RNS-E aftermarket alternatives?

[Winners Eat Pho]

I've done the searches and even came across a 50+ page thread about an RNS-E look alike with Android software. As much as I like the price and the OEM look, I don't have time or patience to dick around with the glitches to get it to work 100.

Long story short, the display on my RNS-E hasn't been working for like 2 years. I got a replacement cable and went at it today, and cracked the freaking clip that holds it in place. I thought for a second about getting another RNS-E unit and just replacing it but they aren't exactly cheap. I figured if I'm going to replace it, I might as well get something that has better functionality. My wishlist from most important to least:

- I'd like to retain steering wheel controls
- I would like to retain my lifetime Sirius subscription (though that may not be tied to the HU)
- If I'm upgrading, I must have Bluetooth capability from my iPhone (Pandora/Spotify/Phone)
- I don't care for touchscreen, and if it has to be, I'd like at least a main volume knob
- I've never used Navigation in the car since smart phones got smart, so it's not important

Please God tell me that you guys have some good looking options that fit my wishlist. I'll forever be indebted. It would feel like such a waste to just get another RNS-E after all this.

[i3oricua]

I've done the searches and even came across a 50+ page thread about an RNS-E look alike with Android software. As much as I like the price and the OEM look, I don't have time or patience to dick around with the glitches to get it to work 100.

Long story short, the display on my RNS-E hasn't been working for like 2 years. I got a replacement cable and went at it today, and cracked the freaking clip that holds it in place. I thought for a second about getting another RNS-E unit and just replacing it but they aren't exactly cheap. I figured if I'm going to replace it, I might as well get something that has better functionality. My wishlist from most important to least:

- I'd like to retain steering wheel controls
- I would like to retain my lifetime Sirius subscription (though that may not be tied to the HU)
- If I'm upgrading, I must have Bluetooth capability from my iPhone (Pandora/Spotify/Phone)
- I don't care for touchscreen, and if it has to be, I'd like at least a main volume knob
- I've never used Navigation in the car since smart phones got smart, so it's not important

Please God tell me that you guys have some good looking options that fit my wishlist. I'll forever be indebted. It would feel like such a waste to just get another RNS-E after all this.

You found the right page with that other link. Those units are good. I personally run the WINCE version and really have no problems that I can think of. The Android seems to be a bit slower on boot up but have a really nice interface. You can check

roadnav.com

for more info on some of those units.

[Winners Eat Pho]

Thank you. So you got one of the units and it's just plug and play? Everything works? Would you mind showing me which you got, and any photos?


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[i3oricua]

I'm simply too lazy to walk out to the garage to take another photo but and I did legs two days ago so I'm a little sore.



S100 no problems. Go to kotixworld.blogspot.com if you're interested in skins. I don't have any problems and it came wi everything I needed. I'm not sure it can do Sirius but Bluetooth works great and so do the other features.


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[Winners Eat Pho]

Damn your interior looks good. And you don't skip leg day - good man! When you get a moment can you send me the link to where you bought yours please?


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[i3oricua]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/271467205284

This is not the same seller I bought mine from but it's an updated version of mine in terms of hardware. I believe the original seller I bought from is Honfox


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[Winners Eat Pho]

I just hit him up with some questions about the Sirius and plug & play. If I can really just plug it up and it works, I'll definitely do it. I just don't want to deal with the headaches of troubleshooting this type of thing.

[edit]

He confirmed it has everything I need but no Sirius. I need to decide whether or not I can live without; I do listen to Sirius daily.

[krewbrew]

I have the S100 Win CE unit as well and am quite pleased. I don't believe they are sold anymore. The one you are looking at runs Android, and my recollection is that people were saying they can be a bit less plug and play, although they are much more able to be customized. You probably want to get one that you can read about someone else's experience with. You may want to read the more recent part of the 50 page + thread a bit more. I can't comment about Sirius as I don't use it.

[Winners Eat Pho]

Ugh, I might just get another stupid RNS-E. I need the Sirius - Shade45 and news.

Does anyone know if these two are compatible:interchangeable? One is mine (2006) and the other is from eBay (2008).





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[i3oricua]

Ugh, I might just get another stupid RNS-E. I need the Sirius - Shade45 and news.

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You could always run Sirius from the phone app and Bluetooth in. If you are in remote areas often that don't get cell signal then that would prob be a deal breaker for no xm. Just a thought.


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[Winners Eat Pho]

I'm cheap. Those Sirius bastards require a monthly subscription if you access it from their app, which I refuse to pay with the lifetime subscription through my car.


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[00_Bora]

I'm cheap. Those Sirius bastards require a monthly subscription if you access it from their app, which I refuse to pay with the lifetime subscription through my car.


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need details on how to get a lifetime subscription!!

[Winners Eat Pho]

The guy I bought my car from told me "oh yeah, you have a lifetime subscription to Sirius with this car". That's all the details I have :)

[Winners Eat Pho]

i3oricua - some more Q's. Is the WinCE Windows based as opposed to the Android based? Is anyone one clearly better than the other?

Can you run Pandora/Spotify/directly from the unit? Can you use Google Maps as your Navigation?

Thanks in advance. I think I'm getting over losing Sirius if I have other available streaming music options (understanding I need to get 3G)

[i3oricua]

i3oricua - some more Q's. Is the WinCE Windows based as opposed to the Android based? Is anyone one clearly better than the other?

Can you run Pandora/Spotify/directly from the unit? Can you use Google Maps as your Navigation?

Thanks in advance. I think I'm getting over losing Sirius if I have other available streaming music options (understanding I need to get 3G)

I wouldn't say it's windows based but you are definitely not getting the android features from it so I cannot use Pandora or those apps directly from the unit. I stream my music directly from my phone but you have the option to use a memory card. The navigation is built into the unit and the maps are loaded from a memory card.

The android unit may be better in terms of apps but may take longer on initial boot of the system.


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[Winners Eat Pho]

Ok got it. If I do go this route, I would certainly want to have Pandora functionality, so sounds like the Android is for me.

Do you know if I can use Spotify and Google Maps on the Android?