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Kenwood DNX7100 front button illumination

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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 07:39 PM
  #1  
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Default Kenwood DNX7100 front button illumination

All,

I see the DNX7100 is popular on this forum. Just picked up and installed one myself.

Can those who have one answer a question for me?

Do the buttons on the lower part of the front panel light up when the unit is off and headlights/dashlights are on? Mine only seem to light up when the unit is turned on. Makes finding the "NAV" (i.e., "on") button a little difficult at night.

I'm used to head units that have at least a minimum amount of illumination tied to the headlights/dashlights.

Trying to determine if this is by design, a defect, or an installation issue.

Thanks in advance for your help.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 09:52 PM
  #2  
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Originally Posted by mooch91
All,

I see the DNX7100 is popular on this forum. Just picked up and installed one myself.

Can those who have one answer a question for me?

Do the buttons on the lower part of the front panel light up when the unit is off and headlights/dashlights are on? Mine only seem to light up when the unit is turned on. Makes finding the "NAV" (i.e., "on") button a little difficult at night.

I'm used to head units that have at least a minimum amount of illumination tied to the headlights/dashlights.

Trying to determine if this is by design, a defect, or an installation issue.

Thanks in advance for your help.
What generation Vette is it? Could be the dimming isn't hooked up. This requires a workaround in C6 to get working correctly, if that's what you have.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:59 PM
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c5 there is an illumination work aroudn as well
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 07:36 AM
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Please don't shoot the intruder, but it's not installed in a Corvette, it's another vehicle. There was a lot of enthusiasm about this head unit on this forum which is why I chose to post the question here.

In an e-mail from Kenwood, they imply that the buttons do not light up when the unit is off (that's off by holding in the "NAV" button for a few seconds, to where the screen goes blank). If I leave the head unit in "standby" mode by using the "source" menu, things stay lit. Maybe most don't ever turn the unit off, but instead just keep it in standby?

Illumination seems to be working fine otherwise. The unit does seem to recognize when the headlights are on because the display dims a bit and brightens when they are turned off. This leads me to believe that the illumination signal is being recognized.

In any case, can you point me to the discussions about the workaround required for illumination on the c5 and c6? Maybe I can translate something to my vehicle.

Thanks.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 10:50 AM
  #5  
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well it seems liek you have illumination working so it doesnt matter

on the c5 and c6 the illumination wire isnt available in the radio harness so you ahve to go elsewhere for it
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 12:09 PM
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Yes, the illumination feature where the display dims at night and brightens during the day (triggered by the illumination input) is working fine.

But my front panel is completely dark at night unless the unit is on. There is no minimum lighting that helps you find the power button like I'm used to for other stereos.

I'll assume that this is "by design" unless someone can confirm that their front panel buttons are lit up at night with the headlights on and the stereo off.

Thanks again.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 12:05 AM
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From: CLT NC
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Mooch, it sounds like you have everything wired correctly with the dimming and illumination. When the unit is powered off, all of the lights and everything on the radio blacks out. This is the design of the radio.
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Old Mar 21, 2008 | 09:16 AM
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If your goal is to simply black out the screen and keep the bottom buttons lit, then all you need to do is hit the "V.Sel" button until you pick an option that does not have a video signal going into the unit. For example, if you choose "iPod" and do not have an iPod video signal attached, then you will get a black screen, however the botton row of buttons will still remain illuminated.
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