Updating from Columbus

[spk]

Interesting replacement unit @Noddy90 and thanks for posting! It's a real shame there doesn't seem to be any way to integrate to the existing GPS antenna etc. Looks very nice indeed.

 

One other thing I was wondering - does the maxidot integration for phone calls still work?

 

Also, are you getting map updates? If so, presumably via your paired phone?

 

Cheers,

Steve

[spk]

Thanks for the report @ste2000 but I think the unit @Noddy90 has got looks a better option here in the UK.

 

cheers, Steve

[Noddy90]

12 hours ago, spk said:

Interesting replacement unit @Noddy90 and thanks for posting! It's a real shame there doesn't seem to be any way to integrate to the existing GPS antenna etc. Looks very nice indeed.

 

One other thing I was wondering - does the maxidot integration for phone calls still work?

 

Also, are you getting map updates? If so, presumably via your paired phone?

 

Cheers,

Steve

 

The phone doesn't register on maxidot now - it's all handled through the Android interface.

 

I've got quite a little starting routine now:

 

• Put phone into windscreen mount.
• Open up FoxFi app which turns my phone into a 4G hotspot.
• Open up SMS Reader app which reads out any incoming texts
• Open up Voice Dialler app which enables me to make calls by voice command
• Set Sat-Nav
• Drive off

 

A bit of a faff but I feel I'm well-connected to the universe.

 

Map updates are handled by the sat-nav app on Android; if you've paid for the full package, updates come free.  I'm still using Sygic - it has flaws but is far better than others.

 

 

Edited 31 August, 2017 by Noddy90
Forgot about maps update...

[jafo]

Sygic - better than free Google Maps ?

[Noddy90]

4 hours ago, jafo said:

Sygic - better than free Google Maps ?

You can download and store the maps so you're not reliant on 4G.

[jafo]

11 minutes ago, Noddy90 said:

You can download and store the maps so you're not reliant on 4G.

 

The same can be done with Google Maps.

[ste2000]

34 minutes ago, jafo said:

The same can be done with Google Maps.

 

Does Google Maps build routes when off-line? My local GM rival (Yandex Navigator) does not.

 

Preinstalled Google Maps on my HU is very low contrast - I can barely see what's onscreen and still was unable to switch it to night mode.

Edited 1 September, 2017 by ste2000

[jafo]

Yes, you can, as long as you download areas to cover the route - of course no live updates.

[Noddy90]

Just drove home on Google maps - more stable than Sygic but no speed limits, no audible alerts, no current speed, no POIs (including speed cameras), no journey bar and a vastly inferior GUI. 

[jafo]

Camera Alert as overlay and the rest you can find on Google search or directly on the Map

[ste2000]

13 hours ago, jafo said:

Camera Alert as overlay and the rest you can find on Google search or directly on the Map

 

It's still hard to just ignore "vastly inferior GUI", "very low contrast - one can barely see what's onscreen".

Edited 2 September, 2017 by ste2000
typo

[MadLad91]

So after a lot of deliberation, I took the plunge and bought the system which @Noddy90 suggested.

It arrived 3 days early (bonus) and was installed within a couple of hours. That within it self was a really simple process.

• Take the old system out
• fit the new leads for the GPS/ Mic 
• plug in the new harness
• fit the system

No hic-ups, no worries. Fired up the system for the first time and it was already a vast improvement over the old Columbus system. It does make the cabin feel classier. HOWEVER, all is not well with unit. After less than a day of use problems have already appeared. 

1. the CD/ DVD function doesn't work - the disc is taken but does not fully load into the machine before it trips out and tries to take it again. (there is nothing already in the machine, that has been checked)
2. the built in WiFi is atrocious. It can not pick up a strong signal from more than a few feet away. It is not a signal strength issue as many other devices can pick up the same signal from a lot further away. 
3. the radio signal is ridiculous. It has been connected via the correct method but the stations are full of fade and noise, they are un-listenable.     
4. finally, it has decided to trigger an Air Bag warning. I know this could be completely unrelated but nothing to do with the Air Bag system was touched during the installation.

Now I know that I have probably been given a dodgy unit and I have contacted the company about the issues and am awaiting on a response which I will update here once I have received it. 

The unit IS fantastic and has the potential to be amazing in the car as all of the wheel controls worked straight from the box and the sound quality is really good (also being android being able to have Spotify and the likes is much easier than carrying tones of CD's) but I am posting this as a caution to others so that even though it is advertised as a direct replacement, issues can still happen. 

 

P.S: before anyone blames the installation as I carried it out myself. I have fitted all of my cars with aftermarket stereo units and have never encountered an issue. I'm not saying that I'm perfect and there is always a first but this was by far the easiest install I have done which makes it more of a shame that it is the one having issues. 

 

P.P.S: thanks for all the prior comments again, they were really helpful  

[jafo]

4. Probably because you've disconnected frontfascia - where airbag's LED is located - and turn on key to check if new unit works before reconnecting airbag's LED.

[Noddy90]

1 hour ago, MadLad91 said:

1. the CD/ DVD function doesn't work - the disc is taken but does not fully load into the machine before it trips out and tries to take it again. (there is nothing already in the machine, that has been checked

 

It ships with a retaining screw on the top of the drive; the CD bumps into the screw and then ejects.  This caught me out; remove the screw and all will be well.

 

1 hour ago, MadLad91 said:

1. finally, it has decided to trigger an Air Bag warning. I know this could be completely unrelated but nothing to do with the Air Bag system was touched during the installation.

 

This is the trigger in the fascia underneath the unit itself - the warning light has to be reset.  See jafo, above.

 

1 hour ago, MadLad91 said:

1. the built in WiFi is atrocious. It can not pick up a strong signal from more than a few feet away. It is not a signal strength issue as many other devices can pick up the same signal from a lot further away.

 

Yes, you're right.  It works MUCH better, though, if you set your phone to be a 4G hotspot

 

1 hour ago, MadLad91 said:

1. the radio signal is ridiculous. It has been connected via the correct method but the stations are full of fade and noise, they are un-listenable.     

 

I'm not much of a radio fan so this wouldn't have been an issue for me. I think I've randomly tried it, though, and don't remember a problem...

[ste2000]

I have just stuck over this launcher: "Car Launcher AG".

It looks like it is going to stay installed for some time - it's already is very well thought out and evolves rapidly in responce to user requests on Play Market. Now using 30-day free period: Car Launcher AG

Pic

Edited 4 September, 2017 by ste2000

[ste2000]

MadLad91,

I had also two problems you have: bad radio reception and bad WiFi stability. Both sorted (I have different HU though - Joying make).

 

Radio: only one of 2 Superb factory antennas should be connected which gives the result (I reported it on 1st page).

 

WiFi: I got Joying 4G/WiFi dongle retired (faulty product, I've lost tons of man-hours fighting it) and used phone as hot-spot very successfuly, as Noddy90 says, but then I have purchased Huawei E8372 4G WiFi modem and WiFi problems - stability and low speeds - disappeared.

Edited 4 September, 2017 by ste2000

[ste2000]

Sorry for spamming the thread - can not edit my previous message for some reason. Just to clarify: both phone as WiFi hotspot and Huawei modem as WiFi hotspot (using the same SIM) give fast and reliable Internet, as compared to Joying dongle which is useless still expensive.

[MadLad91]

Does anyone happen to know if the aerial connections are a double white plug or a single blue one? 

 

I've looked into reception problems and people have used both and can't seem to agree on which one it is.

 

Also I'm going to try a booster dongle for the WiFi and see if that makes any difference as they aren't that expensive.

[ste2000]

My specialist did not even go into such details. He has just disconnected both factory Superb antennas from harness supplied by HU manufacturer (the reception was awful with both connected), then reconnected only one of those, no any improvement. Then he disconnected the 1st antenna and reconnected another - and it just did it. Radio reception is now OK.

 

What is WiFi antenna like in your HU? On mine it is flexible insulated wire some 15 sm long coming out of HU back corner side. On some brands it is detachable plastic one on a screw, others may have wire uninsulated making reception worse because of contact with chassis.

Edited 5 September, 2017 by ste2000
typo

[Rustynuts]

5 hours ago, MadLad91 said:

Does anyone happen to know if the aerial connections are a double white plug or a single blue one? 

 

I've looked into reception problems and people have used both and can't seem to agree on which one it is.

 

Also I'm going to try a booster dongle for the WiFi and see if that makes any difference as they aren't that expensive.

AM/FM antenna is a double white plug. GPS is the single blue plug.

[ste2000]

Below is a link to some 20 pics of Joying HU (quad core Intel Atom x3 2Gb/32Gb 1024x600) as my replacement for Columbus. Not every screen is in English, sorry about that. Those pics primarily illustrate some software installed from Play market by Google and also preinstalled by manufacturer.

 

Home screen is of "Car Launcher AG" also from Play market as replacement to Joying factory "skin":

Joying HU: some software samples

[MadLad91]

Awesome thanks for the help, I've orders the correct connectors which should be arriving shortly and fingers crossed they should help the radio. 

 

As for WiFi I've ordered an amplifier dongle which should boost the signal enough (fingers crossed). 

 

@ste2000 the antenna on the back of this head unit is a insulated cable between 5cm and 10cm long. 

[ste2000]

MadLad91, where does this WiFi amplifier connect? I wonder if internal WiFi module connection with WiFi antenna is OK (not broken) since the signal shoud be good otherwise.

[MadLad91]

From what they say the thing is just a dongle you plug into one of the USB's on the back of the unit (guessing where you'd plug in the 3g dongle). 

 

I have wondered if the antenna is at fault but there is not real way of checking. 

[Andy730]

Hi,

New to the forum and bought a Superb (2010) last weekend. 

A few issues with it including using my LGG4 with the factory fitted system (it pairs up, you can see the phonebook etc but as soon as it connects to the car, the network is disconnected and I can't make calls). 

I have done a bit of looking around and it might be that the BT module is old. The cost of replacement is only a little less then what you are describing for the new system you have installed.

Now the question....... Does the new replacement system have BT installed thus not needing the factory fitted module under the seat or would I have to upgrade that as well?

Andy