I installed a Chinese car stereo/DVD/GPS in my Honda Civic in 2012, and was satisfied with the purchase. It was powered by WinCE, which is an operating system I do NOT recommend. The Android OS is supported by Android, and there is a huge amount of 3rd party software. By comparison, Microsoft has largely terminated support for WinCE, they've abandoned further development in that arena, and there are no 3rd party applications available.
My advice would be to purchase the latest version of Android available, and the most capable processor; that would be the largest number of cores, and the highest clock speed. Also get the largest available RAM and ROM configurations. The reason for getting the best hardware configuration available is to minimize start up lag, and improve responsiveness with the latest OS. With the best hardware, the Chinese units are very responsive. Even less capable hardware platforms respond well, but take longer to start up. There are a number of YouTube videos regarding various peoples' experience with Chinese Head Units, and in general most people are very satisfied.
Be aware that many units have identical front panels, but are very different inside. One way of determining whether you're getting the same hardware is to look at the rear of the unit (if they show a photo). Different hardware will almost always have a different plug layout on the back. If the rear of the deck is identical, there's a good chance that the decks you're comparing have identical hardware. When searching for your unit on a website like AliExpress, include your automobile name (Focus, Alantra, Civic) in the search term. This will bring up units that will fit your vehicle. Because dash layouts change over time, search results will include terms like 'Focus 2012 2017' which tells you that the particular unit will fit all Ford Focus vehicles between the years specified. Don't put the specific year of your vehicle in as a search term; it will just muddle the results.
Chinese head units often offer features that are not available on locally sold units. For example, my unit allowed me to stick any audio CD into the reader, and it would copy it at high speed into memory, where it would reside forever. This kind of feature is not built in on most North American head units, due to copyright infringement laws.
I purchased a USB modem for my head unit that would allow me to surf the web over a 3G phone network. It worked well, but I would not - in most circumstances - recommend it, simply because entering search terms on a vertical screen is physically cumbersome. I found it much simpler to use my handheld phone ( a Note 4 ). However, if you want to stream YouTube videos, streaming them on a larger screen - or to the back seat, by means of a video out terminal on virtually all Chinese head units - might prove superior to watching them on a small phone screen.
One very good reason for having a USB modem is if you wish to go on a lengthy road trip using google maps. While it is technically possible to download static map coverage and store it in the unit, in my experience Google limits the number of map sections you can download to a strip about 200 miles long. Also, those strips cease to work within 2 weeks, and must be refreshed. While I like Google navigation, the constant connection required can be problematic, particularly if you're visiting a foreign country (Canadian in the US, US citizen in Canada, either nationality in Mexico) where your regular data plan is not supported. Under those circumstances, Google maps can get real pricey. A better solution would be to purchase GPS software, and update the maps regularly. I have used Igo 8, and I found it to be excellent mapping software, with a number of extra features (speed camera locations, exceeding the local speed limit warnings, local speed limit display) that I found very useful. There are other good software choices as well.
Most units support many dozens of languages; my unit was supplied with English, but I could have changed it to any language I wanted. I also was able to specify that when my unit turned on, it displayed the Honda logo, which added to the 'factory install' appearance. Again, you can choose from dozens of company logos.
Most installs are very straightforward, and can be completed by an amateur in an afternoon. I'd recommend watching some YouTube videos first, in order to determine if this is a task you wish to take on. In my current install, I have to run an antenna line from the trunk to the head unit in the dash, as the trunk is where Mercedes put their amplifier/receiver. That's unusual, but watching a few videos first will help you determine the difficulty level. In most cases, it's very simple. Custom wiring harnesses are usually supplied with the unit, as are plastic shells and trim pieces that allow it to merge seamlessly into the dash and look like a factory install. My Civic was supplied with a huge plastic dash panel, several times the size of the unit. But it clipped seamlessly into place, and made the unit look like it came from the factory that way.
In general, Chinese auto head units offer excellent value; they perform as well or better than locally available units. My sister spent $1,500 for a top of the line Clarion, and was so disgusted with it she gave it away, after several angry verbal exchanges with the shop that sold it to her. I tried working with it as well, and found it to be so buggy as to be impossible to use. By comparison, the $300 I spent bought me an excellent, well performing unit. I'm currently purchasing another one for my Mercedes, which I guess speaks to my confidence regarding their quality and value.
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With the new Pi just coming out and all the Pi spin offs or competitors, more powerful core hardware is more and more available.
So has anyone thought about building there own head unit?
Or even heavily modifying one of the cheaper chinese ones so you have the facades on the front?
I could see building a simple touch screen system would be fairly easy. But I must admit I want the knobs and buttons... Not to mention a CD drive for audio cds.
So how easy is it?
You can make a pretty decent "knobs and buttons" face plate from... well knobs and buttons and some 3D-printed or custom-made frame, or just recycle from a defective unit.
To start, draw a block scheme with the individual systems you need.
You could start from something like this:
Raspberry
Power level
Audio Amp level
Touchscreen + buttons
Peripherals (Bluetooth dongle, WiFi dongle, etc)
Steering wheel controls decoder
Cameras
OBD2 interface and decoder
Add or remove whatever your needs are.
Then check what components will be needed and what skills are required for said system (programming, soldering, etc).
You'll now have a price and you'll be able to see if you can actually do it with your current skills and resources.
If you want just an entertainment system, I suggest buying a product that does exactly that, because it will be way easier to setup and under some conditions, even cheaper.
If I took the time to build something like this, surely it won't be just for entertainment. I would do my best to connect most of my car to it, say climate control, seat and mirror positions, driver profiles, remote control, etc.
Over time, yes ill be adding more and more controls that interface with the car... Also i dont just want an entertainment system. i want to build and learn at the same time . but its also about customising the whole thing.
As for the face plate. I dont have a 3D printer.... yet, its on my list. (as a 3dartist its kind of a given really) But even if I could print my own stuff off it just wont be the same as a decent plastic moulded part. Thats why i was wondering if its possible to hack/destroy/remake from an existing cheaper model unit. like the very old wince units that use the same face plate as the more modern android units....
NutsyUK said:
Thats why i was wondering if its possible to hack/destroy/remake from an existing cheaper model unit. like the very old wince units that use the same face plate as the more modern android units....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not, they all have mechanical switches that you can connect to whatever you want
what i meant was... The switches... in what way are they sending a signal are all the face plates the same in sending that signal?
That's different between manufacturers, but if it has electronics between the buttons and the actual player you can strip that part and add wires straight from the mechanical switches to your Raspberry or whatever you wish to use
I own a SEAT IBIZA car with Android Auto and Mirror-Link features.
I'm curious to know if there is a possible way to read some information Via CANBUS protocol like RPM, Speed, Oil temperature etc.
through the original USB plug and not from the OBD II.
Thanks in advance!
Chen_Gold said:
I own a SEAT IBIZA car with Android Auto and Mirror-Link features.
I'm curious to know if there is a possible way to read some information Via CANBUS protocol like RPM, Speed, Oil temperature etc.
through the original USB plug and not from the OBD II.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course there is! Not everyone uses those damned rigged* Autel DS708 scantools anymore (even though they have been the gold standard for years, the UI has always been such a......tool.) VAG makes a scanner (not a code reader) that has a USB adapter for some foreign and domestic higher end vehicles.
Just do a Web search for a diagnostic auto scanner with USB adapters, or for the cars with USB diagnostic ports (sometimes they hide diag ports under the hood, too) - I threw it into a Google search and the Seat Ibiza was just the first car I came up with, followed by several scanners with matching port adapters.
Not to sound like a heifer, but finding a tech who is savvy enough to be able to tell the difference between a 16-pin OBD2 port and a USB port is a boon in and of itself. You'd do well to find a well rounded tech with a some history in electronics (wave forms are a marvelous thing when applied to the dynamics of an internal combustion engine and it's components!)
Automotive technicians are a rapidly changing group of people, with those who can't make the cut quickly fall by the wayside, so just be politely persistent about your needs, and [eventually] you may run across someone who specializes [which can be costly] or someone who has enough general knowledge to put a scanner to good use.
Just don't pay a ton of money for the "service" of plugging a scanner in and reading codes or resetting your sun roof - dealerships escalate the costs tremendously, but with intelligent scanners running anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars, I'd look for a smaller shop or individual. For what some of the dealers/specialists charge to plug in a scanner you could buy your own scantool!!
All that said, check with your favorite garage and inquire about the make/model of their scanner. The techs who stay up to date may charge a bit more for diagnostics, but it makes the repair a LOT less expensive when they can pinpoint the issues right away, and most are quick to offer up their services to show off that shiny new gadget that can read the cars' minds.
Depending on where you are, I may be able to offer a connect through a tech in your area. They may or may not have a scanner or a friend who does, but I don't mind asking if you'd like.
Good luck!
CC~
EDITED TO ADD: *The Autel Maxidas DS708 is, and has been planned as a terminal application, neatly coinciding with the termination date of Wince 6.x. Want more info? Drop me a line.
A quick bit of background, I have recently sold my car that had a factory fit wince media centre fitted, and although locked down I miss the navigation and ease of use in my new car. The new car is actually a 10 year old Mazda MX5 NC (MK3) and currently has the stock radio which I'm thinking of upgrading.
I have figured I had 2 choices, either an all singing android unit, or a regular manufactures unit which supports Apple AirPlay. I figured that would still give me the basics of what I need, and probably with no potential for things to go wrong Anyway I like a challenge and the though of having more possible functionality I think is winning the argument for getting an android unit, but I have a few final questions from people in the know!
I have bene looking at a couple of units that look pretty similar spec wise (cornet me if I'm wrong) :-
Pumpkin AE0273B, XTRONS TE706PL. I was posting links to them but I'm not allowed yet So you will have to google for the exact details if needed.
So onto the questions :
1. I see a lot of the connectivity is via USB, and If I were to add several of the extras (E.g DAB+, 3/4G, DashCam, Phone) I would ned more USB ports than supplied (The XTRONS has 3, but the Pumpkin only 2). Can I just use a USB hub to get more ports like on a computer? If yes I'm assuming a powered one would be better as those accessories all need power.
2. I currently have a simple dash cam that just records video and audio in a loop onto an SD card all the time the ignition is on. Each file is about 2 mins long and I get about 4 hours recording before it starts to overwrite older files. This works great as I can forget about it and in 3 years, have never had to even look at the footage, and hopefully never will. But it gives peace of mind. I see you can get a USB one that I'm sure will have much better user interface if I want to play back footage. My existing camera has a phono out which I could connect to an AUX input to use the screen, but would still have the fiddly buttons to press on the camera behind my mirror.
Does the DVR app on the unit with the USB camera just crack on and record stuff in a similar I can forget about it way, and its just all there if I need it in the future. Or do I need to do something every time I turn the ignition on? Where does it record the footage, do I need to provide an additional SD card?
3. I see there are often 2 SD card slots, one marked for maps, the other presumably for music. Is there actually any difference, or are these just 2 mount points in the system that get used for anything? This question just came to me when thinking about the camera above. It wasn't actually on my list!
4. I'm worried that with a convertible car I'm not going to be able to see the screen due to the huge amount of ambient or even direct sun light. I have heard that there are anti-glare filters which could help a bit, but is this going to be a problem for me when it comes to navigating etc? Are the screens on the standard manufacture units (e.g. Pioneer etc) any better. In other words would I be better off sacrificing the cool stuff and getting a straight CarPlay unit that would be bright enough to see?
5. Lots os talk about rooting the device. What are the actual advantages of doing this? Are there some killer apps that make this a worth while exercise?
I appreciate its a long post and there are lots of questions, so a big thank you in advance for any of the questions you might be able to answer.
Regards
Ben
EDIT: forgot to mention — almost all units are identical to one another. They all have almost identical MTCD/MTCE MCU boards with the same audio/radio/wifi/Bluetooth chips (there are exceptions). And the main SoC is gonna be a PX5 with 4 GB of ram. So outside of that you want build quality (buttons, screen, plastic) and if it’s made to fit your car already.
First off, check out Joying units which have Carplay built in as well (and they have Octa core 4gb android 8.0 double din universal ones).
Next, yes you’d be able to use a USB hub and yes a powered one is best. Get one that works off of 12v and wire it in for a clean solution (so you always have a powered hub in your glove box for instance)
There are dash cams that the head unit manufacturers will sell you that you can leave plugged into your unit and they will auto record as you say. You basically don’t have to touch them, and just open the necessary app if you wanna change settings, or lock/save a file.
The 2 SD card slots are identical but one of them is meant to be always-in for GPS maps (for the Navi that the seller pre-loads sometimes). Also for firmware updates the GPS slot is the only one it boots from.
Glare depends heavily on the angle that your dash positions the screen at, so it’s hard to say. But yeah sometimes the sun hits it just right and there’s pretty much nothing you can do. Happens on oem units too.
Rooting isn’t super necessary but depending on how much you want to tinker it adds nice features like apps staying open after sleep, and the ability to customize the way everything looks. That said, there’s a lot in the way of customization that’s already available. Check malaysk’s custom ROM though. It’s pretty stable and the inclusion of viper4android alone is worth the hassle (in my opinion)
Hope this helps!
So it looks to me like there are 3 generic systems that have been badged up, one with a knob at the top, one with a knob at the bottom, and one without a knob.
The ones with the knobs seem to have the slightly newer TDA7851 amp chip, and the one with out uses the older TDA7850, which is a shame as I prefer the look of just buttons.
The Xtrons unit has a 3rd USB, which saves having to get a USB hub.
The Joying has the benefit of the built in ZLink, but as its software it does mean you loose that benefit if you use a different rom.
And there are various options on the back of the units, some have small wifi antenna built in, some have connectors for an external one.
It all make for lots of extra decisions!!
After getting Whitehouse support from Pumpkin, I would only buy Dasaita now. I just ordered a Dasaita PX5 4GB Oreo to replace my Pumpkin PX3 2GB.
Hi Guys,
I was thinking to get a Android head unit, which are so expensive. then I heard about the thing we could do with the Raspberry Pi.
So is there any way that we could install Malaysk ROM on a Raspberry Pi 3 b+, and then then install the other hardwares( like GPS, rear camera)
ZeeeYad said:
Hi Guys,
I was thinking to get a Android head unit, which are so expensive. then I heard about the thing we could do with the Raspberry Pi.
So is there any way that we could install Malaysk ROM on a Raspberry Pi 3 b+, and then then install the other hardwares( like GPS, rear camera)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Malaysk rom" is not something you should aspire to, which is not in any way to suggest that it isn't hugely beneficial for those devices that it works on.
Here is the thing; the chinese car radios come with the worst software imaginable, and it is completely closed source -- even parts like the kernel for which they are legally obligated to provide source, they do not. So any improvement is a real pain in the butt to implement. So hacked system images are useful in that they can make it "less terrible", but there is nothing you can do to make a chinese radio "good".
Raspberry pi, however, can run Android that is built from source, which makes the whole "hacked chinese software" problem vanish entirely -- it is COMPLETELY REDUNDANT.
Of course, raspberry pi hardware is also just not up to the task of running anything that is at all intense. Its pretty terrible/weak hardware.
Now here is the thing... what you are thinking of is *not* going to be cheaper than a chinese car radio (which are actually very CHEAP, so its confusing when you start off by complaining that they're "so expensive" -- the reality is that the ONLY thing that the chinese radios have going for them is that they are DIRT CHEAP).
So first you need an SBC, ~$50 for a pi3 (or if you want something that is actually adequate for the task, $200 for a Dragonboard 820c or $250 for a Hikey 960),
Then you need a touchscreen, ~$100.
Then you need a radio, and since you aren't going to be printing your own circuit boards, that really limits you to leftover stock of DMHD-1000, so ~$100.
There you are, already at $250+, which is already more expensive than a chinese car radio, and you haven't added GPS, amplifier, ADC, control signals, or any of a whole heap of other things you will need.
And then at the end of the day, what you will end up having with that approach is a wiring rat's nest jammed into your dashboard, with connections that sporadically flake out on you. Its not a good approach.
Which really leaves you in a tough spot, doesn't it? Because on one hand, you have CHEAP chinese radios that really don't work, and on the other hand, you have an expensive rat's nest that sporadically doesn't work. In fact, I've put a lot of work into this problem, and intend to shortly begin selling a circuit board that will help with this problem; it is a mezzanine board for a Linaro 96boards SBC (such as the previously mentioned Dragonboard or Hikey), which takes care of sound (including amplifier), radio, clock, I/O, etc., etc, etc., in a way that avoids the whole rat's nest problem. But once again, the problem, for you, is going to be the price, because if you don't like the price of a CHEAP chinese radio, you are definitely not going to like the price of high quality.
I've been lurking around here for about a month now, just trying to figure out what would work best. I came across Android head units and this forum while searching for something with built-in offline GPS navigation and is compatible with Apple CarPlay but I've now become intrigued by installing apps to the head unit itself.
I'm pretty familiar with Android but head units running Android are quite new to me and I'm frankly a bit overwhelmed. I'm happy to do more reading here and elsewhere, but I have to say I find it very difficult to get much out of the massive threads. I've appreciated the Hui Fei wiki posts but I still feel like there's a bunch I don't know, specifically the pros and cons of the different types of units and where to buy them.
So from what I've been able to find, the best option right now, especially if I want to do any sort of customizing or upgrading down the road (rooting and swapping out processor boards) is to get an MTCE unit, so that's what I've been looking for. I believe the ideal unit is:
Android 8.0+
Octa-Core PX5 (I'm not sure I'm patient enough to wait for the PX6 to actually arrive in units)
2GB+ RAM (preferably 4GB)
32GB+ Storage
IPS Display
Steering wheel control support
I have a 7th Gen Honda Accord (2005) with dual zone automatic climate control. That feature in particular makes it a little more difficult to replace the stock head unit because the climate controls are integrated into it. My options are to get a aftermarket unit that has climate controls built in or to get a dash kit (like the Metra 99-7803) that handles the climate control and just has a double din slot.
My hesitation with a vehicle specific unit is that they seem to be poorly supported, and I can't find a decent US based reseller (I'm not very comfortable with the support and return policies of the sellers on AliExpress I've found so far). Also, it seems to be difficult to find out if a unit is actually a MTCD/E unit before buying it. The downside of a dash kit is that they basically add another $200-$300, the units have smaller displays or stick out a ways from the dash, and they don't look nearly as good.
Are there any limitations of vehicle specific units or generic units that I should be aware of? What would you recommend?