Parrot Asteroid SMART 2DIN Head Unit (any song, any time)
As with most here, I've been disappointed with the Alpine 2DIN head unit. It is ok, pretty _meh_, with lots of niggling annoyances.
I've been tracking the Asteroid SMART project for almost two years now. It was 'launched' a year ago, but has only just become available. I ordered one and have been playing with it on the bench for just 24 hours.
It is Android based, about US$500, and has wifi connectivity as well as a bunch of USB ports (for cellular dongles, iPods, USB keys with music, etc). It is no 17" touchscreen, but it is incredible programmable (as an example see http://www.atomic-cactus.com/images/parkonator/installed.JPG - taking the reversing camera image and superimposing ultrasonic distance sensors). The bluetooth is solid (Parrot makes most of the bluetooth modules for vehicles nowadays anyway, and this is the most up-to-date I've seen).
Having OVMS running on this will be incredibly cool. With bluetooth and 3 USB ports, I don't see any problem getting CAN bus data into the unit. I actually side-loaded the OVMS Android App on to the unit - apart from lack of landscape support (fixable), it runs just fine.
Mini-review wise, the unit seems pretty good. It comes with iGO navigation, but others have loaded TomTom just fine. Rooting can get you google maps, and others. I side-loaded Waze (which I love), and that is probably what I'll end up using. Music sounds ok (I don't care about that) and iPhone integration and great (via either USB or bluetooth). The user interface is very responsive and really nice to use - the screen feels small, but is the same as the Alpine (although higher resolution). So far it has been rock-solid reliable. As it is Android based, it is very customisable. The hardware itself seems fine, although the wifi reception seems weak (internal antenna, I guess - I'm still trying to work out why). Anyway, it is going to stay on my bench for at least another week before I think about ripping out my daily driver Alpine.
Working out how to get it into my roadster, I found a couple of hurdles:
Other than that, the install seems to be very straightforward. No steering wheel controls to worry about.
I'll use this thread to document progress and the final result.
As with most here, I've been disappointed with the Alpine 2DIN head unit. It is ok, pretty _meh_, with lots of niggling annoyances.
I've been tracking the Asteroid SMART project for almost two years now. It was 'launched' a year ago, but has only just become available. I ordered one and have been playing with it on the bench for just 24 hours.
It is Android based, about US$500, and has wifi connectivity as well as a bunch of USB ports (for cellular dongles, iPods, USB keys with music, etc). It is no 17" touchscreen, but it is incredible programmable (as an example see http://www.atomic-cactus.com/images/parkonator/installed.JPG - taking the reversing camera image and superimposing ultrasonic distance sensors). The bluetooth is solid (Parrot makes most of the bluetooth modules for vehicles nowadays anyway, and this is the most up-to-date I've seen).
Having OVMS running on this will be incredibly cool. With bluetooth and 3 USB ports, I don't see any problem getting CAN bus data into the unit. I actually side-loaded the OVMS Android App on to the unit - apart from lack of landscape support (fixable), it runs just fine.
Mini-review wise, the unit seems pretty good. It comes with iGO navigation, but others have loaded TomTom just fine. Rooting can get you google maps, and others. I side-loaded Waze (which I love), and that is probably what I'll end up using. Music sounds ok (I don't care about that) and iPhone integration and great (via either USB or bluetooth). The user interface is very responsive and really nice to use - the screen feels small, but is the same as the Alpine (although higher resolution). So far it has been rock-solid reliable. As it is Android based, it is very customisable. The hardware itself seems fine, although the wifi reception seems weak (internal antenna, I guess - I'm still trying to work out why). Anyway, it is going to stay on my bench for at least another week before I think about ripping out my daily driver Alpine.
Working out how to get it into my roadster, I found a couple of hurdles:
- Wiring harness - it is ISO standard, but needs car-side. I still have to check what the roadster side looks like.
- Reversing camera. The SMART supports a standard RCA video in (it actually has 2 of them), but the roadster is Alpine 5 wire custom (HCE-C107D). I've seen adaptor boxes (picture below) for the newer HCE-C115 model (that may work with the camera I have). I really don't want to have to change the camera and run new wire.
Other than that, the install seems to be very straightforward. No steering wheel controls to worry about.
I'll use this thread to document progress and the final result.
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