Avensis B9012 Satnav/headunit Questions

[Robbo78]

Hi there!!!!

I personally have done quite a bit of googling and couldn't really find anything useful. So i came to the conclusion that the best people to ask/place to search is the experienced owners/users of a site like this.

So questions i would like answering are:-

1) This unit has a "AM.DAB" Button! How do i upgrade this unit to be DAB WITHOUT some random aftermarket 'FM Modulation/tune in/blah/blah/etc.' unit!! This must have been available as stock and someone somewhere surely must know what's needed and how to fit it!!!

2) Does anyone know a reliable source (torrent style) for map updates that are frequently updated, i.e. annually at least!!

3) Can the OS software of the unit be updated at all?

Regards and thanks in advance!!

[Devon Aygo]

Attached is the installation instructions from Toyota for DAB this includes the parts numbers you will need to purchase.

As for updating the navigation the actual map and Gracenote software is easy to come by, but the installation is by a specialist piece of hardware held by your Toyota dealer. The installation requires a unique license purchased by the owner from Toyota this comes on a USB memory stick. The license is then transferred through a piece of software on a desktop PC onto the update hardware along with the latest map & Gracenote software. The transfer of the license is a one time only affair and cannot be undone it also deletes the License key from the USB preventing piracy.

Once all the info is stored on the hardware it is then taken to the car plugged in and the stored info is transferred into the navigation system, which takes about an hour to remove the old software and install the updated software again a one time only affair as all the info is removed from the hardware.

As for the OS software updates for faults can be carried out by your dealer beyond that there are no updates for alternative versions to alter appearance or functions. Not sure if anyone has managed to install different OS

Avensis_DAB_RHD_PZ473_T0210_A0_AIM_001_251_2.pdf

[Druid Boy]

My head hurts.....

[Brn]

Hi people,

After hours of web and forum searches, I resort to post to old topics.

So, my B9012 in my 2010 T27 has the 2011 maps. I think the unit is good, bluetooth streaming from Android works, even the nav functionalities are good, traffic info works. I would keep it if the maps could be updated.

Toyota charges a lot.

This guy sells maps for reasonable money, but the recommended update process is quite... hmmm complicated? (Not the same as described above by Devon Aygo, but not easier, especially that I don't own a desktop PC) https://toyotamapsupdates.com/how-to-update-hdd-toyota-sat-nav/

When the display is open there is a HDD update socket. What is this for? It is not mentioned anywhere, including manual or Toyota tech docs. What cable and hardware connects to it? What software?

Additionally in the hidden menu (unit on, hold Info button, switch headlights on/off 3 times) there is a program update menu that is asking for disc. What is that for?

[Devon Aygo]

13 minutes ago, Brn said:

Hi people,

After hours of web and forum searches, I resort to post to old topics.

So, my B9012 in my 2010 T27 has the 2011 maps. I think the unit is good, bluetooth streaming from Android works, even the nav functionalities are good, traffic info works. I would keep it if the maps could be updated.

Toyota charges a lot.

This guy sells maps for reasonable money, but the recommended update process is quite... hmmm complicated? (Not the same as described above by Devon Aygo, but not easier, especially that I don't own a desktop PC) https://toyotamapsupdates.com/how-to-update-hdd-toyota-sat-nav/

When the display is open there is a HDD update socket. What is this for? It is not mentioned anywhere, including manual or Toyota tech docs. What cable and hardware connects to it? What software?

Additionally in the hidden menu (unit on, hold Info button, switch headlights on/off 3 times) there is a program update menu that is asking for disc. What is that for?

The HDD plug is where a dealer plugs in the map update hardware to update Maps/Gracenote

The update option via the hidden menu is where a dealer would go to carry out headunit software update

[MagicBoy]

The HDD update plug looks like an unpowered firewire connection. Last time you probably owned anything that used it was either a PlayStation 2 or a DV camcorder. Stands to reason that without the correct Toyota map update hardware you'd have to pull the drive and do slightly dodgy unapproved workarounds like our online friend. Technobabble alert :  He's using a desktop PC with a converter board as a USB type adapter likely won't be able to deactivate the security on the NAV drive.

[Brn]

Thanks Devon Aygo.  It makes sense.  If I were Toyota,  I'd probably make it similarly complicated to make more money.  On the other hand, in old threads, ppl. who bought these cars new and went to the dealers after 1 year to find the technicians there with raised eyebrows when a HDD was mentioned. To me that says that the updates were an after thought...

@MagicBoy you are right, it is dodgy. The scary/less clear bit to me looks like the fiddling in the BIOS. I might ask my workplace IT guy if he is able balck magic this once we are allowed back to some normality in the office.

I'll just have to stick with Waze or Here and my children can be amused when the car sat nav shows us driving over fields. 😉

[MagicBoy]

I understand what the video is doing as I'm a fellow workplace IT guy who has black magic skills honed over more years than I care to admit! 😆

The BIOS fiddling is to set his modern desktop PC back to compatibility settings so that the CD with dodgy software tools can remove the security from the NAV drive. If you had a Windows 7 era PC the BIOS settings change wouldn't be necessary.

The updates on something newer like my Auris are a bit more simple - copy files to a standard USB, plug it in then sit there and wait for an hour while it digests it. Toyota website gives you the security unlock code. I still get the hilarity of driving through fields though. Took until June 2020 for it to recognise that the A556 bypass (aka George Osborne way) they started to build in 2015 was a road and not a farmers field!

[Brn]

There are a couple of old PCs at work. He might not be willing to add the shady decryption software to the corporate system though... I'll try anyway, he is a cool guy mostly.