Thread: 7" Android tablet install

I had the pleasure of seeing this unit in action in Junosi's car last weekend, and it is certainly a tidy install.

I do like the idea of having my music stored and playing through a unit like this, especially for playlists, track info etc. The Kenwood stereo/DVD/GPS/iPod thingy I have installed does this ok while the GPS is running, so before making the jump over to an Android or WinCE tablet, was wondering how the Android tablet handles this?

What about storage expansion? How do you get to the 16GB SD card? Could you use the USB port to attach a flash drive to make updating playlists simpler? Perhaps a USB M-F lead to the glove box where the drive is stored?

While I probably won't bother doing this to the Blue P38 as the Kenwood is quite adequate and I will likely be selling the Blue one anyway, it is definately an option for the Black P38 in the near future.

I really like the sound of the Alpine stereo in the black 2000 HSE so don't want to change it, but definately want my iPod or some other "modern" method of storing my eclectic music collection Was thinking of buying one of those ICD units ICD Direct Control iPod Interfacefrom the UK, but I like your setup better.

What is screen glare like?

Suggestion: that screen might be tempting to thieves... what about a hinged flap that functions as a screen cover when folded down, and when up gives some glare protection and could be a cup holder?

Cheers, Paul.

Originally Posted by PaulP38a

I do like the idea of having my music stored and playing through a unit like this, especially for playlists, track info etc. The Kenwood stereo/DVD/GPS/iPod thingy I have installed does this ok while the GPS is running, so before making the jump over to an Android or WinCE tablet, was wondering how the Android tablet handles this?

That entirely depends on what music player app you use. I've literally tried about 10 of them and settled on 'Astro Player' simply because it handles 'play by folder' and has a graphic equaliser. Astro player has a lot of playlist features - none of which I use so I can't comment but they look comprehensive. Astro player has a few stability issues so wouldn't recommend it unless you need 'play by folder' There are tons of music apps around and the majority of them have quite good playlist support from what I've seen, each with their own idiosyncrisies. I found Mixzing to be quite good also, but I can't live without 'play by folder' as that's how I organise my music on my SD card.

er just realised you may have meant about the 'multi-tasking' aspect of playing music while using nav software. I happily set my music player going and start up google nav, the voice nav interrupts the music with it's spoken directions and has no other affect on music playing. Generally I mute google nav's voice (Jessica) as she's downright annoying, I'd love to get the John Cleese voice set ...

Originally Posted by PaulP38a

What about storage expansion? How do you get to the 16GB SD card? Could you use the USB port to attach a flash drive to make updating playlists simpler? Perhaps a USB M-F lead to the glove box where the drive is stored?

I'm not certain but I don't think USB storage is supported by the wits unit - otherwise a USB extension would be a good idea. To access the micro SD slot (with 16gb card) I'd have to remove the unit from the dash - a 20 minute exercise. But I've never had to do it so far. When I'm parked in the drive or garage the Wits connects to my house WiFi and I copy whatever music/data/movies I like across via WiFi from my home computer etc. However, the USB slot is handy for attaching an external keyboard so having a lead go to the glovebox might still be a good idea and have a 'travel' keyboard stashed in there.

Originally Posted by PaulP38a

What is screen glare like?

Very liveable, the Wits has three standard brightness settings accessible from the home screen widget and more if you customise them. Low is good for night driving and bright seems amply bright enough for bright daylight driving. If it's bright I sometimes have to take my sunnies off to see the screen, contrast difference I guess /shrug. Direct sunlight on the unit isn't great but that rarely happens.

Originally Posted by PaulP38a

Suggestion: that screen might be tempting to thieves...

That's half the reason I did this install and tried to make it look as 'factory' as possible. I was using a 'stick on the windscreen' unit for a while but was paranoid about it attracting theft. I don't know if a thief would give it a second glance if it looks like it belongs. From outside the vehicle it looks 100% factory I reckon and inside you'd really have to know what you were looking at to tell.

Wonderful - thanks Junosi. I have a 7" android tablet that will be getting the very same treatment. I would be very interested in any other details on the physical connections for making the sound from the tablet come out of the standard stereo on tape mode.

Can you please provide more info on this.
Cheers,
Remy

Originally Posted by Junosi

I bypassed the tape deck (what's a tape ) and put the audio through that. You 'could' use one of those cassette adapter thingos or an FM transmitter - but a direct connection gives best results. Can give more info on that if required - I copied Story Wilson's approach.

There's a few different ways to do the 'line input' into the factory stereo. Some opt to use the CD changer lines others use the tape inputs and apparently Roverville use the radio circuit somehow (would love to know how)

Here's some links:
Roverville do a professional looking aux input that overrides the radio when it's plugged in. Pity they're not in Australia =/
http://www.roverville.us/ (click the ipod/mp3 link)

Storey Wilson (of EAS fame and RSW solutions) posted this method which is essentially what I've done, although mine uses no tape. It involves a little soldering. You can opt to retain your tape playing ability (why? ) or remove part of the mechanism and jam it on 'play'. It's problematic to disable the tape mechanism from 'playing' completely as it has both an optical sensor and a mechanical one to detect tape jams etc. Easier just to let it think it's playing.
RangeRovers.net • View topic - Ipod - MP3 - RCA Inputs - Modification Using Tape Mode

So from the headphone out socket on my Wits it goes into the tape deck area on the head unit. I've got a line filter and a ground loop isolator on mine also - to remove buzz and electrical noise.

There's a lot of threads about aux inputs on rangerovers.net too if you have a search, some involving the cd changer lines instead. I can probably help with a bit more detail if Storey's post isn't clear enough.

i have a 10" android tablet that i might use as something similar in my discovery

Junosi, you've inspired me.
Where did you take the power supply from, and did you need to convert to a lower voltage supply?
My aim would be to hard wire this in on a power circuit so the tablet fires up whenever the key is in position 1, or maybe when the head unit is turned on.
Do you see any traps doing things this way?

I have a spare CD changer cable which I can butcher, and the clarion circuit diagram I have shows which pins are 12V, Ground, left and right outputs, so may attack the input that way, rather than performing open heart surgery to the head unit as per the Story Wilson plan of attack.

Any ideas appreciated
Troy N

Originally Posted by rangerdanger

Where did you take the power supply from, and did you need to convert to a lower voltage supply?

My tablet (Wits) came with a car charger so I just remodeled it a bit and made it a permanent addition to the car - connected to the cigarette socket wires, behind the wits and hidden

Originally Posted by rangerdanger

My aim would be to hard wire this in on a power circuit so the tablet fires up whenever the key is in position 1, or maybe when the head unit is turned on.
Do you see any traps doing things this way?

Ideally that's how I'd like mine to work too. I did a bit of head scratching initially and ended up just slapping the button in until I could come with something more practical. The turning on and off part is really my biggest annoyance with the whole thing. I don't really know how to make it turn on with the ignition just yet. Thoughts I had at the time were to run the tablet with no battery in it and have it run off car charger only - but still have to turn it on somehow... and I don't how well Android would like being crashed off by terminating it's power. A better idea (that I don't how to achieve just yet) would be some sort of delay solenoid/switch that emulates pressing the power button for 3 seconds - to automatically turn on with ignition etc. Turn off could be done similarly I guess, just need some sort of time delay circuit for a 3 second momentary connection. Wish I took an electronics course at uni now instead of greek myths !

Originally Posted by rangerdanger

I have a spare CD changer cable which I can butcher, and the clarion circuit diagram I have shows which pins are 12V, Ground, left and right outputs, so may attack the input that way

Good way to do it. You can retain your cd changer functionality too if you put a switch in to select either the cd changer or your aux (tablet) - saw a few posts along these lines on rr.net