N2+ and VU7A+ into Renault Laguna III

[zyssai]

Hi everybody!

I'm french, i own a Renault Laguna III mk1 year 2008.
Let me show some pics.






I'm on love with this car, but original multimedia fonctions are totality absents.
There is no aux input (i've added one by myself), no bluetooth audio (only phone calls).

Before i buy this car, i had a Renault Laguna II, i installed a real computer inside.
You can see here:
http://forum.caraudiovideo.autodeclics. ... 486#p50486

But now for this Laguna III, i need something much easier.
I really wanted to keep original aspect of the car.
So i really wanted to keep screen at the same place, integrated into the frame of the car.

I needed a system with possibility to control it with steering wheel control.

I used by the past Centrafuse into Windows, but it's discontinued.
Linux is to hard to use for me.
There is OpenAuto, but i don't like the final result.
AndroidAuto is not as practical as i want.
AndroidTV as no much apps.

So after reflection, my choice was Android.

I thought to a tablet, but not easy to integrate.
I thought to an Android box, with lcd touchscreen.
So i discovered that touchscreen is really hard to make it work with Android, as it needs to integrate drivers into kernel. I don't know how to do that. It's too hard for me.

After a lot of research, i found Odroid!
What a thing!

After checking the screen size, and possibility of the sbc, i ordered N2+, with Vu7a+ screen.



Hard work is coming.. testing differents roms, learning how to use gpio...

I disassembled the steering wheel controller, and made some modifications (it was multiplexed)


Disassembly of the original screen


Here you can see the.... Hum..


Closer look of the N2+, you can see a flat flex hdmi cable.
Right to the odroid, is a regulator. Behind him is hidding a board for auto start of the N2+ when engine starting, and autoshutdown when engine stop. Thanks to joerg for his Amazing app ( viewtopic.php?f=137&t=21386 )


At the left is an old DAC, plugged in USB to the N2+, and in aux entry of an old autoradio, waiting for the replacement by a full digital amplifier.


Hidding the misery...
You can see a USB cable, plugged into USB otg port of the odroid, in case i need to use it


And it's finally here!!



And with Spotify


All driving commands are working :
Volume
Track prev/next
Changing app from Spotify to Tidal and TuneInRadio
Changing luminosity from 30% to 100%

I will made a video soon.
[Edit: video is here:
https://youtu.be/ms2cDEHobw0
Just forgot to show automatic extinction of the odroid, 10 seconds after ignition off, the system power off itself properly]

Hope you enjoy

[zyssai]

Very nice integration indeed!

[rooted]

I really enjoy seeing these car builds, nice work.

[zyssai]

Edit: added some pics

[odroid]

Can you tell me where you bought the right-angle thin HDMI cable?

[rooted]

Can you tell me where you bought the right-angle thin HDMI cable?

Here is one, they are often called FPV cables.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071G7P33P

[zyssai]

Can you tell me where you bought the right-angle thin HDMI cable?

Sure, it's this one.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_uYdDpd

If you don't find the good angle configuration, check the store, there is others

[zyssai]

Can you tell me where you bought the right-angle thin HDMI cable?

Forgot to tell you that it is only 1.4 rev of HDMI version so it is limited to 1080p

[odroid]

Can you tell me where you bought the right-angle thin HDMI cable?

Forgot to tell you that it is only 1.4 rev of HDMI version so it is limited to 1080p

Thank you for the information. 1080p is more than enough for my application.

BTW, can you please tell me more about the audio path?
You seemed to use an external USB DAC for HiFi sound.
But, you also connected a line-out stereo cable to the 3.5mm audio jack on the N2+ board.
Do you use both audio outputs to the autoradio aux inputs?
Are you going to replace them to a single fully-digital amplifier? Which digital amplifier do you consider?
Sorry for many questions.

[zyssai]

Yes i use external dac, i put it into my car before installing N2+. I connected my phone directly in USB, the dac was connected to aux entry of the old installation.

Now this is the N2+ that i connected in USB to the dac, and the exit of the dac is connected with stereo cable in the auxilliary entry of the radio

I don't know if you know what is a full digital amplifier.
Here is a blog about this

https://soundcheck-audio.blogspot.com/2 ... -amps.html?

The main advantage is that you don't have ground loop issues and something like this.
And it's only one USB cable to connect.

I have one into my home,it's just amazing. But didn't buy it for my car at the moment.

The problem is that most FDA use 30-50VDC to power.
I only found 2 ones that can power with around 14-15VDC.

FX-Audio D302
SMSL Q5 Pro

These are some cheaps ones, but you can google them.

For my case it's just for testing, i don't know if i will keep FDA into the car

[zyssai]

Thank you for the explanation. It is clear now.

I just guessed a TAS5756M or similar IC based module something like this.
https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/boards/hifiberry-amp2/

[zyssai]

As promises, video of N2+ into my car.
Sorry it's in french, but no need to listen to understand what is done.
Just forgot to show extinction of the odroid. It shutdowns automaticaly 10 seconds after ignition off

https://youtu.be/ms2cDEHobw0

[brad]

Very nice setup good work! I'm trying to integrate a C4 into my vehicle at the moment with Linux and VU7A. (I'm Android noob)

I have all hardware ready to install and working on some finalization for the Linux software.

[zyssai]

Very nice setup good work! I'm trying to integrate a C4 into my vehicle at the moment with Linux and VU7A. (I'm Android noob)

I have all hardware ready to install and working on some finalization for the Linux software.

Nice works dude!
How do you setup your linux? Do you use special interface ?

[brad]

Very nice setup good work! I'm trying to integrate a C4 into my vehicle at the moment with Linux and VU7A. (I'm Android noob)

I have all hardware ready to install and working on some finalization for the Linux software.

Nice works dude!
How do you setup your linux? Do you use special interface ?

It is based on gnome with panfrost with some skinning of apps to make it work better with touchscreen. This is the part i'm still working on and where Android has the advantage at the moment.

[zyssai]

It's seems hard to have something usable with linux. I would love to use it, but not have enough time to work on it

[zyssai]

Here is a bonus
Sorry, in french

[zyssai]

Don't play music video while driving. The video scene is quite attractive.

BTW, you had to use a full URL address instead of a shortcut. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ra-dNVCdc0[/youtube]

[zyssai]

Don't play music video while driving. The video scene is quite attractive.

Thanks you, don't worry, i says in the video, don't do it while driving

[zyssai]

With HK GPS receiver.
Just love it!

[zyssai]

I have received my new amplifier.
It's Chinese one, but no much money to buy high end amplifier.
4x50wrms, 4x80wmax 4ohm
I need to say that it is really amazing, have great functionalities like parametric equalizer, delay, filter, with Android app.
So I can use it directly with Odroid, connection to the app is by Bluetooth.

You can see that I have no need of autoradio now.
I have cleaned the wires, removed DAC because connection between N2+ and amplifier is just done by USB cable.
No analog wire, so no ground loop or shit noise.





Here you can see screenshot of the android application

[zyssai]

Don't do it while driving.
Can be unplayable in some countries due to copyright limitations.

[zyssai]

2 new functionalities, just really sorry, video was done by night and in french.

[zyssai]

You made a lot of improvements every week.

BTW, can you please tell me which OBD2 adapter you used in your car?
Is the connection via Bluetooth?

[zyssai]

Thanks!

Sure, it's ELM327 Bluetooth.
I bought it 10 years ago.
I use it with HK Bluetooth Module 2.
I have the same module with Usb connection but not working even with otg port.

It's basic module so don't expect too much from it.

https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Scanne ... B07CP5ZJVQ

[zyssai]

We can do everything with Android, even opening doors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8ATaiDokQ4

[zyssai]

Just one video about me waiting for my child ending the sport session



And another one explaining a bit more about this system.
I added correctly translated English subtitles.

[dslthomas]

Bonjour, j'ai installé un Samsung Galagy S9 dans mon Scenic jusqu'à présent :


Malheureusement, le Galaxy S9 est tombé en panne. Je voudrais maintenant également passer à un Odroid N2 +.
Question : Quel matériel avez-vous utilisé exactement pour l'alimentation (bloc d'alimentation) ?
Merci et salutations de Hambourg

Hallo, Ich habe bisher ein Samsung Galagy S9 in meinem Scenic verbaut:


Nun ist mir leider das Galaxy S9 kaputt gegangen. Ich möchte nun ebenfalls auf einen Odroid N2+ umrüsten.
Frage: Welche Hardware hast du genau für die Stromversorgung (Netzteil) eingesetzt?
Danke und Gruß aus Hamburg

[zyssai]

...

Hi.
I used this converter to be sure Odroid receive proper 12v.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_ujjGnn

And used this type of delay relay to let some seconds to start the car before running Odroid on.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_vLizRb

Then you can use GPIO port to shutdown Odroid when ignition is off with as simple electronic circuit.

[zyssai]

Just a little update with latest LINEAGE OS 19, thanks to @voodik for his hard work





I couldn't imagine one year ago that I would have this result.
The only thing that I really regret is that I find no way to have free hand calls.

[mad_ady]

For calls - what do you have to do now? Perhaps there is a way to use Tasker or via input shell to simulate key presses.

[zyssai]

For calls - what do you have to do now? Perhaps there is a way to use Tasker or via input shell to simulate key presses.

Hi.
I think it can be possible to do internet calls (with Google duo or what apps for example), but I don't use them a lot.
I need SIM calls so the better way would have to be able to use Android Auto with my smartphone, but it doesn't seems to be implemented.
Other part of the problem, I need mic, I had a very interesting discussion with @mctom here, but I never really succeed

[syka2210]

Hi, so nice to see your project working and enjoying it. I'm trying to do something similar, but keeping the original radio unit as the media player, and changing the navigation unit only. So far, I've used a nexus 7 as the main unit and got the CAN frames for the messages from the radio. Thinking about changing from the tablet to a Odroid, mainly because in hot days, the tablet shuts down from the excessive heat.
Did you encountered any problems with the SBC (Odroid) during hot summer days?
The link to the project is here : https://github.com/Syka2210/Laguna3Navigation
I will add a better description and images in the future, time is not on my side.

[zyssai]

Did you encountered any problems with the SBC (Odroid) during hot summer days?

If you refer to this picture:


N2+ is not directly to sunlight, but in a space where temperature can reach 40/50°C when sun shines, because car is black, and with windows closed, but this should not be a problem.
Never faced this since I installed it one year ago.

[zyssai]

I've just seen that I never posted picture of finalized installation behind hand glove box



In the box at the left of the N2+ there is some delay relays, and PCB with connection to gpio



The DB9 port is power connector (+12v coming from car, power ACC, ground), and DB25 is connection to steering wheel controller. Some extra others with lcd brightness control.