[Anyone install the car stereo?]

Hi! There are a lot of different brands that offer Android stereos for our cars. I've had two different ones. The first was an Erisin, the second a Joying. I now have a Columbus dab+ installed.

 

My thoughts on the different Android units:

 

* Never get one with 1GB of ram. Get at least 2GB. They've started offering four now I think.

* The stereo will behave much like an android phone, but for some reason (to keep costs down I guess) they are a lot slower. A five year old good brand Android phone will outperform these stereos, however as long as you get at least 2GB ram, they will work fine for normal use. Just don't expect to play any games on them etc.

* I haven't been able to find one with as good as or better sound quality than the built in stereo. Even my old Swing sounds miles better. However lots of people don't seem to mind and rate the quality as ok/fair.

* They will not integrate with your original bluetooth if you've got it. I had to disable mine (pull the plug from the BT module under my seat) to avoid trouble. They come with their own bluetooth for you phone, as well as their own mic.

* They have LOADS of features and cool stuff to show off. You can run Spotify for music and your preferred navigation app at excellent resolution. Makes my Columbus look very old. Get a 4g modem and you can stream music/radio and browse the internet.

* As long as you get a Skoda/VW version, fitting it is completely plug and play. My Erisin even had the normal Quad-lock plug in the back, so it was a direct replacement. The only thing you'll (maybe) need, are adapters for the antennas if you're planning to use a built in GPS/DAB antenna instead of the ones that come with the unit.

 

For me, it was too much work. I was never completely happy with the way it worked, there was always one thing or another that I wanted to fix or tweak. That combined with sound quality just made me go original instead. I still keep an eye on the forums over at XDA-developers though, just in case someone makes a super android unit with excellent sound quality some day. The perfect solution would be one of the new Skoda units, retrofitted with everything working. Guess I need a new car

 

 

 

[DAB radio installation]

Hi! I did this last year. Bought an OEM roof antenna from ebay for something like 80 pounds which supports FM/AM/DAB/NAV/GSM along with some FAKRA extension cables. Straight swap on my mk2 vrs. Removed two plastic clips from the back end of the roof liner which allowed me to pull down the liner enough to reach and unscrew the old antenna from the inside. Was too lazy to use a-pillars for wires, so I used the back one (c/d-pillar?), down and tucked cables under the carpet. Nice and quick job. Everything was plug and play. No additional power needed afaik, but I guess that depends on which head unit you put in (mine is an rns510/columbus). Reception is flawless.

[OEM v Aftermarket Stereo's]

Indeed, the Android aftermarket units I've tried works fine, including reversing sensors and camera, however the sound quality is in my experience horrible on all of them, and yes you can install things like ViperFX software eq's but they still sound like crap compared to my original Swing unit.

The ultimate unit for me would be something like the RNS510 with Android auto and Apple Carplay. Unfortunately that's not an option with the old 510's, and if it was, it would be too expensive for me.

After trying several Android units and never being 100% happy, I ended up with a second hand RNS510 Dab+ unit, at least for now. Working great so far.

[OEM reversing camera?]

I recently installed a second hand Columbus Dab+ in my 2013 vRS and I'd like to set it up with a reversing camera. Unfortunately I'm having a hard time finding an RGB camera that will fit the Fabia. I thought I'd located one, but it turned out to be too big (trunk handle camera, probably fits Octavia/Superb). Does anyone know if a camera was available as an option at any time during the MK2/5J lifetime? If not, it looks like I'll have to go with an aftermarket CVBS camera and a converter to RGB, which means I will miss some of the functionality of the OEM setup.

[OEM v Aftermarket Stereo's]

You could also retrofit an RCD310 DAB (VW Swing) if you don't mind the display colour...

 

Just a random search hit:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DAB-Volkswagen-VW-RCD-310-DAB-Digital-Radio-CD-MP3-RCD310-510-300-Code-/181114811071

I think you'd need a separate BT kit as well though.

[OBDEleven, Columbus NAV on maxidot coding]

Borrowed a VCDS cable and fixed this in five minutes with the CAN equipment list. 

[OBDEleven, Columbus NAV on maxidot coding]

Update on this topic: OBDEleven guys don't appear to know why I can't see the installation list and tell me to try to use coding for adding the NAV to gateway.

 

I don't really know enough about coding to do this yet, so I would appreciate if anyone can help me understand how.

My gateway info:

System description: GW-K-CAN TP20
Identifier: J533
Hardware number: 6R7937087M

Hardware version: H28

Software number: 6N0909901

Software version: 0555

Coding: 032200

Protocol: CAN:KWP2000

 

Looking at VCDS screenshots that show the gateway equipment list and modules, I need to enable module 37 (navigation).

Does anyone happen to have a list that shows the coding for this CAN gateway? If I understand correctly, there are only three bytes to code and these bits and bytes make up the list, so I should be able to do this via coding if I only knew where/how to add the 37.

 

[OBDEleven, Columbus NAV on maxidot coding]

Upon further reading I think everything would probably be ok if I could just get Navigation added to the installation list. No idea why I can’t edit it in obd11.  I emailed their support.

[OBDEleven, Columbus NAV on maxidot coding]

Cheers Gizmo, I don’t plan to change anything unless I’m sure it’s ok.

 

Anyway, I found out how I should have been able to edit the Can Gateway list in obd11, however the icon for editing is missing in my app.

 

According to what I can find, this happens if the car has Can GW 1.6, however I’m pretty sure the facelift mk2 fabia has v. 2.0. Maybe the app doesn’t have the correct config for this car and treats it as a pre-facelift?

[OBDEleven, Columbus NAV on maxidot coding]

Howdy! Just received a second hand Columbus which I'm setting up in my Fabia mk2 facelift (vrs).

 

More or less plug and play, replacing my original Swing unit. There are a couple of things I want to enable/change though, and I see guides for doing it with VCDS, but am unsure about long coding and adaptations in OBDEleven.

 

* Enable navigation on maxidot - in VCDS it should be (copied from another topic in here):

 

Click select control module
Enter 19-CAN-BUS and click on installations, then tick 37-Navigation.
Enter 37-Navigation and go into the long coding helper to set it up for the car, self explanatory apart from display type, I chose the bottom one from the list of 3, I think it was 'Highline'. Ensure 'Use BAP' is ticked.

 

* Change boot logo to VRS (also copied from another topic on this forum):

Controller 5F - Information Electr.
07 - Coding
Byte 18

By default the Value is 00

Change the value to:

00 - Skoda Default
01 - Skoda VRS
02 - Scout
03 - Lauren and Klement
04 - Greenline

 

Now, does anyone know how to do this with OBDEleven? I had a go last night, but coudn't figure out how to code the correct bits & bytes. For example, module 19 is called something else, but looks to be the CAN-BUS / Gateway, however I was not able to find any byte 37.

 

 

[VW OEM rear view camera for mk2 VRS]

I completely forgot about this thread. Sorry.

I did receive my camera after the usual 6 weeks delivery. Unfortunately it does not fit my mk2. The frame/boot handle part of the camera is too big. I'll measure it later, maybe someone else needs one. I suspect it will fit a couple of other Skoda models.

I'm still looking for an alternative.

[VW OEM rear view camera for mk2 VRS]

Both the ones I linked has got the rectangular plug which goes into the yellow socket on the back of the head unit (check all the photos). There's just another connection in between because it's impossible to get that big plug through all the places you need to pull the wire through. The second set looks to me like it's of a better quality than the first one. My biggest concern is will the camera/handle itself physically fit my Fabia... It says it fits

Golf Plus, Jetta MK5 / MK6, Tiguan and Passat B7, but I have no idea if those cars has the same size as the Fabia.

 

[VW OEM rear view camera for mk2 VRS]

Hi guys!

I'm buying a second hand Columbus for my Fabia mk2 vrs (2013). I've been using an Android stereo with one of those cheap backup cameras with the yellow connector cable replacing the boot handle. Now that I need to do changes anyway, I think I'll opt for replacing the camera with a cheap OEM RGB camera mounted in the same location. The VW/Skoda brand ones are very expensive, so I'm considering the OEM ones sold on Ali Express. Question is, will they fit? Has anyone tried them?

Have a look at these examples (hopefully the links will work):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-OEM-VW-RGB-Rear-View-Reversing-Camera-RVC-For-Golf-Plus-Jetta-MK5-5-MK6/32538363821.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/OEM-Original-VW-RGB-Rear-view-Camera-For-Golf-Plus-Jetta-MK5-MK6-Tiguan-Passat-B7/1196289535.html

 

As far as I can tell, they should fit, however Ali Express sellers aren't exactly known for using quality pictures of their items. Does anyone know if the VW models mentioned in the ads use the same boot handle types as we do in our Fabias?

And no, we don't really need these cameras, but I like having everything

[Does the Fabia mk2 vRS (FL) come with the Skoda sound system?]

So, I've been pretty certain my Fabia does NOT come with a DSP/sound system. The sound from the original Swing unit that came with the car is very good though.

 

Since I bought the car I've tried several alternatives to this head unit. RCD310, RCD510 and different Android units. The Android units mostly sound, uhm, less than impressive (as expected), but I would have thought the RCD310 dab and RCD510 dab sounded at least as good as my Swing. Strangely, they both sounded a lot worse. Both were the VW variation, not the Skoda ones.

 

Now this led me to thinking maybe I do have a sound system and these units are not coded for it? Unfortunately I didn't have access to VCDS at the time so couldn't check. I suppose another possibility is that both of them were in fact coded for a sound system and I don't have one. Would that impact the sound as well?

 

Are there any ways of checking for certain if I have got an improved sound system or not?

[Amundsen dab+, bluetooth (Fabia2 vRS)]

Ah, now I've spotted your signature! I'm pretty sure it will be too expensive right now, but we could always have a chat via PM. You never know.

 

 

[Amundsen dab+, bluetooth (Fabia2 vRS)]

Great! Thanks

 

[Amundsen dab+, bluetooth (Fabia2 vRS)]

After messing around with a couple of different Android units, I've had enough and I want something that works, sounds as good or better than my original unit, and has dab+. The original unit in my car is a Skoda Swing. It actuallty sounds great, but where I live is dab only now, so I'd like something with that. Kenwood units and Columbus are too expensive for my taste right now, however ebay seems to have quite a few Amundsen+ dab units.

I'm a bit confused when it comes to bluetooth. As far as I can tell all the Amundsen dab units come with built in bluetooth. I've already got the under seat module integrated with the car, contacts in maxidot, steering wheel integration etc. How will that end up working if I install the Amundsen?

 

And does it integrate fully with the maxidot (NAV instructions, song name etc)?

[Mk2 VRS upper honeycomb grill]

Is that the Milotec one?

[Retro wipers?]

Does anybody know if it's possible to get the older style of wipers compatible with the mk2 vrs/facelift?

 

I think frame style wipers would look great on this car.

Like these:

[Aerial replacement (DAB & GPS)]

I ordered two five metre fakra female to male, two female fakra to male sma, and one fakra to fakra with phantom power for the dab. Think I'm all set

[Aerial replacement (DAB & GPS)]

Thanks for all the info so far guys, you've been very helpful

The fakra cables I need, they should be female at the aerial base? Or to put it another way, the connectors from the new aerial are male fakras? Hopefully they're the same as my current antenna, so I don't have to do anything with the cables already in place.

[Aerial replacement (DAB & GPS)]

1 hour ago, abaday789 said:

If that's what the back of your unit looks like. Then yes it will be SMA males you will need. 

 

This is my unit. I was wrong about the quadlock, that was on my previous unit. This one has a cable with quadlock on it, not on the box itself. The dab radio is provided by the Joying USB dab-stick.

GPS connection looks the same.

 

58 minutes ago, Rustynuts said:

On my Yeti I removed the grab handle at the front and managed to get the cables pulled through to there with no bother, then continued away down the A pillar.

Sweet! How much did you lower in the back? You've done the same job as I'm planning?

[Aerial replacement (DAB & GPS)]

1 hour ago, abaday789 said:

I would guess that down the C pillar would be the best choice of action.

 

What connections does the new aerial give you?

I was looking doing something like that on my car and did a fair bit of research on the matter but I'm due to be selling it tomorrow so as upgrading to the MKIII Monte Carlo. 
I should still be able to lend a hand though. 

In terms of connection you will need female fakra to SMA male x2
Then Female to Male fakra x2

For length of cable I wouldn't know but you can work that out using a tape measure I'm sure plus adding a little extra for 'wiggle' room

Best way to check what connections you need to plug into the back of the unit is to pull it out and check what's on the back  I find with the joying and other chinese android HUs the rear connections can vary quite a bit. For example mine has the dual fakra built in along with the can-bus decoder. The other one came with a quadlock extension with the can-bus decoder in the line and a dual fakra to din aerial adaptor

 

Cheers buddy. As Rustynuts says, the new aerial gives me AM/FM, DAB(+), GPS and GSM. I've had the unit out a number of times to do stuff, and I'm pretty sure it's SMA females, but I'll double check. I also have the built in Quad-lock and dual fakra for FM/AM Thinking about buying the Joying amp as well, but afraid there wont be enough space behind the head unit..

 

1 hour ago, Rustynuts said:

White Fakra is AM/FM, Black Fakra is DAB, Blue Fakra is GPS, and maroon (brown) is GSM (phone antenna).

 

Run the cables along the underside of the roof above the headlining, and down the A pillar is easiest. Use a draw wire (a long semi rigid piece of plastic) to pull the cables through, then unclip the A pillar trim and feed down there to the back of the glove box, then into the back of the head unit. 6mtr cables is plenty long enough, 5mtr is okay but more expensive than 6mtr (usually), 3mtr is too short. I can sell you some 3mtr cables if you want?

 

Edit. The OEM antenna takes 12v dc power up the DAB connection on the OEM units, would this be a problem on aftermarket units?

Thanks! A pillar sounds good. Will I be able to use the draw wire to poke through from the top of the A to the back pillar without lowering the front of the roof lining? I can then attach the new fakra cables and pull them back to the front. Looks like I'll be ordering two six metre fakra cables female to male, and two female fakra to male sma (if the back of the head unit is indeed female sma). Correct?

I'm unsure about the power issue. I don't think the head unit provides power through the sma, so my guess is I would need some sort of converter that allows me to draw from a normal 12v power line and send that into the fakra connector.

[Aerial replacement (DAB & GPS)]

I got a little bit trigger happy and ordered an OEM VW sharkfin as a replacement aerial, product number 6R0035501D, for my vRS mk2. The car came with the standard Swing stereo, but I've since replaced that several times, and I am now sporting a Joying Intel Sofia android unit which I am very happy with. It comes with GPS/Sat-nav and DAB built in, however my DAB signal isn't strong enough for me to be content with the stick-on window antenna setup, and getting a better aerial for the GPS as well is a bonus.

Now, as far as mounting the antenna itself, it looks fairly straight forward. Drop the rear part of the roof lining, then disconnect and replace aerial base. What's the easiest way to get the new wires to my head unit? Down the C-pillars?

 

I', also uncertain as to which FAKRA cables I need? Both GPS and DAB are SMA female if I remember correctly. Don't know if I need male or female FAKRA at the other end though. I guess I need two m/f FAKRA to male SMA, five meters?

 

If there's any interest, I could try to make a guide while doing it.

[New Yeti Bolero MIB STD2 PQ 5L0035200A for S2 / O2FL / F2FL / Yeti]

So this unit will actually work in the Fabia 2 FL (vRS)? That's pretty awesome! It means we can get an original unit with Carplay, Android auto, dab... And it works 100% with the "old" canbus (OPS etc) and steering wheel controls as well?