Chinese Ca-Fi knockoff has been rooted! Torque works!

[nzer]

Originally Posted by krikke

Actually the unit that Cmarks20 shared, looks nice, runs Android and has a nice GUI...
If it could run Torque, I think we have a winner here...

Yep, that unit looks great, as does the one you showed the link to and the one @2forme has and the T7109A I have ordered.

If a supplier can come up with a pre-rooted one or opened up one that can communicate with both an OBD2 and HKS OB-LINK with no work to root it (ie: plug and play) they would have a huge market. Car and Audio forums from all over the world have been having the same discussions we have been having.
@2forme, you could take delivery, root them, test them and onsell for US$150 more! You'd sell them from the USA to New Zealand and every country above and in between (not much below us!).

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[cmarks20]

Actually heard back from the seller on the last one I posted - apparently he's the manufacturer and it's running 2.2.

Side note - I have a message in to Variscite (an embedded solutions developer) on getting one of their "development" kits with a capacitive touchscreen and support for Android ICS.

This should be an interesting integration project.

[nzer]

Originally Posted by cmarks20

Actually heard back from the seller on the last one I posted - apparently he's the manufacturer and it's running 2.2.

Side note - I have a message in to Variscite (an embedded solutions developer) on getting one of their "development" kits with a capacitive touchscreen and support for Android ICS.

This should be an interesting integration project.

@cmarks20 did you ask if it would communicate with an OBD2 ELM327 or an HKS OB-LINK through Bluetooth without rooting it, or if it was rooted already?

And, with Variscite are you able to ask the same question please?

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[cmarks20]

Originally Posted by nzer

@cmarks20 did you ask if it would communicate with an OBD2 ELM327 or an HKS OB-LINK through Bluetooth without rooting it, or if it was rooted already?

And, with Variscite are you able to ask the same question please?

.

I didn't think to - though I know the Variscite option is already rooted for development with Android ICS.

The problem with all of the Android Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3) HUs is going to be supporting multiple Bluetooth devices at a time or using something like Torque with USB. Torque Pro USB is compatible with Android Honeycomb (3.1) and above - hence the problem.

The Variscite-based unit will be completely custom. They can provide the system board, processor, and capacitive screen, but it'll be up to me (or someone) to build an enclosure and figure out how to get the ISO wiring up and running....and who knows what else. I'm constantly researching how this is all going to work - so it's going to be quite a project. I think @2forme is talking to some manufacturers as well, so he may have a similar idea in the works.

[nzer]

Originally Posted by cmarks20

I didn't think to - though I know the Variscite option is already rooted for development with Android ICS.

The problem with all of the Android Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3) HUs is going to be supporting multiple Bluetooth devices at a time or using something like Torque with USB. Torque Pro USB is compatible with Android Honeycomb (3.1) and above - hence the problem.

The Variscite-based unit will be completely custom. They can provide the system board, processor, and capacitive screen, but it'll be up to me (or someone) to build an enclosure and figure out how to get the ISO wiring up and running....and who knows what else. I'm constantly researching how this is all going to work - so it's going to be quite a project. I think @2forme is talking to some manufacturers as well, so he may have a similar idea in the works.

Thanks @cmarks20

When I am using Torque or carscope I will be on the track so if I can only have one bluetooth "thing" going at once then that will work for me.

Have you got a link to the Variscite option? You've probably already posted it but we've all discussed so many units I'm not sure which one you mean.

Thanks mate

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[cmarks20]

Originally Posted by nzer

Thanks @cmarks20

When I am using Torque or carscope I will be on the track so if I can only have one bluetooth "thing" going at once then that will work for me.

Have you got a link to the Variscite option? You've probably already posted it but we've all discussed so many units I'm not sure which one you mean.

Thanks mate

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I'd want both. The Variscite is an evaluation kit - specifically the VAR-MX6CustomBoard and the VAR-SOM-MX6. Essentially it's a single board computer. The VAR-DVK-MX6 is both items and has a capacitive display attached that looks to be about 2 DIN size. Link:

http://www.variscite.com/products/ev...ts/var-dvk-mx6

[nzer]

Woah, that looks beyond me @cmarks20!

I've asked these guys you suggested if it will communicate with an ELM327 or HKS OB-LINK or is rooted http://www.ebay.com/itm/In-dash-Head...044367&vxp=mtr

And for good measure I have asked these guys that @krikke suggested http://www.xtrons.com/GPS-car-dvd.Html

[Ghostmerlott]

Originally Posted by nzer

Yep, that unit looks great, as does the one you showed the link to and the one @2forme has and the T7109A I have ordered.

If a supplier can come up with a pre-rooted one or opened up one that can communicate with both an OBD2 and HKS OB-LINK with no work to root it (ie: plug and play) they would have a huge market. Car and Audio forums from all over the world have been having the same discussions we have been having.
@2forme, you could take delivery, root them, test them and onsell for US$150 more! You'd sell them from the USA to New Zealand and every country above and in between (not much below us!).

.

Mate, your thoughts on choosing this over tun 21a?

[2forme]

Originally Posted by Ghostmerlott

Mate, your thoughts on choosing this over tun 21a?

I believe he originally ordered this because of its 200mm fitment, then wanted the 21A, but they had already shipped this.

I hope the root works and that it has a capacitive screen. Would be nice to see a factory fitted unit.

[Ghostmerlott]

Originally Posted by cmarks20

Yea, that's definately WAY more professional looking! It looks like the unit @2forme is using. I'll definately have to check it out.

Torque only works on Android (as far as I know). As for the LEDs, learning to be handle with a soldering iron pays off. Replacing the LEDs in a head unit shouldn't be much different than a guage cluster - though it's a PITA.

On a side note, after looking through some initial documentation, I'm starting to wonder if it's worth-while to just build one myself. There are a couple companies that sell various hardware pretty cheap.

Sorry.. how do u access the leds ?

[cmarks20]

Originally Posted by Ghostmerlott

Sorry.. how do u access the leds ?

I haven't bought one yet, as I'm still researching options. You'd have to take it apart. Once I figure out what I'm buying and if it doesn't have the color LEDs I want, I'll try to do a DIY write-up.

[2forme]

Originally Posted by cmarks20

I haven't bought one yet, as I'm still researching options. You'd have to take it apart. Once I figure out what I'm buying and if it doesn't have the color LEDs I want, I'll try to do a DIY write-up.

Wanna do two of them? hahaha I'm not awesome with a soldering iron.

[cmarks20]

Originally Posted by nzer

Woah, that looks beyond me @cmarks20!

I've asked these guys you suggested if it will communicate with an ELM327 or HKS OB-LINK or is rooted http://www.ebay.com/itm/In-dash-Head...044367&vxp=mtr

And for good measure I have asked these guys that @krikke suggested http://www.xtrons.com/GPS-car-dvd.Html

It's a bit more complex than I initially thought it would be - oh well. It's about time I put my degree to hobbyist use

[krikke]

Originally Posted by cmarks20

I haven't bought one yet, as I'm still researching options. You'd have to take it apart. Once I figure out what I'm buying and if it doesn't have the color LEDs I want, I'll try to do a DIY write-up.

Originally Posted by 2forme

Wanna do two of them? hahaha I'm not awesome with a soldering iron.

Make that three!