In Dash 'OEM Fit' GPS Navigation Bluetooth DVD MP3 Ipod USB SD +RearView Camera~China

dr_pcox · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 9 2009 White V6/Limited/4WD

I just parked my summer car away, and am ready to play with the Rav4 again... so it's decision time on ordering a unit. Seems like it's between RoadRover, AutoSoul, and eBay(i.e. AutoDVDGPS/Witson). The following are strictly my personal opinions based on the readings, and research. Please feel free to add your 2 cents to help me decide.

RoadRover:
Pros - Good looking GUI, Made with quality material, SD Slot & USB on the front
Cons - Price & Shipping charges adds up, Shut-down and freezing problems (according to jj_ortiz)

AutoSoul:
Pros - Great reviews (from area201/sewfly), Simon is on this forum providing accurate information, Proven installations.
Cons - Inferior GUI compared to the other two (especially that MP3 interface, it looks kinda out-dated), The single SD slot is already occupied by GPS map

eBay units:
Pros - Lowest price, Decent GUI, 2 SD slots on the front & a USB slot
Cons - Lack reviews and feedbacks, Construction material "looks cheap"

I'm sure this Pros/Cons list will keep growing as I do more studying... but right now, I'm leaning towards the cheaper units. As "cool" as these products are, I feel they are still unproven in the North American market. Since the risk factor here is still pretty high, I think the smarter selection would be the cheapest selection.

Thoughts?

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Rav2K10 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 79 2010 Blue/Base/2WD

I contacted the ebay seller and asked bunch of questions.
The seller responded the same day.

To: eBay ??: car-audio-video (s09-j1iidoirra@members.ebay.com.hk)
Re: 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 DVD+GPS+map+bluetooth+touchscreen+IPOD
Sent Date: 2009-10-27 00:49:17

I am in USA. I am interested in getting this but have some questions about it.

[1] Does it work with 2010 Toyota RAV4?

[2] I see that the unit has an aux input in the front. Does it also have aux audio & video inputs in the back? If so, how many additonal Aux audio & video inputs (for rear view camera, external DVD player, etc)

[3] What kind of a GPS map does it include with?
[4] Can it be upgraded using other Map software such as Navigon, IGO My Way or TomTom?

[5] The additional TV module, does it integrated in the unit or it is just an additional module/unit attachs to it?

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Here are the seller responses:

From: eBay ??: car-audio-video (s09-j1iidoirra@members.ebay.com.hk)
Sent: Tue 10/27/09 4:42 AM

Hi,
1. Yes, it works with 2010 model
2. there is a video input special for rearview camera, also have video and audio input for the external dvd player .Don't worry.
3. ROUTE66 map was included in this unit.
4. Can not upgrade the map , because it's copied map. You can buy the original map from your country.
5. This unit don't have USA digital TV tuner, and analog TV is no longer in usa now. So this unit without TV .
Thanks.

- car-audio-video

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I am too leading to this eBay RAV4 GPS ($449.99 including shipping)
Link

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I like the features:
- 2 SD card slots
- Additional Front Aux audio input
- Front USB input
- Better OSD/GUI
- Built-in amplifier
- Built-in Bluetooth & Microphone

According to the seller, the one that included with the unit was a copy of ROUTE 66 GPS Map. I don't care if it's a copy but as long as it's the recent one. Smile

I think rave4rav4 ordered this unit last week. I am awating his review before I decide to take a plunge.

rav-ra · Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:54 pm Post subject:

New to this thread, but just skimmed through the whole thing trying to come up to speed. I'm interested in this unit vs. a "mainstream" model not just because it costs significantly less but because of some of it's unique features:

1) An aftermarket unit with a bevy of hard buttons and dials in addition to a 7" screen, and a CD/DVD slot that doesn't require the screen to flip up...sweet.
2) A built-in BT mic - one less set of wires to run.
3) Works with the steering wheel controls without a PAC interface module.
4) You can override the system's "anti-lawsuit" feature (i.e., mainstream units don't allow you to do many things while the car is moving...good idea unless you are the passenger trying to use it....)

OTOH - Has anyone compared this to any of the more highly regarded mainstream units (i.e., a Pioneer AVIC or Eclipse) concerning such things as: Sound quality, Ergonomics (i.e., ease of working your way through the menus, etc.), What it's like to use a NAV unit without text to speech (seems like it could be dangerous if you're looking at the screen regularly...or useless if you're not looking at the screen regularly...), How an iPod is connected (can you route a cable from the back of the unit into the glovebox), the speed and accuracy of the iPod control, Subwoofer connection/control, How well does the BT mic work given its location on the unit, Is the screen angle adjustable?, etc.

Thoughts? Of course, some of the above could be answered by reading a User's Manual. However I can't seem to open/download the guide from the Autosoul website and I didn't see any mention of this in the thread.

gregb · Posted: October 28, 2009, 7:27 am Post subject:

at a cross road what to choose Question

area201 · Posted: October 28, 2009, 4:42 pm Post subject:

Zeoth · Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:26 am Post subject:

The RoadRover plays DVD from the DVD slot right? There's no need for an external DVD player like the eBay one. BTW. Is the RoadRover DVD player all region?
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Rav2K10 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 79 2010 Blue/Base/2WD

area201 · Posted: October 30, 2009, 6:28 am Post subject:

gregb · Posted: October 30, 2009, 7:04 am Post subject:

area201 can i ask u ?. i look in ur album on the picture of the radio there, all the japaness writing that i see on the screen in ur picture is that how it is when u get the unit,

area201 · Posted: October 30, 2009, 9:18 am Post subject:

-Unknown- · Posted: October 30, 2009, 9:52 am Post subject:

Yeah, I'm still on the fence too.

I've done a full 180 when it comes to USB input (front vs back) and want a unit with USB on the back. The method behind the madness is that I don't want a cable sticking out from the front of the unit as it would be there 24/7. I'll route the cable from the back of the unit to the inside of the glove box where I can keep a 2.5" HDD hooked up with all my music.

So anywho, I understand that:

1. Autosoul - USB (mini) only in front
2. RoadRover - USB (mini) in front, USB (regular) in back.
3. eBay/Witson - Varies

Correct?

Chunky Ferret · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 9 2007 Black XT4

Hi all ... been following through the 2 threads currently going on about these bits of kit. Just joined as I'm very interested in upgrading to one also.

I'm in the UK, and we face exactly the same issues as you guys over the pond ... No local suppliers / distributors, so it's ebay or direct from China for us too.

Following on from 'Unknowns' previous post regards the USB slot ....

Does the unit take control of the device that is pluggd in to the USB slot? .. ie. If you plug in an mp3 player / USB memory stick, doesn't the unit list and alow track / file searching etc? ... in which case, I tend to go with 'Unknowns' view on a rear USB, with a securely mounted cable in the glovebox ... (Parrot Handsfree Bluetooth style). No messy cables for long term use.

Then again, for easy access for (depending on the units capabilities) uploading maps / photographs etc, a quick front access port would be useful.

Chunky Ferret · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 9 2007 Black XT4

Just thought I'd stick in a list of the units I can find available, all in one group to help cut down on searching time. Just as a reference to appearances.

A few of these are 'copy' units by the looks of it, with only a few subtle differences between them and the 'original'.

I'm sure there's more out there, but here's what I've got so far:

Autosoul unit - as purchased by area 201 and sewfly
Link

Roadrover unit - as purchased by jj_ortiz - discussed at this link:
http://RAV4World.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20772
Link
(Also available on ebay)
As mentioned in the forums ... the Date on the display is a little worrying on this one !!??

Shenzhen HenHao unit - as purchased by rave4rav4
Link
(Also available on ebay)

Shenzhen HenHao copy unit
(Available on ebay)

Witson unit
http://www.witson.com/view_pro.php?id=1458
(Also available on ebay)

Witson copy unit - as purchased by kmsfok and kostasp - discussed at this link: http://RAV4World.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20772
Link
(Also available on AutoDVDGPS and ebay)

EDIT - Maybe this isn't a copy after all .... if you look closely at the images on the Witson site, there are 2 different versions shown - different phone symbols/ different control buttons and different control dials ... ??? ... so maybe this is an updated Witson? (This gets more confusing by the minute !!!)

FlyAudio unit
http://www.flyaudio.net/product_id.asp?id=158
(Also available on AutoDVDGPS)

Other AutoDVDGPS / ebay units
Link
Basic unit in a OEM style surround

And this .....

A new unit built around Windows CE 6.0 (other units are Windows CE 5 I think)
(This may also be a FlyAudio unit according to purehate1978 on the other forum link:)
Link

That's all folks ! ... Hope it helps

naturoses · Posted: November 1, 2009, 3:16 pm Post subject:

Chunky Ferret, Thanks.This is a good info. I have been very tired going thru' all of these models not knowing which is the best.

First of all, I very much appreciate that people have given out lots of info on the cables/ components and stuff like that. What about the principal major functionality of the unit, GPS/Sat Nav, what ever you call it?. I would like to know that in the first place.

Will this function likeTom Tom, Garmin etc., ?
Real traffic updates
How to update the SatNav software?
What about the quality of back up camera function? Will it work without drilling holes?
How does the built-in blue tooth function work. How much do I need to expand my vocal cords so that people on other side hear me clearly?

Please help me friends, I have read so many pages of info on this site but still I feel I am in square one. I am used reading many articleson scientific research but this the first time, I feel lost Rolling Eyes

Waiting to hear from you all.

rave4rav4 · Posted: November 2, 2009, 7:07 pm Post subject: