It is not something that you can simply update yourself - ie. it is not simply a software update that is required. The whole stereo needs to come out and the specific unit behind it needs changing. I suggest that anyone who is being told by their main Skoda Dealer that this is not the case should ask them to speak to Rainworth Skoda in Mansfield as they now know what is required. The person who dealt with it is called Matt (service department). It took me and Rainworth the best part of a month to get to the bottom of all of this with Kenwood so I would contact Rainworth for further info. Mine now works properly.

Lombardy - Thanks for the post. That cleared it up nicely and gives me all the info I need to goto the dealer with.

Could the magic box be this? http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/products/car/accessories/swrc/CAW-KIMUN1/details/

 

It says it's for 'Vehicle Information Services' including parking sensors and climate control.

Hi Rob it just takes me to the steering wheel interface?

Read on a bit further, still not sure.

Cheers Lombardy for the info, would be handy if they had given you the actual Kenwood part number etc.

I think I will give up for now as it is not that much of a problem. When I move the car on in a few years It will probably come out and the bolero will go back.

Regards

Edited 25 November, 201312 yr by Defenderben

Thought I'd ask this here rather than start a new thread... 

 

Does anybody have this unit fitted alongside the brushed-alloy looking interior trim? It's just dawned on me that I could end up with a nasty mis-match of interior colours, as I've only seen this unit fitted with the flat, plastic looking silver trim.

Rob

 

The trim on my DNX521 is exactly the same as the rest of the car trim. I don't know if it is the brushed alloy you have. It is an alloy colour with a small pattern of diagonal squares, if that helps.   

Thank you very much. I can picture the one you mean, but that's different to mine sadly. I'm putting my faith in my local Skoda dealer here... I don't really fancy a patchwork car!

So I had my unit fitted today, so can answer my own questions...

 

The magic black box isn't included, so I'll call the Skoda dealer tomorrow to mention this and see what they can do.

 

A new trim is needed it coming from a Bolero, as the unit is not the same size. They have ordered me one in the same brushed-alloy finish, so I'll report back when that's fitted. It cost £56.

 

The firmware version on the unit supplied was quite old, so definitely needed updating. Worth knowing if you're thinking of going down this route.

 

The 'Phone' button on the steering wheel does nothing at all. Might be related to the magic black box, might just be a button that serves only to annoy me, time will tell

 

Otherwise, all good in the hood. Great stereo, great sound, more options and capabilities than I've had time to explore yet!

I can confirm that the 'Phone' button on the steering wheel does not work with this stereo, and getting the correct box installed behind the stereo won't make this button work. However, the sound is great and the overall functionality of the rest of the stereo more than makes up for it.

 

In case you didn't know, you can also load it with a database of Speed Camera alerts.

 

Also, if you want the traffic information alerts to work you have to phone Garmin UK to get a code (which was very long) and input this into the unit to activate this, which is free, but flippin' annoying that you have to do this.

I can confirm that the 'Phone' button on the steering wheel does not work with this stereo, and getting the correct box installed behind the stereo won't make this button work. However, the sound is great and the overall functionality of the rest of the stereo more than makes up for it.

 

In case you didn't know, you can also load it with a database of Speed Camera alerts.

 

Also, if you want the traffic information alerts to work you have to phone Garmin UK to get a code (which was very long) and input this into the unit to activate this, which is free, but flippin' annoying that you have to do this.

Some more info would be good please lombardy such as where to obtain the speed camera alerts and what number to ring for the traffic info.

 

Many thanks

DITTO the above, any info on the traffic and cameras would be highly appreciated!

My Skoda dealer called Kenwood today who immediately confirmed they know the problem and will send a new 'magic box' (I'm gonna keep calling it that until I have a proper name for it!). Interestingly they referred to my current one as 'faulty' rather than incompatible or out-of-date. In any case, they are sorting it

Good, RobM83! At least we are getting a result with this. If Kenwood are aware of the problem, why the hell don't they inform the Skoda garages? It may be that mine had also been faulty, all I was told was that they needed to exchange it for one that did the job properly, which I suppose is the same thing at the end of the day.

Regarding the speed camera info and the traffic information, I will post this in due course - somewhere there was a How To guide, can't remember whether I got it off this forum or by doing a search through VW forums. Either way, I will need to dig out all the info etc and need to do it properly when I have a bit more time.

If I get given any paperwork at all I'll see if it has part numbers that I can share with the forum. The main thing, as you say, is Kenwood know the problem exists and know the solution. My Skoda dealer said Kenwood provide a 'helpline' number for the dealers to call if they need, so I can't understand why any Skoda dealer can't work this out.

Edited 27 November, 201312 yr by RobM83

The first thing my Skoda did was ring the Kenwood helpline. Over the first couple of weeks I was "fed back" different things that Kenwood had told the dealer, including that they were going to email me something which would have provided the fix. The whole process, which the main dealer gave me constant updates on, leads me to believe that Kenwood weren't aware of this problem until eventually they decided that the "magic box" (for want of a better word) needed changing.

My Skoda dealer did not want to know!

Told me it needed firmware update, just shows you how differently the dealers are.

This is the way to upload the latest Speed Camera locations. Basically, you do this by uploading a database as POI's into your satnav. To do this you have to have a subscription with Pocketgpsworld, which I think is £20 for a year, however after that you can get subsequent years for free if you identify so many new speed cameras / traps.

 

Once you have sorted out the subscription you download all the latest cameras onto a USB stick and then plug them into the Kenwood unit and follow all of the instructions to upload to the unit. Even though this is done by using a 3rd party subscription, all the information is available on the Kenwood website so should be perfectly safe to do this and the unit is obviously designed for it, just go to the article below:-

 

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/WebFiles/File/uk/download/SafetyCameras/2012/SSC_Method-USB_Ver22812-USBV1.pdf

 

I have done this to mine and it does work - however I suggest a top tip, that you 'untick' the POI option if you are driving around locally a lot because the constant beeping started to annoy me, as it alerts you each time someone has logged even a mobile speed trap. However, IMO it is worth having for when you are going to a new place as the price of the annual subscription might save you a lot in speeding fines and points on your licence!! (For those that are wondering, I don't have any association with this company whatsoever).

 

Hope this info helps.

 

 

Has anyone any practise experience between the Columbus and this unit? I'm floating between the two at the moment...

I couldn't comment as I upgraded from the Bolero. The plus side is that I would think that if you sell your car you could take the Kenwood out and put it in to your new car if you wanted. It might be slightly more difficult with the Columbus if it was only made for Skodas. That is my guess, but I could be wrong (and that was my thinking behind why I went for the Kenwood in the first place).

So how do you find it? Do you hook it up to an iPod? How's the interface? How's the satnav? How's the BT? Cheers

I find the kenwood unit very good. I hook mine up to my Ipod, the interface works fine. The sat nav is also good as its a garmin unit, the maps are easily updateable. The bluetooth connects to my phone upon start up, however if I enable bluetooth on my phone once the car is started (ie ignition on) then it can be a bit of a pig to connect.

So how do you find it? Do you hook it up to an iPod? How's the interface? How's the satnav? How's the BT? Cheers

 

I've only had it a few days (and I don't hook it up to an iPod...) but so far it's very good.

 

Interface is easy to navigate. it's not the quickest (turning the silly animations off helps) but it's simple enough, helped massively by dedicated hardware buttons for Tel, DAB, USB etc. It means you can switch sources on the move really easily. You can also customise the interface a bit if that's your thing; backgrounds, colours etc can be tweaked.

 

Navigation seems great. It's Garmin so you know it's going to be decent, you can add your own POI's (see the excellent tips above on that) and the graphics and interface are simple and clear. Garmin... but on a bigger screen

 

Bluetooth is excellent and easy to use. Quality is good at both ends and it synchronises your phone book, incoming and outgoing calls (some BT devices only do the phonebook) and you can set 'presets' for your favourite numbers.

Has anyone any practise experience between the Columbus and this unit? I'm floating between the two at the moment...

 

I had the Columbus before upgrading to the 521. In my opinion, the Kenwood unit is massively better. It has a lot more built-in features and sounds so much better. The DAB radio is fantastic and I've only lost signal a couple of times in remote Wales even with the supplied on screen aerial. It doesn't have a hard drive, but I use an Ipod and you have to but the MDI to get that with the Columbus. 

 

Your choice will depend on what you want from your unit. If you want the best sound quality and features, get the Kenwood. If you're looking for OEM, then the Columbus is for you. Both are essentially plug and play (though you might need someone to help install the DAB aerial with the Kenwood, depending on your capabilities).

I currently have the DNX521DAB installed by Skoda in my old 06 plate Occy. 

 

Unfortunately due to the age of my car the aircon and other bits do not display properly but I was aware of this. Also the hands free isn't too good lots of noise. 

 

I am about to PX for a 13 plate Occy with the latest Bolero which has hands free (voice activated) already built in. 

 

Does anyone know if I transfer this unit to the new motor that the voice activation on the bluetooth will work please?