Just installed new NAV/DVD head unit (with pics)

Do your searches ahead of time. From what i've found, the Garmin software is compiled on WinCE 6.0 among its platforms. It was mentioned the Chinese thing some of us bought runs 6.0 (but remember that one has bugs in the radio). Most Chinese run 5.0 or 4.0 - and I haven't seen a Garmin program compiled to run there...

You also need to check the display drivers. 480x800 not as common, but the Chinese also run 240x400.

I've found the support and add-ons for iGo are pretty amazing... Tom Tom is also supposed to be good (I haven't played with that yet).

 

Interesting idea! Just a guess - but the Tactrix Openport 2.0 is an open source project - as such, there is a very good chance someone has either found a way to implement it, or is talking about it. Most HUs have Aux in, and also a USB...

Just did a quick search, and it appears that Tactrix was indeed ported to the WINCE/Mobile framework... http://forums.evolutionm.net/ecuflash/302293-pocket-pc-tactrix-cable-4.html

I'm in the middle of a major stereo upgrade, and can't get the Tactix till they get more in mi Jan, so I'm goiing to open a separate thread in the Tech area - this could be very very very cool... I think there is a very good chance of running the software on a WInCE device...

 

For those who've followed the trials and travails of my HU journey, I now have closure (yay!).

My HU showed up at DHL today (after getting lost - DHL's fault).

My outstanding issues were (big ones):

Radio bugs (FM can't program 1st or last buttons, when stereo is turned off, then on, it goes to a random station (not the last).

They are fixed. I now have 24 FM presets and 8 AM presets!

One of the things I was going to live with was sightly less FM reception than stock HU. As is reported separately in the FM signal thread, I just figured FM wouldn't be perfect, and slightly less than already bad was fairly negligible... As a nice surprise, the thing fired up, and is pulling stations in my garage (remote Orange County) that I can't get tight on our Lexus. So I guess I'm back on the side of bad HUs on the new Prius (I just can't fathom 3 separate HUs - stock, JBL, Eclipse) all being bad... Anyway - it was a very nice thing to resolve.

Overall sound is as before much better than stock (running stock speakers - and using built in HU amp).

Customer service really didn't change over this process - it's poor. With patience, things work - it just takes time...

Wow - 13 pages in the thread 0 it's been a long journey!

Next up - adding component speakers to front (tweeter and bass/mid - Infinity ref), the powered sub mentioned in a different thread ($69 delivered!), a 4 channel amp, trying to connect the squakers to get some use from them (or swapping for JBL squakers), connecting the DTV and video switching, adding a 1500w inverter to power my house when power is out - and most importantly, figuring out how to run the Tactrix 2.0 from this WinCE system (to monitor OBD2 stuff about the car from the screen)...... Santa Came early this year

 

Thanks for the support

Toyota spec'd HUs should all work good - not like they don't sell millions... We should keep this in the right thread in hopes others benefit...

 

I think you should just read a bit of the thread...

 

David: If you've read through the thread, and understand the issues with customer service, there should be no reason you can't get the same "interface" fix that I got. From what we understand, there are two processors that run all these boxes. One for GPS (Samsung 400Mhz), and one for the radio stuff. I may open mine at ome point when I work the rest of my upgrade, and look around. I'm sure there is a processor with FLASH that is updated for the interface. You can contact them, and explain you *want* one without the bugs, and I;m sure you can get it - they're on EBay, and clearly don't want negative feedback.

Paja: I too like the CA3692 - but keep in mind, that's even more new - and likely also to have bugs. Also, no telling when it will become available...

I played around with the SD music interface last night - you put songs/albums/music videos on the SD (MP3 - or videos), and can play them back. It's a slightly clunky interface, but works fine - and the steering buttons allow you too move around through tracks. Not sure about random play - maybe that's on the remote...

 

On the radio bug front, one which I hadn't tested reared its ugly head today...

On FM, when you turn off the car, it retains it's spot. But on AM, if listening to a given station (say 570), when you turn the car back on, it says it's on that station, but goes to a random FM station (hiss) requiring pressing a few buttons to get back. Arghghgggggg

 

??? No one is saying one is better than the other - and clearly many would prefer Kenwood's top end.

This is an alternative I have been playing with - {IMHO} it looks better than the 2DIN 7", and has some more functionality and versatility - at 1/2 the cost...