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Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 3:46 pm
by Scartlead
Hi all fellow rotarians :D

Having been toying with changing the head unit, but have read that although the metrakit seems to be good, it’s not 100% reliable. Is there anything out there that allows a head unit change but keeps climate controls and is reliable in its function?

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 3:57 pm
by TheManc
its the only option

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:24 pm
by New Duke
You could swap it for an R3? Then it's simple fascia change. Depends on how desperate you are to avoid the Metra kit buttons I guess. May seem drastic to swap cars given all the work you've put in, but it is an option/solution so had to offer it.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:38 pm
by Mherby
The metra kit in mine wound me up so much I pulled it all out and put a standard Bose back in, I'd like a nice Android Auto double din HU in the car but having HVAC controls that were a bit hit and miss annoyed me more than the lack of a modern HU.

I've gone for one of the bluetooth Grom BT3 boxes and got a CD slot mounted phone holder which works quite well.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:45 pm
by Scartlead
Mherby wrote:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:38 pm
The metra kit in mine wound me up so much I pulled it all out and put a standard Bose back in, I'd like a nice Android Auto double din HU in the car but having HVAC controls that were a bit hit and miss annoyed me more than the lack of a modern HU.

I've gone for one of the bluetooth Grom BT3 boxes and got a CD slot mounted phone holder which works quite well.
And that is exactly the reason for the thread. I’d like a double din replacement, but it’s comments like this I’ve read before put me off. Plus having a 10.1 oem unit, means I’d need to change that too going with a grom.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:46 pm
by Ryan Rotary Performance
Only option for now....

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:46 pm
by Scartlead
New Duke wrote:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:24 pm
You could swap it for an R3? Then it's simple fascia change. Depends on how desperate you are to avoid the Metra kit buttons I guess. May seem drastic to swap cars given all the work you've put in, but it is an option/solution so had to offer it.
If it worked 100% all of the time, then wouldn’t be an issue to be fair.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:47 pm
by Scartlead
Ryan Rotary Performance wrote:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:46 pm
Only option for now....
Now Carl, you cant say that and not give us a ‘little’ more info :D

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:49 pm
by Ryan Rotary Performance
Too early to give anything concrete, its been a low priority project for a while however, if demand is high........

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:54 pm
by warpc0il
There was someone that stripped the board out of the oem headunit, fitted it in a plastic box and bolted up behind the fascia.
This was before Metra offered their "Climate Control option" and he was able to use the original "Manual A/C only" version, with the Climate Control still working as normal and a nice after-market double DIN audio system.

I can't find the thread and I suspect it's been long since purged by forum housekeeping

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 5:00 pm
by Juey
Ryan Rotary Performance wrote:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:49 pm
Too early to give anything concrete, its been a low priority project for a while however, if demand is high........
Digital aerial already installed and waiting to be used....also found a Panasonic antenna under the dash too, presume previous owner had a nice unit in it!

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:13 pm
by Scartlead
warpc0il wrote:
Fri Nov 01, 2019 4:54 pm
There was someone that stripped the board out of the oem headunit, fitted it in a plastic box and bolted up behind the fascia.
This was before Metra offered their "Climate Control option" and he was able to use the original "Manual A/C only" version, with the Climate Control still working as normal and a nice after-market double DIN audio system.

I can't find the thread and I suspect it's been long since purged by forum housekeeping
That’s an option, can you run the normal climate controls independently of a new doubledin?

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:43 pm
by 30405
Looking at the back of a facia I assume that the bottom middle connection sends the control input info to HVAC unit it's self with the connections on the left and right to out to the led display via the facia board. But I could/can be horribly wrong.

Image

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 7:24 pm
by Mherby
Ryan Rotary Performance wrote:Too early to give anything concrete, its been a low priority project for a while however, if demand is high........
If it works as well as the rest of your products I'm definitely interested :)

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk


Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2019 9:29 pm
by Kellytm272
My metra kit worked for a month and then the axxess box (metra computer) died. I read that you needed a particular version of the axxess box, that was updated and more reliable. Had the free replacement box and it’s worked fine since. Only downside is climate controls respond slower than the stock ac controls

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2019 7:32 am
by poor_lackey
Hi,

You can do it yourself if so inclined (a nice way of saying you need to be a little on the spectrum)
https://github.com/TonyChatfield/S1-RX8 ... controller

I haven't entirely stopped work on a dedicated improvement to this, but unfortunately there never seems to be enough time………
3 (or is it 4 processors later) I have a finished concept, but as the known market for it is currently 1 user only (me), it keeps being pushed to the bottom of the list.
As it stands; Centre console display driver, canbus, ½ dozen analog inputs, Bluetooth for pumping the OBD and massaged analog data into something like torque pro. SD card for logging and room for another Serial or SPI connection (maybe a GPS thingie if it makes your life complete).
Underpinned by an Arduino compatible interface, so easy to configure.
The initial controller was very responsive to the touch and the new processor is 3 times faster, so I don’t see that changing even with additional SD logging and\or gps. - I think that just means the commercial option is ^&%#$.

For the budget conscious
In the last few months I have also been playing with an alternate controller that runs via Bluetooth\an android phone app.
You would probably need to dedicate a phone, but who doesn’t have an older one lying about and the hardware costs for a diy solution should be under 25 quid +/- (minus the phone) - Mental note to self, add hazard control.
I have had this working on my desk with the app correctly controlling an A\C unit, but haven’t had time to sort pretty GUI\button controls and an a\c display.

If there is any interest, I'd be willing to try and find some time for a little more focus on 1 or both of them.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2019 4:12 pm
by Juey
Budget conscious:
Dust off an old laptop and burn your playlists on to a CD.
Better still, put together your own compilation tape on a TDK c90 cassette.
Yes, I too am becoming obsolete.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:24 pm
by Ryan Rotary Performance
poor_lackey wrote:
Mon Nov 04, 2019 7:32 am
Hi,

You can do it yourself if so inclined (a nice way of saying you need to be a little on the spectrum)
https://github.com/TonyChatfield/S1-RX8 ... controller

I haven't entirely stopped work on a dedicated improvement to this, but unfortunately there never seems to be enough time………
3 (or is it 4 processors later) I have a finished concept, but as the known market for it is currently 1 user only (me), it keeps being pushed to the bottom of the list.
As it stands; Centre console display driver, canbus, ½ dozen analog inputs, Bluetooth for pumping the OBD and massaged analog data into something like torque pro. SD card for logging and room for another Serial or SPI connection (maybe a GPS thingie if it makes your life complete).
Underpinned by an Arduino compatible interface, so easy to configure.
The initial controller was very responsive to the touch and the new processor is 3 times faster, so I don’t see that changing even with additional SD logging and\or gps. - I think that just means the commercial option is ^&%#$.

For the budget conscious
In the last few months I have also been playing with an alternate controller that runs via Bluetooth\an android phone app.
You would probably need to dedicate a phone, but who doesn’t have an older one lying about and the hardware costs for a diy solution should be under 25 quid +/- (minus the phone) - Mental note to self, add hazard control.
I have had this working on my desk with the app correctly controlling an A\C unit, but haven’t had time to sort pretty GUI\button controls and an a\c display.

If there is any interest, I'd be willing to try and find some time for a little more focus on 1 or both of them.
Was anymore progressed on this?

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:50 am
by Davemitch
I have a kanatechs kit and have had no issues at all with that

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 6:54 am
by Naz
I have a metra kit and went in after seeing how slow it was at changing the temperature / fan speed.

Why? I knew that in my ownership of the car I barely ever change the a/c temp and its always on auto fan speed. So for the two times a year I change temps (summer to winter and back) I could live with the slow response.

But. That's me. If you're changing temps / fan speeds all the time then this is not something for you.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:33 am
by poor_lackey
Ryan Rotary Performance wrote:
Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:24 pm

Was anymore progressed on this?
Hi, if you were asking about the super low budget mobile phone version, I did port the code to android a while back
but don't have the skills to build an app UI (or time necessary to develop them), so app developer required....

For a fully functional 'drop in' replacement controller.
I spent some time earlier this year (during the NZ Covid lock-down) working through numerous variations of micro-controller, functionality options, overall packaging solutions etc and am currently working on proving out the re-design, with an intention of a low volume production run - if there is enough (any) interest.

I ported the code for the control panel last weekend and that was positive, with it still as responsive as the OEM control.
Sadly I have a beer festival tomorrow, which will delay testing of the display and AC amp interface, but expect to get back to it on Sunday (or maybe Monday depending on tomorrow) and I also want to test\confirm the micro-controllers low current\sleep mode function before I commit to the next step;
Which would be to engage a professional to review the design, as a fully functional PCB is a lot more complicated than I initially thought IE it requires 4 separate power supplies which need to be automotive rated; and there are a couple of other idiosyncrasies which I can kludge for personal use, but could not provide to anyone else as a half baked solution.


Any takers for a simple. low cost, DIY plugnplay install, that mirrors the existing OEM behavior?
- Hazard control, All back-lighting and dimming will work, Clock will need to be reset if the battery is removed.
It would be user programmable via arduino and there will be an additional comms interface that can be configured for serial\SPI\IC2 etc.

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 11:50 am
by 30405
poor_lackey wrote:
Ryan Rotary Performance wrote:
Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:24 pm

Was anymore progressed on this?
Hi, if you were asking about the super low budget mobile phone version, I did port the code to android a while back
but don't have the skills to build an app UI (or time necessary to develop them), so app developer required....

For a fully functional 'drop in' replacement controller.
I spent some time earlier this year (during the NZ Covid lock-down) working through numerous variations of micro-controller, functionality options, overall packaging solutions etc and am currently working on proving out the re-design, with an intention of a low volume production run - if there is enough (any) interest.

I ported the code for the control panel last weekend and that was positive, with it still as responsive as the OEM control.
Sadly I have a beer festival tomorrow, which will delay testing of the display and AC amp interface, but expect to get back to it on Sunday (or maybe Monday depending on tomorrow) and I also want to test\confirm the micro-controllers low current\sleep mode function before I commit to the next step;
Which would be to engage a professional to review the design, as a fully functional PCB is a lot more complicated than I initially thought IE it requires 4 separate power supplies which need to be automotive rated; and there are a couple of other idiosyncrasies which I can kludge for personal use, but could not provide to anyone else as a half baked solution.


Any takers for a simple. low cost, DIY plugnplay install, that mirrors the existing OEM behavior?
- Hazard control, All back-lighting and dimming will work, Clock will need to be reset if the battery is removed.
It would be user programmable via arduino and there will be an additional comms interface that can be configured for serial\SPI\IC2 etc.
I think @bigpete and @mrspiller would be interested in the low cost option just for the AC controls as I had the git project up the other day trying to get it to work for them but it lacked hazard and dimming controls and I don't have time to look at fixing currently.

Gents, can you confirm my assertions here please?


Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:21 pm
by mrspiller
Vj4sothername wrote:
poor_lackey wrote:
Ryan Rotary Performance wrote:
Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:24 pm

Was anymore progressed on this?
Hi, if you were asking about the super low budget mobile phone version, I did port the code to android a while back
but don't have the skills to build an app UI (or time necessary to develop them), so app developer required....

For a fully functional 'drop in' replacement controller.
I spent some time earlier this year (during the NZ Covid lock-down) working through numerous variations of micro-controller, functionality options, overall packaging solutions etc and am currently working on proving out the re-design, with an intention of a low volume production run - if there is enough (any) interest.

I ported the code for the control panel last weekend and that was positive, with it still as responsive as the OEM control.
Sadly I have a beer festival tomorrow, which will delay testing of the display and AC amp interface, but expect to get back to it on Sunday (or maybe Monday depending on tomorrow) and I also want to test\confirm the micro-controllers low current\sleep mode function before I commit to the next step;
Which would be to engage a professional to review the design, as a fully functional PCB is a lot more complicated than I initially thought IE it requires 4 separate power supplies which need to be automotive rated; and there are a couple of other idiosyncrasies which I can kludge for personal use, but could not provide to anyone else as a half baked solution.


Any takers for a simple. low cost, DIY plugnplay install, that mirrors the existing OEM behavior?
- Hazard control, All back-lighting and dimming will work, Clock will need to be reset if the battery is removed.
It would be user programmable via arduino and there will be an additional comms interface that can be configured for serial\SPI\IC2 etc.
I think @bigpete and @mrspiller would be interested in the low cost option just for the AC controls as I had the git project up the other day trying to get it to work for them but it lacked hazard and dimming controls and I don't have time to look at fixing currently.

Gents, can you confirm my assertions here please?
It’s for track car so wouldn’t worry about lighting and the hazard could go on the alu faceplate on a switch if it’s doable .
Just heater controls to work really


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Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 7:21 am
by poor_lackey
I'd be happy to assist with development of a mobile phone based control unit using blue-tooth to connect the phone to the A\C amplifier
IE all controls and feedback\display via a phone (no central console display or use of existing A\C control buttons), but we would need a a tame app developer to progress this as an option.
Estimated hardware cost (excluding a phone and it's power\charging) would be 10 quid +/- (ish) for 1 small pc that has a voltage regulator, a Bluetooth adapter, 2 inverting buffers (for the a\c amplifier serial connection) and a connector that plugs into the existing central console wiring loom.
Ohh and lets not forget a cable tie to hold it all together and a pcb header for the hazards ;-)


Otherwise
Based on zero experience with SMD type pcbs, and no PCB development experience this century.
(This isn't my first rodeo, but it's been a long, long, long, long time).

For a viable plug N play A\C controller that gives us the OEM display, hazards, dimming, (for the geeks amongst us) the ability to program the display\connect it to external data source.
Reusing much of the existing cabling, including the display loom that's screwed to the head-unit.
Supplying the other cables that are required.
Not including a case, which I am 99.95% sure is not needed with the intended design and placement.

I have been guessing at a figure of 30 pound +/- which may be impacted by shipping, local taxes.....
Only a guess, as it's mainly down to the currently unknown cost of (very) low volume production manufacturing,
and needing to ensure a very high quality product – if there is minimal margin and volume then there is zero room to allow for a crappy build.

Does a 30 pound ish window make this a viable option for anyone?
- maybe a bit less, may be a bit more...

Re: Metra kit, anything better?

Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 7:40 am
by New Duke
I don't need one, but that sounds like great value to me. Less than half a tank of fuel.