Fickert

iTrader: (6)

So I have searched and searched and yet to find what I am looking for so here it goes. I am having problems with my stock radio and hate to put a single din let alone a double din in it but after looking at tablet installs in vehicles and it has convinced me to go about it. Anyway, all the tablet installs for rx-8's I have seen are installed with the oem radio still in the main place. Either the tablets are in the navi hood or covering the head unit with a mount. So my question is, is it possible to REPLACE the stock head unit with a tablet. I mean installing a customized double din metra kit with a tablet and still have the car start? I know you can tether the crap outta android supported devices and figure there has to be some way to copy the signals the oem radio send to the computer so the car will start but i have no idea what I am actually getting into. Help please!

Also, this would be for a base model 8. Also, if you think a tablet vs some other in-dash system, please elaborate. I am not exactly the most computerly inclined but I do know people have looked into tablet installs but just turn away from the idea and stick with some type of double din.

RxHeaven

I did the wiring and everything for my nexus 7 and was on the verge of doing the face plate until I came across the appradio2 from pioneer. With arliberator it is just much cleaner and you don't have to solve the Bluetooth issue. Just get the radio, the metra, the PAC unit and a HDMI cable and use your phone. Even with all of the wiring I did it wasn't going to be this clean. Keep meaning to post photos and pics. Maybe I'll get around to it tonight. With arliberator it mirrors my droid and has multi touch on the screen.

Next um working on an HDMI stick version android t replace my phone. Trust me.

Otherwise you need a USB DAC unit plus u need N emergency switch for power for your tablet and it took me 2 hrs to etch and run the Bluetooth switcher I needed. I gutted a Bluetooth headset and was splicing wires and stuff. Got rid of the ruined harness when I put the radio in. On and I don't have to get a new tablet.

FYI I typed this from my head unit sitting in sonic waiting for a drink. Its that easy. Just make sure to set your phone to allow external locations so that you can get GPS from your radio instead of the phone. I ran my USB/HDMI connectors along the center console and replaced the auxiliary input with them. Can't even tell it is in the car.
Mike

Fickert

iTrader: (6)

great I saw you started to do a tablet install and then switched to this but your use of the mumbo jumbo vocabulary got me all confused ha. Is there anything with a 7" screen that is the same as the unit you used? And could I most for wireless bluetooth access to the unit so I could just sync my phone to that?
Thanks by the way, I was figuring on you to be one of the responders to this thread.

RxHeaven

I think auto correct got you lol. The screen size is relatively similar to be honest. About 6.5 on mine. And the problem with the Bluetooth is that the 7 doesn't work as a headset. I've looked at hardware and software solutions and the only thing that worked was taking apart a Bluetooth headset and then getting an adapter that let me plug two sources into the car. Then I had to build a device that muted the nexus when the Bluetooth was on because you cannot make a nexus 7 become a headsetfor a phone. It seemed really cool when I started the tablet but it wasn't very elegant and if there is ever a problem troubleshooting would be terrible.

Basically to go from 6.5 inches to 7 you are going to multiply the difficulty by 100 times. If the plans haven't been thrown away I'll post them but I got frustrated and now that I have the appradio2 life is so much better. Were going to the movies but I'll try to get a video of my setup after that.

Mike

Fickert

iTrader: (6)

Awesome thanks!

RxHeaven

Too tired to do it now but will do tomorrow. But please trust me, the app radio is the way to go. I LOVE building, esp electronics, I'm the kind of guy that built his own set of modems just to see if I could, but for functional use the nexus 7 isn't worth it. You just have to sacrifice too much IMHO. I would put the app radio in the dash and if you are dying to use your nexus 7 for a build replace your gauges with the nexus 7 in the Navy hood and run torque exclusively there. While the nexus 7 is an awesome unit it is somewhat lacking as a head unit. Additionally. If you do not have an amplifier (not familiar with the non Bose setup in series 1) you will have to add one because the DAC is not going to provide sufficient power to drive speakers without an amplifier of some sort. It was the first time in the history of the world I was glad I had a Bose system.


Lastly, I didn't find ,my plans but I'll redraw the Bluetooth adapter I made. I have a mod that might help with some feedback I had (or a better ground might to the trick).

Mike

Fickert

iTrader: (6)

It all good I am trying to look into the appradios. You heard anything on the new appradio 3? And, yes I figured I would have to wire up an amp or two even just for subs later on, but my thought was just installing the tablet, hooking the power source to the main power and grounds, along with a small amp (250-300 watt 4 way?) and then just using an aux splitter hooking to the amp. I think the real thing was indeed hooking the tablet up with a dongle on the obd2 plug with a wifi adapter for torque. I think my main thing was I don't want to run my radio by running it through my phone, I guess this is my biggest concern. I don't necessarily need the bluetooth calling and stuff, I don't think at least. But I would just want it to stream music wirelessly from my phone, or if it didn't I would just download music where I hit wifi with my car or use my hotspot. So What do you think of all this? I mean yes I will tinker with it and add little things here and there with hands free later on, I am really just one of those people that like to have a one of a kind type set up. But if you see flaws or anything please let me know. And if you wouldn't mind, I would love see the set up you had started for it.

Sorry for all the questions, this has just been bouncing around in my head for a while and since my radio is starting to go, I figure now is a great time to find all of it out. I am going to be looking into the appradio tonight see what all I can find on it. Thanks!

RxHeaven

Didn't get to get pics or video done yesterday I'll try tonight before wife and son get home. About the appradio3 I haven't heard anything but there can't be much that matters. Because this literally mirrors your phone/tablet so performance is dependant on that. Really all you are doing is using app radio to handle Bluetooth/amp stuff instead of manufacturing your own. Only real requirement is that you have mhl or HDMI on your phone.

Mike

Fickert

iTrader: (6)

Can you wirelessly sync your phone to the head unit?

RxHeaven

Didn't get to take pictures today either. Actually had to take my son to the ER. He is fine but had an allergic reaction to medicine.

I think you're asking if you can use it wirelessly and no you can't. It has to be either mhl or hdmi. What phone do you have?

Mike

Fickert

iTrader: (6)

An iphone 4s. What type of port does the iphone adapter use? Usb or what?

RxHeaven

Not sure to be honest. Because you were asking about nexus 7 I kind of assumed you were using a droid phone. It does come with a plug for the Iphone. Do you have it jailbroken?

Mike

Fickert

iTrader: (6)

Yessir lol. Thats why i figured linking my iphone to the tablet.