I am looking at one of these, as an alternative to a columbus.

Does anybody have any experience of them?

Their feedback is pretty good considering the amount of items they shift.

TIA

Anybody?

What would happen if it went wrong?

You aren't covered by any EU protection, plus the company is the otherside of the Pond.

We have an Erisin unit in our Bongo camper van and its pretty good for the money.

Radio, digital TV, CD/DVD, satnav, USB, SD card.

We got ours from a supplier in the UK and he seems to have a good reputation. I'm not sure if he does model specific ones though as ours is just a straightforward double DIN unit.

Update:

I bought one of these units, and installed it this morning.

Pretty easy to install, everything works pretty intuitively, and easy to get set up.

Had a bit of a problem getting the bluetooth working properly, but once done, works good. plays music through bluetoth fro phone.

Have not yet set up the telly, or tried the DVD. Music plays from SD card. And came with a satnav, already loaded up with maps etc.

The finish isn't what you'd call VW standard. The main volume knob and tuner knob feel a little plasticky, but I will accept that, at one third the price of a second hand, probably stolen columbus unit.

The unit is the exact shape of the columbus unit, It fits the dash perfectly

In summary, a tentative thumbs up. It will be interesting to see how durable it is.

Update:

I bought one of these units, and installed it this morning.

Pretty easy to install, everything works pretty intuitively, and easy to get set up.

Had a bit of a problem getting the bluetooth working properly, but once done, works good. plays music through bluetoth fro phone.

Have not yet set up the telly, or tried the DVD. Music plays from SD card. And came with a satnav, already loaded up with maps etc.

The finish isn't what you'd call VW standard. The main volume knob and tuner knob feel a little plasticky, but I will accept that, at one third the price of a second hand, probably stolen columbus unit.

The unit is the exact shape of the columbus unit, It fits the dash perfectly

In summary, a tentative thumbs up. It will be interesting to see how durable it is.

Hi,

Thanks for the update, what model and year of car have you fitted it to, was it a simple plug and play installation,

Tony

Hi,

Thanks for the update, what model and year of car have you fitted it to, was it a simple plug and play installation,

Tony

Octavia 1.9tdi ambience. 55 plate.

Yes, pretty much plug and play, although I did order the one from Hong Kong, as opposed to the one shipped from UK, as the deal included a canbus adaptor.

I assume that this is for such things as handbrake sensor (for video) and reversing sensor (for rear facing camera).

Octavia 1.9tdi ambience. 55 plate.

Yes, pretty much plug and play, although I did order the one from Hong Kong, as opposed to the one shipped from UK, as the deal included a canbus adaptor.

I assume that this is for such things as handbrake sensor (for video) and reversing sensor (for rear facing camera).

Is the instuction manual any good , what model of radio has it replaced.

Tony

Edited 22 November, 201114 yr by freelanderman

Is the instuction manual any good , what model of radio has it replaced.

Tony

It replaced a stream mp3, which in turn replaced a standard stream.

I had to buy a different dash trim, which cost me about £6.

The instruction manual is typical chinese. quite sparse, but good enough for anyone with reasonable technological nouse.

I have, however, still got to get some features working and tested. I will let you know how I get on.

Hi

Many thanks for the reply, its just thinking of putting one in my Roomster,

Kind Regards

Tony

I think the problem with the bluetooth was the siting of the GPS antenna, as that locked up also. (I think they are a combined unit)

I have resited this in the dashtop cubby and all is well. Phone conects as soon as you start up the unit.

DVD works perfectly. Telly is ****. I just about managed to get BBC1 and 2 but the pic is terrible. The antenna is a stick on one, which I have mounted to the inside of the cubby flap.

Hi,

Posts at 02.45!!!

What's the sound quality like, are the sat nav maps up to date, seems to be a good buy at that price.

Tony

Update:

I bought one of these units, and installed it this morning.

Pretty easy to install, everything works pretty intuitively, and easy to get set up.

Had a bit of a problem getting the bluetooth working properly, but once done, works good. plays music through bluetoth fro phone.

Have not yet set up the telly, or tried the DVD. Music plays from SD card. And came with a satnav, already loaded up with maps etc.

The finish isn't what you'd call VW standard. The main volume knob and tuner knob feel a little plasticky, but I will accept that, at one third the price of a second hand, probably stolen columbus unit.

The unit is the exact shape of the columbus unit, It fits the dash perfectly

In summary, a tentative thumbs up. It will be interesting to see how durable it is.

good info been looking at options for double din sat-nav and these obviously tempt me given what you get for the money.

my main concern was the sound quality to be honest, but if this is as good as the standard head unit, then that would be good enough for me.

FYI.... i did read somewhere you can get somesort of freeview adapter which boosts the signal and makes it more watchable, but for the £100+ that was quoted, i'm not interested enough :no:

Hi,

Posts at 02.45!!!

What's the sound quality like, are the sat nav maps up to date, seems to be a good buy at that price.

Tony

Sat Nav seems up to date. Comes with I-go maps, but says on the ad that tomtom maps are compatible. I haven't tried it, but might give it a go if I can source them for free.

good info been looking at options for double din sat-nav and these obviously tempt me given what you get for the money.

my main concern was the sound quality to be honest, but if this is as good as the standard head unit, then that would be good enough for me.

FYI.... i did read somewhere you can get somesort of freeview adapter which boosts the signal and makes it more watchable, but for the £100+ that was quoted, i'm not interested enough :no:

Sound quality pretty good. Obviously depends on MP3 quality etc too, though.

Radio clear as a bell.

My only slight gripe is the telly reception. But that was only ever going to be a bonus anyway.

Sat Nav seems up to date. Comes with I-go maps, but says on the ad that tomtom maps are compatible. I haven't tried it, but might give it a go if I can source them for free.

Sound quality pretty good. Obviously depends on MP3 quality etc too, though.

Radio clear as a bell.

My only slight gripe is the telly reception. But that was only ever going to be a bonus anyway.

on the subject of maps, there was a topic on here (back in march i think) where some guy on here was update the firmware or summit that would allow the tom tom software to be installed, might be wort a look for the thread if you want a better nav option on there )

Do these integrate with the Canbus OK? and the steering wheel controls.

Just thinking about one for the new Yeti.

Do these integrate with the Canbus OK? and the steering wheel controls.

Just thinking about one for the new Yeti.

I got the one from Hong Kong because it came with the canbus adapter. I haven't had any problems.

There is the facility to program the MFSW, but I haven't got one, so can't comment how successful it would be.

OK thanks for that, might give it a go

Jars, I have one fitted to my 08 Octavia if you are interested as I may not be too far from you. I just waiting for a rear view camera to arrive so I can finish it all off.

John