Cheap FM transmitting car play / android auto devices for the car?

QrizB

OK let's get back to the basics of systems engineering - the OP's requirements.

B0bbyEwing said:

I also wasn't really wanting to faff about with fascias - hence looking at something 12v & easily detachable.
What I DID want was-
* something that will play my music via the car speakers via bluetooth
* a screen - for navigation.

I think the best suggestion so far is:

debitcardmayhem said:

Maybe a cheap/recon tablet e.g. Fire and a bracket 

You'd need to hotspot it to your phone (unless you buy a phablet and a data SIM, perhaps one of those £1/month Sky deals) but it should be able to run Google Maps natively while streaming your favoured music app.

B0bbyEwing

debitcardmayhem said:
Since you are interested, roast pork sandwiches with stuffing and apple sauce, and a can(or more) of San Miguel. 

I think what you had was wrong. You should've had something else. 
Cheese & crackers would work.

B0bbyEwing

Ok so after the helpful replies within this thread & to stop me creating a new one to ask this - I was looking at the possibility of a double DIN unit on the cheap.

Found one fairly cheap. Saw it for sale on an audio website too so contacted the website to just ask what else I need, if anything, to have this installed in the car.

They said I'd need a DAB aerial & linked me to one at £15. I'd say I probably don't need that as I'm not bothered about DAB in the car as I can't remember the last time I listened to the radio. Anyway, even if I went for it it's only £15 so not too bad really. That's not what bothered me though.

They said I'd need Connects2 CTKVW18 at a cost of nearly £100. 

And the reason I'm posting here is to ask - is that likely to be correct? I'd NEED that?

Maybe I'm just stuck in time but I remember back to when fascias cost you like £15. Stick in your head unit & job done. What's all this extra cost for then?

QrizB

B0bbyEwing said:

Maybe I'm just stuck in time but I remember back to when fascias cost you like £15. Stick in your head unit & job done. What's all this extra cost for then?

One of these?

https://connects2.com/Product/ProductItem/ctkvw18

That's not just a fascia, it includes a logic converter to make your steering wheel controls work with the new unit, plus a powered adapter for an active antenna.

The fascia bit is £30 if you're not bothered about everything else.

https://caraudiocentre.co.uk/products/m-connects2-ct24vw12

B0bbyEwing

QrizB said:

B0bbyEwing said:

Maybe I'm just stuck in time but I remember back to when fascias cost you like £15. Stick in your head unit & job done. What's all this extra cost for then?

One of these?

https://connects2.com/Product/ProductItem/ctkvw18

That's not just a fascia, it includes a logic converter to make your steering wheel controls work with the new unit, plus a powered adapter for an active antenna.

The fascia bit is £30 if you're not bothered about everything else.

https://caraudiocentre.co.uk/products/m-connects2-ct24vw12

To give a clearer picture, I don't have steering wheel controls but I was told that doesn't matter & I need all that stuff anyway. 

Do I need an active antenna if I'm not bothered about the radio? 

Or can I just get away with just the fascia?

And yes, the link you gave. 

QrizB

B0bbyEwing said:

Do I need an active antenna if I'm not bothered about the radio? 

No.

B0bbyEwing said:

Or can I just get away with just the fascia?

That probably depends on how confident/comfortable you are with head unit wiring. The CT kit is plug-and-play. If you don't mind a bit of crimping and soldering, you should be OK with just the fascia.

There are also cheaper VW wiring connectors without the steering wheel control adapter (like this); one of those might work with your car. I'm in no position to say which one, though.

B0bbyEwing

Hmm probably not overly confident with HU wiring because it depends. 

I installed my Alpine CDE-128BT myself w/ steering wheel controls. 
I hard wired my dash cam to the fuse box & then connected up another cam to a 12v female which I also wired in to the fuse box. 

But for the Alpine CDE-178BT we have I had to get someone to do it because it had other connectors on it vs the 128BT which I didn't have a clue what they were. That blue ended connector threw me out as didn't have a clue what it was so reluctantly paid someone to install it. 

chrisw

To use the satnav you might also need a GPS receiver aerial if the unit doesn't come with one.

B0bbyEwing

chrisw said:

To use the satnav you might also need a GPS receiver aerial if the unit doesn't come with one.

When mentioning double DIN in the past couple posts I was considering going with a bluetooth unit for better quality music & leaving the phone on a windscreen mount for the sat nav.

Had a look & the single DIN fascia (to re-use an existing single DIN head unit I have) is barely any cheaper than the double. Just can't believe how expensive it is. 

Since the car isn't in the best of condition (and so don't know how long we'll have it) & who knows what we'll buy next, I don't really want to shell out anything significant for it to end up being a waste.