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MY truck is loud AF inside. I have not found a microphone that works for me yet. I tried the A6 mic holding it in my hand and directly speaking into it - but the GF was not impressed with quality...
Ill ask the customer I installed the A6 Pro for if they use the mic that came with A6 for phone calls, etc. We added additional soundproofing when replacing their carpet with vinyl flooring and I think we previously added tubing to the door seals. Compared to my junk, that truck is quiet inside.
Good find on the OBDLink. Lowers complexity in the set-up.
For mic positioning and type, the only ones I found that worked well were the ones that I could get close to the person doing the talking. Tried a couple of speaker phones (mic integrated into the base unit) where like SSJ, I also had people on the other end not like the quality due to the truck's noise level. Ditched the speakerphones and went with hardwired headsets for the phone which had integrated mic's that were closer to my mouth. So, for this application, a clip-on wired mic is probably the best option from a sound / communication perspective. Granted this is a little cumbersome to grab the mic for each call and makes for one more wire to get in the way, but it is what it is.
MY truck is loud AF inside. I have not found a microphone that works for me yet. I tried the A6 mic holding it in my hand and directly speaking into it - but the GF was not impressed with quality...
Ill ask the customer I installed the A6 Pro for if they use the mic that came with A6 for phone calls, etc. We added additional soundproofing when replacing their carpet with vinyl flooring and I think we previously added tubing to the door seals. Compared to my junk, that truck is quiet inside.
Thanks for your input Jason.
Originally Posted by JayTheCPA
Good find on the OBDLink. Lowers complexity in the set-up.
For mic positioning and type, the only ones I found that worked well were the ones that I could get close to the person doing the talking. Tried a couple of speaker phones (mic integrated into the base unit) where like SSJ, I also had people on the other end not like the quality due to the truck's noise level. Ditched the speakerphones and went with hardwired headsets for the phone which had integrated mic's that were closer to my mouth. So, for this application, a clip-on wired mic is probably the best option from a sound / communication perspective. Granted this is a little cumbersome to grab the mic for each call and makes for one more wire to get in the way, but it is what it is.
Yes sir! The OBDLink SX is a generous gift from an FTE'r I have not had the chance to meet yet. Hopefully one day I can repay the favor to him.
As I mentioned earlier, I mounted my external microphone at the very top of the driver side pillar cover. It points downward at about a 30* angle and is about 1 - 1.5' from my head. This position and angle seems to work quite well as each time I have been on the phone while driving the truck I have asked the person on the other end "can you hear me alright". I don't recall anyone ever saying that they could not. Of course, I usually try to close the windows out of respect for the person on the other end.
I plan to use the existing external microphone with the ATOTO A6 Pro install as the input format is the same 3.5mm as most are. Sometimes there will be a 2.5mm in the mix, but not normally.
If I were being forced to using a clip on style on my shirt or something, I would not use the BT phone feature at all. I would simply only connect the phone for media and file transfers, not to send or receive phone calls. I am installing this head unit to make things a bit more simple, not more complicated. Hence the wireless charging pad instead of a charging cord that needs to be plugged in. I still have the charging cord as the 2 way radio I use with my wife can be recharged while traveling, which is nice.
My solutions and ideas are not the best solutions and ideas for everyone else, and that is OK.
I put the OBD port 90* extension cable on my wish list for Santa. If Santa brings it to me I will have everything I need to start the project. If Santa elected to bring me other gifts from my wish list, then I will purchase the 90* extension cable and proceed with the install shortly after the new year.
Turns out one of the front OEM bump stops is missing anyway and that teeth shattering pot hole I hit in TN recently helped me make the call to purchase these after brokestroke posted about them and the great experiences he has had with them.
I have the Hikity-7 installed in my 2002 Super Duty diesel. It is the 2gb+32G model, full Android OS that can attach to a wifi source, and you can then install any app from Google Play.
The stock USB music player is garbage, but I set up PowerAmp Pro and it works great now. I like that it has 2 USB inputs and I think at least one Aux In.
I liked it so much that I bought a second for a spare.
I have the Hikity-7 installed in my 2002 Super Duty diesel. It is the 2gb+32G model, full Android OS that can attach to a wifi source, and you can then install any app from Google Play.
The stock USB music player is garbage, but I set up PowerAmp Pro and it works great now. I like that it has 2 USB inputs and I think at least one Aux In.
I liked it so much that I bought a second for a spare.
I agree that the native applications can be and are likely crap. The versatility of being able to install ANY app from the PayStore is what I was shooting for.
I have disabled and/or removed most of the ATOTO Android launcher applications that were preloaded to the device. I stopped short of rooting it and messing with the code or loading a custom launcher. I think BWST is interested in the custom launcher though, so my thoughts on that may change. Easy enough to customize later.
Having FORScan and live Google Maps is very appealing to me with simplicity in mind. Having the wireless charger to keep my Samsung S7 charged while the A6 Pro connects to the Samsung S7 WiFi hotspot is a great capability. The A6 Pro has a forward facing USB port in order to pull the FORScan logs from if I don't feel like emailing them.
The days of having my phone in a viewable cradle, GPS on the screen, tablet running FORScan and cords from the dashboard are OVER!
LONG GONE AND NEVER TO RETURN!
I may get with a friend of mine that does DIY carbon fiber work and try to install one of these in my Subaru if this turns out like I think and hope it will.
Again, thanks for your input and I hope your weekend treats you well.
Have you found a preferred terrestrial FM radio app?
I have not. I tend to not listen to the FM stations anymore since they are packed with commercials. If I listen to music, it is normally on Pandora. On long trips (6,000 - 10,000 miles) I will listen to podcasts or audio books. The ATOTO A6 Pro came with a radio app, but I have not tested it yet. I plan to keep it in the library of applications in case I need to use the weather or traffic bands.
Have you tried the integrated mic in your Yukon? I know the ambient noise level is not the same, but that might give us a good indication of the feasibility.
I haven't yet. I need to do that.
Thanks everyone for the mic feedback. I'll run it to the top of the A-pillar for now and see if it works well enough.
Just starting to play with the S8. Already laughing out loud at the ease of use and the sound quality - noticeably improved from the original head unit - even with the factory speakers. I'll be replacing those shortly.
It's not mounted permanently yet - still thinking about the best way to do it.
Jeff, you have surpassed my project and have your unit in the dash already! I am glad you found the S8 to be a solid device so far.
I look forward to what advice you may be able to offer regarding your installation. The advice you provide will only bolster the advice from SSJ earlier in the thread. I saw that ATOTO included a bezel cover in the box, but I am not sure I will need it. I plan to reutilize as much as I can of the Metra 95-5817 I bought years ago when I installed the Jensen VX-7020. I would like to bring the head unit toward the rear of the vehicle a bit more than the Jensen is, but won't know about fitment until I get in there and work with it.
If you need me to snap a picture of the mounting location for the microphone, I can do that. As I said earlier, each time I have used it the person on the other end of the phone said they could hear me just fine.
I haven't done a thing to configure it yet - just made up the harness and plugged it in. Wanted to starting thinking about fitment with the unit in place.
Sure do like those solder sleeves - what a timesaver with a better splice as a result.
That heat gun reflector is a good idea - I had to move the gun a few times to get the job done.
My wife and her friend took the Yukon on some errands today. She paired her phone to the A6 and called me at home. It sounded pretty good. The mic is at the top of the A pillar trim in that rig. Like you said, it's a quieter rig inside than the F350, so that's a factor.
What do you plan to do with GPS antenna placement? For the Yukon, I put it on the windshield next to the rearview mirror, following this video, but I've seen others put it on or under the dash, and others mount it externally on the roof. I did put the WIFI antenna under dash per the video as well.
The heat gun reflector was an idea or suggestion from another FTE'r. I have not had the chance to use it yet, but the theory and practical use of the reflector makes sense.
As for the GPS antenna in the truck, there is a ledge just below the very front part of the plastic dashboard. I think it might be on top of the venting tube, but cannot remember. There is a couple of inches of space between the tube and the dashboard and that is where I have the current GPS antenna. It works great and have given me zero problems over the past several years using it. I plan to mount the ATOTO GPS antenna and the WiFi antenna in that same location.
