Freelander 1 Fitting Android DAB and App Friendly Head Unit

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andyfreelandy

andyfreelandy

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This thread will emerge. I have bought a chinese single DIN Android Head unit and hope to not only make it fit, it has a sliding screen to position it clear of controls.
Want to acheive DAB, some useful apps like Torque for diagnosis and also SatNav and phone.

Got this far to date !!

Just found that my Samsung phone is not compatible with the phone mirroring app installed in the device. Great start!!
But I love reading the manual !! 20231209_110623.jpg20231209_111356.jpg20231209_111744.jpg

Will be needing android experts in no time I expect.
 
Try updating Android Auto in both the Sammy phone and on the HU.
What Android version is the phone?
 
Therein lies the problem. The device uses a mirroring link called TIMA. The android app to match doesn't get past the connection to phone stage which it completes. I have asked the seller who says that Samsung security won't let this app work. I have also looked at uploading Android Auto onto the head unit but it doesn't appear available. It is already on my phone at Android version 11.

BUT. Do I need mirroring? What does it allow? Does it permit 2 way comms to phone including swyping the car unit and the phone responds ?? If not then I will use bluetooth for phone and music and download google maps or waze for nav.

Bit out of my comfort zone but I can't remain a Luddite for ever ;)
 
I know what you mean on all accounts there.

I really do not know what you get by syncing your phone to the head unit. I need to find out.

Similarly Android appears to be spectacularly incompatible between versions. App are made available for later versions but they won't run on earlier version, and a lot of the 'lower cost' android devices are supplied with older versions of android - so there's nothing that'll run on them.

The whole android thing appears a bit fecked up to me and angled so that you have to keep throwing away perfectly good devices to get new current ones.
 
It's called marketing I guess. Doesn't fit with my buy once and keep repairing it strategy though. The rest of the world will catch up one day :)
 
Anyway. Back to the project....
Bought this one as it was right size and looked like it would do the job. Like the way the screen can be removed and moved up and down depending on whether I want cooling vents or hazard lights !!


First job was to identify the wiring, get a connector to fit the Landie and make the wires and pins fit in the right order.
20231209_122750.jpg
Oh yes, it does a reverse cam too.

Then I bought a DAB usb module and an FM / DAB aerial splitter plus amplifier. The latter has worked well on my Kenwood DAB radio using the standard F1 roof aerial.
 
Mirror link or Carplay on most Chinese android units is often clunky & slow at best. Easier to just use Bluetooth for calls, and load Waze or Google Maps onto the head unit.

Many of them also run the CPU too hot, especially near the heater. Best to take the lid off & see if you can fit a larger heatsink.

This thread shows my mods for an Android stereo in my RR P38.
 
andyfreelandy said:
Therein lies the problem. The device uses a mirroring link called TIMA. The android app to match doesn't get past the connection to phone stage which it completes. I have asked the seller who says that Samsung security won't let this app work. I have also looked at uploading Android Auto onto the head unit but it doesn't appear available. It is already on my phone at Android version 11.

BUT. Do I need mirroring? What does it allow? Does it permit 2 way comms to phone including swyping the car unit and the phone responds ?? If not then I will use bluetooth for phone and music and download google maps or waze for nav.

Bit out of my comfort zone but I can't remain a Luddite for ever ;)
Click to expand...
Ok, so the app the HU is using isn't trusted by Samsung, so Samsung Knox is preventing it from loading.
Samsung, although running Android, have locked the OS down from being at risk from external none-authorised apps. It's potentially possible to side load the app directly from the HU manufacturer, but in my experience Knox doesn't allow apps to function even if you can side load them.
Basically unless the app is in Google Play, you can't make it load on a Samsung, and even then if Samsung Knox doesn't like the permissions that app is asking, the app still won't load.

If you need a HU to connect to other devices, it's best to use one that allows Play authorised apps like Android Auto. Or just use the phone as a WiFi hot spot, and steam everything you need the HU to run.
 
Yes it is on Google Play as TVAin.
However, what exactly would mirroring give me? I have read many conflicting descriptions.

Is it purely copy phone screen to car device or does it allow touch screen on car device to drive phone ?

Thanks.

Have now found that I have a dab aerial adaptor with a completely different plug to the dab usb adaptor !! Arghhhh. Here comes the soldering iron and the heatshrink !!!
 
Also found an Android Auto usb add on box. Might be worth a go. Haven't decided what it would give over and above the head unit's standard features.
 
Anyone see a problem with the manufacturer fitting the aerial socket on the top of the unit!!??

Honestly.....
 

Attachments

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andyfreelandy said:
No space even for a 90 degree plug.

Solution !!View attachment 305004
Click to expand...
Typical!
I installed an Atoto Android Head unit recently and when attaching Atoto brackets to the Atoto HU I realised the Atoto screws were too long to fit. I had to grind them down by around 50% or they would have damaged the chassis of the HU.

As for Android Auto or Apple Carplay I'm still trying to figure that out.
 
So, wired to a Freelander socket so that it is just plug in.
Includes DAB and FM aerial / DAB splitter amplifier.

Also now has Torque App for dashboard gauges and diagnostics / graphing from Bluetooth ELM 327.

Wired for rear view camera which cuts in and displays on reverse. Got to fit camera to car, maybe a 90 degree one under tailgate handle?

Also has sat nav with Goggle maps and Waze and one other piece of satnav software to be tried out and kept or deleted.

Had to make the case fit into the standard F1 cage which involved fitting a few countersunk screws as some were proud.

Install in the week. Will report back.20231216_153729.jpg
 
I did have Carplay working on my Joying stereo, but it was clunky. Phone call audio was not great & people said it was noisy. Whenever Waze or other satnav was running on phone, it stopped the head unit radio working. Connecting was unreliable, and usually required manual intervention each trip. Gave up in the end.

Various rental cars in US & Europe gave different results. Cannot remember the car model, but a US rental worked for calls & Nav directions, but also refused to switch back to radio or CD. Ford Focus in Belgium worked perfectly, except the head unit didn't have touch control of the iPhone.

There are reports on XDA-Forums of FYT head units that work perfectly for both Android & iPhone. My wife doesn't use Android auto, but I know her HU works. Must try my iPhone one day (but it's her car so my phone is not paired)
 
I bought a Android 12, 2Gb/32Gb head unit for the wife's Peugeot 107, the plastic moulding to fit head unit to car was a perfect fit. 1 screw and several clips.

Notes,
For the aerial skt there was an extender / adapter in the box.
Wiring up was no problem, there was an excess of alternative cable adapters in the box to fit all possibilities.
I'm particularly impressed by its built in FM radio and audio system.
The rear view camera has be tested and works. But I've not fitted it yet as that requires taking the carpets up.
I've no requirement to connect head unit to phones except to charge the phones.
So both usbs have been brought forward on cables, into a slot in the moulding . There's room in the slot for both our phones.

I've loaded Namii (free) onto the head unit, but so far the software will only recognise Google maps as the prime navigator, however navmii works but for the voice.
if you use the navmii test voice it works, but while underway her inside refuses to talk.
 
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