Bush 'n Beach Fishing Magazine Location reports & tips for fishing, boating, camping, kayaking, 4WDing in Queensland and Northern NSW
IF you are not already aware, I currently drive a 2010 76 Series Toyota LandCruiser. This truck is awesome and has performed exceptionally off-road, but Toyota definitely didn’t go overboard when decking it out with mod-cons such as an advanced radio or hands-free phone system.
I’ve actually taken mine back to a Toyota dealer a few times because no one could hear me on the phone through the standard hands-free setup.
And since my phone seems to be an extension of my body these days, it was important I could legally use it while driving. I had considered getting an external hands-free unit, but I also wanted to upgrade my old Navman that was attached to the dash and fit a reversing camera.
Since I have a few young kids, I wanted to make sure they were not behind me when reversing in the driveway. After looking around for a while I came across the Zenec brand at the Tinnie and Tackle Show and Explore Australia Expo. After playing with the unit at the show, a bit more research online followed and the decision was made to upgrade the very limited standard Toyota system.
Zenec produces units for a number of vehicles and the Z-N720 is the model to suit the LandCruiser. The double-din unit fits perfectly in the place of the standard system, so there is no cutting or modifying of the dash required to make it fit. In fact if you so desired you could take the Zenec out and put your old unit back in if selling the vehicle.
So after having my standard unit removed and new Zenec fitted, I was keen to make a phone call just to satisfy what the salesperson had told me about clarity. And what do you know, it worked!
The Zenec system also allows you to download contacts from your phone, making calling much easier.
A handy favourites tab means you can store regularly used phone numbers. Now I finally had a setup that worked well and could be used legally.
In addition to the Bluetooth hands-free system, the Zenec offers a detailed navigation system with a heap of preloaded information on the micro SD card.
The navigation system is very easy to use and gives good directions once you have selected your destination. My Zenec system is compatible with Hema Maps 4WD Nav, which includes a huge collection of 4WD and touring maps and can be added for $299.
If you are planning on heading off-road this would be a worthwhile upgrade to your Zenec because it saves the need for having a separate unit to display the Hema Maps. And having the navigation in your head unit means directions are within easy reach and sight.
The unit can also be connected to headrest DVD screens. If you are looking at upgrading your head unit, especially in the somewhat basic 70 Series Toyotas, I recommend checking out the Zenec range.
For more information on this and other models, check out www.zenec.com.au or call 1300 493 632.
