Iphone and Kenwood DNX8120

I just called Kenwood tech support. Apparently, the voice dialing feature on the original shipment of DNX8120's was disabled. They were working on an update to enable it and fix some other issues. The update has already made it onto some of the newly shipped units but is not yet available for download.

Also, the tech support rep said that they do not support the iPhone period, so it doesn't look like we can rely on Kenwood to fix the distorted audio issue. Hopefully the iPhone 2.0 software update will fix it

Apple sold how many iphones and Kenwood does not want to support it? Good call Kenwood.

I'm still having the same problem after updating the iPhone to version 2.0. Has anyone tried the DNX8120 with an iPhone 3G?

I am having the problem with my iPhone 3G and DNX8120. Everyone says that I sound really noisy and stuff, but the person on the other end sounds fine to me...I am going to try to isolate the problem later...My Nokia N82 worked beautifully with the DNX8120... 😟

i spoke with apple the other day to find out the solution for the bluetooth on the iphone and kenwoods dnx8120. kenwood needs to come out with an update to make the software in the iphone compatiable with the dnx8120. it is a software issue and only kenwood can resolve it with an update.

Here is what i got back from Kenwood:

The iPhone doesn’t hold the call settings as other phones do. This is why there is such a static connection. You will have to manually switch from Hands Free to Private and then back to Hands Free for it to function properly. This is a setting on the iPhone, not the Bluetooth piece so we cannot fix it with an update.

Please feel free to contact us again with any additional questions.

Kevin H.
Product Support Representative
Kenwood USA Authorized Call Center
=============================================
It did help a bit on mine, but still sounded a bit off. Still, if this is a known fix, why can this be done automatically with a software setting?

I just hooked up my kenwood bluetooth receiver to use with iphone 3g and am experiencing the same static on the other end problem, i tried switching between the handset and the bluetooth using the buttons on the phone and it didnt seem to make any difference but when i did it using the button on the kenwood screen it worked perfectly.. if anyone figures out anything further i would love to hear about it!

Beware! I just downloaded the latest update 2.0.1 update from itunes. Now my iphone wont connect to the Kenwood DNX8120. It worked fine with 2.0 software, and now when I press iPod on the Kenwood, the screen just reads "Connecting" and never times out!

I too am having the blutooth audio quality issue and thought downloading the new iphone software might help, so now, while my iphone works fine; it is dead to the kenwood.

Here is the latest I have heard from Kenwood
I asked about the static on the bluetooth connection and why the SMS doesn't work.

There is a problem with the iPhone holding specific call settings through a Bluetooth connection, causing the distorted sound. There is a patch coming out to address this but it has not been released yet. As a temporary work around, after each call you can manually switch the unit from Hands Free to Private and back to hands free, this should clear the noise.

Also, the SMS feature is working as designed on our radio. Most phones will have SMS enabled, however they will need to be able to send and receive SMS through a Bluetooth connection for this feature to work. To see if your phone is capable of this please contact the phone manufacturer and your carrier.

I want to retract my last post. I was able to get it to work properly with iPhone software 2.0.l after rebooting my phone. Not sure what the deal was. Call quality still sounds robotic unless I use the soft button to toggle to my iphone and then Kenwood for Bluetooth

Kenwood has a SW Patch for the iPhone Audio issue, which is being released to their dealers. Contact you local dealer and ask them about it.

Is this true that Kenwood has a SW Patch? I REALLY want to buy a Excelon DNX8120 but only if the bluetooth works correctly with my (non 3G version).

OK..OK.....I finally got it (Although I haven't tried/installed this yet).
Kenwood just sent me over an update for the iPhone (w/ instructions).
You can find it here: http://rapidshare.com/files/137365613/IPhoneUpdate.zip.html

I will try it out as soon as I get out of work today.

Hope this works.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I just saw this post and immediately downloaded the file.

Follow the directions for a USB update of the DNX8120 and on reboot: the iPhone voice quality was perfect! No toggling needed! I'm so happy now. The new BT firmware is 1.61.

Just a warning: In my haste and the very late night, I used the Parrot Bluetooth Upgrade tool on my pc laptop (which worked for the firmware 1.60) but it killed the bluetooth unit. With a heavy heart, I rechecked and followed the USB instructions as listed in the file, and it restored the unit to 1.61, which fixes the mic quality.

- Steve

GREAT NEWS! Thanks for the post. I will be getting one for sure now.