Android radio

[CantRepeat]

I ordered a Eonon GA2176 universal head unit. It's updated with Android 9 PIE. I've heard a lot of good things about them.

I know I'll need to do some cutting to get it to fit my 2010, but I think it will be worth it over the stock stereo.

 

[Wahrsuul]

I had Eonon in my Mazda 3. My brother still has it and it's been about 4 years total in the car and still works fine. My only issue is the built in mic is useless, you need an external one. If I could find something aftermarket that would use the OEM mic, I'd probably swap.

 

[CantRepeat]

I'm not sure about vehicle specific units but the GA 2176 has an external mic, GPS and wifi antenna.

https://www.eonon.com/Android-Car-G...N-Head-Unit-Support-Bluetooth-Navigation.html

 

[Wahrsuul]

My problem is that I'm lazy and don't want to tear everything apart to get the external mic installed

 

[Jessica Smith]

From what I've read, there's no way to get these Android units to work with the factory backup camera, which was a deal breaker for me, as otherwise I was going to go with a single DIN unit that doesn't require cutting and would have a much larger 10" tablet style screen that would come forward a bit like this:

 

[Wahrsuul]

A larger screen might be nice, but I'm not sure I'd want it to extend from the dash. I considered a carputer for a while, but the software just isn't there for it. I don't have a factory camera on mine, just the backup sensors.

 

[Jessica Smith]

Even a lot of factory systems now have floating LCDs, so its not that out of place IMO, and most importantly isn't covering up any buttons or AC vents.

I'll probably go with the Halo9 to retain the factory backup camera and steering wheel controls, but guessing I'll have to wait at least a year for prices to come down.


View attachment 165532

 

[osprey92]

From what I've read, there's no way to get these Android units to work with the factory backup camera, which was a deal breaker for me, as otherwise I was going to go with a single DIN unit that doesn't require cutting and would have a much larger 10" tablet style screen that would come forward a bit like this:

View attachment 165417

I ran the image wire directly from the b pillar to my unit, the reverse wire was on the harness. Works great.

 

[rotwiler]

Even a lot of factory systems now have floating LCDs, so its not that out of place IMO, and most importantly isn't covering up any buttons or AC vents.

I'll probably go with the Halo9 to retain the factory backup camera and steering wheel controls, but guessing I'll have to wait at least a year for prices to come down.


View attachment 165532

This Alpine radios look badass and having the options to add switches in radio is super cool. Seen these radios on ebay for the $550 area, pretty good price for such unique features, but looked today and cheapest was like $730. How cool would it be to add light bars and cameras and be able to activate using radio, nice. Like it so much, was trying to decide if it would look right in my SS Camaro, truck it would, but the ss has a odd setup, may look wrong.

 

[Wahrsuul]

Switches in the radio? Don't even know what the means. The only time the radio is on in my truck is when the grands are in it as they don't like Papa's "old music".

 

[Jessica Smith]

Switches in the radio? Don't even know what the means.

3:25 on the video posted earlier, called "Ext Access Ctrl" lets you control up to 8 switches without the need to install the physical switch panel or drill holes in your dash.

 

[CantRepeat]

@ $900 bucks I think I'll go the Chinese route. Well, that might not be any better considering the new tariffs lol

 

[Jessica Smith]

@ $900 bucks I think I'll go the Chinese route. Well, that might not be any better considering the new tariffs lol

I think its unlikely that prices will change. After all, prices have always been based on what the maximum is that the market will bare, not what it costs to actually manufacture. Otherwise your iPhone would cost you no more than $300 instead of the $600 they sell it for that ensures the big wigs at Apple can lease a new $500K car every 6 months, one for each private island.

If the prices are already set at market cap, as they should be, its more likely that their profit margins would simply fall but be absorbed in order to remain competitive with Taiwanese, Japanese, Thai, European, and American competitors.

I ran the image wire directly from the b pillar to my unit, the reverse wire was on the harness. Works great.

I'm confused, to work with an aftermarket camera or the factory camera? I've never tried, I was just watching youtube videos and reading the product descriptions for the android units, and they always mentioned having to install their own compatible backup cameras instead of using the OEM ones that were somehow proprietary. *shrugs*

 

[rotwiler]

@ $900 bucks I think I'll go the Chinese route. Well, that might not be any better considering the new tariffs lol

Those Chinese Tesla radios are cool, but full of issues or I would have one. Tariffs are normally on more widely used items like food products and major items. Personal use products like electronics if less than(can't remember if it's $500 or 1000 they don't mess with tax, I buy phones from China, last one was $800 and never got taxed going through customs. You can get those Tesla style radios for like $550 on aliexpress but might be a $550 headache.

 

[CantRepeat]

I got the wiring done for the stereo and a quick test run before I start cutting the metal bracket behind the dash.

So far it's pretty sweet. Using the PAC RP4-CH11 and the GA2176 I was able to retain the SW control and with the short press long press option I can program upto 12 buttons. I can install any app from the google play store or APKpure using the apk installer. The stereo comes with a copy of Torque Pro pre-installed too.

More to follow as I get the install completed.

 

[osprey92]

I'm confused, to work with an aftermarket camera or the factory camera? I've never tried, I was just watching youtube videos and reading the product descriptions for the android units, and they always mentioned having to install their own compatible backup cameras instead of using the OEM ones that were somehow proprietary. *shrugs*

I did install a $10 backup camera using the reverse light and power off the rear tail light. After installing, it dawned on me the only thing I was missing from the factory rearview camera was the image. I split the image wire that runs through the passenger side B pillar and ran it through the dash to the radio. Bam! Same image as my rearview. De-installed the new camera.

 

[PJSisk]

I bought the Eonon GA9263B Android car radio for my Mazda 3, ran the external rear camera and external microphone and front cam, along with the CarPlay/Android Auto dongle, everything.......save your money. These things are too slow in touch response, take forever to boot, volume is messed up for anything running locally (bluetooth audio is fine) and the UI looks dated. Still better than the 3.5" screen it replaced but frustrating as hell to work with.

 

[OnSale]

I ordered a Eonon GA2176 universal head unit. It's updated with Android 9 PIE. I've heard a lot of good things about them.

I know I'll need to do some cutting to get it to fit my 2010, but I think it will be worth it over the stock stereo.

I went with a Amazon Fire HD 8" tablet on Prime day. Also ordered a "CD Slot" tablet mount so I can mount the tablet right in front of my radio. I installed the Google play store in the fire and also installed Google Home Launcher so now it functions just like a regular Android tablet. It syncs up with my MX OBD device for AlphaOBD, I get Google Maps, I can play music from any app or stream hulu, Netflix or youtube, and it plays over my trucks speakers via bluetooth. I can play games, has Android auto, everything I want. And it only cost me $65 to buy the tablet brand new plus the CD slot mount. I considered one of the Chinese Android tablet style double din radios but they all seem so cheap and junky.

Also I just ordered a wireless backup camera that works via Bluetooth so that will also work on the tablet and aslong as the backup can app is running in the background, and the settings for it are set as "display over other apps" then whenever I put my truck in reverse, the video feed will interrupt whatever is open on the tablet and show my backup video feed.

So there is really no feature that I want, that I can't get with this setup. I keep the tablet plugged into the always on 12v cig outlet, and it sits in sleep mode when I'm not in the truck. I only turn it completely off when I know I'm not driving anymore for the day. Then in the morning I start it up (takes 4-7 seconds) and leave it on (and I'm sleep mode) until the end of the day when I'm done driving.

Couldn't be happier with my choice , saved hundreds of dollars over one of the Chinese Android touchscreen radios and I also have a tablet I can take out of my truck if i want to use it to say, watch a movie with my gf when we go to the park, or bring it into somewhere like a coffee shop or something. Best of both worlds and like I said there is nothing I want that those Chinese radios can do that the fire tablet can't do.

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[CantRepeat]

I need to update this but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I've driven the truck across the country now and honestly say the Eonon is great.

 

[OnSale]

I need to update this but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I've driven the truck across the country now and honestly say the Eonon is great.

Yea I’m curious to see some pictures of it installed in your truck and to get a full review on it. It would be nice to know how your review goes, so in the future I might consider this or a similar Android head-unit for any new vehicles I get.


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