Recommend a Solution - Phone & Music

Clareman

Hi All,

I've a 2007 Toyota Avensis and I've being making do with ear pieces for my phones for ages, I think it's about time I got a proper setup in my car, I was hoping someone could recommend a decent setup for me, what I'm looking for it:

• Connect to my Android phone (Samsung S4)
• Play Music from another soucre, old ipod or itouch
• Connect to my work phone also, iphone (this is optional)
• Have a heads up display for the music/caller (like Parrot Mxi9200)
• Option to charge phone (this is optional)

Another thing I'm thinking of is that I have an Ipod Mini, could I use this as a sat nav in the car? There's a centre storage space in the dash that it could be mounted in.

I'd like to keep all this as cheap as possible of course.

JimmyCrackCorn

either replace the head unit or look at something like this.

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/product.php?productid=314&cat=11&page=1

Your other option is to buy a high end handfree kit...

Clareman

The Parrot mki9200 seems to tick a lot of boxes, it doesn't do 2 phones, but that's not the end of the world.

colm_mcm

Parrot uses its own amp AFAIK so not as good quality for streaming music.

I'd get the xcarlink through the cd changer port with an iPod just for music and a basic car kit seperately for the phone

Have you ever tried burning mp3/wma albums onto a disc?

Clareman

***Stupid question alert***
I have a 2007 Avensis, do I get the Type 1 xcarlink?

colm_mcm

Clareman wrote: »

***Stupid question alert***
I have a 2007 Avensis, do I get the Type 1 xcarlink?

Yes, your model radio only came out in 2006.

Clareman

Thanks colm_mcm, 2 cans of beer, another couple of bad bets means that I'm going to go ahead and order that. I'm going to assume it won't be that difficult to install and that I'll be able to run the cables/mic through the centre console at the top (don't mind about having to put a hole in that.

colm_mcm

I'll give you a hand if you're stuck. I've done pod kits in a good few avensiss

Clareman

Thanks Colm, I might hold you 1 that

The tight @rse in me is coming out now, I notice that Honda drivers can get a discount code, I want 10% off now as well

colm_mcm

I have a honda, does that count?

Anyway use code civinfo14 for discount.

Edit. Balls. That doesn't work

Clareman

That code only applies to Honda kit, I mailed them looking for a Toyota code, god loves a trier and all that

I was very close to buying an Accord recently, right until I decided to clean out my car to bring to get a trade in value, when I saw the state of the seat behind my little ones car seat I figured I'd wait for a few years before changing it, hence the alloy caps and the car kit.

Clareman

I took receipt of the unit yesterday and installed it this morning, very simple to install but for some reason I can't pair it with bluetooth it showed up at the start of the install so I paired it with my phone, it didn't ask for a passcode or anything, when I tried to make a call it muted the radio but no audio came through the speakers. I unpaired the unit to try to start again, now it's not visible via bluetooth at all. I tried reseating all the cables and everything, no joy.

colm_mcm

What phone have you?

Have you tried pairing a different handset

Clareman

Yup, I tried an old Huwei, an iPhone, a Samsung S4 and a Samsung S5.

colm_mcm

Is it Definately still getting power? Is it connecting for music via usb?

Clareman

I just have a mic attached to 1 end and the other end to the CD changer port, there's no light or anything on it so I can't be sure it's getting power.

colm_mcm

How did you join up the power?

Clareman

colm_mcm wrote: »

How did you join up the power?

I've it plugged into the CD changer port at the back of the radio

colm_mcm

And is the iPod interface part of it working?

Clareman

I haven't tried that actually, good idea I'll give that a try

Clareman

I discovered why it wasn't working at all anyway, I didn't have the connector in fully into the back of the head unit. Now the Aux and USB charge works perfectly, unfortunately I can't seem to be able to pair any device with it. It appears when I scan for devices on a phone and will attempt to pair, it then disconnects immediately, it never prompts for a passcode. I tried searching for it with my laptop as well, no joy. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Clareman

Right, I'm left with no opinion now other that the unit I got has a faulty bluetooth module. What I've done is

• I have taken everything out and left it as it was
• Installed the Unit on it's own (i.e. no mic, usb or Aux)
• Tried to pair a Samsung S3 Mini, S4, iphone 5 and an old Nokia or some sort
• All phones see it and try to pair but can't keep a connection
• Testing the Aux in (works)
• Tested the USB Charger (works)
• As the Aux and Mic work I can assume the main unit works
• Installed the unit in a similar Avensis (08 instead of 07), exactly the same performance

I've tried to get in contact with Xcarlink and I've tried searching the internet for similar issues, no joy. I'm going to send it back I think and get a refund. I might look into getting a new head unit that does phone as well, any recommendations for around the €200 mark?

colm_mcm

I wouldn't go changing the headunit. Aftermarket radios look pretty rubbish in Avensiss IMO.

Clareman

Yeah, I was looking at some of the din adapters, can't get any to match the colour scheme to match anything. Looking around Parrot looks like the best handsfree unit, any recommendations?

Clareman

Yup, definitely getting power, the blue light on it is flashing and tries to stay on when something tries to connect