Parrot Asteroid SMART 2DIN Head Unit

[dsm363]

was debating on that too but figured that maybe the rear camera wouldn't require an adapter or what not to work with the Alpine system....

That would be the only reason I would stick with Alpine too. Really didn't like the old unit but if it's cheaper to install might be worth it.

 

[smorgasbord]

That would be the only reason I would stick with Alpine too. Really didn't like the old unit but if it's cheaper to install might be worth it.

Yeah, the Alpines are not great. While my INE-W927HD unit is better than the stock that came with the infotainment on 2.0s & 2.5s, my son summed it up best: "It doesn't suck."

 

[markwj]

Parrott RNB6 has been announced (at CES). Looks to be a pretty simple drop-in upgrade to the Asteroid, and brings a bunch of new features. Ethernet. OBDII. Bluetooth 4. Front-facing camera. Driver Assist style features. Android 5.0. Most importantly - both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

As usual 'available later this year', and price TBA, but seems a sensible path...

 

[dsm363]

And a dashcam too. Interesting. Adapter needed for rear camera?

 

[markwj]

And a dashcam too. Interesting. Adapter needed for rear camera?

There is a big 10x2 connector at the rear bottom-left labelled AV-IN/OUT. I'm guessing they provide a cable for that.

Also, notice less USB ports (with Asteroid they've recently added USB camera support), and switched to a built-in GPS (with external simple antenna).

My biggest concern is that they announced the original Asteroid at CES as well, then took three years to actually deliver it. Specs for this look great at the moment, but if they again take years to ship it will be out-of-date before it is launched.

 

[Jaff]

Mark, do you know if Parrott upgraded to 4g or LTE with this unit?

 

[markwj]

Mark, do you know if Parrott upgraded to 4g or LTE with this unit?

That is provided by an external USB dongle, so both should be supported.

 

[Fabrizio]

Here is a review from Road&Track
The Parrot RBN6 head unit is all I've ever wanted

 

[ecarfan]

And a dashcam too. Interesting. Adapter needed for rear camera?

I don't want a dashcam, I want a rear view camera. Couldn't a dashcam be mounted to show the view behind the car?

Of course to install this new Parrot unit in my 1.5 would be a major project. Hopefully someday...

 

[markwj]

I don't want a dashcam, I want a rear view camera. Couldn't a dashcam be mounted to show the view behind the car?

Of course to install this new Parrot unit in my 1.5 would be a major project. Hopefully someday...

The Parrot has support for a rear camera as well as the dashcam.

 

[PokerBroker]

It can be done in a 1.5! TBD whether it is worth upgrading to this new one.

 

[Jaff]

@ Mark...as a side note, I had the Metra Stalk (about 180.00 CAD) installed on my steering column Metra Online | Parts | Metra Auto Parts Online Warehouse ...it allows single touch volume adjustment + more ...I remember that was a pet peeve of yours...

 

[Mischa]

Mark, the OVMS App IS crashing on my Asteroid Smart all the Time. Did You Faced issues as well?

 

[markwj]

Mark, the OVMS App IS crashing on my Asteroid Smart all the Time. Did You Faced issues as well?

Nope, mine seems ok, but memory is very limited on the asteroid.

 

[markwj]

@ Mark...as a side note, I had the Metra Stalk (about 180.00 CAD) installed on my steering column Metra Online | Parts | Metra Auto Parts Online Warehouse ...it allows single touch volume adjustment + more ...I remember that was a pet peeve of yours...

Thanks for the link. In the end, I used Asteroid Tweaker to re-map the volume and app switcher soft buttons to up/down volume. That, combined with Asteroid Tweaker's speed-aware volume adjustment, works just fine for me.

Interestingly, the new RNB6 unit has volume up/down buttons already. Seems like they learned something...

 

[ibcs]

Thanks for the link. In the end, I used Asteroid Tweaker to re-map the volume and app switcher soft buttons to up/down volume. That, combined with Asteroid Tweaker's speed-aware volume adjustment, works just fine for me.

Interestingly, the new RNB6 unit has volume up/down buttons already. Seems like they learned something...

Thanks Markwj,

I installed the Asteriod Tweaker tonight and I already love having the volume controls on the main screen. I only wish they would stay over the media player to be accessible on that screen. Though it's a great improvement to the stock slider.

 

[markwj]

I used Asteroid Tweaker to re-map the soft buttons VOLUME and RECENTAPPS to be Volume UP and Volume DOWN. Those buttons are then always available. Only thing you lose is the recent apps button, but if you hold down on the home button you get that anyway.

Thanks Markwj,

I installed the Asteriod Tweaker tonight and I already love having the volume controls on the main screen. I only wish they would stay over the media player to be accessible on that screen. Though it's a great improvement to the stock slider.

 

[ibcs]

I used Asteroid Tweaker to re-map the soft buttons VOLUME and RECENTAPPS to be Volume UP and Volume DOWN. Those buttons are then always available. Only thing you lose is the recent apps button, but if you hold down on the home button you get that anyway.

Thank you again. Not being able to get to the recent apps was the reason I didn't reassign the buttons. You are solving all my issues. Do you know if you can change the speed sensing speeds? I tried to update them and it said invalid entry. I love the ability of the volume to self adjust. I will update the buttons when I go home tonight!

Thanks again!

---Kent

 

[ibcs]

I'll call this one the Winter project. I upgraded the bootanimation.zip for the Parrot Asteroid.

We start with the standard Parrot boot screen which is compiled into the unit. This lasts for a few seconds.

Followed by the Tesla Roadster sketch drawing. This is shown while the system is loading the Android files 5-10 seconds.

And lastly the wallpaper with the apps showing...

The hours required to make this happen were insane. I'm a programmer by trade and it became an Parrot against me type issue. I have included links to the files that I used for the project. The bootanimation.zip requires Root Access to complete. Anyone can use the wallpaper file. If anyone is interested, I'd be glad to document each program used to make your own.

The wallpaper can be found on my web site.

Roadster Wallpaper

BootAnimation.zip

 

[m0rph]

I am waiting for the announced Parrot RNB6. It has more connections, one of them OBD2. I wonder if we will be able to use that in our Roadster, if we also want to keep using OVMS (which is the case!!)..