Shopping for Acc. Need Nav, how to add?

[nomad]

I found an oem look unit, anyone wonna try it

http://www.autosoul.cn/procuctview.a...758&classid=51

[kingmoocow]

Interesting. I wonder what that thing costs... It even has dual/auto climate buttons...

Probably isn't something sold in the US at all, but I don't put anything past the Chinese for rockin' knockoffs of stuff...

I'd bet it runs Windows Mobile, but I wonder what it uses for its GPS... I can't find much about this thing at all. Anywhere that sells this company's stuff says 'call for price', or something similar. Someone mentioned $430USD for the RAV4 unit.

I'm sure support is nil and that the GPS is probably a gimmicky POS that's not updatable without hardcore hacking (and no real community for such), but still the idea of a unit that is basically plug and play, and comes with iPod support out of the box, for about 1/3 the cost of adding in an OEM system I'm sure is enticing to someone.

[kingmoocow]

Someone that bought one (from China):
http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopi...opic=1&t=22389
Long thread with customer and vendor participation.
Video @ post 89.

Ended up ~$550


Dang, I almost want this thing now. It's sketch to buy though -- Wire $500 to China, and get a GPS 2 weeks later? Ehh...

[LFSoccer2k6]

wow. very interesting. it does look really good in the RAV4. I wish I could see it in an Accord. It has an entire brain built into the back to hook up all stuff. I even like how the digital temperature display. This could turn into something that a lot of us buy if it is legit and decent. What if we did a group buy after some more research?

Nomad, where did you find this? Previous experience with them or just browsing the internet? I am sending them an email for more details.

[kingmoocow]

There's a sales rep talking in the post, I've only read the first 3 or 4 pages of the guy talking about it.

It certainly sounds like it has potential, but I'd have serious concerns about the supportability of it. It uses iGo for the GPS, which isn't BAD, but it doesn't support as much as TomTom/Garmin units - but it DOES look really nice in form factor and GUI. I'm VERY intrigued...

Especially since it IS WinMo @ the core, it should be modifyable, and possibly can even drop in TomTom software to replace iGo?

I need to make time to read that whole thread.

[LFSoccer2k6]

it is one long ass thread...21 pages

i will read through and research as well...keep us updated

[crackerteg]

I'm interested in knowing more about it. And like you said KingMoo, its hackable because of Windows Mobile so I like that feature. I'm subscribing to this thread.

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by nomad

I found an oem look unit, anyone wonna try it

http://www.autosoul.cn/procuctview.a...758&classid=51

SPAM. This guy is doing the same post in multiple threads.

[kingmoocow]

I guess this is officially a threadjack... But related?
There's evidently a lot of these knockoff systems (still talking RAV4):
http://rav4world.com/forums/viewtopi...=233185#233185

Anyone want to see if any of these vendors other than Autosoul make an Accord unit?

[kingmoocow]

Originally Posted by hillstones

SPAM. This guy is doing the same post in multiple threads.

Hrm; while he IS spamming - I still think it's created a valid point of discussion on the topic. Just that there IS an alternative out there.

[LFSoccer2k6]

it is apparent the system still exists. alternatives we will find.

[crackerteg]

Even if Nomad is spamming (he's apparently a member over at rav4world and providing customer support) he did open eyes to something that's more affordable than the OEM unit which I'm sure a lot of us have been considering, including me. I did read through all the pages of that thread in rav4 and the guy that took the initial plunge seems to be pretty happy with it overall. As for the wiring money issue, that's another I read over there. The company is now taking paypal though I don't know if anyone here is wanting to take the plunge on the Accord side.

[Calamity Coyote]

I like how that unit looks. Wonder how it would fit in a car with Navi already installed. Possible upgrade.

[kingmoocow]

LFSoccer2k6 has gotten more info from the vendor on the unit; I'll invite him share what he's found once he has all his questions/whatever answered for them for the best info.

It does appear that it's more expensive than the RAV4 unit that the some of the initial discussion was based on (probably because it has the extra climate control stuff that the RAV unit does not have), but still might be a bit cheaper than the OEM unit/harness/installation effort.

From what I can see though, to speak to whether or not you can replace the OEM Nav, I'm sure that would be doable since the units themselves are the same form factor. Whether or not you could use the wiring for the old GPS antenna and whatnot would be questionable, but the unit itself should fit.

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by kingmoocow

Hrm; while he IS spamming - I still think it's created a valid point of discussion on the topic. Just that there IS an alternative out there.

He is spamming because I have seen his post in threads that are not even related to Navigation. Second, who would want to buy the product since most similar items from China offer no support, such as no satellite radio support since XM/Sirius doesn't exist in China. Buyer Beware.