ocalapilot, Nice looking cat. Does your Alpine have GPS? I saw pics of your unit in another post and one of them looked like a GPS map. My Radio/GPS/Disc player is into working parttime and no map updates in several years so may be time for something different.
Thanks, Mike
Hey Mike,
It doesn’t have a built in GPS. What it DOES have is CarPlay and Android Auto.
That means that it uses the maps in your phone and displays them on the screen.
At the risk of offending a few people, I’ll state a personal opinion. I’ve always been a fan of Garmin GPS units be it in many years of use in planes, boats, and vehicles.
I’ve never seen a factory GPS in an auto that came close, nor the offerings of the automotive aftermarket.
That said, the one limitation of the standard GPS, even a Garmin, is that the the minute after you update your maps, the data is already getting old.
So for example, I use google maps, and Waze if I’m on the highway. Waze is awesome! I’m not going to get into a description here, but look it up. If you travel any distance on highways you’ll love it, even if you know where you’re going. It’s great for situational awareness, you often get a heads up in advance road hazards, speed traps, etc.
Google maps I use with the satellite images, so it’s a moving arial map. If I navigate to a retail location, and it’s likely to be closed before I get there, google maps will inform me of this, and ask me if I still want to go. Very intuitive.
The radio actually has a GPS in it, with an external antenna, that it uses to assist your phone in locating your position on its maps. Not trying to get lost in the weeds, but that’s very clever.
You can also download maps onto your phone through google as well as other apps, so even if your out of cellular range, the system will still work.
I do still keep my Garmin in the truck, but it’s not in the window, it’s in my storage below the center seat, in case I need it, which I haven’t.
Other than that, the head unit has satellite radio, broadcast radio, and will play the music that’s in your phone, if you have any.
It will not play CD’s, cassettes, 8 track, or any other obsolete music medium.
The unit has a good amp in it, but I have an external amp as well. I have it wired so I can choose between using my external amp or the head unit, depending on what I’m listening to.
It’s also very easy to add a rear view camera, which I did as well.
I recommend this unit highly, and no, I don’t sell them...
If you have a newer truck, you may consider a UAQ radio, that gives you CarPlay OEM, and built in navigation.
That’s what I put in my wife’s truck, which is newer than mine.
Hope this helps. If you go this route and have any installation questions let me know, I put mine in myself, and saved big bucks.
https://www.alpine-usa.com/product/apple-carplay-android-auto-ilx-207
Here’s a few navigation screenshots.
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