Nicolas Farinas

****...lol sorry I'm getting very confused as there are so many different places to purchase and I'd like to get one from somewhere that work as I hate to order one that I find by myself and have it be old version

Skeechan

I got mine from Chris at CKM and am glad that I did because I needed quite a bit of post install help getting bugs worked out.

Sly_North

Confirmed that it makes quite some difference!
Before I had the antenna + its whole 1m cable rolled and pushed/compressed inside the screen socle; GPS lock would take several minutes, easily >5mn.
Now the GPS antenna cable is pushed down into the central console (plus I did the same for the other antennas); I haven't timed it precisely, yet I'd say the GPS lock took maybe 30s to 45s. That's much more acceptable; not as good as my cellphone, yet I can leave with that. Thx a lot for the cable management/clean-up tips!

Now the only software improvement I'd love to get is the music library management: all folders are put together in a single list, I don't see a way to choose to play only one folder (genre or artist or album). Basically the interface is so simple it's just listing all existing mp3. And it seems the only way to order stuff around is to name all folders ARTIST_ALBUM (and having sub-folders is pointless, they'll show up at the root of the library).

aznmode

Do you mean the entire screen is off or just the command side isn't showing on the screen?

On the V1 there is a reset hole (top hole) on the left side of the screen to hard reset the screen. There's another hole 2 inches below it and that is the microphone. I assume the V2 has the same reset hole (top hole).

If it's just the command not showing on the screen then try holding the command "On' button for about 10 seconds to reboot the command.

Question on the audio switching. Once it auto switch, manually switch it back to command audio. Then open up youtube or music app and can you tell me if it will auto switch to AUX the 2nd time. I found on my v1 it will only auto switch once. Just wanna make sure this new unit do not have the same issue. TIA!

Sly_North

It's the same on my v2 unit: if I switch back to my Audio20's medias or GPS or radio, I then have to manually select the UBS/AUX input. Not a deal breaker for me, as my plan was to use only the table 99% of the time.

aznmode

Thanks. Oh well. Atleast the new V2 seems to be running better and has so many options in the setting. Will have to wait for more reviews before I upgrade though.

Skeechan

¥

Blank screen = android is not waking from its sleep mode, but today I did not have the problem. Yesterday I had my A-B cable set up incorrectly and fixed it. Today, post-fix, the unit was flawless* and all kinds of awesome. Comand dial works great, backup camera works great, GPS was very fast...

My unit will not auto switch back to comand, but will auto switch to Android, taking about 20 seconds to do it. Now I am finding myself never using comand so really, autoswitch is becoming irrelevant to me. The only comand thing I use is backup camera and that works great, even before the android is fully booted (from a cold start). My unit will auto switch more than once, it just takes 20 seconds each time so I just do it manually the rare few times I have done it. If I am in comand anyway, the audio menu is right there so I switch to AUX then tap the screen back to Android.

* Flawless as can be expected...I had the youtube app crash twice in a row and on the third click worked fine for over an hour. I actually have worse Android problems with my Samsung S8 handset. LIke today, I had to delete and reinstall Facebook on my Galaxy S8 as it suddenly refused to start without immediately crashing. The V2 itself, no problems at all today (after applying Chris' tweaks and fixes).

Skeechan

After all the help from Chris, my V2 unit is running much better. I did have Youtube crash twice in a row and then no problems with Youtube for a good hour on my long commute in traffic, but Waze worked fine. I have Carplay pausing Apple Music if I try using Carplay as a background app but that really is not an android problem (carplay is not meant to be run in background). In reality, I have more frequent android app crash problems on my Galaxy S8 with Android 8 that this Android 7 10.25 unit. Yesterday I had an issue with the unit not waking from sleep, but today, several drives and no problem with waking. To do some of Chris' recommended fixes, I did change the A-B cable from A to B and at the same time cleaned the connector to the screen and make sure everything was securely connected. The sleep may have easily been related to A-B as that fixed my dial not working (my 2011 E350 USA NTG4 wanted A-B to B instead of default A-B to A).

Next thing for me is getting an anti glare screen film sheet, like maybe one that would fit the large size iPad Pro or even a laptop to apply and then trim as in bright sunlight there is a bit too much reflection of the passenger seat on the screen. I want a matte screen like the original COMAND had. Other than that, my V2 unit was rocking today. Drove to work watching (well glancing at while listening to) Youtube Music (the music video app) and then Youtube Premium on the way home and out to dinner with my impressed wife. In the middle of the day I used Waze to get the to the lowering shop to get my springs installed and no more Waze problems (GPS locked immediately after adjusting the antenna position).

One thing I really love about the V2 is its microphone. Even with noise of the AC on max, it has no problem getting my voice in SIRI or with Waze's voice recognition. V2 is way cool. There are a few very small things left like trying to trick AT&T U-Verse app into running (claims it cannot confirm authentication as if the unit is rooted) and the android version of Apple Music which won't log in (log in button doesn't do anything); 3rd party apps from Google Play store stuff.

If not for my kit coming with a bad wiring harness, the install would have largely been very easy and a couple of emails from Chris got the settings worked out (like getting the backup camera turned on). It sure doesn't seem like wiring harness problems are common so I would recommend V2 with the caveat that you will need some post install help from your seller or the forum to iron out a few wrinkles like settings. Without Chris I would have been pretty screwed since there was so little info on V2 and units are packed in China with zero instructions included.

Skeechan

You might want to try another player. I found that Navi icon on the main screen is only a shortcut. With a long press I think, I was able to get to a menu where I could choose what app is opened by the Navi icon. I think it was a long press as I found the menu by accident. I switched my NAVI icon destination from iGo to Waze. Now when I click NAVI it opens Waze. You might be able to do the same with the audio player and then use an even better audio player from the Google Play store. Once that new media player app is installed and if it works the way you want, try long pressing the audio icon on the main shortcut screen and see if you can change what app the audio icon actually opens. If I get Apple Music for android working, I am going to try to map the audio icon to that (or maybe Youtube Music) as I don't have any MP3s transferred.

Speaking of that, I would do some FLAC of my favorite tracks. I also want to see what effect audio processor apps might have, like equivalents of Dolby Atmos for Mobile type apps. But I think android is only outputting 2.0 audio and has no idea that it is running so many speakers (no front - rear in Android). AUX should still be processed by Logic 7.

Now that my V2 is installed and working well, the fun of messing with app store apps begins. Also want to see about getting this thing on my mobile plan with a SIM as tethering to iPhone is something I need to do every time I get into the car. I want V2 to have its own unlimited interwebz.

mjqg14

any tips or tricks for all the cables? im having trouble putting back the radio unit. Thank you!

Skeechan

On my 2011 212, behind the head unit is like a small pit with some sort of module down there and farther back. As I was pushing my radio back, I would reach through the top plate holes in the ac vent area down and guide the wires. Everything fits no problem so long as you get the main connector brick down there flat, so you just have to steer the harness around to make sure it is not doubling up or folding on itself. I had mine out twice, and both times had no problem getting it in using this method.

LemonSqueezy

Pretty much the same, theres a small indented section behind the unit, bundle your cables and your module into that pit, then push!

Skeechan

Any other option for Internet than WiFi tethering? I have tried USB tethering my Galaxy S8 to the V2 and it is not working. My Galaxy S8 reports tethered but the screen has no connectivity. And the build in SIM supposedly doesn't work outside of mainland China for some reason.

I am trying to set up an automated Internet connectivity when the car starts. Right now I have to manually turn on wifi tethering on my phone every time I get in. Wifi tethering works great, just trying to find a workaround for the manual connection every time. Anyone have a work around for avoiding the manual (turning it on, on the phone every time) tethering?

ItchyTasty

Tasker app?

Skeechan

The problem is that wireless hotspots on phones are off by default to save battery. For iOS to iOS or macOS to iOS tethering, there is a method of remote starting a hotspot but I have not found a way to do this from the V2 to remote start an iOS or Android 8 hotspot, perhaps using BT.

dineshh

I used T-Mobile's SyncUP Drive (4gLTA 2gig plan $10/month). It worked great before I sent my V1 back. I'm waiting on a replacement V2.

Skeechan

I have T-Mobile, I don't see how I missed this. I have an Automatic already in my OBDII port so I should be able to pick up a splitter and use this. Looks like I will need to go to a TMo store and see what plans they have as they do not appear to be orderable online.

No unlimited data plan, only tiered plans. Currently have unlimited tethering with my phone. Might look at AT&T and see if they still offer the ZTE OBDII which appears to be the same thing.

Nope, Mobley is dead along with the $20 plan for OBDII devices at AT&T, per a store I called.

I have been messing with Tasker with no luck. On my TMo locked S8 it won't turn on hotspot when it connects to the screen via BT. My friend recommended Automate so I am giving that a go.

Skeechan

Turns out neither Tasker or Automate will work for turning on the hotspot in A8 or 8.1 unless the phone is rooted (looking at lengthy reddit and Google groups threads on it). Something changed in A8 that broke it, denying permissions to turn on tethering (error is tether_privileged) through system apps. Grr. This would have been the best solution since I have unlimited tethering and AT&T killed their $20 unlimited OBD II plan (people were putting the SIM in other devices). TMo's higher data plans for their OBD II setup is overpriced IMO as are Sprint's.

dineshh

All this talk of bad GPS reception, has any of you guys tried a different GPA Antenna with a male SMA plug (some on Amazon)? Mine that was shipped with the V1 worked fine. I had it rolled up in one of the vents as a temp measure. I was thinking of installing it under the center speaker grill on my GLA. Haven't taken it apart to see if I have enough room for the mini speaker and the GPS Antenna.
If one of you can check to see the Voltage out from the GPS socket on the display to be 3v-5v?

Something like this would work:

Skeechan

I did not have bad reception with my V2 once I actually positioned my antenna and made sure none of my wire bundles were stuck on top. At first, I had not stuck my antenna down and when stuffing in all the wires and WiFi antenna goings on, the GPS antenna ended up pushed to the side, turned up on its side, with a bunch of junk on top. Now that it is positioned and stuck down, I get good locks very quickly.

The antenna can't penetrate metal people installing can move it around and watch the GPS test to see where they get best signal. Once they have good signal, they will also get much faster lock-ons. Then when stuffing in the wires, make sure nothing ends up on top of the antenna.

Skeechan

dacia

While Chris and Carlife say that the SIM slot doesn't work outside China another seller on AliExpress advertises the unit as having 4G connection:
"3G/4G : Yes, support SIM card directly without 3G/4G dongl:"
From Carsara's listing: 4G NetworkTD-LTE: B39 / B40 / B41; FDD-LTE: B1 / B3 / B7 / B8 (Support 4G in only Asia-Pacific region)
"Have you tried just sticking a SIM card in the slot on the side and see what happens?

Skeechan

Looking at that list of supported bands, that would by why it doesn't work outside of Asia. T-Mobile USA for example uses 2, 4, 12, 66 and 71 for LTE. China Mobile on the other hand uses 38, 39, 40 and 41. So this is a hardware limitation, not some sort of SIM carrier type lock.

ItchyTasty

I like how they charge hundreds of dollars for these, and cant be bothered to include installation instructions. For those who have installed, what tools are necessary? I suspect a plastic pry bar and torx (which number?) screwdriver at the least. Perhaps this is car model dependent as well. Anyone install in a W205?

Skeechan

I don't know about W205 but for my W212 the tool list was very short

1. To make it easy, the Mercedes dash / trim T-handle hooks, they have been the same for a million years and are an easy get on eBay (I borrowed my brother's who uses them on his 95 E320 estate)
2. Plastic wedge kit to help get the dash trim off (I didn't need it, but good to have if you have some really tough clips)
3. Torx angle set or socket set to get the screen and headunit out. I used T handle on the screen but the space for the head unit is limited so I used a 1/4 drive Torx ratchet set for the headunit)
4. Phillips #2 screw driver to put the mount on the dash and screen on the mount (#2 screws replace the Torx, included in the kit). I think the screen was T8, don't remember the head unit but it is similar, maybe T6.
5. Youtube to get instructions on how to remove the dash (once you see where the hook points are it is REALLY easy).
6. Patience as you will likely need some post install support. Do not expect it to "just work" as there are often settings in Android that need to be changed or AB plug will need to be moved from AB to A to AB to B, etc