it will keep cycling through what I just mentioned, but sometimes it stabilizes and I can actually enjoy my music.

I may just start using the USB connection, but this is a huge annoyance

[qoncept]

I gave up on the phone and just use USB. BT is a standard though, it's ridiculous that it doesn't just work.

[tomkozski]

Originally Posted by PMok

Nope, traffic data comes from a XM satellite subscription (separate from the music service) and once the 3-month trial is over, you get no more traffic data (unless you renew/sign up).

Hmm...good to know! Don't listen to XM that much, but I'll have to reconsider subscribing if the traffic data really does go away. I wonder why the owner's manual says that though, maybe it works differently in other Subaru's?

[Be-Are-Zee]

Originally Posted by qoncept

I gave up on the phone and just use USB. BT is a standard though, it's ridiculous that it doesn't just work.

Which phone are you having problems with?

I can confirm my iphone5 connects 100% of the time over Bluetooth automatically and even when the USB is connected to charge the phone.

Have you looked at your Bluetooth options on your phone to ensure there is no sharing violation or security setting preventing a connection? Another problem could be the number of devices in your Bluetooth list. Some phones limit the number of saved devices to 5 or even possibly less.

[Be-Are-Zee]

Ah just saw you have an s4. Samsung is having issues with their Bluetooth.

One thing to try is changing the pairing code.

Other Samsung owners have relied on apps such as Sound About to fix the problem.

Not having an s4 I can't test out different fixes and report what works but I would think that someone has by now...

[qoncept]

Originally Posted by Be-Are-Zee

Other Samsung owners have relied on apps such as Sound About to fix the problem.

Looks like I have a reason to go out in the hot during lunch today.

[Perihelion]

For some reason, my phone never asks for a passcode... this may be related to the constant disconnecting