What do I need? An Android Head Unit or a Parrot System

Ricochet J · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:25

Hi,

I rely on Google Maps on my phone (mounted to the dash) to give me traffic alerts in the morning and to give me the best route to work.

At the moment the instructions come via the phone loudspeaker.

This is not acceptable and we must deal with it.

What shall I get? A Parrot Bluetooth System (A2DP) or an Android Double Din head unit with Google Maps?

How do Android units connect to the internet?

Ricochet J · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:26

Also I would like to stream music (Spotify etc) and podcasts from my phone.

paradigm · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:29

Android units typically rely on either a bluetooth pairing or a wifi sharing (hotspot) connection to your phone.

You could kill two birds with one stone and get a double-din parrot asteroid smart android headunit

Ricochet J · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:30

Also forgot to mention I want to make calls too.

iaind · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:32

Is this for the Saab? Do you know which system you have?

I have an MKi9200 in mine because I think aftermarket systems look really out of place in the pre-DE cars, but in the DE a standard double DIN should fit fine. If you have an amplified system, it's a bit more work and you need to run an ignition and lighting feed from elsewhere in the dash. Justcarkits do plug and play adaptors (for the amplified Saab systems, this is £80+ though :eek:

) for the MKi. It does work well though, I mainly use it for streaming music and podcasts and it works fine - the main downside in this setup is when you're using the radio or dont have anything playing on the phone, it takes a few seconds for the audio input to cut in so you miss the start of instructions. Not an issue if you're streaming from the phone though..

The android head units are all generally a bit pants, they connect by Wifi or USB dongle so you eithed need a prepaid USB stick or wifi access point on your phone. They look like a great idea but in reality the usability and stability is never what you expect. I'd probably just have something like this

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hea...dia-station-with-6-2-inch-touch-panel-control

Howard · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:33

CarPlay if you've got an iPhone.

Ricochet J · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:43

iaind said:
Is this for the Saab? Do you know which system you have?

I have an MKi9200 in mine because I think aftermarket systems look really out of place in the pre-DE cars, but in the DE a standard double DIN should fit fine. If you have an amplified system, it's a bit more work and you need to run an ignition and lighting feed from elsewhere in the dash. Justcarkits do plug and play adaptors (for the amplified Saab systems, this is £80+ though ) for the MKi. It does work well though, I mainly use it for streaming music and podcasts and it works fine - the main downside in this setup is when you're using the radio or dont have anything playing on the phone, it takes a few seconds for the audio input to cut in so you miss the start of instructions. Not an issue if you're streaming from the phone though..

The android head units are all generally a bit pants, they connect by Wifi or USB dongle so you eithed need a prepaid USB stick or wifi access point on your phone. They look like a great idea but in reality the usability and stability is never what you expect. I'd probably just have something like this

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hea...dia-station-with-6-2-inch-touch-panel-control

Yeh it's for the Saab. I don't know what system I have. It's an old DVD based navigation system and it looks like this (I think it's Denso?):

grudas · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:44

iaind said:
Is this for the Saab? Do you know which system you have?

I have an MKi9200 in mine because I think aftermarket systems look really out of place in the pre-DE cars, but in the DE a standard double DIN should fit fine. If you have an amplified system, it's a bit more work and you need to run an ignition and lighting feed from elsewhere in the dash. Justcarkits do plug and play adaptors (for the amplified Saab systems, this is £80+ though ) for the MKi. It does work well though, I mainly use it for streaming music and podcasts and it works fine - the main downside in this setup is when you're using the radio or dont have anything playing on the phone, it takes a few seconds for the audio input to cut in so you miss the start of instructions. Not an issue if you're streaming from the phone though..

The android head units are all generally a bit pants, they connect by Wifi or USB dongle so you eithed need a prepaid USB stick or wifi access point on your phone. They look like a great idea but in reality the usability and stability is never what you expect. I'd probably just have something like this

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/hea...dia-station-with-6-2-inch-touch-panel-control

depends, I'd rate mine quite well! haven't had any REAL issues tbh, some things to iron out but that happens even with 700+ smartphones so meh.

iaind · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:52

Ricochet J said:
Yeh it's for the Saab. I don't know what system I have. It's an old DVD based navigation system and it looks like this (I think it's Denso?):

http://i.imgur.com/Y35f2W7.jpg[/img[/QUOTE]

I'm not as up to date with the DE cars as earlier ones, but I imagine that if it was fitted with nav then it will have an amplified system. This is connected to the speaker outputs and expects a balanced input - so if you hook up a normal head unit it'll be too loud and distorted. You can either use a magic box which converts the speaker output to the right level, or wire up the line outputs from a head unit - but then you have to use ground loop isolators. This is the kit you'd need to fit a double din head unit (£121 if you keep the steering controls!)

[url]https://incartec.co.uk/saab/1640/1036/2072/140/Browser.aspx[/url]

This is what you'd need for a Parrot system (I think, email them first - the guy who runs it is really knowledgeable especially with Saabs)

[url]http://www.justcarkits.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000005.pl?WD=saab%209-5&PN=saab26tel%2ehtml#SID=129[/url]

Ricochet J · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:55

iaind said:
I'm not as up to date with the DE cars as earlier ones, but I imagine that if it was fitted with nav then it will have an amplified system. This is connected to the speaker outputs and expects a balanced input - so if you hook up a normal head unit it'll be too loud and distorted. You can either use a magic box which converts the speaker output to the right level, or wire up the line outputs from a head unit - but then you have to use ground loop isolators. This is the kit you'd need to fit a double din head unit (£121 if you keep the steering controls!)

https://incartec.co.uk/saab/1640/1036/2072/140/Browser.aspx

This is what you'd need for a Parrot system (I think, email them first - the guy who runs it is really knowledgeable especially with Saabs)

http://www.justcarkits.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000005.pl?WD=saab 9-5&PN=saab26tel.html#SID=129

Okay sod the double din stuff.

Let's go Parrot. Is this the steps I need to do:

Step 1) Buy my Parrot system of choice
Step 2) Buy these leads (I'll do as you say and double check with the vendor) http://www.justcarkits.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000005.pl?WD=saab 9-5&PN=saab26tel.html#SID=129
Step 3) Fit
Step 4) Enjoy

Psypher5 · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:57

sort of off topic, but waze is better than google maps, imo

Diddums x · 8 Jul 2016 at 15:58

A Tesla Model S P90D does this all without the need for an independent device.

I think you know what to do.

Jamesyboyjim · 8 Jul 2016 at 16:22

Psypher5 said:
sort of off topic, but waze is better than google maps, imo

Agreed

As for your problem, a parrot will do the job, or just buy a Bluetooth aftermarket head unit, do you specifically need a double din? would a 100 quid Bluetooth single din not do?

Dr Who · 8 Jul 2016 at 16:49

I am using a Parrot MKI 9200 to do all you speak of, streaming, google maps, etc etc

Works well and you can remove it and move to a new car easily.

Ricochet J · 8 Jul 2016 at 16:55

Dr Who said:
I am using a Parrot MKI 9200 to do all you speak of, streaming, google maps, etc etc

Works well and you can remove it and move to a new car easily.

Parrot MKI 9200 it is then

Is the screen hard wired for power?

Dr Who · 8 Jul 2016 at 17:17

The screen plugs on and off the base and comes with a little pouch for you to remove it and take it with you.

The system also comes with Ipod, USB and 3.5mm jack inputs so you can use any connection method you choose

iaind · 8 Jul 2016 at 17:20

The asteroid mini is about the same price as the 9200 and can also run some apps itself. But it's Android based itself and apparently takes an age to boot, that's the main reason I went for the mki

Django x2 · 8 Jul 2016 at 17:31

Psypher5 said:
sort of off topic, but waze is better than google maps, imo

It's the same thing, but OK .....

Dr Who · 8 Jul 2016 at 17:36

Django x2 said:
It's the same thing, but OK .....

Someone didn't realise Waze was purchased by google and incorporated into maps

Tom_ed1987 · 8 Jul 2016 at 20:00

I've been using an android double din unit for over a year now and have found it excellent. Using tasker on my phone it automatically turns on the Wifi hotspot when connected to BT so no messing about. The interface is snappy on Android 4.4 & it hasn't crashed once, but since setting it up i've had all updates turned off & pretty much left it alone which is probably key.

I'd advise getting a quad core powered unit with at least a 7" 1024x800 screen. When I was in the market there were many for sale with the lesser 800x480 so check any specs carefully, & search for reviews of the specific unit you like the look of.

I'd only bother with an ancient parrot mki system if there is no way your car can accommodate a double din screen.