The Dance head unit is a decent enough thing, but has no means of playing back most of my music, which is in electronic format and not on CD.

I need something that can read the MP3 files directly, either from a USB storage device or with an SD memory card. A touch screen would be good, and ideally I'd like a SatNav and bluetooth phone capability.

I also have Maxidot and parking sensors - obviously the current Dance machine interacts fine with these, and ideally I'd like a replacement do the same. RDS on the Radio is also essential.

I gather that the lack of a CAM bus or somethingorather in the Fabia MkII means that an RNS 510 unit won't work properly, even though the bay and the wiring would appear to be compatible.

So I'm looking at alternatives on eBay like these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-Din-Car-DVD-GPS-DVB-Player-SKODA-OCTAVIA-II-III-FABIA_W0QQitemZ250497114740QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_GPSSystems_GPSSystems?hash=item3a52caa274

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1053-EONON-2-DIN-7-TV-VCD-DVD-PLAYER-FOR-SKODA-OCTAVIA_W0QQitemZ360222232750QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Audio_TV_Electronics_In_Car_Entertainment_GPS_In_Car_Audio_Players_PP?hash=item53deeb10ae

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-DVD-GPS-SEAT-LEON-AlteaToledo-VW-SKODA-PASSAT-GOLF_W0QQitemZ220528216538QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Audio_TV_Electronics_In_Car_Entertainment_GPS_In_Car_Audio_Players_PP?hash=item33588189da

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DVD-GPS-SEAT-EOS-Volkswagen-VW-SKODA-PASSAT-GOLF-Jetta_W0QQitemZ260534862461QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Audio_TV_Electronics_In_Car_Entertainment_GPS_In_Car_Audio_Players_PP?hash=item3ca916827d

Edited 9 January, 201016 yr by Willum

These are really good units, A wee bit pricier than ebay, But cheaper than an OE RNS510.

Plus you'll get a decent level of backup and a guarantee!

http://www.zenec.com/index.php?id=305&L=1

http://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/zenec-zemc5600-bluetooth-monitor-ipod-p-10222.html

Thanks! That was quick!

And these are OK in a Fabia? No compatibility problems with the electronics?

EDIT: Oh, and what's E>GO?

Edited 9 January, 201016 yr by Willum

A cheaper and easier solution would be to record your music on a cd in mp3 format or use the 3.5mm stereo input on the centre console via an mp3 player. Then get a separate sat nav unit with bluetooth capability. If you want you telephone calls to be played on your car's speakers getr a sat nav with bluetooth and 3.5mm out.

A cheaper and easier solution would be to record your music on a cd in mp3 format or use the 3.5mm stereo input on the centre console via an mp3 player. Then get a separate sat nav unit with bluetooth capability. If you want you telephone calls to be played on your car's speakers getr a sat nav with bluetooth and 3.5mm out.

Yes, I thought of that and the following, serious problems would result:

1. My music collection, before I even started on CDs, so talking in terms of what's on files on my PC's hard drive, would need several MP3 CDs. I don't want to be faffing around changing CDs when driving. I want it all on once place on once device. 16GB would just about do that.

2. I can't control my MP3 player while driving if it were rigged up via the 3.5mm line-in jack socket below the driver's armrest. It's fiddly enough operating it as it is.

3. Then, I need another device to do satellite navigation, which I have to remove when I'm not in the car or it's too attractive to thieves. Hassle. At least the stereo's mounted into the dash, and would necessitate dash assembly to steal it (with the alarm blaring if they smashed the window)

4. After that, I've got to rig my phone up to that separate device, every time I use it.

Not really practical, to be honest. I like the idea of a device with a large touch screen, that does it all. I've been down the route of sat nav units stuck to the windscreen before. Something always falls onto the floor at some point in the journey - I don't really want to go back to doing that if I can avoid it.

I guess this is the only option.

Thanks for your suggestion, though.

Just spotted this.

Seems to do everything that that Zenec unit does, but it's at a much more attractive price.

I'm seriously tempted!

You might be more interested in this product:

http://www.timelesslong.cn/Simplified/ProductView.asp?ID=421&SortID=82

With the digital TV tuner and RDS options its about £220. Shipping to the UK is about US$70 (£45). They take PayPal.

These units seem to be well thought of on the German forums. No significant problems with them.

You might be more interested in this product:

http://www.timelesslong.cn/Simplified/ProductView.asp?ID=421&SortID=82

With the digital TV tuner and RDS options its about £220. Shipping to the UK is about US$70 (£45). They take PayPal.

These units seem to be well thought of on the German forums. No significant problems with them.

Interesting!

Do you know whether it has MFD support so that it'll show station name etc. on the MaxiDOT display on the dash?

You might be more interested in this product:

http://www.timelesslong.cn/Simplified/ProductView.asp?ID=421&SortID=82

With the digital TV tuner and RDS options its about £220. Shipping to the UK is about US$70 (£45). They take PayPal.

These units seem to be well thought of on the German forums. No significant problems with them.

I've noticed that the units from the manufacturer you've suggested, Timeless-Long, Witson, which others on this forum have mentioned and the eBay one I linked to earlier would appear to be very similar.

Has anyone managed to compare Witson and Timeless-Long units?

I've noticed that the units from the manufacturer you've suggested, Timeless-Long, Witson, which others on this forum have mentioned and the eBay one I linked to earlier would appear to be very similar.

Has anyone managed to compare Witson and Timeless-Long units?

Just had confirmation from the eBay seller Asure about the most recent eBay listing I linked to above. The unit in question is indeed a Zuhai Witson unit. I gather Witson are highly thought-of on these forums?

Just under £350 delivered. Deal?

The Timelesslong TID-7501 seems to be very well regarded on the German forums (China-RNS). There have been very few problems with it and apparently it even works on the new Golf Mk VI. It is a new unit and runs WinCE6. Price from China inc. delivery is about £270 inc, the DVB-T tv tuner. As I understand things it will work off the MF steering wheel, but not display info in Maxidot.

Note that with A-Sure you still have to send the unit back to China if there is a fault!

HTH

Note that with A-Sure you still have to send the unit back to China if there is a fault!

But won't that be the case with Timeless-Long as well?

What are the advantages of Windows CE 6 over 5?

Is this the Timeless-Long unit you were referring to? It seems to have the same features.

Edited 21 February, 201016 yr by Willum

Yes, the item you link to seems to be the Timelesslong TID-7501. You are paying £100+ extra for the benefit of buying it from a UK seller. It is obviously cheaper if you buy direct from China but there might be customs fees, depending on how (un)lucky you are.

The point I was making about A-Sure is that there is no advantage buying from them as opposed to direct from China, because either way if there is a problem you have to ship it back to China.

WinCE6 has a few less bugs and a few more features than WinCE5.

Yes, the item you link to seems to be the Timelesslong TID-7501. You are paying £100+ extra for the benefit of buying it from a UK seller. It is obviously cheaper if you buy direct from China but there might be customs fees, depending on how (un)lucky you are.

The point I was making about A-Sure is that there is no advantage buying from them as opposed to direct from China, because either way if there is a problem you have to ship it back to China.

WinCE6 has a few less bugs and a few more features than WinCE5.

Hi

Does anyone have any direct knowledge of installing this unit, I have just purchased a Fabia 3 for my wife and would like to change the Dance unit but equally I wouldnt like to lose the parking functionality.

Great forum by the way.

You will not get the parking function with this unit, only with the OE Skoda unit.

I