|
|
|
|
|
|
Product Review:
|
 |
| Mopar |
| RB1 Mopar Navigation Radio |
| Reviews |
Views |
Date of last review |
| 10 | 22011 | Sat Oct 30, 2004 |
|
|
Ratings & Recommendations:
|
| Recommended By |
Average Price |
Average Rating |
Install Level |
| 100% of reviewers | $873.75 | 9.6 |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Product Details: |
|
Description:
|
Description: In-dash AM/FM/CD NAV Radio with 4.1" screen. All mapping is on one DVD. Built by Alpine for Mopar. Factory installed option on 2004 Grand Cherokees (except 2WD Laredo). The RB1 Navigation Radio combines multiple technologies to determine the exact location of your vehicle and select the best route to your destination. The screen can be switched between "NAV" mode and "Radio/clock" mode. The RB1 uses a proprietary disc format and will not play DVD movies.
Radio features: The radio portion features 30 station presets, 10 each for AM, FM and the Sirius Satellite Radio system (requires Satellite Radio Service activation). The radio also features a CD changer control for the factory optional 10-disc changer. When not needing the use of the NAV unit, the DVD disc can be removed and an audio CD can be played in the same slot. Special Program Type (PTY) feature allows you to search for FM and Sirius Satellite Radio stations by type of music category, from those stations broadcasting a PTY compatible signal. The CD player is compatible with both CD-R and CD-RW discs. The radio or a CD from the changer can be listened to while in the NAV mode.
Operation: First, the navigation system receives location signals from Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) orbiting the earth. At the same time within your vehicle, speed pulse, reverse signal sensors and a gyroscope constantly monitor distance traveled, direction and turn information. Compiling and comparing this data, the Navigation Radio matches your location with the data located on its geographic DVD-ROM, and places your vehicle's location on the map. After inputting the desired destination and routing preferences, the RB1 computes and provides visual routing directions along with voice commands that safely guide you through your trip.
Navigation:
Address book - Store up to 100 personal locations and phone numbers in the system's memory, and create up to ten customer address book folders.
Coverage - There are currently more than 2,600 cities in the U.S. that are mapped with detailed coverage. An updated database disc (P/N 56038642AF) was released in July, 2003. The next data update is scheduled for July 2004. Other minor changes or tweaks will be made in between the major annual upgrades.
Database - Designed and maintained by NAVTECH, a leader in NAV systems technology.
GPS clock - With 8 satellites feeding the GPS-based system, you can quickly adjust your clock to the time zone in which you are traveling. Time is also displayed directly on the map along with your estimated time of arrival, or estimated drive time remaining.
In-motion operation - As a special safety feature, the Mopar RB1 Navigation Radio limits the availability of certain navigation tasks while the vehicle is in motion. Programmable options such as editing the personal address book or inputting a destination will be unavailable and grayed out until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. In addition, when in motion, Point of Interest selections are limited - you can only choose from a list of the last 5 POI listings that were entered.
Note: Starting with DVD disc release P/N 56038642AG (September 2003), the in-motion operation safety feature was revised to allow operation of all functions while traveling under 10mph (convenient while in bumper-to-bumper traffic)
Maneuver list - Allows you to review your trip itinerary before you put your vehicle in gear...so if there's a road in your route that you'd rather avoid, you simply tell the system, and it recalculates a new route.
Mapping your destination - 8 ways:
1. Input the street address
2. Select a point of interest
3. Select a Recent Route (stores up to 10)
4. Select a destination from your address book
5. Input a business phone number
6. Input a trip itinerary (up to 10 can be stored)
7. Input an intersection
8. Use the map cursor to select a location directly from your map display
Map cursor - When taking a trip you can access a map of the location you are visiting. You can move your map cursor to a specific coordinate and, by simply hitting "enter", the system will show an address (or coordinates) for that selected site and create a trip route directly to your final destination...even if it's a thousand miles away.
Map zoom - You can select from 9 different zoom scales to increase or decrease map magnification, from 1/20th of a mile up to 350 mile "birds-eye view".
Orientation - The default orientation is "North" on the top of the display. It can also be set to "follow" mode where the direction you are currently traveling is on top.
Points of Interest function - Select the service or business you'd like to visit from a database containing thousands of addresses. With a few touches of a button, you're mapped and ready to roll. Features over 40 main categories to choose from, including ATM's, Hospitals, government offices, restaurants, gas stations, hotels, grocery stores, auto service stations and more.
Route Guidance - You have the option of viewing a turn-by-turn map, full display map, or a combination of both. Roads are classified from 1-5, with a level 1 road being the highest level road such as a highway or freeway, and a level 5 road, for example, may be a country road in a rural area. Generally, the system will try to direct you to the "highest level" road. When you are on "minimize freeways", the system will try to route you on the most direct streets. The system does not have the capacity to track your movements or memorize your favorite routes.
Routing methods - Quickest Route, Minimize Toll Roads, Maximize Freeways and Minimize Freeways provide unmatched customization.
Route Recalculation (automatic) - If you encounter a detour, miss an exit or make a wrong turn the RB1 adjusts to keep you on track. Should you change course from the directions indicated on the display monitor for any reason, the system can automatically recalculate your position, then select and display a new route.
Screen - The screen can be toggled between the NAV display and the Radio/clock display. The power must be on in order to see the clock display.
Smart Key Filtering - When using the digital keyboard to input information, the system makes educated guesses based on previously entered letter combinations and displays only the characters necessary to input your destination
Trail Function - The RB1 features a program developed specifically for off-road use. You can get longitude, latitude and altitude readings. You can also mark, name and save the location so you can find it again on a later trip. And, if you should really get into the scenery and lose your way, you'll discover the unique program has been dropping "bread crumbs" as you've been making your trail, so backtracking to get to your original trailhead is a breeze! The "bread crumbs" tracking feature works only in the Trail Function mode, and will retain in its memory about 150 miles of traveling.
Trip Itinerary - When multiple stops must be navigated, the RB1 can accept up to 10 locations, and then will create the most efficient route to accommodate all destinations in the shortest amount of time.
Yellow pages - Over 5 million business phone numbers are included on the DVD program.
Voice Guidance options - The RB1 not only points the way...but it talks to you! When to turn, and how soon, mile by mile, turn by turn, until you reach your final destination. One of three languages can be selected - English, French-Canadian or Spanish. While in the radio or CD mode, the voice prompt (if activated) will override the radio sound momentarily. The NAV voice volume can be set independently of the radio volume.
You can choose from four voice options:
1. Maximum (two beep tones and voice)
2. Normal (one beep tone and voice prompt)
3. Minimum (tones only, no voice prompt)
4. Off (no tones or voice prompt)
|
|
Keywords:
|
Mopar Navigation Radio RB1 by Alpine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Review Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2004 |
 |
|
Sirius...It's On
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,000.00
|
|
|
Pros:
|
Factory Look and Functionality, Works well, Voice Prompts, Easy To Use
|
|
Cons:
|
Cost
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
Dodge Ram 1500
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
2003
|
|
Engine Type:
|
5.7 Litre Hemi
|
|
I was looking for a way to have Artist and Song info displayed from my Mopar Sirius tuner. The only way to get that with a factory radio is with the RB1 Navigation radio from Alpine.
The steering wheel controls all work with this radio and the navigation works well. I am a huge fan of Navigation Units, I have owned a Garmin Street Pilot II and a Street Pilot III. I currently own a Garmin IQue, so I am familar with GPS units. This one works well and the voice prompts even mute the radio. There is a new radio called RB4, it has less features, so be sure you know which one you are getting.
I have Sirius with the Mopar Tuner and I love it. Because it is Mopar, the tuner and Radio are both covered by both the Standard and Chrysler Service Contract warranties.
Install was very easy, one screw (grocery bag hook passenger side) and pull the dah off, then 4 screws hold the radio in. Then you plug in the antenna, sirius antenna, and two plugs, one for the power, radio controls, etc. The other is for the tuner.
I got my radio for $1000 from stoponbuy@aol.com
|
|
![]() |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Review Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 |
|
|
Registered User
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $820.00
| Rating: 9 | Install Level: 1
|
|
|
Pros:
|
accuracy of maps; factory look; integration with steering wheel controls; listing of artist and song with Sirius radio
|
|
Cons:
|
smallish screen; no ability to have a cd changer if running Sirius radio
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
1500 Ram
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
2003
|
|
Engine Type:
|
5.7
|
|
|
Overall, I have been impressed with this unit. The navigation system is easy to operate and quite accurate. Installation was quite easy once HemiMayor gave me some advice! (Thanks, again.) As I mentioned above, the only true negatives are the small screen and the fact that you cannot have both the cd changer and Sirius radio. But to be quite honest, with Sirius, I do not listen to many cd's in the car anymore!
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
Review Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 |
|
|
Registered User
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9 | Install Level: 3
|
|
|
Pros:
|
Great sound, accurate navigation, sirius Compatable
|
|
Cons:
|
needs a few more Sat Channel memoies
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
Intrepid
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
2000
|
|
Engine Type:
|
3.5L
|
|
|
The RB1 is very good at what it does, accurate and very easy to use. It can have both the CD changer and Sirus Sat radio at the same time so disregard the above review that stated otherwise. You have to order the right kit when ordering your system.
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
Review Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 |
|
|
Registered User
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
|
|
|
Pros:
|
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
|
|
Engine Type:
|
|
|
|
Does anyone know how to disable the "in motion menu" feature. I need to be able to search for addresses while in motion.
Thanks.
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
Review Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 |
|
|
Registered User
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $875.00
| Rating: 10 | Install Level: 1
|
|
|
Pros:
|
Very eay to use, extremely accurate have one in Ram and wifes Durangp
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
Ram 1500 / Durango SLT +
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
2004 / 2002
|
|
Engine Type:
|
4.7 /4.7
|
|
|
Waiting for the Sirius unit to arrive, planning on installing it myself, have several ideas on where to mount the antenna, don't like the thought of drilling a hole in the roof, am going to try the front of the dash first, figured if the Nav antenna works under the dash the Sirius should work on top of dash.
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
Review Posted: Wed Aug 4, 2004 |
|
|
Registered User
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
|
|
|
Pros:
|
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
Dakota
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
2004
|
|
Engine Type:
|
|
|
|
I see where people are paying $800-$1000 for these units. Where are you finding that? I am looking to buy one, but they seem to be running around $1500 or so. Anyone have any insight?
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
Review Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2004 |
|
|
Registered User
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
|
|
|
Pros:
|
|
|
Cons:
|
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
|
|
Engine Type:
|
|
|
|
"smallish screen; no ability to have a cd changer if running Sirius radio"
Sirius can be used with the CD changer.....
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
Review Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 |
|
|
Registered User
|
| Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $800.00
| Rating: 10 | Install Level: 7
|
|
|
Pros:
|
GPS Navigation, smart key filtering, localized voice queues, personal address book, local stores/gas/etc lookups, inertial navigation backup
|
|
Cons:
|
No touch-screen feature, slightly cumbersome data entry, sketchy GPS antenna reception (my unit, only?)
|
|
Vehicle Model:
|
Dakota SXT
|
|
Vehicle Year:
|
2004
|
|
Engine Type:
|
3.7L V6
|
|
|
I love this thing! I was already a GPS junkie, and having one in my new 'Kota (no duh, here!) was a must.
I did the installation, myself, which wasn't too hard, once I figured out how to get the dash trim off--a hint, the little square bezel immediately around the radio and A/C is actually integral to the whole dash trim...DO NOT TRY TO PRY IT OFF! Once the dash was off, four little screws, three wiring connections, and cha-ching--no more paper maps cluttering the floorboards! Well...maybe that's an exaggeration--for some reason, my GPS antenna didn't like to work in the "recommended" place (up on top of the vent channel inside the dashboard), so I had to route the cable along the inside of the dash to emerge from the little crack on the passenger side so that the antenna could sit fairly inobtrusively on top of the dash (where it actually looks pretty rakish, reminiscent of a baby Sirius radio antenna). I'm not sure if my GPS antenna is bad, or if this is a common problem with Dakotas, but if you're installing one of these, it might be worth testing the unit for signal strength before you put the dash back on.
The fact that the voice queues a) mute the radio and b) are localized to the driver's speaker make for a good experience all-around--I can hear what instruction "Maggie" (you've named -your- GPS voice, haven't you?) is giving, and my wife and daughter get to keep listening to the radio. A shame that you can't select the gender of your navigator (as you can on the Honda GPS, for instance), but the calm female voice is great, although she can start to sound a little insistent if you keep going off route...*grin*
Another pie feature is the inertial navigation backup--no one mentions this much, but if you're ever in a heavily forested or very dense urban area, you might lose satellite reception. Fear not, as the RB1 has a fairly accurate INS built in--as you turn and drive, the system can tell what you're doing and keep that up with the map pretty well. It's not perfect, especially if you're in an area with lots of very, very close parallel roads, but it'll do in a pinch.
Entering addresses is a little cumbersome because of the nipple-twiddling (forgive the vivid imagery, but you'll agree when you see an RB1, yourself) that you have to do to select each letter, but the smart key filtering helps a lot, as the system will eliminate possibilities that don't exist.
I'm not a big music listener, so the conflict over CD changer or Sirius isn't a big deal for me, but I can see how that could be an issue. A bigger issue to me, though, is the fact that you can't use the GPS and play a music CD at the same time--the Navigation DVD -must- be inserted to use the navigation functionality...this could be a problem for long trips with little children, for instance.
Overall, this was a great investment for me, since I love GPS (and Geocaching!)and I've actually gotten lost going to a friend's house twice this year, even though he lives only 7 miles away. The system is also pretty handy for finding new ways to get home, to work, to the gym, or whatever--it'll find the shortest distance, fastest route, least freeways, or whatever--so you might even save some time or gas! Maybe not as useful or desirable to non-scatterbrains or non-gearboys/girls, but still a very nice addition!
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
;)
;)
;)
