PAC MS-FRD1 vs iDatalink Maestro
03-25-2014, 01:57 PM
#1
PAC MS-FRD1 vs iDatalink Maestro
Which one would you guys recommend and why? I currently have the Kenwood DDX271 with Maestro but I can not get it working correctly.
Does the PAC system work as well (for everyone else
) as the Maestro?
Or, why would I not just get rid of SYNC all together and get the Pioneer AVH8500 with all the features I would have otherwise, minus sync?
Does the PAC system work as well (for everyone else
) as the Maestro?Or, why would I not just get rid of SYNC all together and get the Pioneer AVH8500 with all the features I would have otherwise, minus sync?
03-25-2014, 02:50 PM
#2
I have had both and currently use the Maestro. I do believe the Maestro is the superior product simply because it has not failed on the steering wheel controls. The MS-FRD1 would always get funky if I received a phone call and adjusted the volume during the call. When I hung up and went back to the HU, volume up would be down and volume down would not work. I would have to power cycle the vehicle to get it back to normal. I have no idea if this was specific to my setup but it had it's bugs for me.
As for replacing the HU with a higher end HU and then getting rid of Sync altogether....I struggled with this as well but as you move to a more capable HU you will want it to talk to Sync as there are then many benefits. Also, you are going to want to keep your SWC even though you may cut-out Sync so you will still be interfacing and ultimately be back where you are now.
As for replacing the HU with a higher end HU and then getting rid of Sync altogether....I struggled with this as well but as you move to a more capable HU you will want it to talk to Sync as there are then many benefits. Also, you are going to want to keep your SWC even though you may cut-out Sync so you will still be interfacing and ultimately be back where you are now.
11-30-2016, 02:38 PM
#3
So I'm replying to this thread because I have the exact question now almost 3 years since the OP.
Looking at a Pioneer AVH-X5800BHS at Crutchfield for my 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew w/o Navigation system, w/o Sony audio.
I want a Nav unit but I'm settling for this as I use the hell out of Waze, and my iPhone is always with me. So why pay for a full Nav unit I say ?
Then of course, to buy a $350 head unit, you need to spent another $150 on adapters.
So my choices are:
PAC MS-FRD1 wiring interface
PAC SWI-RC steering wheel interface
or
iDatalink Maestro ADS-MRR wiring interface
iDatalink Connec HRN-RR-FO1
What ever happened to +12V, ground, and L,R, Front, Rear ?
I'm told I need this for SYNC ? Why, is the SYNC controlled from my factory head unit ? I don't use SYNC for voice control of ANYTHING, phone, radio, ... or is SYNC something that runs in the background that keeps my truck from getting the flu ?
Anywho, I know I'm going off due to my senility, but 50% of the cost should not be a bunch of wires !
Look for your opinion on PAC vs iData Maestro ...
Looking at a Pioneer AVH-X5800BHS at Crutchfield for my 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew w/o Navigation system, w/o Sony audio.
I want a Nav unit but I'm settling for this as I use the hell out of Waze, and my iPhone is always with me. So why pay for a full Nav unit I say ?
Then of course, to buy a $350 head unit, you need to spent another $150 on adapters.
So my choices are:
PAC MS-FRD1 wiring interface
PAC SWI-RC steering wheel interface
or
iDatalink Maestro ADS-MRR wiring interface
iDatalink Connec HRN-RR-FO1
What ever happened to +12V, ground, and L,R, Front, Rear ?
I'm told I need this for SYNC ? Why, is the SYNC controlled from my factory head unit ? I don't use SYNC for voice control of ANYTHING, phone, radio, ... or is SYNC something that runs in the background that keeps my truck from getting the flu ?
Anywho, I know I'm going off due to my senility, but 50% of the cost should not be a bunch of wires !
Look for your opinion on PAC vs iData Maestro ...
11-30-2016, 02:52 PM
#4
I have had both and currently use the Maestro. I do believe the Maestro is the superior product simply because it has not failed on the steering wheel controls. The MS-FRD1 would always get funky if I received a phone call and adjusted the volume during the call. When I hung up and went back to the HU, volume up would be down and volume down would not work. I would have to power cycle the vehicle to get it back to normal. I have no idea if this was specific to my setup but it had it's bugs for me.
As for replacing the HU with a higher end HU and then getting rid of Sync altogether....I struggled with this as well but as you move to a more capable HU you will want it to talk to Sync as there are then many benefits. Also, you are going to want to keep your SWC even though you may cut-out Sync so you will still be interfacing and ultimately be back where you are now.
As for replacing the HU with a higher end HU and then getting rid of Sync altogether....I struggled with this as well but as you move to a more capable HU you will want it to talk to Sync as there are then many benefits. Also, you are going to want to keep your SWC even though you may cut-out Sync so you will still be interfacing and ultimately be back where you are now.
. I have had both and the Maestro is far superior. When you program it you can choose to use SYNC or not.
Last edited by Wyo11Scab; 11-30-2016 at 02:54 PM.
11-30-2016, 02:53 PM
#5
Which one would you guys recommend and why? I currently have the Kenwood DDX271 with Maestro but I can not get it working correctly.
Does the PAC system work as well (for everyone else) as the Maestro?
Or, why would I not just get rid of SYNC all together and get the Pioneer AVH8500 with all the features I would have otherwise, minus sync?
Does the PAC system work as well (for everyone else
) as the Maestro?Or, why would I not just get rid of SYNC all together and get the Pioneer AVH8500 with all the features I would have otherwise, minus sync?
11-30-2016, 11:50 PM
#6
So I'm replying to this thread because I have the exact question now almost 3 years since the OP.
Looking at a Pioneer AVH-X5800BHS at Crutchfield for my 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew w/o Navigation system, w/o Sony audio.
I want a Nav unit but I'm settling for this as I use the hell out of Waze, and my iPhone is always with me. So why pay for a full Nav unit I say ?
Then of course, to buy a $350 head unit, you need to spent another $150 on adapters.
So my choices are:
PAC MS-FRD1 wiring interface
PAC SWI-RC steering wheel interface
or
iDatalink Maestro ADS-MRR wiring interface
iDatalink Connec HRN-RR-FO1
What ever happened to +12V, ground, and L,R, Front, Rear ?
I'm told I need this for SYNC ? Why, is the SYNC controlled from my factory head unit ? I don't use SYNC for voice control of ANYTHING, phone, radio, ... or is SYNC something that runs in the background that keeps my truck from getting the flu ?
Anywho, I know I'm going off due to my senility, but 50% of the cost should not be a bunch of wires !
Look for your opinion on PAC vs iData Maestro ...
Looking at a Pioneer AVH-X5800BHS at Crutchfield for my 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew w/o Navigation system, w/o Sony audio.
I want a Nav unit but I'm settling for this as I use the hell out of Waze, and my iPhone is always with me. So why pay for a full Nav unit I say ?
Then of course, to buy a $350 head unit, you need to spent another $150 on adapters.
So my choices are:
PAC MS-FRD1 wiring interface
PAC SWI-RC steering wheel interface
or
iDatalink Maestro ADS-MRR wiring interface
iDatalink Connec HRN-RR-FO1
What ever happened to +12V, ground, and L,R, Front, Rear ?
I'm told I need this for SYNC ? Why, is the SYNC controlled from my factory head unit ? I don't use SYNC for voice control of ANYTHING, phone, radio, ... or is SYNC something that runs in the background that keeps my truck from getting the flu ?
Anywho, I know I'm going off due to my senility, but 50% of the cost should not be a bunch of wires !
Look for your opinion on PAC vs iData Maestro ...
The Maestro part does work well, also if you don't care about Sync, you can use the RP4-FD11 ( which is cheaper ) and if no steering control, use the C2R-frd1
12-01-2016, 01:05 AM
#7
One Clean Machine
iTrader: (5)
I had the Maestro with my kenwood 892, never a issue. I kept sync, loved that setup...
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02-07-2017, 10:46 AM
#8
Senior Member
So I'm replying to this thread because I have the exact question now almost 3 years since the OP.
Looking at a Pioneer AVH-X5800BHS at Crutchfield for my 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew w/o Navigation system, w/o Sony audio.
I want a Nav unit but I'm settling for this as I use the hell out of Waze, and my iPhone is always with me. So why pay for a full Nav unit I say ?
Then of course, to buy a $350 head unit, you need to spent another $150 on adapters.
So my choices are:
PAC MS-FRD1 wiring interface
PAC SWI-RC steering wheel interface
or
iDatalink Maestro ADS-MRR wiring interface
iDatalink Connec HRN-RR-FO1
What ever happened to +12V, ground, and L,R, Front, Rear ?
I'm told I need this for SYNC ? Why, is the SYNC controlled from my factory head unit ? I don't use SYNC for voice control of ANYTHING, phone, radio, ... or is SYNC something that runs in the background that keeps my truck from getting the flu ?
Anywho, I know I'm going off due to my senility, but 50% of the cost should not be a bunch of wires !
Look for your opinion on PAC vs iData Maestro ...
Looking at a Pioneer AVH-X5800BHS at Crutchfield for my 2011 Ford F-150 SuperCrew w/o Navigation system, w/o Sony audio.
I want a Nav unit but I'm settling for this as I use the hell out of Waze, and my iPhone is always with me. So why pay for a full Nav unit I say ?
Then of course, to buy a $350 head unit, you need to spent another $150 on adapters.
So my choices are:
PAC MS-FRD1 wiring interface
PAC SWI-RC steering wheel interface
or
iDatalink Maestro ADS-MRR wiring interface
iDatalink Connec HRN-RR-FO1
What ever happened to +12V, ground, and L,R, Front, Rear ?
I'm told I need this for SYNC ? Why, is the SYNC controlled from my factory head unit ? I don't use SYNC for voice control of ANYTHING, phone, radio, ... or is SYNC something that runs in the background that keeps my truck from getting the flu ?
Anywho, I know I'm going off due to my senility, but 50% of the cost should not be a bunch of wires !
Look for your opinion on PAC vs iData Maestro ...
04-22-2018, 05:48 PM
#9
Junior Member
I have the Pac Audio set up in my 2016. It had the 4.3 screen. I upgraded to the pioneer 7200nex.
Yesterday I went to the stereo shop and kept the PAC bezel, changed the module to the Maestro RR & F02 harness.
the stereo shop is telling me that I can’t have climate control on the pioneer screen, is that true? I’m having a hard time believing it since the 13/14 has the climate control on screen. Is it not available because they hooked it up wrong? Is the RR not flashed correctly? Do I need the iDatalink bezel?
The only thing I have on screen are gauges and tire pressure/battery volt. The source that has the climate control is grey and in that section also gives you the outside temp which I can’t see either.
Yesterday I went to the stereo shop and kept the PAC bezel, changed the module to the Maestro RR & F02 harness.
the stereo shop is telling me that I can’t have climate control on the pioneer screen, is that true? I’m having a hard time believing it since the 13/14 has the climate control on screen. Is it not available because they hooked it up wrong? Is the RR not flashed correctly? Do I need the iDatalink bezel?
The only thing I have on screen are gauges and tire pressure/battery volt. The source that has the climate control is grey and in that section also gives you the outside temp which I can’t see either.