Double din Stereo with waze

diz79

Hi I wondered if anyone could help, Ive been searching a lot over the internet and found mixed reviews on the xtrons and pumpkin made android stereos, some the digital radio doesent work or some apps dont work. Has anyone else manged to find decent one that works for around £200.


Do you have any other recomendations if it just had dab and could run waze that would be fine I think?



I basically would like to get one so I could run the waze gps through it, possibly a few music based apps and digital radio. I drive a focus mk2.5.


Thanks in advance



https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B078Y5J61T/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_6?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A11GZS8Q24Q8KN


https://www.autopumpkin.co.uk/pumpkin-7-inch-double-din-android-7-1-car-stereo-radio-dvd-player-for-ford-focus-mondeo-galaxy-s-max-silver.html

DUTR

Is it going to sound as good as your current radio?

System

Wife just got me a Pumpkin for my birthday for my MK4 Mondeo and I've finished installing it. Its the 8 core Android 8.0 version of the one you're looking at and its only £30 more. I don't have DAB though so can't comment on that. I will however say that I have DAB in my truck which uses a dongle and antenna the same as these do and its OK but I feel it would be better if it was using an external antenna on the roof.

Watch some videos of different ones as they each customise the Android install differently. The hardware is effectively the same between Eonon, Pumpkin etc but the user interface operates differently as they each put their own UI on. One thing Pumpkin does that the others don't is have an instant on so you're not having to wait 30 seconds for a cold boot like you are with the others.

Sound wise its a vast improvement on the factory RDS 6000 one I had. Wifi is OK, GPS is fine. Only issues I've found is out of all the Android apps I have on all my devices Netflix doesn't support it and annoyingly Android Auto doesn't either and whilst the up/down volume steering wheel controls work OK the skip forward/back work in reverse. You also can't change the clock widget on the home screen to a different one and you have to switch between UI views before it'll show all the installed app icons but I'm suspecting that is either a bug or because I've literally used it for 30 minutes. Being Android though you can no doubt change the launcher and there's some really nice car themed ones in the Play Store I'm going to give a go.

Waze, HERE (including offline maps) and Google Maps work as expected. I've got Amazon Music/Video, BBC iPlayer, Google Music/Video and Spotify on. Netflix is the only thing missing although I expect there may be a way to side load it as the stereo supports installation of apps via APK files. Also Torque and Forscan work fine on it. If you've not tried Forscan get it, its a very in depth OBD2 diagnostic app for Fords and Mazdas which goes way beyond fault code reading.

almillar

I've just been through the deep, deep dive of researching these head units, and I ended up with a Seicane one that I'm happy with.
How to proceed - you've got a Focus and you've linked to a couple of special shaped units - if that's the right shape for your car, it's not standard 2DIN like I have, but it makes choosing easier.
First choice I think you should make is whether you want a CD/DVD drive or not. Getting rid of it might allow a bigger screen.
Secondly, the head units all use similar Android hardware. There is a PX3 board, generally with a quad core processor, and a PX 5 board, generally with an 8 core processor. Ignore anything below these 2. Quad core and Octo Core sound impressive, but they're 'adequate' compared to a decent smartphone. I went with 8 core, 4GB RAM and 32 ROM. 1024x600 sounds low, but is actually very crisp at the distance you'll be working from. Some apps aren't so clever with only having 600 lines vertically though. Waze, as you know, likes to eat CPU and RAM, so that really does push you to the better hardware.
PX3 has been around longer and there's more custom software available for it, and the manufacturers (that's NOT the brand names on the front!) have had time to stabalise their sometimes buggy OSs. But PX5 has been around a while and mine is 'OK'.
You get the Android board as above, then there is the manufacturer's own board that sortof does the car stuff - bluetooth chip, amp, etc. If you go to xda-developers (where I got most of what I'm spouting from!) you'll see that everyone has a problem with every unit, and you'll not know what unit they're talking about, and be completely put off buying anything!
I often use Waze, and listen to BBC iPlayer Radio via bluetooth from my phone. The bluetooth chops a bit sometimes, but not a big deal.
The amp is rubbish on these. I've got an external amp so wasn't too bothered, but the sound isn't very 'pure'. You can hear fuzzy noise at low volume. This doesn't really matter one the engine is running though and you have to turn it up.
The only other problem I've had is a stupid software one - on the built in MP3 player, you press next and it goes up a track. But also, when you press previous, it goes up a track! Google Music, for example though, works fine.
I've got my steering wheel controls working via chopping up my adaptor loom for my previous stereo, Torque Pro connected to an OBD adaptor. I bought about the cheapest DAB USB stick I could off eBay, took a few weeks to arrive but works great. The only problem I had was that I wanted to use my already installed DAB aerial (fitted a Pioneer unit) but ended up having to install the aerial that came with the DAB stick because the connector was different.
Ask away with any questions, I think we're more approachable here than at xda!

diz79

Tarambor wrote: »

Wife just got me a Pumpkin for my birthday for my MK4 Mondeo and I've finished installing it. Its the 8 core Android 8.0 version of the one you're looking at and its only £30 more. I don't have DAB though so can't comment on that. I will however say that I have DAB in my truck which uses a dongle and antenna the same as these do and its OK but I feel it would be better if it was using an external antenna on the roof.

Watch some videos of different ones as they each customise the Android install differently. The hardware is effectively the same between Eonon, Pumpkin etc but the user interface operates differently as they each put their own UI on. One thing Pumpkin does that the others don't is have an instant on so you're not having to wait 30 seconds for a cold boot like you are with the others.

Sound wise its a vast improvement on the factory RDS 6000 one I had. Wifi is OK, GPS is fine. Only issues I've found is out of all the Android apps I have on all my devices Netflix doesn't support it and annoyingly Android Auto doesn't either and whilst the up/down volume steering wheel controls work OK the skip forward/back work in reverse. You also can't change the clock widget on the home screen to a different one and you have to switch between UI views before it'll show all the installed app icons but I'm suspecting that is either a bug or because I've literally used it for 30 minutes. Being Android though you can no doubt change the launcher and there's some really nice car themed ones in the Play Store I'm going to give a go.

Waze, HERE (including offline maps) and Google Maps work as expected. I've got Amazon Music/Video, BBC iPlayer, Google Music/Video and Spotify on. Netflix is the only thing missing although I expect there may be a way to side load it as the stereo supports installation of apps via APK files. Also Torque and Forscan work fine on it. If you've not tried Forscan get it, its a very in depth OBD2 diagnostic app for Fords and Mazdas which goes way beyond fault code reading.

Is it this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumpkin-Android-Bluetooth-Support-Fast-boot-Black/dp/B07D8VV28S


Thanks

diz79

almillar wrote: »

I've just been through the deep, deep dive of researching these head units, and I ended up with a Seicane one that I'm happy with.
How to proceed - you've got a Focus and you've linked to a couple of special shaped units - if that's the right shape for your car, it's not standard 2DIN like I have, but it makes choosing easier.
First choice I think you should make is whether you want a CD/DVD drive or not. Getting rid of it might allow a bigger screen.
Secondly, the head units all use similar Android hardware. There is a PX3 board, generally with a quad core processor, and a PX 5 board, generally with an 8 core processor. Ignore anything below these 2. Quad core and Octo Core sound impressive, but they're 'adequate' compared to a decent smartphone. I went with 8 core, 4GB RAM and 32 ROM. 1024x600 sounds low, but is actually very crisp at the distance you'll be working from. Some apps aren't so clever with only having 600 lines vertically though. Waze, as you know, likes to eat CPU and RAM, so that really does push you to the better hardware.
PX3 has been around longer and there's more custom software available for it, and the manufacturers (that's NOT the brand names on the front!) have had time to stabalise their sometimes buggy OSs. But PX5 has been around a while and mine is 'OK'.
You get the Android board as above, then there is the manufacturer's own board that sortof does the car stuff - bluetooth chip, amp, etc. If you go to xda-developers (where I got most of what I'm spouting from!) you'll see that everyone has a problem with every unit, and you'll not know what unit they're talking about, and be completely put off buying anything!
I often use Waze, and listen to BBC iPlayer Radio via bluetooth from my phone. The bluetooth chops a bit sometimes, but not a big deal.
The amp is rubbish on these. I've got an external amp so wasn't too bothered, but the sound isn't very 'pure'. You can hear fuzzy noise at low volume. This doesn't really matter one the engine is running though and you have to turn it up.
The only other problem I've had is a stupid software one - on the built in MP3 player, you press next and it goes up a track. But also, when you press previous, it goes up a track! Google Music, for example though, works fine.
I've got my steering wheel controls working via chopping up my adaptor loom for my previous stereo, Torque Pro connected to an OBD adaptor. I bought about the cheapest DAB USB stick I could off eBay, took a few weeks to arrive but works great. The only problem I had was that I wanted to use my already installed DAB aerial (fitted a Pioneer unit) but ended up having to install the aerial that came with the DAB stick because the connector was different.
Ask away with any questions, I think we're more approachable here than at xda!

Do you know the model number you had and what price range? I did sign up to xda but it takes a while to actually post I saw some info but as you say everyone seems to have problems was just wondering if worth taking the plunge, I didnt really want to spend more than £200 but if its a massive difference I wouls stretch to £300.


Thanks again

diz79

One other thing how is waze while music is playing , some stereos cannot do both?

System

diz79 wrote: »

Is it this one?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumpkin-Android-Bluetooth-Support-Fast-boot-Black/dp/B07D8VV28S


Thanks

Yes. It's cheaper by £30 on Pumpkin's website but don't tell the wife I found out how much it was. The issue with the icons and having to use a certain way to find them was easily fixed. Because it has a quick start mode it actually doesn't fully turn off like the others but goes into a sleep instead. Press the reset button and it makes it do a cold boot which forces the launcher to read the new shortcut files for the newly installed apps and display the icons for them.

almillar

diz79 - I asked you if you need a special Ford shape - Mine's a standard 2DIN unit, so no good to you.

I bought this for £197
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Android-8-0-Car-GPS-Sat-Navi-Bluetooth-Head-Unit-For-NISSAN-Universal-2005-2010/112947362024?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

And this USB DAB stick for £17
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2018-USB-2-0-DAB-Digital-Radio-Tuner-USB-Stick-for-Android-Car-DVD-Stereo-Pl-FR/253648423555?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

The prices have gone up from that seller so definitely have a look around.

Waze works grand for me along with Bluetooth audio - as I said I do get the odd bit of choppiness on bluetooth, but I could never pin that down to just Waze. I would recommend a PX5 based stereo.
I've got my phone paired over bluetooth, but also the OBD connector, and that all works great.

You need to do some serious research before you dare to post on xda - if you wade in asking for a recommendation you won't get much attention.

Because it has a quick start mode it actually doesn't fully turn off like the others but goes into a sleep instead

Yes, mine too. There's lots of talk about this, do make sure you get one that can do quick boot. I think most do now but if you look on eBay you can find some ancient stuff.


That one you correctly identified that Tarambor bought - you'll see that it says DAB - they're all DAB 'compatible' (having drivers and software in the build, plus a USB port) but you need the extra stick! So add that to your cost.

diz79

Thanks again guys, I previously had a digital radio in last car, but hard dab Ariel that fits the windscreen was very good do you know if the dongle is better or much of a muchness.


One last question might be important for all of us, have you found anywhere showing how to upgrade from android 8.0 in the future, I feel someone has to find a way some how. I know through research no one has yet on past stereos ?

alan_d

I didn't know about USB DAB receives before this thread, so thanks to almillar for the pointer. I have ordered one to try.
I have 2 Volvo shaped Android radios in my V70 & XC90. The V70 one has quite an old Android version - and the Chinese eBay seller wasn't very helpful when I asked about software upgrades.
I wonder with some trawling if I can find a suitable image to upgrade it. It has a few gremlins.