 | Home > In Car Electronics > Fitted! Double DIN Parrot Asteroid Smart. + now DAB |
 
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2753  
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Yeah maybe a xtech/lxv style corris grey surround would look good... Hmm
Don't give me ideas! Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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17th Mar 2014 10:42pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20347
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Too late, Killer could knock you one up.
 $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó ´ó ¿ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸â›½ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª |
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17th Mar 2014 10:46pm |
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| dgardel Member Since: 30 Nov 2008 Location: Veneto (Heart & Head) Posts: 3586 
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Outback Engineering??? Discovery 5 td6 HSE Stornoway Gray Outback Engineering Limited Edition
IID Pro MV License |
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18th Mar 2014 4:58am |
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| RouseyD Member Since: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Southampton Posts: 24 
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Hi David
I agree with the other comments - it looks fantastic. I may have missed it, but have you got a reversing camera hooked in yet / do you plan to? Now you've lived with it a while, how have you found the Parrot system? I have been looking at a couple of single din solutions where the screen pops up for sat-nav and reversing camera duties, but didn't want to obscure hazard light switch and this looks far more elegant. Cheers, Dave |
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21st Mar 2014 10:54am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20347
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On a single DIN you can adjust the screen out wards so you can still access the switch. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
🇬🇧ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó ´ó ¿ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸â›½ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª |
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21st Mar 2014 11:08am |
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| RouseyD Member Since: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Southampton Posts: 24
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custom90steve - thanks - when I was looking, the models I'd come across online (not in the flesh) seemed like they would obscure the switches, or at least the screen would need adjusting at the time of accessing the switches.
Now I've seen David's installation, my personal preference is very much toward the fully integrated look. The ability to use TomTom software as well, is (personally) appealing. I'm keen to hear especially if there are any niggles or things where the Parrot doesn't behave as one might want (e.g. responsiveness). Cheers, Dave . |
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21st Mar 2014 11:31am |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2753
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Thanks, as I'm sure you can tell I'm very pleased. Wasn't expecting anything like as good a final product as I've ended up with. No reversing camera yet, but it is very much on the to-do list, maybe around easter ill get one sorted but I'm not home much (at uni in London) at the moment so been no real rush to get it sorted. I think ill probably get one something like this, maybe fit it onto a bracket somehow attached to the number plate light or maybe high up near the rear window washer nozzle, will have to think about it.
As for the parrot, ive had a handsfree kit and the single din asteroid off them before so i knew what to expect. This system, however, is particularly good. The bluetooth (audio and handsfree) are perfect, and the voice dialling superb (as with all parrot kits). The fact that i can also run onboard diagnostics, satnav, reversing camera etc ontop of the standard functions too is just brilliant. It also has Wifi, 4x USB, line in, video in and out (can support 2 rear screens too!) so it has all the bases covered. Ease-of-use-wise, Its just the right mixture of function and simplicity. Its more similar to an iPhone than android in many ways, as the interface is a custom one which has been much simplified compared to standard android which can be a bit feature heavy and clunky in my opinion. As you said, i didn't want a flimsy pop up screen which also blocks switches and vents , so this was my best option. The only downside I have found is that volume is slightly difficult to do when you are using satnav or another app (not the app playing the music currently) and driving. When you just have the radio on or whatever you can use gestures to adjust volume etc, but when the satnav or OBD scanner etc is on the screen you have to use the volume soft key then slide a slider. Thats why I've purchased my USB volume know which i hope to set up soon. Otherwise, its absolutely perfect and when it was in the dealers the other day the mechanic popped out to say to me that he'd had a fiddle with it and he thought it was the best head unit he'd ever seen in a defender, with respect to both the head unit itself and its fitting into the car. The other thing to mention is that it costs only around £450 off ebay (maybe even less) new with warranty etc, so its a hell of a lot cheaper than any equivalent from Alpine/Pioneer/Sony etc (as much as £999-1200 or more!) and in my opinion i wouldn't swap it for anything else. If anyone likes, i can help you get the TomTom app (latest version 1.3) with ALL EUROPEAN MAPS for android (will work on 99% of android phones, as well as the asteroid smart etc all for free  Compare that to the often £200+ extra 'satnav' add-on that most head unit manufacturers will charge you for such maps/navigation.
Its also worth mentioning that the Asteroid DOES come with a gps antenna included, and a navigation app called 'iGO Primo' on a few months trial, although i thought it was pretty poor. TomTom Europe is around £55-60 i think, but as I said i can help anyone get it for free very easily. The expensive cost, really, is the £300 or so for the double din facia. Any questions, fire away! Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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21st Mar 2014 11:57am |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2753
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It is incredibly responsive, i was very surprised since the asteroid single din was fairly average. Its really impressive. Ill make a video of it in action and my setup in a week or so when i get back.. Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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21st Mar 2014 12:07pm |
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| Egghead Member Since: 25 Nov 2012 Location: Surrey Posts: 255 
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My double DIN unit, which pops out on engine ignition and hides my switches
The clearance behind the unit's screen can be adjusted in settings so that it sits fairly flush with the facia, or tilts a little, or stands out proud - so behind the screen is (just) accessible. The screen is reasonably sturdy and doesn't wobble too much except when the off road tracks I use are horrendous, then it's best to close the screen away. Reaching the switches behind though is not too good even with the screen at its maximum distance setting. It's a nightmare trying to give a quick set of thank you flashes with the hazards whilst zipping along the motorway! 
I use that reversing camera you have indicated (or pretty similar) and i have it mounted above the rear screenwash jet. Works a treat (see pictures) except for a crack in the screen which slightly hampers vision when it has been raining and condensation fogs up the view! I enquired about a replacement lens cover but it looks like I'll have to replace the whole unit. You can compare prices of the unit with your own sources with this link. Here are some pics of the camera mounted at the rear and the camera view I get on the dashboard screen...
As I have an OBDLink LX unit I am very keen to explore the Parrot Asteroid Smart - then I can solve the other issue I have with my current setup where during winter the heating vents blow straight onto the popout screen.  |
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23rd Mar 2014 9:22am |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2753
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Yeah the heater/switches are the main reasons I didn't go for a single din pop up like you, that and also I wanted it to look as factory as possible.
I honestly can't recommend the parrot asteroid smart enough! The torque app (obd diagnostics & gauges) is great, as is the tomtom as mentioned before Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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23rd Mar 2014 11:36am |
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| nicks Member Since: 21 Aug 2008 Location: south coast Posts: 469 
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I've got a double din facia ti install and am looking at the asteroid smart. does the sat nav have to use 3g all the time?
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24th Mar 2014 5:17pm |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2753
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No, it comes with iGo installed on a trial (on an SD card) which I found pretty poor.
So I downloaded tomtom Europe - it can be purchased off the asteroid market on the device itself or on a computer then transferred via SD to the device - but I downloaded it online using a well known Swedish website and it works like a treat. All the maps are stored on the device- I've never even used 3G on the device. It works like a dream Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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24th Mar 2014 6:03pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20347
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The double DIN is the best option if you can afford it, but it is MUCH more expensive.
The cost is high not so much because of the actual HU but because the dash costs a lot.
Both have advantages and disadvantages. And both have grave security vulnerability which I will not quote online.
Only thing that annoys me with any system that after only about a year there will be a new model with different or better features. For a very top of the range HU (with all the bells and whistles) and dash etc you could easily blow £1000 - £1800. Also what ever system you have it needs a good interface that you can update through PC etc. Is this one David actually removable or USB updated? Most of Kenwood and other manufacturers are via USB. I think iPad style if not an iPad in dash easily removable is the way to go. It's pretty much hot everything then. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R 🇬🇧ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó ´ó ¿ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸â›½ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª |
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24th Mar 2014 6:24pm |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2753
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yeah i agree with you there, Steve. You see the satnav units in other cars and which were fitted a few years ago (ken wood, sony, pioneer etc etc) and they look very outdated, maps need a costly update disc or can't be updated and often don't support newer technologies etc
thats why i went for the Asteroid, as it can be updated via USB as you mention, but also it runs android apps and has all the basic technologies built in (Bluetooth, wifi, GPS, USB etc) so i can pretty much add whatever functionality I like in the future, as android is a brilliant platform (and thats from an iPhone/mac user!) which is well catered for in the development side. Also android supports lots of hardware which i may wish to add on in the future Also the satnav being tom-tom means that there are regular updates etc released so i won't be stuck like dads land cruiser which doesn't know of the M6 toll! I think its generally a more future proof unit, and also being only £425ish it isn't the biggest outlay to lose should a better alternative become available in the future. A comparable Sony/Kenwood/Alpine/pioneer unit would be over £1000 and much harder to keep up-to-date/install anything yourself Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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24th Mar 2014 7:52pm |
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