Hi all,
I've been doing a bit of research and have extensively tried out two different approaches. My favorite is Approach 2 below, using AAGateway. It is stable enough to use on my daily commute, though it isn't "get in your car and leave phone in your pocket" stable yet. This guide will tell you what needs to be done and the limitations of both approaches, but will not walk you through every single installation step. My hope is that by pointing people in the right direction and with more users trying different things, and continued development by the software developer, we can continue to make progress.
First, credit where credit is due, Emil Borconi is the developer who wrote both of these. He is also the author of OBD2AA and carNotifier, and has reverse engineered Android Auto enough to create these solutions. Most of his pieces of software require small donations - worth it.
Approach 1: Head Unit Reloaded - replaces current Android Auto functionality with new software
Limitations
Head unit reloaded is an android app designed to use for folks that build their own head unit media devices (e.g. Pi based), and want android auto functionality. In the CRV, it runs on the head unit itself and provides the android auto server interface, unique from the native android auto interface. In fact, you can run it off USB 2 with a wire if you want as it is wholly separate. Head Unit Reloaded also works wirelessly, and if you connect your head unit to a hotspot that you create on your phone, you can get it to work. Development is very active.
Get Head Unit Reloaded:
[SUB]https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/paid-software/android-4-1-headunit-reloaded-android-t3432348
[/SUB]
HondaHack: http://autohack.org
Approach 2: AA Gateway - slave device permanently plugged in to car USB and wirelessly connects your phone to car.
Basics
Get AA Gateway:
[SUB]https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/paid-software/android-3-0-proxy-gateway-android-auto-t3813163
[/SUB]
I've been doing a bit of research and have extensively tried out two different approaches. My favorite is Approach 2 below, using AAGateway. It is stable enough to use on my daily commute, though it isn't "get in your car and leave phone in your pocket" stable yet. This guide will tell you what needs to be done and the limitations of both approaches, but will not walk you through every single installation step. My hope is that by pointing people in the right direction and with more users trying different things, and continued development by the software developer, we can continue to make progress.
First, credit where credit is due, Emil Borconi is the developer who wrote both of these. He is also the author of OBD2AA and carNotifier, and has reverse engineered Android Auto enough to create these solutions. Most of his pieces of software require small donations - worth it.
Approach 1: Head Unit Reloaded - replaces current Android Auto functionality with new software
Limitations
- Requires root (HondaHack) and wifi on the head unit, and then install the Head Unit Reloaded App on the head unit and on your phone
- Does not work with 3 steering wheel controls - 2 for phone, one for Google Assistant (media forward/back work fine)
- Stutters a bit and can get laggy when e.g. streaming music and maps - probably wifi chip of head unit is slowww.
- Does not work with sending music / song name and navi directions to iMID / secondary display
Head unit reloaded is an android app designed to use for folks that build their own head unit media devices (e.g. Pi based), and want android auto functionality. In the CRV, it runs on the head unit itself and provides the android auto server interface, unique from the native android auto interface. In fact, you can run it off USB 2 with a wire if you want as it is wholly separate. Head Unit Reloaded also works wirelessly, and if you connect your head unit to a hotspot that you create on your phone, you can get it to work. Development is very active.
Get Head Unit Reloaded:
[SUB]https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/paid-software/android-4-1-headunit-reloaded-android-t3432348
[/SUB]
HondaHack: http://autohack.org
Approach 2: AA Gateway - slave device permanently plugged in to car USB and wirelessly connects your phone to car.
Basics
- Root not required on head unit, but helpful on slave. I rooted and installed Lineage OS on my OG PixelXL, which is no longer connected to a carrier.
- All stock functionality retained as it doesn't change anything on the head unit
- Current bug that causes a lockup if you try to use assistant, but developer is working on it
- Stability is VERY device dependent for both Master and Slave - e.g. wifi speed, battery optimizations clunking things up, etc.
Get AA Gateway:
[SUB]https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/paid-software/android-3-0-proxy-gateway-android-auto-t3813163
[/SUB]