Thread: Aftermarket HU upgrade - Alpine Halo9 iLX-F309E installation

Originally Posted by twr7cx

Would be easier to approach that in the reverse - find out if Hema Maps or similar App is Apple CarPlay or Android Auto comparable - if yes, then yes, it will work on this Headunit and many others.

This two year old article on the Hema knowledge base Apps [General] - Do any of the Hema apps work with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? | Tech Support Knowledgebase indicates no, but a lot has changed in two years...

Alternatively there might be other navigational apps that are compatible? Let us know what you find.

Hi TWR7CX,

I called Hema tech support and was advised that would need to check the iOS store when using the device (don’t know if it has a app store itself or if it links through your phone?) if it is there on the devices App Store then it will be compatible..

Originally Posted by Brilly

Hi TWR7CX,

I called Hema tech support and was advised that would need to check the iOS store when using the device (don’t know if it has a app store itself or if it links through your phone?) if it is there on the devices App Store then it will be compatible..

Sounds like they're tech support has a lack of tech knowledge in it about their own products... Essentially if their App has been produced to support/work in Apple CarPlay / Android Auto then it will work on this HU.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are just for the input and visual/audio transfer between the Smartphone and the display unit. The display unit doesn't actually have any special smarts in it - the smartphone is the one doing all the work and just providing the graphics and audio outputs to the display and taking inputs in from it. So all the Apps etc are on your phone, not the display. The display will show what apps you have - e.g. I think Google Maps is now Apple CarPlay computable - so if you have it installed on your phone it will show on the Alpine unit, if not, it won't show. It's not installed on the Alpine unit itself.
The good thing about this is that the Alpine unit therefore doesn't require updating as far as Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are concerned (Alpine do offer updates for their Alpine firmware) so long as your phone has the latest OS and App version the Alpine will show the latest versions.

Another two year old post, but the Mud Maps rep in 2017 said that Apple haven't enabled the features that they need to make it work < http://kb.mud-maps.com/help/discussi...-compatibility >.

Originally Posted by drnhill

Not wishing to be the bearer of bad news........ but are you sure this is correct?

Sadly you are correct.

The installation manual included with the unit is a complete seperate booklet. Here is the UK variants (iLX-F903D instead of iLX-F309E) version which gives a pretty good idea:

https://www.alpine.co.uk/fileadmin/u...X-F903D_EN.pdf

Well after reading all of this thread and seeing what it looked like I decided I would buy one as my head unit is old and outdated. Only ordered it today of eBay. If you are an eBay plus member you can buy it for $823.65
I saved $145 off the normal price. If you want to do the same you can use the code "Pappy" in checkout. But I think you have to use PayPal. Looking forward to getting it!

So now that the Speed Sensor Lead connection < Aftermarket Head Unit - connecting vehicle speed pulse line > is somewhat resolved (at least as much as it will be), I've started considering the next installation complication which is mounting and securing the unit in the dash.

The Installation Manual < http://support.alpine-usa.com/produc...9_EN_ES_FR.pdf > makes only a minor mention of this on page 5:

Screen Shot 2019-05-30 at 7.01.01 pm.jpg

Unlike the 20 odd head units I've installed in various vehicles previously, this one does not include one of the universal mounting sleeves / cages, e.g.:


71P8IJ3IWuL._SX569_.jpg

I pulled my current Clarion unit part way out and measured the width. Both are within a mm of each other so I'm hoping I can use the Clarion's old mounting cage. I imagine though that the Alpine won't lock securely in place though (the Clarion does and then requires the special included slide tools to unlock it for removal) - hopefully this will be ok and a tight enough fit that it stays in place but with such a large screen hanging on the front I'm not confident...

I considered if I could remove the black centre dash plastic and hard mount it inside the dash instead but from what I've read the stereo has to be removed first in order to remove that centre dash trim piece so that won't work.


I've ordered a USB flush panel mount cable so that I can connect it to the rear of the new unit and panel mount the USB connection either into the Mudpod on the top of the dash or elsewhere suitable in the cabin. As the Apple CarPlay is not wireless but requires USB connection it means can easily swap between the old 30-pin connector Apple iPod Nano in my car and the iPhone when desired. Previously I ran the USB cable into the glovebox and just left the iPod connected in there as I had no reason to connect anything else:

11afe8912aa81e84d038a0.jpg
Alternatively I'm thinking about trying an old iPhone 5s running iOS12 in the glove box as the Apple CarPlay brains. No SIM card fitted, but it can connect to the internet via my iPhone on the automatic Instant Hotspot feature. This will mean instant CarPlay features in the vehicles with no hassle of connect and disconnecting my phone from the USB every time. Phone calls should still come through the unit via bluetooth connection to my iPhone. Messages etc. can be forded to the iPhone 5s from the main iPhone.
The unknown of that setup are - can the Alpine unit handle doing CarPlay with one while bluetooth handsfree with the other (won't know this until tried)and can the main iPhone provide an active hotspot connection for the iPhone 5s whilst also connected to the Alpine for handsfree via bluetooth or can it only provide one connection at a time (I should be able to test this with my iPhone connected for handsfree via bluetooth to my current Clarion unit while hot spotting to my iPad).

I'll always think twice before purchasing Alpine product again. The fact that the Installation Manual was not publicly available on their Australian website has meant I'm chasing these details after purchase rather than before - sales staff are usually much more helpful before you've paid! And if I hadn't managed satisfactory resolution then I would have looked at the double DIN dash modification rather.

I finally got a chance to actually spend some time stuffing around with it this morning. A couple of tips for anyone else (such as ) putting one in:

1. Adjust the front-back position of the display unit to the outmost position as per page 4 of the Installation Manual.

2. Do not follow the Attach the Sheet cap instructions on the middle right side of page 4 of the Installation Manual - Alpine are wrong in their own instructions, if you do it, you will see why when you fit the display to the main unit. Instead apply the Sheet Caps to the holes on the display unit, this will give you the flush black look:

IMG_1682.jpg

3. Here's my recommended display position settings (you can see which holes the screws are put into):

IMG_1681.jpg

This gives me full visibility of the HIVAC unit while not blocking my Mudpod switches or gauges at all (my old smaller screened Clarion headunit used to block these):

IMG_1680.jpg

I'm not happy with the units mounting to the dash. Because of the significant weight of the front display it seems to need to be hard mounted. I've pulled the centre dash surround trim off to explore options rather than using the single DIN cage but I can't see any. It's all plastic and either side of it are the centre dash air vents. Have PM'd Cambo hoping he might share his secret from the unit he installed for a customer last year...

That's not how far the unit sticks out is it? Does it push in anymore? So it's flush. I need to do mine.