Database Users

Advice on what to buy

Hello all,
I'm after a new head unit for my truck, I use the truck for a lot of off roading and for this I use an android based maping software!
So I'm after a single din android head unit with a flip up screen, the ability to transmit to other screens (thinking about a sunvisor screen) it would be nice if I could have a camera input or two, and the ability to connect my phone for handfree phone calls! Also due to the mapping software GPS capabilities, optinal it would be nice to plug a hddd or memory stick with into it for music input
Does anyone have any advice on what would fit my needs?
Thenskae505

My only issue is ruggedness. Sounds like you may want to look at a tablet worth a holder.
Sent from my SM-N930P using Tapatalk

I currently use a tablet, problem I have with it is the tablets I have used 7inch and 10 inch are very bulky, I like the idea of a headunit because it can retract, if I was to mount a tablet it would cover some of my other dials/controls! Also I use the truck for work every day and having a tablet on display wouldn't be a good idea
Is an android headunit really less rugged then the cd player I currently have??

what vehicle is it?

If you are comparing to a name brand unit like Kenwood or pioneer. I would have to say yes
Sent from my SM-N930P using Tapatalk

It's a mitsubishi pajero,
I don't think ruggedNess would be a problem buts it's a risk I'm going to take!

do they make a vehicle specific unit? that would be the best for less bumping around

CadillacMike said:
do they make a vehicle specific unit? that would be the best for less bumping around
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately not, it's just an old school single din head unit slot!

thesnake505 said:
Hello all,
I'm after a new head unit for my truck, I use the truck for a lot of off roading and for this I use an android based maping software!
So I'm after a single din android head unit with a flip up screen, the ability to transmit to other screens (thinking about a sunvisor screen) it would be nice if I could have a camera input or two, and the ability to connect my phone for handfree phone calls! Also due to the mapping software GPS capabilities, optinal it would be nice to plug a hddd or memory stick with into it for music input
Does anyone have any advice on what would fit my needs?
Thenskae505
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thesnake505 said:
It's a mitsubishi pajero,
I don't think ruggedNess would be a problem buts it's a risk I'm going to take!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A single din head unit with the flip out display will sooner than later break or wear out the motorized gear assembly or ribbon cable. This is especially true with any of the android head units available today and even more so when any of these units are used off road. That said, you can still listen to music on the android single din head units with the display retracted. Although, not being able to use the display while off road defeats the purpose of having it for gps or cameras etc.. To clarify a little more, I had a single din android hu in my 3rd gen montero limited (same as the larger size pajero or shogun, but not the sport), and the display was no where near strong enough to handle all the bouncing around while off road. In turn, I relocated the heater - ac controls to the wallet pocket in the upper center console and installed a double din joying hu. This may or not be an option for you too, depending on how your specific pajero dash, heater - ac controls, center console, and wallet pocket align.
As to the ability to transmit to other displays, I'm not aware of any decent android hu options for that except for maybe the Newsmy Carpad units that use hdmi out on a separate android box to feed its double din display. Please note that most android units will only display a dvd to another screen, and the dvd's only transmitted through the micro controller unit and not through the android system. Nonetheless, there may be a couple of different units out now that may be able to push what's on the main display to other displays, but again I'm not aware of any myself. Hopefully someone here will be able to chime in with some good suggestions for that.
In regard to hands free phone calls via bt to the hu, that's possible, although the voice quality and volume level can be sub par on many units without a hardware mod and a decent quality external mic.
For cameras, I set up a waterproof front camera just below the front bumper license plate frame that runs through the AV-in input. It's used as a front parking and off road camera. I also installed a rear waterproof back up camera with on-off switches, so it can be viewed at any time or turned off completely. Please note that neither of these cameras have dvr capabilities, so I installed a thinkware 750 front and rear camera kit plus three more 1080p dvr type cameras to help cover and record the front, rear, and side views.
With regard to using a hard drive or memory stick, both should work, but neither has been needed here. This is due to the joying hu having two micro sd card slots, and I've had no problem running fat32 formatted 64GB and 128GB sdxc cards packed with music, vids, pics, etc..
Bottom line is that you'll most likely regret a flip out hu unless you do not mind fixing or replacing it sooner than later. Plus, IMHO, most if not all aftermarket flip up displays are too slow, annoying, and clunky.
Best of luck,
R

So having read and took on board what yoy have said, what double din unit would be recommended? ?

Headunit With 2 Camera Inputs

Hey!
I'm looking for an Android head unit that allows me to run 2 cameras (1 reverse that auto triggers when dropping into reverse, 1 forward facing camera that I can bring up via an app or shortcut or button press)
I drive a 3/4ton truck, and I enjoy taking it off road on fire roads, or over mild rocks, and the hood really limits my field of view. Hoping to solve this with a wide angle camera on the front bumper.
So far all I've been able to find are the My Atoto head units, but they're pretty outdated.
Quad core, 1GB RAM, and Android 4.4
They've got a new line coming up, Quad Core, 2GB RAM, and Android 6.0, but their site has said 4-6 weeks for about 8 or 10 weeks now, so I'm ready to consider other options..
Any suggestions?

Joying radios will do that, as will most others as well.
Use the backup camera input for the rear facing camera, and there is a second video input that is activated by one of the programs as an external media input.
The only downside is that since the second video input is intended as a multimedia input, it will deactivate your AMFM radio or whatever other sound source you are playing while it is running.
Further note: Don't use USB cameras for this. Won't work the way you want it to.

luciusfox said:
Joying radios will do that, as will most others as well.
Use the backup camera input for the rear facing camera, and there is a second video input that is activated by one of the programs as an external media input.
The only downside is that since the second video input is intended as a multimedia input, it will deactivate your AMFM radio or whatever other sound source you are playing while it is running.
Further note: Don't use USB cameras for this. Won't work the way you want it to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've looked at the Joying radios and was concerned they wouldn't work, because they just list DVR and it sounds like it requires their specific hardware. When looking at their site all I see are USB cameras..
I've got a camera that uses standard RCA that I'm hoping to use. It's perfect size for me to mount up in my bumper..

crashter said:
I've looked at the Joying radios and was concerned they wouldn't work, because they just list DVR and it sounds like it requires their specific hardware. When looking at their site all I see are USB cameras..
I've got a camera that uses standard RCA that I'm hoping to use. It's perfect size for me to mount up in my bumper..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I told you you CANNOT use USB cameras. Your "standard RCA" camera is what you need to use.

In search of a head unit

So I have breezed through the forums up till about page 10 just looking around and seeing what folks have to say. I still don't know where to start LOL.
Here is what I want to accomplish and hopefully the experts here can give me some guidance. I see so many manufacturers and I just want to find the best option for me.
I have a 05' Dodge Ram 2500 that is in desperate need of a new radio. I am coming from a a new car with android auto and want to keep that going plus add more functionality. Here is what I would like to do, keep in mind that this is also getting an upgraded sound system as well.
Customize the UI to my liking / other then stock
ODBII for Torque / basically ability to monitor diesel stuff
Reverse camera input
If possible front and rear dashcam input / even if using dashcam with wifi live viewing with app on head unit. Is there a unit / that will act as a dvr to record video input to sd card? (this would be nice)
Sirrius XM radio (not a deal breaker if not able)
Use android phone for internet service for apps
I would like to be able to use my security cam app / in my mind this shouldn't be an issue if i can load apps from store or sideload
Other options I have not thought about or thought that I need LOL
I have seen the new 10.1 joying head unit and that looks nice but i know there are many out there and many that might suit my needs better or maybe not. Thanks for any input you give.

I would look at the biggest (RAM and storage) that you can afford. I would also make sure it has an mtce mcu as there is more aftermarket support. Check on here I wrote my initial impressions of a new Vanku unit I got..px6, 4/64 mtce
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motoapx said:
So I have breezed through the forums up till about page 10 just looking around and seeing what folks have to say. I still don't know where to start LOL.
Here is what I want to accomplish and hopefully the experts here can give me some guidance. I see so many manufacturers and I just want to find the best option for me.
I have a 05' Dodge Ram 2500 that is in desperate need of a new radio. I am coming from a a new car with android auto and want to keep that going plus add more functionality. Here is what I would like to do, keep in mind that this is also getting an upgraded sound system as well.
Customize the UI to my liking / other then stock
ODBII for Torque / basically ability to monitor diesel stuff
Reverse camera input
If possible front and rear dashcam input / even if using dashcam with wifi live viewing with app on head unit. Is there a unit / that will act as a dvr to record video input to sd card? (this would be nice)
Sirrius XM radio (not a deal breaker if not able)
Use android phone for internet service for apps
I would like to be able to use my security cam app / in my mind this shouldn't be an issue if i can load apps from store or sideload
Other options I have not thought about or thought that I need LOL
I have seen the new 10.1 joying head unit and that looks nice but i know there are many out there and many that might suit my needs better or maybe not. Thanks for any input you give.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note that none of the Chinese head units like sold by Joying, xtrons, dasaita are Android Auto. They provide a hacky 'screen mirroring' app usually supported by hardware/dongle. They are all problematic.
If you want Screen mirroring and don't need a Android, suggest staying with a certified Android Auto head unit.

The Atoto Pro A6 or S8 might be worth looking into. The pro versions offer more ram and rom over the non pro versions.

motoapx said:
So I have breezed through the forums up till about page 10 just looking around and seeing what folks have to say. I still don't know where to start LOL.
Here is what I want to accomplish and hopefully the experts here can give me some guidance. I see so many manufacturers and I just want to find the best option for me.
I have a 05' Dodge Ram 2500 that is in desperate need of a new radio. I am coming from a a new car with android auto and want to keep that going plus add more functionality. Here is what I would like to do, keep in mind that this is also getting an upgraded sound system as well.
Customize the UI to my liking / other then stock
ODBII for Torque / basically ability to monitor diesel stuff
Reverse camera input
If possible front and rear dashcam input / even if using dashcam with wifi live viewing with app on head unit. Is there a unit / that will act as a dvr to record video input to sd card? (this would be nice)
Sirrius XM radio (not a deal breaker if not able)
Use android phone for internet service for apps
I would like to be able to use my security cam app / in my mind this shouldn't be an issue if i can load apps from store or sideload
Other options I have not thought about or thought that I need LOL
I have seen the new 10.1 joying head unit and that looks nice but i know there are many out there and many that might suit my needs better or maybe not. Thanks for any input you give.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you will find anything with quite that much on it but what comes to mind for most of it is Dasaita. I know Joying has almost what Dasaita has but they don't provide as many preloaded apps.
Dasaita comes with front dvr cam app as well as a specific front dash cam input for their dvr cams (which contain sd card for recording). It's a horrendously old and awful looking ui... but it works.
Front and rear cam inputs with app for manual override of rear cam (viewing rear while driving forward)
Torque (pro) will run though bluetooth or usb (usb is fast!)
UI is completely customizable
They all can hotspot connect to an android phone
They all can download apps from google playstore. With a few exceptions, anything that can run on a tablet will run on these things
Don't know about your particular security app, but I can control my house alarm and thermostat from my dasaita
None of them are siriusXM ready. You either have to plug a separate xm tuner into the AUX input, or run surius from an app
None of them come equipped for rear (Recording) cam

thanks
Thanks for the replies and the assistance. I have a little more research to do now.
Thank you ,

Confused with options for a Highlander

I found this site from a comment on a youtube video where I was researching options for getting a head unit that is better than Toyota included for my Toyota Highlander Limited Hybrid. I'm sorry for the length of this post but I spent hours reading and watching youtube and I think I'm on right path, but I feel like I just need a little validation...
For reference, I'm an Apple mobile and tablet user but I owned a Samsung phone for about 3 months so I know what an Android launcher and the marketplace is. I know there are stores for hacked products, but I ended up with ads all over that phone so I prefer not to go that route. I'm not a big tinkerer - once I get something set where I want it, I won't usually change the settings unless I find a need.
I think my post will give you a good idea about what level of knowledge I have - at least you know I tried. If there is highlander or hybrid specific feedback I'm overlooking somewhere, please let me know. If I'm missing something key to decide between systems let me know.
1. When I look at the forum categories, they are broken up into terms I'm not familiar with. I believe FYT Android is where I need to focus because I see references to the units I'm researching there. But I don't understand why they are considered FYT.
2. I'm trying to stay in the $500 range and get something that works well enough that I'll use it for more than just the radio - without breaking functionality but the canbus thing is new to me. I get the concept - my car's personal IoT/LAN. But does the dash operate independently of the headunit? I sort of feel like somethings will be independent and others will not. For example, I suspect the dash display will know my speed, trip miles, direction (compass), when I need an oil change. But I feel like the option for the radio is fed from the head unit. I feel like anything that appears on my dash when I'm using the GPS (like turn next left) is fed from the head unit. Is that correct? If yes, do those functions usually stop displaying on the dash with a replacement head unit?
3. I have buttons on the dash for different features on the car. I suspect most of those work independently of head unit - like the mirror heaters. But what about accident avoidance features? Those tend to display on my dash - are those possibly affected by a different head unit? And I have a button so I can turn on 360 video - I mainly use it to see how close I am to the car in front of me when parking in a tight space. I suspect that button will work with any head unit that has front camera and/or 360 degree integration.
4. From my research, I have been focusing on units that are 4 GB/64 GB although it sounds like 2 GB/32 GB would work just fine as long as I don't store over 32 GB of apps and data.
5. Items that don't differentiate: I expect these options to be the same result across all units. Please let me know if you know differently.
-Apple car play - All have it & should function exactly the same. (I don't need android phone integration but I know this does differ on units)
-Phone call integration - looks like all use same default android app. I am very interested in how clarity of calls might differ, but I think all are using same default android function and all are able to use an included external microphone.
-Toyota OEM microphone integration - it's unclear if any will integrate with existing Toyota mic but I suspect this won't yield a result I'm happy with in either case.
- Toyota speaker button on wheel control - I think this button fails to work on every integration. I would like this to work but even the Toyota system is so unreliable I don't use it.
- Marketplace apps - All should integrate with marketplace apps exactly the same.
6. So here is my list of options I came up with in order of most likely to least. Is there another brand I should research...
- Teyes CC3 (for highlander 2015-18) - It looks like it matches integration with the best out there. I don't care about the "Porsche simulator", but it still looks like the easiest to use launcher on the market & they are actively updating it. I cannot find the same level of highlander specific details I find on the SYGAV, but reviews seem overwhelmingly positive so I suspect it'll work just as well. My concern is that I have to order directly from alibaba and wait a month to receive and they seem to send wrong parts. I haven't used alibaba but it looks like the customs costs are included in the price of $435 (364+70.76). Does anyone know if this is accurate or if there are other fees? The main complaint I hear with this unit is that it is locked down, but I think that means for adding launchers and the like that I am not interested in.
- SYGAV (for highlander 2015-18) - I don't really love the user interface on this one. But this one is the one I have found most highlander related data on and it gives me some comfort I might have less issues getting it to work. I can find nothing close to this level of detail on the other brands about highlander installs.. I have read user responses that Carplay & android auto require no additional parts to install, 360 degree camera works as well as front camera view, Hybrid info displays. For the camera inputs, it sounds like I can use my OEM cameras but I may need a camera cable adapter (unclear if included in package). One user stated that to get it to work in a highlander, I need to get the Motorola 1 M 2 F & GM adapter to Motorola (for reception). One user states that they have TPMS working, but it's unclear if they connected to the TPMS already in tires or if they had to buy separate TPMS tire plugs. The main complaint is the GPS mapping if basic IGO.
- Dasaita (for highlander 2015-18) - This brand seems like the next most popular after Joying. It looks like they have 3 launchers they develop and you can install whichever you like best. In regard to the UI, I feel like this brand comes in 2nd after Teyes. But I can't find as detailed user experiences with highlander and which functions work and which do not.
- Joying - I am not actively researching this one but everyone seems to be using this one. I was considering this one but I couldn't locate any highlander option anywhere - not even from their website (joyingauto.eu). That sounds like I'd have to figure out the canbus thing on my own and find the plastic frame to put it in my dash & I don't feel like I'm knowledgeable enough to go that route. I really don't understand why this one is so popular above competition - it is one of the highest priced if I buy from the US markets. Everyone that uses it seems to add a separate launcher which makes me question whether Joying's UI development isn't all that great. I know some others lock down their products so you can't tinker as much. Is that why it's popular - because it isn't locked down? If so, I see similar hardware on cheaper units. It sounds like the UI development/support/upgrades is quite a bit of what one is paying for when buying these.
7. Maps - this is one of my major complaints from my Toyota unit . I do not see anything that makes me feel that the maps included with ANY of the units are any better. Most seem to use IGO GPS which seems to get the same complaints I have when using my GPS. I believe the only solution is a unit that includes apple car play. Or am I overlooking any with better mapping functions?
8. JBL audio - I know I have the JBL system in my car and on regular car head units this seems to make a difference with integration, but from my list above, I can't find anything to indicate that any will not work with the JBL system. I'm assuming it is because the car based units have hardware incompatibilities that android based do not, but it's really unclear to me. Can someone provide clarification? On the SYGAV unit, I read a review that it needs an amp to sound as good as an OEM unit, but I think that would apply to all of these units equally. In either case the Toyota JBL system has an AMP under my center console. I can't find this level of integration information but I think all units will connect to the amp.
9. 12 speakers - I feel like this will determine which system is best if I can figure it out... The JBL audio has 12 speakers (one of which is a subwoofer) in 10 locations in the highlander. I can't locate specific details on any of these if anyone gets all the speakers to connect successfully. I did see that one of these brands have 5.1 outputs but I don't really know what I need to be looking for in descriptions to figure this out on each unit. Any suggestions how to figure this out.
10. Video playback - All of these support video playback but it sounds like auto carplay may block mirroring while the car is actively moving. Is the behavior going to be the same across all units? I sort of feel like this is something that works differently across different brands, but I can't find details to figure out which allow video playback when car is moving.
11. Hybrid integration - SYGAV is the only unit I've seen where someone has hybrid info working on a highlander, but I feel like all the systems may work very similarly. I believe the dash display will work independent of the head unit so I can always switch the dash display when I want to see what the hybrid system is doing. I think another brand states it has hybrid integration but I couldn't find any responses where someone had it working successfully.
12. Daytime/Night time modes - I need to validate across all, but I know multiple have tried to integrate this. I do not think any have integrated without a bug. I feel like the ones that are likely to get this right first are Teyes and Dasaita since they are actively developing their UIs. Since these are all android based, I feel like all will have an android setting to dim the display even though the color scheme may not change.
I'm really leaning toward the Teyes because if I imagine myself driving, it looks like the easiest interface to use and they are actively developing. When looking at default display, it looks like the most 'modern' design also.
In case someone else reads this thread trying to figure all this stuff out, XM and HD radio integration may differentiate these units also. I know it doesn't work on some but I don't use either of those so it isn't important to me.

I'm mainly responding to my own post in case someone else is considering a T'eyes unit. I purchased one and I highly under estimated what is involved with getting these units to work. The T'eyes cc3 in my car may go up for auction - just too much of it is unusable.
Note that if you do not like tweeking your cell phone, you might not like these units to begin with - don't expect they'll just work out of the box. Consider hours if not days to configure these things. Also, look at the back of the units - this one came with a 'Toyota" harness which is a bunch of wires to convert all the cables in the back. And it isn't a single harness of wires - it's multiple bags of cables that you have to pick and choose from. You have extra cables and I'm pretty sure the set is missing cables. My car has 2 cables where I only have one adapter that matches them in all harness wiring. So one is unplugged. I have no idea what each cable from my car is used for. But most of the wires only have a single place they can connect in the primary harness. It's all a confusing mess even though I think I have 90% connected to the correct spots.
Not all units are made this way. There is going to be something converting the cables, but some units have some sort of box on the back that has all the cabling converting done for you - so it looks like the cables from the car attach into the unit directly. After my harness was attached, I did not have cables that match everything coming from the car. I feel like that is why things like my my surround cameras do not work. I also have no back up camera working now. That is a pretty big deal.
Also, car play isn't all I thought it would be. It seems to only mirror Apple written apps to the device. I can install apps onto the unit and connect to my phones hotspot, but the connection is very flaky. Unless you are willing to connect the unit with its own sim card, you may be severely limited. I wanted to be able to stream youtube and such while making a weekly 90 minute drive I make. Well, this just doesn't happen because half the time the unit will not connect to my hotspot. It usually connects within 30 minutes of me driving, but I haven't found a reliable way to get it to connect to the hotspot. Usually I'm driving with my phone playing through my phone speakers because audio streaming won't work with wifi/hotspot.
All in all, I wouldn't purchase this again. If I were going to attempt again, I'd go with one of the models that removes the 'harness' from the equation.

Problem recording front and back camera

In my car I installed a chinese android head unit, with front and rear camera (no dash cam). The cameras both work well, the front one is always active (frontview), the rear one is activated with reverse gear and then for 5 seconds it is viewed frontally. The head unit does not have a dvr included even if it is checked in the options and I can't find an android application that records the video signal of both cameras, but to date no application works!!!
Please help me!!!
Thank you.

Was the head unit sold as being able to record both cameras while driving?
There are dashcam apps on the playstore.
I bought a combined pair of front and rear cameras designed to work with a head unit but it appears they can only record video onto the SD card in the camera itself. The head unit helps to align the cams for best viewing and to see what is happening in real time. My cameras will work without a head unit to record every time they are powered on.
As a thought maybe you could use 2 different dashcam apps and have 1 record the front cam and the other record the back cam.
I suspect those cameras were only intended to be used as navigation aids not as dashcams. You can probably download an app to use one camera as a dashcam but maybe not record from both. The best solution is to buy a dedicated dashcam with good reviews. https://dashcamtalk.com/best-dash-cams-of-2023/ You can ask more specific questions to learn more about the best dashcams for you on https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/
If the cameras came with the head unit ask the seller for the app to allow them to record onto the head unit. If the cameras were bought from a different seller ask that seller to get you the app to make them work with the head unit. If there is no app available for that purpose then probably you need to get a dashcam instead.

I found a potential app xcdvr2. It is not found on google play store although xcdrv1 is there.
I did find xcdvr2 online as an APK.
Download XCDVR2 2.12.0-gsj for Android | Uptodown.com
Download the latest XCDVR2 update for Android. The new XCDVR2 2.12.0-gsj version is now available for free
xcdvr2.en.uptodown.com
Make sure you virus check the APK before using it.
This may or may not be a newer version of that app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.williexing.android.apps.xcdvr1
Here is the video I found that demonstrates that app.