Guys. I have a really good contact to a manufacturer
And he asked me how he can make units better.
I told him the new units are good hardware but bad software. He asked me how he can make the software better... He really don't know the problems and want a end of the problems.
So i make a list. And need u to complete it.
0. The simplest, and most effective answer Release the source code! Make it public. Let the developer community fix the software problems for you. You'll get better solutions AND you'll get them sooner. You will also sell many, many more head units
We need a ROM with ability to root, we need access to recovery so our developers can make the ROM flash, the problem with your software still the same...
1. We want Ok Google without bush button
2. Making Call someone with ok Google
3. We want Google maps but today there are problems with voice output
4. After reboot some apps don't work properly
5. Your Equalizer is not enough. We need more options like car headunits...
Crossover that's seperate per channel HPF, LPF and possible BandPass (Front, Rear, Sub)
We are power users, and audiophile.
6. Chinch output for subwoofer is without function... All China devices still have this problem..
7. Ok Google from any screen
8. Full band equalizers
9. Proper internal amp
10. A real RDS for radio! I really don't know what is exactly the issue with Chinese head units and RDS support, which they claim they have it, but they usually don't. Now we search radio stations on frequency numbers... c'mon! A real and working RDS support is a MUST feature. We want to see radio station names and other RDS data.
11. Software is really the pain of these head units. Now they are just Android tablets in a 2din form-factor. What we need is a car dedicated launcher with 10-foot UI approach that works good with HU dedicated apps like Radio.app.
12.Proper Bluetooth implementation for connection to other devices (keyboards,Joypad,TPMS etc).
13. Color changeable buttons
14. Buttons and sterling wheel custom remap (hold, press, dubble press)
15.FM frequency range are from 76 to 95 Mhz since 2014.But most of Chinese HU are still 76 to 90 Mhz.
16.ability to control which apps gets killed on power off and which app will auto start on ignition.
I know there are much more problems... But he asked me, because I'm from Germany and i can speak 4 different languages (English,German,Turkish,arabic) all of them not god enough haha.
I'm the wrong person and i don't want forget something important.
I really don't know why he chooses me... My English ist bad. But he did. And that's it. now it's in our hands. To make it right. now he wants a list. A buketlist
How can we make u happy explicitly the developers!
To carry on supporting the older units like mtcb/c
Android units that can control iPods such as the normal head units with the "Made for iPod" logo.
Reading external hard drives of large capacity
Single din head units that don't look like something out of the movie Tron.
Full band equalizers
Proper internal amp
Voice commands such as those in Parrot Asteroid Smart.
Quality microphone. I have a somewhat noisy car (louder exhaust) and call quality is sub-par to what I was getting with a prior JVC unit.
What do i want?
A brand cpu like a Snapdragon 821 (it contains wifi AC 2.5/5.0 GHZ, LTE 4G+ modem, Spectra Camera ISP for car dashcam and so on...) 4gb mem, 32 or 64 gb SLC Nand, Burr Brown or Wolfson or Cirrus audio dac, high sensitive FM and DAB+ receiver from NXP, in sun readable OLED screen, voice control, and a pure Android shell like the pixel and root so people with Android skills can make this device better.
I know, this unit will be expensive and maybe overkill, but the advantage is that these are very good brand parts with driver support from factory, and that you can have this device for years instead to upgrade it after 2 year, if the producer follow the Android OS updates (for example, from Android 6 to 7 or 8) this device is strong enough to make such upgrade for some years.
Wich company have the nerve to make such device?
Flemischguy said:
What do i want?
A brand cpu like a Snapdragon 821 (it contains wifi AC 2.5/5.0 GHZ, LTE 4G+ modem, Spectra Camera ISP for car dashcam and so on...) 4gb mem, 32 or 64 gb SLC Nand, Burr Brown or Wolfson or Cirrus audio dac, high sensitive FM and DAB+ receiver from NXP, in sun readable OLED screen, voice control, and a pure Android shell like the pixel and root so people with Android skills can make this device better.
I know, this unit will be expensive and maybe overkill, but the advantage is that these are very good brand parts with driver support from factory, and that you can have this device for years instead to upgrade it after 2 year, if the producer follow the Android OS updates (for example, from Android 6 to 7 or 8) this device is strong enough to make such upgrade for some years.
Wich company have the nerve to make such device?
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Click to collapse
That would be epic, but 99% of china stuff won't ever get that. Cost would be too high and they wouldn't move units in masses like they do now
Would it be possible to use an external battery to keep the hu in sleep mode instead of car battery? Like those 10 000mah cheap ones.
Good quality radio chip.
Rear camera on start.
Old snapdragon models, probably better than the cpu they use and cheap.
At least 64gb for app storage.
3gb of ram would be nice.
Real dvd player not like the mercedes special Joying HU...
Thats about it and it's a perfect unit for 2017 I guess^^
And yes I'd rather pay a few more and get a good headunit. I dont plan to change my hu evey two years like I do with smartphones.
Android auto. And Apple CarPlay. Let our phones do all the hard work.
kaderekusen said:
Guys. I have a really good contact to a manufacturer
And he asked me how he can make units better....
...How can we make u happy explicitly the developers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The simplest, and most effective answer to your question is this: release the source code! Make it public. Let the developer community fix the software problems for you. You'll get better solutions AND you'll get them sooner. You will also sell many, many more head units.
I may sound cynical, but I don't think you will find a Chinese supplier who understands what is needed to deliver the quality we are looking for, even if you tell them 10 times. I honestly think they don't understand any of the complaints on this forum. These guys are very creative in producing large numbers against very low cost, at the cost of serious quality assurance. They never look beyond their next sale, brand loyalty is a concept unknown to them.
Are they incapable of delivering what we would like? No, of course not. 90% of the equipment we use in everyday life was produced in China. It's just that companies like Sony, Kenwood, etc take the entire design process in their own hands, define their own QA-protocols and have their own people on site checking before batches leave the factory. In the end they have the purchasing power to kick out any supplier that doesn't perform. For this to change will take at least another generation, maybe even more. So unless somebody in another part of the world takes matters in his own hands and has units produced to his specs, I don't think much will change in the near future.
That being said, the software is the worst part of the system. As dhmsjs said, release that to the public and they will make it much better.
Apart from that:
- Carkit on Parrot-level;
- Quality DAC for the pre-out and amplifier section;
- Proper aftersales and parts-supply (if something breaks down now, with most suppliers you can throw away the entire unit, although issues can often easily be solved by simply providing a new button or board)
But then again, they mostly compete on pricing. The items mentioned above have the BOM rise and they think we are not willing to pay for that.
Ok he is here and read all your wishes
A real RDS for radio! I really don't know what is exactly the issue with Chinese head units and RDS support, which they claim they have it, but they usually don't. Now we search radio stations on frequency numbers... c'mon! A real and working RDS support is a MUST feature. We want to see radio station names and other RDS data.
Software is really the pain of these head units. Now they are just Android tablets in a 2din form-factor. What we need is a car dedicated launcher with 10-foot UI approach that works good with HU dedicated apps like Radio.app.
Agree with more focus on Audio quality/DAC and control - EQ, time alignment etc or at least full support for USB DAC including the ability to route radio and Bluetooth through it. Proper Bluetooth implementation for connection to other devices (keyboards,Joypad,TPMS etc).
Community engagement on XDA, there are effectively free software developers sat here waiting to help.
Always on OK Google with voice feedback.
Better Radio app with full RDS support, a lot of these units don't even display the station name. RDS is very prevalent in Europe and not having it feels like using a radio form the 70's
Ability to change the function of hardware buttons on the unit.
In my country(Japan) FM frequency range are from 76 to 95 Mhz since 2014.But most of Chinese HU are still 76 to 90 Mhz.I think this problem are easy to fix with the MCU update.Make it public the source code please!
ability to control which apps gets killed on power off and which app will auto start on ignition.
full bluetooth function
better dash fit
better steering wheel button control/remapping ability
Better EQ, Crossover that's seperate per channel HPF, LPF and possible BandPass (Front, Rear, Sub) 2GB or better ram. Open Source Support for custom rom/recovery. Strong RCA Voltage Outputs, Possibly 4V. Better Cases/Buttons etc. thats all I can think of for now.
Open Source as previously mentioned, best way to get devs like me to help you for free.
Super simple rooting
Android Auto installed by default (not the mirror link).
OK Google always on (as mentioned previously)
Actually just having Android Auto would be fantastic, I have several cars most with factory navs, so when I get into those I immediately use android auto. I want the same for my car except on long road trips then I'll setup a mobile hotspot and use the much more full featured system. But for daily driving, I get into my car set google maps (with traffic alerts) and take the quickest path to work.
the ultimate would be if it is possible to have a HUD screen output for Navigation and Speedometer utilising OBD data for speedometer. Or even to the extend of Navdy style HUD.
mishoboss said:
A real RDS for radio! I really don't know what is exactly the issue with Chinese head units and RDS support, which they claim they have it, but they usually don't. Now we search radio stations on frequency numbers... c'mon! A real and working RDS support is a MUST feature. We want to see radio station names and other RDS data.
as i know ,many Chinese head unit can display the station name ,the radio chip NXP TEF6686 can support display the name . maybe you did not click the PTY ?
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Click to collapse
peterchan2003 said:
as i know ,many Chinese head unit can display the station name ,the radio chip NXP TEF6686 can support display the name . maybe you did not click the PTY ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are many fields of Rds data. Should be able to display: PS, Pty, & RT at minimum. Pty should adjust to region.
Hi Android Auto likers.
i'am new to this, so i need a little help please.
I have a head unit in my car now and some things i miss. So i come here!
For my understanding:
The deep operating system is the ROM, like Bios on a PC?
The MCU, in my case MTCE_CZ_V3.06_2, is the connecting part, or translater between ROM and Android? Like DOS in earlier times.
Android now is like Windows.
My android version is 9.
- The sound over Line out has a background noise
- settings are missed, compared to the smartphone
- instable some times
What i understand, first flash the latest MCU, is that right?
In my case a MTCE_CZ only (found here: MTCE-CZ-3.30sp+by+cs-x)
What means sp+by+cs-x?
I would be happy, if you make some light inside of my head
Regards, Olli
You will see many abbreviations through the forum as you've noticed. You are a bit confused though. First what things are:
- HU: Head Unit, the radio.
- SoM: System on Module, that's basically the motherboard you would find inside an Android tablet.
- SoC: System on Chip, that would be the CPU + GPU+ IO. That part is on the SoM.
- MCU: Micro Controller Unit, is an interface between the car and the SoM and also gives the SoM WiFi connectivity, USB ports and Bluetooth capabilities.
- ROM: The chip that contains the operating system and is also used to describe the firmware.
So you have 2 systems talking to each other and each has it's own firmware. There are custom Android firmware for some SoC's but all can used the generic Android as long as you match the ROM partition. The MCU firmware you have (MTCE_CZ_V3.06_2) is specific for that MCU, vendor and resolution. You must match all the characters except the Version number but you knew that. MTCE is the MCU type, CZ is the vendor and 2 is the settings preset and is usually related to the display res. You should only upgrade these HU to solve a problem. Before you upgrade the MCU always export the settings from the factory settings menu, in fact you should probably make a backup for safe keeping anyway.
In the MTCE-CZ-3.30sp+by+cs-x filename the "sp+by+cs-x" stands for sound patched by cs-x. There's an issue with the audio level and cs-x found a solution, read the thread.
The background noise from the line outs whether you're talking speaker outs or RCA's is due to the low quality of these HU but could also be caused by the gain setting in the factory menu. Some people have found solutions for that are specific to the cause/type of the noise. You'll have to search. Same goes for the instability. Look at installing a heatsink or removing some apps.
These HU's are not phones so it's normal Android settings are missing.
nic2k said:
You will see many abbreviations
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very mouch, that you take the time, to explain this to me!
I'am sure, many others will read with lot of interest.
Yes, the reason of background noise (here RCA), is quality. But you get a mega system for very small money...
I have a seperate DSP (Mosconi) with digital input and would love to use it.
Some weekend, i like to have a view inside of the machine, if there is a digital output.
The only mistake of the system now is, original FM/AM Radio failed. No sound, and starts not on last station. Reset here, and adjustments there, it works again.
For 1-2 days... but didn't find, what cures. One time on poweramp, there was TA, Traffic Information, Radio worked again for a time.
Best regards,
Olli
Sorry about a long post and likely basic questions as I couldn't find the answers I was looking for anywhere. Familiar with Android, but I've never used a Android based HU. Seems like there is very little actual technical documentation/manuals available from manufacturers, hence my confusion and questions.
My 2013 euro Focus MK3 currently has native Sync1 with navigation.
Assumptions based on my research. Please correct me if wrong:
Changing launcher won't get rid of the default menus that often occupy large parts of the screen. Hence I would have to look specifically for a HU without intrusive menus if not planning to root it.
Some HU's support PDC, some don't. Usually no info if supported or not looking at options.
Some HU's can be rooted, some can't.
All HU's support DAB, it's just that some shops sell it as an option and some don't. (Hence I could just buy a generic DAB adapter from somewhere else.)
Some HU might support using the car integrated Sync 1 as mic, some don't(?)
Looking for:
~10" screen in order to use Spotify/radio and navigation in splitscreen
Uncluttered UI, not some ugly native menus I don't need/want taking up like 30% of screen realestate. (A plain interface I could modify myself using Nova launcher or something similar would be good.)
Support the existing Ford front and rear PDC
Sufficient screen brightness
DAB+ radio (as I live in Norway where they killed FM a few years ago)
Android 9+ with Play store
Integrate with steering wheel infotainment buttons
Nice to have, but not at all needed or expected:
Support for the Ford Focus parallel parking functionality
Physical buttons for functionality like home and back in order to avoid using screen realestate for it.
Ability to use the correctly placed mic belonging to Sync 1 rather than the mic integrated in the actual HU.
No need for:
Vehicle Info like TPMS or speed (available in dash)
A/C controls/info (dedicated panel below)
3G/4G
Cameras
I don't expect anyone to reply based on all my requirements, but any hints of what to look for, where to look or how to better research technical capabilies of available options would be greatly appreciated. (Was planning to purchase from Aliexpress as I assume that's the cheapest place for these.)
Was contemplating something like this due to lack of intrusive menus: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...68#1000022185#1000066059#0_668#3422#15392#549
@abscondo
which one did you end up buying ?
Myself I had a try at Focus MK3 HU 4G, 64GB Rom, 8"screen
which works pretty nice actually. not sure you can fit an 10" screen in a 2012 model
however there's still lot you to configure.
in reference to PDC , it's still there, but the beeping sounds are lost
and turned out to be a 1024 res screen which was a turndown for me
Hello. I bought a damaged radio and replaced the PX5 processor module from another radio (PUMPKIN). After replacing the PX5 processor module, the radio works - I only had a problem with Bluetootch - the GOC-RF210 module was installed in my radio, which was not on the factory settings list. So I replaced the BT i140 module with Pumpkin. After switching the BT module to the i140 and selecting it in the factory options - it works without any problems. Radio works, navigation, DSP processor, bluetootch. The only problem is the lack of voice only in the MUSIC application (e.g. from a flash drive) and movies from the Internet and navigation. Visually, everything works only without a voice. Oddly enough, there is sound from the radio and BT. There is also a beep sound from the buttons all the time. I was restoring factory settings, updating the MCU but nothing changed. I did not find a solution in the factory settings. There was also no sound before replacing the BT module. Can anyone help in solving the problem? Regards.
So, based on some of your comments, I am assuming the PX-5 module still has the same Android SW that it had on the PUMPKIN unit, or you installed it again using a PUMPKIN release
"the GOC-RF210 module was installed in my radio, which was not on the factory settings list "
Could it be that you're mixing PX5-Android OS from one provider with the MTCD/E board of another provider? Do you know who manufactured the "original unit" (the Physical unit, regardless of where you took the PX5 from)
So, while I can not give you a definite answer, this is the thinking process I'd follow if I were on your shoes:
1) PX5 is a standard board/HW. All units are the same. What is not (always) the same is the modifications each provider makes to the underlying Android OS to be able to control the MTC-D from Android... although there is a lot of overlapping and compatibility among providers.
2) The fact that you were not able to see on the "Pumpking-Flavor" of Android-UI the Bluetooth module used by your motherboard, points to some level of incompatibility there... but that incompatibility would be between Android-flavor and the micro-controller of your motherboard, not between PX5 and your motherboard (because all PX-5 are the same, HW-wise)
3) I'd try to define who was the manufacturer of the motherboard/main unit and flash on the PX5 an Android version provided by them and a Firmware version provided by them. Meaning, your unit won't be a Pumpkin anymore. It will become back whatever it was before changing the PX-5, but with a new PX-5
If you are not sure who was the original manufacturer, try with Hal9K ROM or Malaysk. But DO NOT change the Android version you have now... let's focus on a problem at a time
My gut-feeling is that your MTCD/E microcontroller is expecting a specific code to instruct the BCM chip (the audio processor, which selects input audio to be played) to connect the PX-5 Audio to the Output... but the App running on the PX-5 which is in charge to talk with the micro-controller is sending some other code, because it expects to be talking to a different board.
While somebody could counter-argue "why only the sound is not working, if the motherboard is not compatible", I'd say that maybe the Android-SW is expecting the motherboard to have a DSP while it doesn't have one (or the other way around), so it COULD be that everything works except the audio...
Is either that, or some physical failure... Do you know why the original PX-5 failed?
Thank you for valuable information. The USB handling system (GL850G) burnt in the processor of the processor module, but after replacing it, nothing changed. There is still a short circuit in the module that I have not located. As for the rest of your information, I have to analyze it for a while because I do not have much experience in software modification. regards
bogsie said:
Thank you for valuable information. The USB handling system (GL850G) burnt in the processor of the processor module, but after replacing it, nothing changed. There is still a short circuit in the module that I have not located. As for the rest of your information, I have to analyze it for a while because I do not have much experience in software modification. regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I was able to check. The sound from the multimedia certainly reaches the BU32107EFV sound processor - there is an analog signal at the processor's input, but the sound does not come out of it. I admit that I have no experience in programming - I only managed to update the MCU to the CSN2-D-1152020_114103 version - I understand that this applies to this processor module? So how do you find the right motherboard firmware? I am also asking for tips on how to install it. regards
bogsie said:
I admit that I have no experience in programming - I only managed to update the MCU to the CSN2-D-1152020_114103 version - I understand that this applies to this processor module? So how do you find the right motherboard firmware? I am also asking for tips on how to install it. regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not MTCD, requested a moderator moves to [Android Head-units] forum.
This and other questions have been written about almost daily.
Note that the replies about "MTCD" do not apply.
Then please give me a link to solve this problem, because I am not English-speaking and it is difficult for me to navigate the forum here. regards