Holly Hill, FL – January 28, 2020 – Metra Electronics^® will host six training sessions at the 2020 KnowledgeFest™ event in Long Beach, California, for mobile electronics installers. As a Diamond Ultra sponsor, Metra is proud to support the industry by providing in-depth training sessions for installers, which will outline upgraded vehicle safety systems, selling and installing lighting solutions, simplified installs with digital signal processors and the future of vehicle integration. Metra will also have a drawing for new product giveaways at each session for attendees. Installer Institute^® will also be at the show, promoting their mobile electronics training programs and continuing education courses for existing 12volt professionals.

Both of the iBEAM training sessions, “Upgrading Vehicle Safety Systems with iBEAM,” will assist installers in identifying the essential selling points of safety and convenience, and will be held on Friday, February 7^th from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. and Sunday, February 9^th from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Installing aftermarket cameras and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in both consumer and commercial vehicles has become a significant revenue source for mobile electronics shops. Attendees will learn about iBEAM’s latest vehicle cameras, dashboard cameras with DVRs, replacement rearview mirrors, vehicle-specific solutions and commercial safety line. Whether it is a simple backup camera integration, an advanced motion detection camera setup or a high-tech 360-degree view system, Metra will teach installers how to sell and install their latest iBEAM safety solutions. They’ll also learn about the hot-button selling points and features that consumers and fleet owners are asking for, plus installation tips for a better understanding of what is involved in an upgrade. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win the new 9” Rearview Mirror Monitor Touchscreen (TE-SM9) and 360-Degree Interior View Dash Camera Kit (TE-360DVR) from iBEAM.

Heise will also be hosting two training sessions, “Selling and Installing Heise LED Lighting Solutions,” on Saturday, February 8^th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 9^th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The recent popularity in aftermarket LED lighting presents a valuable opportunity for installers to go beyond car audio services, giving consumers a way to customize their ride and increase visibility in the dark. However, not all LED lights on the market are the same. This session will allow installers to learn about Heise’s unique features and selling points that have set this brand apart from the rest. This training will cover new lightbars, integrating switch panels, replacement LED headlights, RGB and RGBW accent lights and safety lights for upfitting commercial equipment and fleet vehicles. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win the new 8 Gang Panel System (HE-SWP8) or 20" Edgeless Slimline Lightbar (HE-TSL20) product giveaways from Heise.

Axxess will be hosting two different training sessions. The first session, “Simplify your Installs with Axxess Digital Signal Processors,” will cover the entire Axxess AX-DSP product line and how these solutions can increase sales in the showroom and decrease time in the bay. The session will be hosted on Saturday, February 8th from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m and will show installers that upgrading a sound system doesn’t have to be complicated. This training will also go over and explain how to use the different types of applications offered within the AX-DSP line, including CAN-based systems, new A2B systems, MOST25, and MOST50 vehicle technology. Metra will also discuss how to use and set up the AX-DSP through the app for complete tuning control and when to use the DSP “Lite” versus “X” solutions. As vehicle technology becomes more and more complex, installers can look for Metra’s patented DSP products to help simplify installation and provide affordable audio solutions for their customers.

The second Axxess training session on Friday, February 7^th from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., “The Future of Vehicle Integration with New Axxess Products,” addresses the growing challenges and complexity of integration for the aftermarket 12volt industry. With the reduction in OE radio chassis sizes, the rising popularity of tablet-style screens, and many of the personalization features controlled through the OE radio, it is difficult for shops to offer simple aftermarket solutions. Attendees will learn about new products from Axxess that have been engineered specifically to address the complexity of today’s integrated vehicle technology systems and retain key convenience and safety features when upgrading a radio. For consumers who want to keep their radio but add safety, navigation, smart device mirroring, or simply override the annoying STOP/START engine feature, installers can learn about these new products from Axxess that will make their customer’s ride much more enjoyable. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win the new AX-DSP-LITE from Axxess.

Attendees can register for the training session or scan their badge at Metra’s booth before the start of the sessions to be entered into a drawing for one of the two product giveaways for each training session. The drawing will take place at the end of the sessions, and attendees must be present to win.

Metra’s customers can register for the KnowledgeFest event at no cost using Metra’s VIP code, available by request from their sales representative. Once registered for the event, attendees will also need to register online at KnowledgeFest.org for each training session they will attend. Metra will be at booth #1006 from February 7^th-9^th at the Long Beach Convention Center. Additional information about the show, produced by the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA), is available at KnowledgeFest.org.

About Metra Electronics^®

At Metra, 12volt installation and integration is our passion. We strive to continuously offer the highest quality products to meet the fluctuating technological challenges of the automotive world. We actively listen to our customers’ requests and invest resources into developing the highest quality dash kit and harness solutions. We make dash kits for more vehicle applications than anyone else in the world. That’s why we’ve been known as “The Installer’s Choice” ^® for more than 72 years. Our other brands include: Axxess^®, T-SPEC^®, The Install Bay^®, Heise LED Lighting Systems^®, iBEAM Vehicle Safety Systems^®, Shuriken High Performance Batteries^®, Raptor^®, Ballistic^®, AmmoTenna^®, Metra PowerSports^®, Saddle Tramp^®, Metra Marine^® and Daytona Lights™. Metra’s expertise in connectivity solutions is also applied to its division of premium home theater and surveillance products, Metra Home Theater Group^®. For ordering information and pricing, visit Metra Electronics online at MetraOnline.com or call 386-257-2956.

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Holly Hill, FL - February 9, 2018 – Metra Electronics®, the leading manufacturer of aftermarket automotive solutions, will be at KnowledgeFest in Long Beach, CA from February 23 to 25, 2018 at booth 424 in the Long Beach Convention Center. With the release of more than 200 new products at SEMA and CES combined, Metra Electronics and Axxess have innovative solutions designed to cover an even wider range of vehicle technologies and applications. Metra is hosting a vendor training session to introduce these new products and show installers how they can use these solutions to their advantage.

Metra Electronics and Axxess New Product Training

Metra’s vendor training will take place on Friday, 2/23/18 from 3:00pm - 4:00pm in the Seaside Room and again on Saturday, 2/24/18 from 5:30pm - 6:30pm with Stephanie Carver. Training topics include the new Axxess ADDCAM solution for aftermarket camera integration with the OEM radio and its vehicle-specific plug-n-play harnesses. For applications with an existing backup camera that are adding front and side cameras to the OEM radio, the AX-ADDCAM camera switching interface will provide up to three additional camera inputs to the factory radio and still retain the factory camera. AX-ADDCAM interface technology allows the cameras to function automatically for parking assistance, when commands are available on the CANBUS. In this instance, no human interaction is required to display the camera feeds, unless desired to do so. If the factory system does not already include a rearview camera, the AX-ADDCAM interface can also be used to add up to four CAN activated camera inputs to the factory radio.

This session will also cover the new Axxess radio replacement interfaces with MOST25 amplifier retention. These new interfaces provide accessory 12-volt power and NAV outputs, retain steering wheel controls, retain the OEM amplifier and will retain chimes, when present. They utilize Axxess’ revolutionary ASWC-1 technology along with a fiber optic interface that allows coverage into the MOST 25 vehicle applications. The MOST25 radio replacement interfaces utilize the backup camera input of the aftermarket radio to display personalization menus and, if equipped, the sonar sensors.

The new Axxess AX-DSP plug-n-play packages and T-harnesses introduced at CES 2018 will also be covered in the training. AX-DSP packages now cover select applications with SPDIF or MOST50 digitally amplified systems and include the patent-pending Digital Signal Processor (AX-DSP) by Axxess, a vehicle-specific T-harness and amplifier bypass harness. The number of T-harnesses available for the AX-DSP have also doubled, as this new product has helped fill a gap in the market. The AX-DSP, which began shipping in the summer of 2017, already works with a wide range of vehicle applications, including non-amplified vehicles that do not have chimes. For amplified vehicles or vehicles with chimes, see the AX-DSP application chart for more information. The AX-DSP is a cost effective solution for customers who want to retain their factory radio and improve their vehicle sound quality, while still retaining systems like SYNC® or OnStar®. This digital signal processor sets itself apart with on-board digital amplifier turn-on capability, chime retention with volume control, and fully adjustable 31 band graphic EQ with time delay. All features and adjustments are controlled via Bluetooth® to the Axxess smartphone application, available for iOS and Android devices.

Metra’s latest TurboTactile dash kits with integrated electronics that debuted at CES 2018 will also be covered in the training. The TurboTactile dash kits feature factory style hard buttons, etched graphics, LCD knobs, and integrated electronics that retain most vehicle customization features.

Attendees will also learn about Metra’s popular TubroTouch dash kits with an integrated 4.3” touchscreen and user interface that retains and controls most of the climate and vehicle customization functions that are normally lost when removing the factory radio. The TurboTouch smart interface technology automatically detects the vehicle’s features. Steering wheel functionality is retained and the patent-pending touchscreen design also retains the factory safety features, including backup camera.

Register Now for KnowledgeFest

To learn more about these products, please register to attend KnowledgeFest and sign up for the Metra and Axxess new product training at: http://knowledgefest.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=113&Itemid=332

Non-member pricing is $249 for the first registration, and each additional registrant is free. Metra customers can contact their sales representative for a VIP code for free registration to this event.

About Metra Electronics

At Metra, 12 volt installation and integration is our passion. We strive to continuously offer the highest quality products to meet the fluctuating technological challenges of the automotive world. We actively listen to our customers’ requests and invest resources into developing the highest quality dash kit and harness solutions. We make more dash kits for the most vehicle applications than anyone else in the world. That’s why we’ve been known as “The Installer’s Choice®” for over 70 years. Our brands include: Axxess®, T-Spec®, The Install Bay®, Heise LED Lighting Systems®, iBeam Vehicle Safety Systems®, Shuriken High Performance Batteries®, Raptor®, Ballistic® and AmmoTenna®.  Metra’s expertise in connectivity solutions is also applied to their division of premium home theater and surveillance products, Metra Home Theater Group®.

For ordering information and pricing, visit Metra Electronics online at MetraOnline.com or call 800.221-0932. For Metra Home Theater Group ordering information and pricing, visit MetraHomeTheater.com or call 866.839.9187.

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For more information regarding the content of this press release, please contact:

Name: Metra Sales Team

Phone: 800.221.0932
Websites: MetraOnline.com

Mobile Electronics Association Reports KnowledgeFest® Long Beach a Success

Year-Over-Year Growth Continues

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – March 2, 2018 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) reported the launch of its weekend KnowledgeFest® event in Long Beach, California was a success. Long Beach is now the third event in its KnowledgeFest series. The other two 2018 events are in Indianapolis (March 16-18) and Dallas (August 17-19).

This first-time event held in the Long Beach Convention Center attracted more than 1,100 attendees, including more than 760 dealers from California, the surrounding states, and Canada, as well as attendees from five other countries. Forty-five exhibitors covered more than 45,000 square feet of sold-out exhibit space.

KnowledgeFest Long Beach featured more than 30 hours of educational programming for retailers covering installation, management and sales topics. Manufacturer trainings totaled 60 hours. Programming was packed and, for several sessions, standing room only.

“MEA was pleased and excited to bring KnowledgeFest to dealers not only in Southern California, but the entire west coast,” said Chris Cook, MEA president. “In making this decision to bring our unique KnowledgeFest programming to the region, we got buy-in from the major manufacturers headquartered in SoCal and we carefully evaluated locations and venues. We are grateful to all the manufacturers in the specialist channel who supported the event by exhibiting and to the dealers who turned out to experience our unique offering. We’ll be back in the Long Beach Convention Center’s Hall C next year on February 22-24.”

KnowledgeFest is three regional events covering the eastern, central and western US and Canada. KnowledgeFest combines a tradeshow floor with educational programming and training for dealers. KnowledgeFests are the only industry events dedicated to the mobile specialist, the installing dealer. For more information go to www.knowledgefest.org.

2018/19 KnowledgeFest Dates:

• Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, March 16-18, 2018
• Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, Texas, August 17-19, 2018
• Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California, February 22-24, 2019

About the Mobile Electronics Association

Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest®, events in Long Beach, Indianapolis and Dallas that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers.