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Installed Kenwood head unit - keep U-Connect?

8K views 20 replies 10 participants last post by  russelltaylor 
#1 ·
Last weekend I installed a Kenwood DDX-5706S head unit using the Maestro RR and CH-1 harness. I have the option of retaining U-Connect, but is there any reason to with this set up or should I just use the bluetooth mic that came with the head unit? '16 JKU with factory Alpine system.
 
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#3 ·
Nope. Get rid of it. I try this at the beginning and it didn't work and had to disassemble everything again. The problem is due to the phone as it won't be able to make difference between which Bluetooth is voice and which one is audio. You can go to the menu and kinda force it but if you do that then the radio will try by default to use it's microphone and not the Uconect. You'll be able to listen your caller but not to talk back to them.

The factory USB is also tie in with the Uconect box, there is a by-pass cable adapter sold on Amazon that will let you connect you new head unit USB to the factory outlet

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B016NLD0BA?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the replies. I did notice that if I push the phone button on the steering wheel to answer a call, the other person can hear me but if I hit the answer button on the screen they cannot. Also that I can’t voice text. I’ll pull the maestro out & reprogram it to disable u-connect.
 
#6 ·
Thanks, pulled it back out today and removed the u-connect module all together. All features work great on the new head unit. I mounted the mic right on the steering wheel shroud & the person on the other end of the phone can hear me much better than with the factory mic.

Is there a better face plate adapter than the metra? I’m just not thrilled with the way it sits in the hole in the dash with the add-on plastic pieces on each side. I’ve adjusted it 10 times and to me it just doesn’t look the best. Hoping there was another alternative to make it appear like a factory install.
 
#7 ·
Is there a better face plate adapter than the metra? I’m just not thrilled with the way it sits in the hole in the dash with the add-on plastic pieces on each side. I’ve adjusted it 10 times and to me it just doesn’t look the best. Hoping there was another alternative to make it appear like a factory install.
Yes, you can get a metal bracket here:
https://www.pacparts.com/part.cfm?sku=820ZUD-L974-ENWV-SW

Thread on here discussing it with some pics from post 20 onward:
https://www.wranglerforum.com/f202/...kit-that-wont-break-2323787.html#post33867803

Install video:
 
#9 ·
Thanks again lumberjack357 for the link to the metal dash kit. Looks & fits so much better than the crap metra kit.
 

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#10 ·
The only reason I left mine in was to keep power the USB in the console. No other reason.

I was torn between keeping it for the mic or not - decided not to. I put the external behind the tweeter on the dash of my '12.

Replaced the standard lighter plug with a dual USB plug that connects to the 2 USBs from my head unit.
 
#12 ·
The only reason I left mine in was to keep power the USB in the console. No other reason.
I decided to take it out & bought the $9 adapter to connect the usb from the center console to the head unit. Works perfectly.
 
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#14 ·
If you want to sell your 430N let me know
 
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