Android Tablet as primary head unit/sound system

[Axel-]

After many years of wanting to do this, I finally got around to it.
I previously had an Android Dynavin D99 but it was outdated and didn't have 4G/LTE capabilities and the sound was very basic.

The basic idea of how it works is as follows:

Bought this tablet: http://technicallywell.com/neutab-g7...-tablet-review which has 4G/LTE capabilities (I added it to my cellphone plan).

I have a RNS-E Bose quad lock wiring harness (which also fixes the low rear volume inherent with our cars).

http://enfigcarstereo.com/ENFIG_SRWH_AUD3_HILO.html

I also have a plug and play harness for the bluetooth receiver from them.

The bluetooth receiver is a single DIN Pioneer DEH-X6800BT (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...rs/DEH-X6800BT). It's hidden behind the tablet.

This receiver can connect 2 bluetooth devices simultaneously and a 3rd "guest" device.

First bluetooth connection is from my tablet to the pioneer.
Second bluetooth connection is from my phone to the pioneer.

Music plays on the tablet to the pioneer and throughout the car.
If a phone call comes in on my phone, the pioneer automatically pauses the music playing and handles the call (hands-free).
I routed the pioneer's mic to my sunshade (comes with a clip and everything).

I also bought the steering wheel control cable from enfig so that I can change the volume from my steering wheel (right side) and change music tracks (left side).

I also retain radio as the pioneer has FM/AM reception.

I have a USB plugged into the tablet. It's routed to a socket/usb plug which itself is wired into the fuse box into a fuse that only has power when the car is turned on (something like this: http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ty...l#.VnLE8ZQ6_IU)

I switched the tablet to developer mode and turned on the function "never go to sleep when charging". I then set the display timeout to 15 seconds.

So when I turn the car on, it starts charging the tablet and it automatically turns on. When I turn the car off, 15 seconds later, the tablet goes to sleep.

I have the blackvue dashcam app installed on the tablet and connect to the dashcam from the tablet via wifi and I can browse all the dashcam videos or display the dashcam's live view.

The tablet has LTE/4G and GPS so I use Waze and/or Google Maps for navigation (Waze shows me where cops are hidden usually from other drivers and its navigation algorithm takes into account traffic and construction from other drivers so I usually use Waze).

The dashkit (The dashkit I used is this one: http://www.amazon.ca/Metra-99-9107B-...Metra+99-9107B) needed some minor alterations with a dremel to cut some pieces off for it to all fit. Nothing big. I also drilled a side hole to pass the USB cable through.

As for the plug and play harness, it depends on which receiver you end up using. Their list is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...mc&usp=sharing

Mine (for the pioneer) was: http://enfigcarstereo.com/ENFIG_PNP_PIO0233.html

I have to say that the Enfig products are top notch. I mistakenly ordered a generic harness off Amazon (and they sent me the wrong one to boot) and it was complete crap. The Enfig harnesses are strong and sturdy and work flawlessly. I wouldn't recommend cheaping out on the harnesses.
That's about it.

Quick pic I took before going to bed last night:

[A4Maine-iac]

Nice! Good idea.

[0396]

Very trick, congrats!

[badger.]

I've been debating doing this mod. Thanks for the write-up.

[Axel-]

I've been debating doing this mod. Thanks for the write-up.

No problem. Someone on another audi forum just decided to pull the trigger based on my write-up. He decided to go with the pioneer MVH-X380BT as he didn't need the CD of the pioneer I got. In all honesty, I don't either and I would have gone with the CD-less receiver as well but I'm in Canada and my options are very limited. It's a tight fit with the CD capability so probably best to go with a CD-less unit if you don't need the CD functionality.

[DownhillA4]

Whoa, fancy. I just run a Android Nexus 10 Tablet off an Arkon Mount from the passenger seat bolt rail. You took it one big step further :)

[VinnysS4]

Makes me want to rip the RNS-E out of my car and install a different head until and a nice tablet. Selling the rnse might be what would push me towards the mod. help pay for most of it lol. how much would you say this cost you total?

[Axel-]

All the wiring is about $150
Dashkit is about $40
Pioneer is anywhere from $70 to $120 depending on the model
Tablet was $100.

So somewhere around $360 to $410.

[VinnysS4]

Thats not bad. I get tablets and such all the time in my work, so i could come up with a nice little setup. I might pull the trigger on this one. Im currently adding a setup from my last car into my new one

[hkdolphins]

Will this a better choice?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221803278296...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I was always want to replace my one with this.

[VinnysS4]

seems like a decent item. it is being shipped from hong kong so you have to put that int consideration

[Axel-]

Will this a better choice?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221803278296...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I was always want to replace my one with this.

Here's the problem with those. No 4G. I had one of those types of units. I constantly had to turn on my WiFi hot-spot which was a serious pain in the ass an would drain my battery. They offer an optional 3G dongle add-on but good luck getting it to work. And most of those have shit audio quality. That's why I replaced mine.

[Pat_McGroin]

Nice Axel, I've been wanting to do this since the day I saw the iPad minis being installed in a VW on YouTube a few years back, well done man!🏼

[quattroism25]

Nice. A tech nerd friend of mine has done it in his evo and genesis coupe. I've always wondered how a tablet would look in the S4. The RNSE is really getting jurassic now. I may do the tablet or get an aftermarket double din headunit. I want real time traffic updates.

[Axel-]

I just wanted to provide an update on this with more pics if anyone is interested:

Main Screen:



Torque App:



Waze:



Dashcam Live:



Dashcam Files:

[RedS4avant]

Looks great, thanks for the update

[sonosam]

Do you have this integrated with the MFD in between the gauges on the cluster? I'm thinking of going this route and while not have this integration isn't a show stopper, it could be nice.

[Axel-]

Do you have this integrated with the MFD in between the gauges on the cluster? I'm thinking of going this route and while not have this integration isn't a show stopper, it could be nice.

No I do not. I already have a device which displays my boost, oil temp, coolant temp, IATs, voltage, etc. in my MFD (basically this thing: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...eview-and-Pics)

That said, even if I didn't have that device, I'm not entirely sure how I would go about integrating the two and what would you display? Navigation info?

[Lucca M]

That looks great. And im sure it works great. I just like the look of rnse too much even if it doesnt work half as good as a tablet

[Axel-]

That looks great. And im sure it works great. I just like the look of rnse too much even if it doesnt work half as good as a tablet

Yeah, the knobs weren't all that important to me and I found the RNS-E worked at 10% of what this tablet can do. Basically, it played music (albeit lousy because the SD card max size are 4GB which meant my music was spread across two SD cards) and the navigation was static (no traffic updates and best route depending on real-time traffic) AND the RNS-E doesn't tell me where the cops are lol

The integration with my dashcam and OBD2 dongle and other on-the-fly updates like weather, etc. are mostly bonuses. :)

[ScooterT]

Pretty cool. I'm looking at some DVD/NAV systems for my 2004 and never really thought about this. Great Idea, you can get some of these tablets cheaper than a head unit.

[UberDave]

Very nice. Looks like you could fit an 8" tablet there without too much trouble. Would drive the cost up by about $100 or so, though.

[Axel-]

Very nice. Looks like you could fit an 8" tablet there without too much trouble. Would drive the cost up by about $100 or so, though.

You probably could but the problem is that all the basic off the shelf face plates are built for double DIN. You would therefore run into the issue of having to either build your own face plate or cut up an off the shelf one (and have it look like crap). Both methods were not worth that extra inch (at least for me).