[whowantscake]

I got shipped a USB stick I got from eBay and did it myself. It took about 45 minutes, and came with Hondas instructions.

Did you buy from the link above or a different seller? Is there a physical installation? For example, adding AA to my wife's Mazda took running cables and changing a USB port.

 

[HondaWiz]

Did you buy from the link above or a different seller? Is there a physical installation? For example, adding AA to my wife's Mazda took running cables and changing a USB port.

Yes, that eBay link. I sent them my VIN. They sent a USB stick and detailed instructions. You enter a special menu by holding three buttons on the radio. There is then a button to upgrade the firmware. Once complete the radio asks for a license file which is also on the stick.

 

[kyorin88]

Yes, that eBay link. I sent them my VIN. They sent a USB stick and detailed instructions. You enter a special menu by holding three buttons on the radio. There is then a button to upgrade the firmware. Once complete the radio asks for a license file which is also on the stick.

You may have lucked out on buying from that eBay seller, as he is only selling it for Local Pickup Only (no shipping), and now upped the price from $140 to $150

 

[TGHI]

Once complete the radio asks for a license file which is also on the stick.

This is very interesting. Judging by the time I've spent reverse engineering their updates, which, by the way, I don't spend my days in a hex editor looking at firmware so I guarantee there's much more knowledgeable people out there, I'm still confident saying that there's some inside baseball going on here.

 

[HondaWiz]

This is very interesting. Judging by the time I've spent reverse engineering their updates, which, by the way, I don't spend my days in a hex editor looking at firmware so I guarantee there's much more knowledgeable people out there, I'm still confident saying that there's some inside baseball going on here.

The license file is a md5 hash based of the VIN. Good luck with that.

 

[TGHI]

The license file is a md5 hash based of the VIN. Good luck with that.

A hash is easy - it's more than that. Update binaries contain a PEM cert (looks like RSA) that I imagine is based on the VIN and the data portion is encrypted/obfuscated (aka have very high entropy and are not fronted by any compression headers I recognize), so someone is signing that file with certs that has access to either Honda or RedBend equipment.

 

[HondaWiz]

A hash is easy - it's more than that. Update binaries contain a PEM cert (looks like RSA) that I imagine is based on the VIN and the data portion is encrypted/obfuscated (aka have very high entropy and are not fronted by any compression headers I recognize), so someone is signing that file with certs that has access to either Honda or RedBend equipment.

Panasonic is the OEM. According to the docs they provide the license to the dealer to update Android on the unit.

 

[TGHI]

Obviously Panasonic makes the hardware; RedBend is the one who made the FOTA packaging and provided the underlying service for signing/verifying OTA packages.

Have a look at the headers from an update from usb.honda.com:

Right after this from D9 to 4EB is some sort of hash (salted? a checksum?), followed by an RSA cert from 4EC to DC8. I'm fairly sure by the behaviour of usb.honda.com those certs are are being injected into the binary based on the VIN.

Point being, someone with access to the signing software is trying to make some bucks on the side. I know I wouldn't risk my job over it.

 

[Samuelx]

OK, you guys are firmly into NEOWW territory for me!

 

[TGHI]

I like to know how things work and tinker with them. Unfortunately for me, firmware packages for the head unit are pretty locked down. Someone with more smarts than me (or insider knowlege ) and/or a willingness to potentially destroy their head unit for debugging is needed.

 

[Sapphir8]

I got shipped a USB stick I got from eBay and did it myself. It took about 45 minutes, and came with Hondas instructions.

What’s the kernel build and date? I know the overall build is 18AA-5033-001.

 

[onepointfive]

Honda is way too late to the game, but I guess better late than never. I've found that CarPlay adapters for purchase have gotten REALLY good recently. Plus they're cheap, and you can always upgrade the hardware. Why lock yourself into something that damn-near never gets updated.

 

[DrKF]

Honda is way too late to the game, but I guess better late than never. I've found that CarPlay adapters for purchase have gotten REALLY good recently. Plus they're cheap, and you can always upgrade the hardware. Why lock yourself into something that damn-near never gets updated.

Nah, I’m going with the option from Honda, rather than aftermarket garbage.

 

[onepointfive]

Nah, I’m going with the option from Honda, rather than aftermarket garbage.

The hesitation is understood. But just cause it isn't from Honda doesn't make it garbage. Sure, I wouldn't want some aftermarket clone wheels that were made half as good, but we're talking about tech here. This year's Roku Stick is just plain better and faster than the built-in Roku OS from a TV made four years ago.

Unfortunately, since I'm very familiar w/ wireless CarPlay, I know that one major flaw with it is that the audio codec and bit rates are heavily knee capped and it sounds much worse than wired CarPlay and a little worse than Bluetooth, but the problem is mostly pronounced in cars with higher-end audio. If you have a basic system, you may not notice much difference.

I mention cause some people w/ aftermarket audio may not know about it.

 

[blacktoe3]

Swang by my dealership the other day to get the accessory, Wireless CP/AA Accessory Number: 08A43-TVA-100, installed for my 2020 Honda Accord Touring. The service advisor was initially unaware of this accessory. We had one of the techs come out, and there is currently a TSB on installing this accessory software update on 2018-2022 Honda Accords as it could brick the system, and the entire system would need to be replaced. Hoping the bug gets worked out soon!

 

[Zingzongzang]

Swang by my dealership the other day to get the accessory, Wireless CP/AA Accessory Number: 08A43-TVA-100, installed for my 2020 Honda Accord Touring. The service advisor was initially unaware of this accessory. We had one of the techs come out, and there is currently a TSB on installing this accessory software update on 2018-2022 Honda Accords as it could brick the system, and the entire system would need to be replaced. Hoping the bug gets worked out soon!

Where at if you don't mind me asking? I've seen people already get the update on reddit but also a tech saying it bricked his radio...? I have an appointment this Saturday to have it installed so I'm a little worried

 

[DrKF]

Swang by my dealership the other day to get the accessory, Wireless CP/AA Accessory Number: 08A43-TVA-100, installed for my 2020 Honda Accord Touring. The service advisor was initially unaware of this accessory. We had one of the techs come out, and there is currently a TSB on installing this accessory software update on 2018-2022 Honda Accords as it could brick the system, and the entire system would need to be replaced. Hoping the bug gets worked out soon!

Apparently, the bug has been worked out as of yesterday.

 

[Zingzongzang]

Apparently, the bug has been worked out as of yesterday.

How'd you find this out?

 

[DrKF]

How'd you find this out?

I talked with someone. We’ll see.

 

[blacktoe3]

Where at if you don't mind me asking? I've seen people already get the update on reddit but also a tech saying it bricked his radio...? I have an appointment this Saturday to have it installed so I'm a little worried

This was at a Honda dealership in northern Virginia. Talk to the service advisor about it. The fact that they KNOW about the update is a huge step.