Freelander 1 Fitting Android DAB and App Friendly Head Unit

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
I'm looking forward to hearing how it is after you've lived with it for a bit. Have you got the steering column control linked up, and have you put it in a vehicle with the Becker/Harmon Kardon system or the double Din unit?
 
I'm looking forward to hearing how it is after you've lived with it for a bit. Have you got the steering column control linked up, and have you put it in a vehicle with the Becker/Harmon Kardon system or the double Din unit?
Good question on the steering wheel control, I've just installed an Arduino HU and find the volume controls a total pain so getting the steering wheel buttons working would be great.
 
Good question on the steering wheel control, I've just installed an Arduino HU and find the volume controls a total pain so getting the steering wheel buttons working would be great.
So the android device has 2 connections that go to the steering wheel controls. There is a menu to programme the function whilst pressing the controls but it shows 'programming fail'.

I'll need some help with this. Do newer vehicles have some kind of active controls that the system is looking for? The F1 is purely resistive I think.
 
I'm looking forward to hearing how it is after you've lived with it for a bit. Have you got the steering column control linked up, and have you put it in a vehicle with the Becker/Harmon Kardon system or the double Din unit?
It is in my G4 single slot DIN. Will be upgrading speakers. The equaliser is fab with about 50 freqs thay can be tweaked.

Think it does all I want. Will crack the steering controls, see above
 
My car had no stereo when I got it but did have the ISO adaptor for a standard head unit. All I did was plug the connectors into my Android and turn it on.
I think the Android Button setup is looking for CAN signals so the LR buttons will need some kind of adaptor to make them work.
 
I have asked the supplier if such an adaptor is available. The F1 is just resistors I think.
I have identified the wires in the loom and sucessfully used OTS adapters on standard Kenwood stereos.
 
I've not gone through it all yet nor have I looked at the wiring diagram for the Freelander buttons but the info in this blog looks like it might be relevant?


It would be cool to come up with a simple adaptor that can plug into LR buttons.
 
I just found this for 04 to 06 cars

And this for earlier cars
 
I have used the latter before on a Kenwood unit with one wire control. All works well.

The android unit has 2 wires but is not happy with the 2 wires from the standard steering controls.

My reply from the seller has suggested a canbus adapter. Is that what the above do ? If so I need 2 wires out to the android. The one I bought previously has a single wire and ground.
 
Think I see. The lower device, which is what I would need for a 2002, in the instructions shows a patch solution for 'chinese learning device'. It suggests you use Key 1, Key2 amd ground. Also the box will require power.

So maybe the F1 wires to the box and then as above to the android. Then use learning menu ??

Worth a shot.
 
Maybe send them an email to confirm.
The information on the web site is very good so they probably know what they're talking about.
 
Last edited:
If the head unit has the 2-wire resistive inputs you do not need an adapter for 04-06 FL1. My wife's car is an 05 3-door, and it programmed easily. Connect wire Key-1 to the steering wheel wire & isolate Key-2 with tape. Some head units might require Key-2 to be grounded. You can try both ways - it will not break anything.

Programming is the challenge, because different Chinese Android vendors vary. Some of them you select the function and then press the steering button like this. On others you hold the required steering button, and then select the function on head unit.
 
If the head unit has the 2-wire resistive inputs you do not need an adapter for 04-06 FL1. My wife's car is an 05 3-door, and it programmed easily. Connect wire Key-1 to the steering wheel wire & isolate Key-2 with tape. Some head units might require Key-2 to be grounded. You can try both ways - it will not break anything.

Programming is the challenge, because different Chinese Android vendors vary. Some of them you select the function and then press the steering button like this. On others you hold the required steering button, and then select the function on head unit.
For me sorting this is just one of the many many jobs to do on my car. :oops:
I'll report back if I get it working. ;)
 
I will subscribe to this topic. I am also looking at such a player and was also interested in the topic of connecting to the buttons on the steering wheel.
 
Back
Top