I brought a HK traffic pro and I am about to install it. I understand it is an easy install. However, I welcome any comments and installation tips.

I intend to place the antenna between the two defrost vents at the base of the windshield. Can I pass down the wire down through the duct into the radio opening without much fuss??

I also intend to take down the CD changer and replace it with an MP3 source. Should I go with either:
1.) an iPod or any DMP with capacity > 5GB or
2.) an in-boot MP3 changer with suitable adapter if there is any.

All suggestions and help greatfully welcomed
PA2TU

It seem noboby answered my post....so I better answer it myself.

Relatively simple task....FYI, the TP is a direct Plug and play for the MB Becker units. Do not waste your time making a new WH as recommended by crutchfield.

Just disconnect the battery, pull becker radio out with the radio keys, unplug the wire harness and antenna, and removed the radio.

Plug in the WH, radio and GPS antenna, slide the unit back in, and reconnect the battery, Everything works including the flashing red dot.

The Sound is better and looks as if it belongs in a MB.

This is a real 'cheap' upgrade to your sound system and I wonder why more people are not doing it.

I will report on the Nav performance in a 1000+ mile road trip soon

Any updates on how the NAV worked?

I am considering this as a NAV alternative to a Nak CD400. I wonder how they compare in sound?

Ya, I'd like to know too!

I installed the same unit in my 124 almost a year ago and have yet to complete the nav GPS system hook up. Why, because I have not ordered the speed sensor device from HK. The Hall-effect speed sensor in my car seems to be inoperative and I haven't gotten around to order the $130 part yet!

I'm curious how you hooked up to the speed sensor, or did you order the remote speed sensor from HK.

BB

I installed one a couple of months ago and it works very well. The only issue is with the nav disks being a litle old. Occasionally it will lose track of where you are on freeways that have been changed since the disks were published and will go to "off road" mode showing an arrow with the direction you need to go to your destination. It will go back to normal road display once you are back on a section that jives with the database. Also new neighborhoods are sometimes not known.

It was a plug and play install in my '95 W202 except for the CD changer. The connector is slightly different and would need an adaptor cable to connect. With the CD deck in the head unit I probably wouldn't use the changer anyway so I haven't been in a hurry to build an adaptor.

Fidelity wise it is a step up from the stock Becker/Alpine head unit. I bought a Nak CD400 to install and bought the HK before I got around to it. I plan on selling the Nak and cable since the HK has turned out to be a good choice. Probably the stock CD changer will go on the block as well.

Tim

I installed a Traffic Pro in my Porsche 944 ($495 from Crutchfield) last summer and it was a huge job. No such thing as plug and play in this car. As to the speed sensor, it is a mechanical device that either screws into the speedo or is installed in series with the cable. Which means the cable must be cut in two and the supplied fittings installed on the cut ends with the sensor in the middle. In my Porsche the speedo is mechanical and the cable screws in at an angle on the back which prevented installing the sensor directly. Cutting to the chase, it turned out that even though the speedo is mechanical, it provides a pulse output for the Motronic which I was able to use for the Traffic Pro. So, I returned the sensor to Becker for a credit.

Even so, this install took three weeks in all. Seats out, wheel off, dash gutted etc.

My opinion of the unit is that it programs and operates just like Comand minus the screen. I've found it to be very accurate. For example, just as I stop in front of my house, it announces "you have reached your destination." I can also sit inside my garage and program in any destination, even thousands of miles away, and after thinking for awhile, it will show the entire route, turn by turn with an ETA. I think this is because it stores it's last known position.

My main complaint about it is that when I wear my polarized sunglasses, the screen cannot be read except at a zero angle. Anything off to the side and it's blank. BTW, mine is the model with the buttons top and bottom. I believe there is a new model with a larger screen and the buttons on each side. There is also a Blaupunkt version of the HK with side buttons with a full height screen.

As was said previously, this is still the cheapest sound upgrade. I replaced an Alpine top-line cassette deck (with amp and 21 years old) and the difference is quite noticeable.

I now wish I had specified the $2100 Comand system for my C320 even though it was inferior to other nav systems. Of course, now they are DVD based and much improved, apparently.

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Roger E.

What is "Updatable Firmware" for the H/K Traffic pro? This is mentioned on the box in which the unit came in! I didn't see this mentioned in the manual, but could have over looked it!

Roger E, I have no problem at all seeing the display screen on my HK from any angle and cant relate what you mean? I got the green display but would rather have gotten the yellow instead. I like the RDBS radio data system that displays the current station name and song-artist name along with name of song being played, it's cool!

I think I would be able to make an adapter for the in-line speedo cable for the HK speed sensor from my old speedo cable I have by joining both ends somehow.

The frequency response is 20 Hz-20khz for CD only, as clean as sound can be reproduced, but the FM is only 30Hz-15khz! I added a sub amp and bridged because it is mono, that and a box with two 10" subs and really makes the whole thing sound great. The speakers I used were limited to the dash space, I think are 3 1/2" and rear deck 4 or 5 inch, all are Infinity Kappa, middle of the road expensive, all have dome tweaters. All in all, the sound is very good but had expected even better sound.

One of theses days I'll install the speed sensor and have GPS, but don't really need it right now. Oh yes, the HK probably looks more in place than any other unit available and believe this was intentional and aimed as an after market MB up-grade for older MB's but when this brain storm didn't go over as planned, they dropped the price a thousend bucks just to get rid of them! After all, the HK is made by Becker! Actually, HK is the parent company now to Becker BB

<<Roger E, I have no problem at all seeing the display screen on my HK from any angle and cant relate what you mean?>>

As my post clearly said, I cannot read the screen when wearing my polarized sunglasses except straight on.

<<I think I would be able to make an adapter for the in-line speedo cable for the HK speed sensor from my old speedo cable I have by joining both ends somehow.>>

No, you would not. Why not try cutting an old speedo cable in two and see what happens? If you could see the kit of parts that come with the Becker speed sensor you would realize what it takes to adapt the cut cable to fit into the ends of the sensor, you would give this idea up.

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Roger E.