Stereo & Electronics - Compatable with steering wheel controls?

I know I can use the PAX adapter to retain the steering wheel controls. But, do any HUs on the market right now work without using the PAX? I thought I heard some Alpine units will plug in directly?? Anyone know?

mmm i dont beleieve so, have heared of it rumored but not seen any... just get a pac they are cheap on ebay now...or ummm well reach down to the stereo...i know its a big reach but it can be done and builds muscles } : > of course saying that i just ordered a pac on ebay last night to go with my eclipse navi head that already has a remote...so im all for the ultimate of being lazy....

There are none that work out of the box for steering wheel controls. Some Kenwood, JVC and Alpine models have a plug in for steering wheel controls and you would need to buy a PAC SWI-ALP to make it work, but you would still need to program the PAC unit. Is better than having to hide a eye for the SWI-X...I am thinking about going with the PAC SWI-ALP, since I get times where the SWI-X can be touchy, I did read on the PAC website awhile back, you can add a plug in to the PAC-SWI-X and would work the same as the ALP one, but now I can't find it. Even had the part # needed to buy at radio shack to make it work(just a plug that can be wired in).

I just don't want to have to hide the remote eye. (Stealth)

yeah that was the only reason i never did it......that stupid little eye

I have one for my truck, it deosnt work that great, I never use it anymore, just got used to not using the wheel controls for stereo !

to be honest it doesnt work well at all all the time but sometimes it works fine...from the experiance i had in my gtp... this time ill do it myself though and make sure to keep the eye and tm close

I have a SWI-X and I havent had any problems with it. Mine is run down through the center console and the LED is sticking out of the back side of the rubber surround on the e-brake. It works fine with the brake up or down, my arm on the stick, etc. It is what, less than 2 feet from the head unit and pointed directly at it.

To those who have intermittent issues with theirs, where are yours mounted? Distance from HU? angle?

Mine is mounted right next to the e-brake. You can't even tell it's there if you don't know what it is. It is not some HUGE eye sticking out of the console like HAL, it is about the size of a pin head, and it matches the color of the interior.

Program it first, find a good location where you can oporate the controls when the car is in gear and mount it there.

I have mine in my convertible. The only time it does not work in my car is if the sun is shining DIRECTLY on the front of the deck's ir receiver ... and even then it will sometimes work.

It is money well spent and a better head unit accessory than even an iPod adaptor. But if they have them available for new head units without needing to mess with programming and hiding an ir LED then I would definately go that route.

I had the lil infrared eye or whatever it is.....its barely noticeable, and you'll find out that the only time it doesn't work is if you have your T-Tops off, and there is DIRECT sunlight on it....I've only had it happen twice since I did it awhile back....usually works GREAT

-Will

The PAC swi-ALP doesn't need the eye, just plugs in. But you would still have to program it to work, it is just limited to brands it works with.

I had my Pioneer head unit installed by a local shop, and had an adapter put in so I can use the controls on my steering wheel. I works flawlessly. I'm confused what is "the eye" for? I dont have one of those.

my pacx works great only had if for a couple of months tho. But i hid my little eye thing in the vent right above the stereo didn't even drill any holes at all. I was pretty surprised it work considering it is pointed the wrong direction. cause both the eye and the stereo are facing the back of the car but it works perfect. The foam around the vents holds it in place when u pop the trim back in. and i put it in the left vent in the bottom left corner so the passengers don't even see it.

nice thing bout the pacx too is that u can program ur steering wheel controls to do what ever u want them to do. Like i made my preset button a source button and my seek button scrolls through my presets instead of just seeking through all the stations, cause i only listen to the presets anyways. And with the seek button doing the presets i can scroll up and down through the presets instead of just up like factory.

Buy a soundgate. Splice into three wires and plug in the jack to the HU. Don't have to worry about any IR eye.