[Ziggy Zeckleman]

No external microphone input right?

I like the unit, way better than my old Pyle unit and carplay seems really responsive.

The uint seems to use an internal mic only - I couldn't find an external mic input

Mine uses the factory microphones after I bought a cheap adapter. Siri will even respond to my commands at 85mph if I yell loud enough.

 

[Forza4c]

Mine uses the factory microphones after I bought a cheap adapter. Siri will even respond to my commands at 85mph if I yell loud enough.

How did you test it ? Are you sure it is using the external mic and not the built-in one? I probably need the adapter - what did you use? Some sort of stereo to mono adapter ? I couldn't find any data on what sort of mic input the unit has (even the printed manual does not identify that little socket as a mic input).

Mine seems to be using the mic built into the unit only. (works with siri and phone calls via carplay/phone but not well when driving at speed).

*** I did the upgrade so I could change the welcome screen and wallpaper (finding a flash drive that worked was a challenge).
*** I'm using an apple phone but android auto is now also an option. Apple CarPlay seems to work well so far.
*** The radio also seems to work quite well (at least when in the city) - I don't know what sort of antenna is in the car but nothing works far from a radio transmitter and I am not about to drill holes to mount an external antenna.

Welcome screen (thanks - I did copy the idea from you - thanks!

Wallpaper (only visible when not in carplay, e.g. when using the tuner) The Silouette seems bright enough to see but doesn't overpower the controls. The logo and script on the top line is about as big as I can make it and stay in that area. It might overlap with some text in other modes (like selecting devices or such) but not enough to worry me

 

[Ziggy Zeckleman]

How did you test it ? Are you sure it is using the external mic and not the built-in one? I probably need the adapter - what did you use? Some sort of stereo to mono adapter ?

I didn't realize it had an internal microphone so I never tried to use it before I bought the adapter. It's possible that it's using the internal microphone but, it's very responsive to voice commands so I'd be surprised. My car had the Parrot radio and I wasn't sure which adapter I needed so I bought this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R8FSZWF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title. Now you have me curious and I'll try to perform some experiments this week and see if it's using the internal or external microphones.

View attachment 159740

Wallpaper (only visible when not in carplay, e.g. when using the tuner) The Silouette seems bright enough to see but doesn't overpower the controls. The logo and script on the top line is about as big as I can make it and stay in that area. It might overlap with some text in other modes (like selecting devices or such) but not enough to worry me

Whoa. That's super cool. How did you do that?

 

[Forza4c]

I didn't realize it had an internal microphone so I never tried to use it before I bought the adapter. It's possible that it's using the internal microphone but, it's very responsive to voice commands so I'd be surprised. My car had the Parrot radio and I wasn't sure which adapter I needed so I bought this: Amazon.com. Now you have me curious and I'll try to perform some experiments this week and see if it's using the internal or external microphones.



Whoa. That's super cool. How did you do that?

Lots of trial and error, not very scientific but it works

The unit seems to scale images so I had to find an aspect ratio that left my images alone.
Once I had the jpg size that seemed to work without squeezing the images in one dimension or another I just resized and moved my icons around until I ended up with the wallpaper you see.

Just put the jpg file on a USB stick and the stick into the connector on the rear USB cable
go to settings and select wallpaper and touch the 3 dots. This brings up the list of files on the USB and choose the jpg you want.

I've attached the one I made. You can use it as is or make your own using my dimensions and locations.

Its good exercise running from the computer to the garage to try your different wallpapers

 

[Forza4c]

I guess it's obvious but don't pick a white background. You won't be able to see any of the text ...

That's also one of the reasons that I chose to do the silhouette in red (also my car is red)

 

[Antithos]

Just bought this unit today from Walmart. Labor days sale was $10 OFF so $140. Honestly, I could care less about the radio or sound as I am all about that sweet exhaust note, but having NAV maps and Waze on spirited drives could potentially pay for itself. Would like ot get a backup camera to hook into this. any suggestions?

 

[Antithos]

Quick questions guys. As the OEM apline unit does not come with the removal keys how did you get it out of the dash without destroying it?

 

[Forza4c]

Quick questions guys. As the OEM apline unit does not come with the removal keys how did you get it out of the dash without destroying it?

My car is a 2015 so I had the Parrot but it is long gone. I used some tools I had hanging around, most are pretty much the same. I assume that you could borrow removal tools from any Alpine unit.

My rear license plate mounted backup camera died after letting in water so I got this license plate light unit off ebay

Car Rear View Camera for Alfa Romeo 147 156 159 166 145 937 932 939 936 952 940 | eBay

Perfect solution to get rid of that poor rear view visibility on your car that has no rear-view mirror or poor rear vision. Suitable car models Extra-low illumination of 0.5 Lux for clear night vision.

www.ebay.com

Works fine.

 

[jon_bondy]

How much work is it to create the wiring harness for both the 4C and the Elise, please?

 

[Antithos]

It was easy. The unit comes with one so you can sacrifice the OEM one or buy a new one and just color match the worse together with some shrink tubing.

 

[jon_bondy]

When I use a phone for navigation, it is typically in portrait mode rather than landscape, and it is typically near the top of the dash. This unit appears to be wider than tall (different aspect ratio) and lower than I am used to. Are people still finding it to be useful for navigation? I, too, may consider putting one in an Elise and in a 4C.

Thanks!

 

[Antithos]

When I use a phone for navigation, it is typically in portrait mode rather than landscape, and it is typically near the top of the dash. This unit appears to be wider than tall (different aspect ratio) and lower than I am used to. Are people still finding it to be useful for navigation? I, too, may consider putting one in an Elise and in a 4C.

Thanks!

Jon the only issue I am having is I cant hear notifications from WAZE when driving. Granted my top is off and the car is loud. Do you have this issue?

 

[Antithos]

SO playing with this in the car today, do any of you utilize WAZE? I can't hear the notifications even with the volume turned all the way up. Is anyone else having this problem?
Phone works great.

 

[jon_bondy]

I use Google Maps, and ear buds. Any audio prompts are sent to the ear buds. I never use a "radio" through speakers in any of my cars.

 

[az988]

Quick questions guys. As the OEM apline unit does not come with the removal keys how did you get it out of the dash without destroying it?

Here are a couple helpful resources:

This describes the general mechanism for removing a stereo (I had no idea how it all works):

 

[az988]

I have installed this unit in a Lotus Elise (very tight fit due to limited room for wiring) and a 4C. In the 4C I added a rear back up camera which works seamlessly with the head unit (more on that later).

Now, unlike the Lotus, this head unit does not fit completely into the 4C opening thus, it is not really "locked in place". To securely fasten the head unit, I added a ~ 4 inch stud (M5 with 0.8 pitch if I remember correctly and sourced from Ace is the place with the friendly hardware man) that is mounted in the center of the head unit and which slides into the mounting tab behind the head unit under the dash. The OEM head unit has a small stud that fits up against the mounting tab smack dab in the center of the back. I used washers and a wing nut (easier to maneuver behind the tab with fingers) to make the head unit tight. No need for a friction fit - now it's firmly locked in place and no "shake, rattle and roll"!

@mwswenson I'd love some pictures of this as well but I assume it's a huge hassle to disassemble. maybe a diagram of what's going on if you're feeling bored

 

[Forza4c]

@mwswenson I'd love some pictures of this as well but I assume it's a huge hassle to disassemble. maybe a diagram of what's going on if you're feeling bored

I'm not sure which part is not obvious.

Remove the old radio and it's shell/cage (Youtube links on how to do this are a couple replies back).
Insert the Power Acoustik cage and secure it like the previous one was by pushing or bending a couple of the legs. This helps the radio slide in but the radio doesn't quite slide in far enough to latch.
I just followed a previous comment and screwed a 3 1/2" M5x0.8 stud into the hole already in the back of the unit (used locktite just in case) (I couldn't find a bolt long enough to cut off so bought a 3 foot section of threaded rod for about $3 and cut off what I needed)

When you insert the radio that rod will line up with a mounting ear that is inside the 4C dash area. The only issue is the hole in that mounting ear/bracket is much larger than the threaded rod so just use a washer the size of a dime and then use a nut (I used a wingnut bought at the same time as the rod). The wingnut was easier to thread on given the tight space under the dash. This secures the radio into the shell/cage and keeps it nice and tight against the dash (and you don't have to worry about using two tools to remove the radio, just remove the wingnut and washer and the radio slides out.)

I've had zero rattles or movement from the installation , easy peasy - more or less

 

[Forza4c]

SO playing with this in the car today, do any of you utilize WAZE? I can't hear the notifications even with the volume turned all the way up. Is anyone else having this problem?
Phone works great.

Nope - works great for me.

It appears to work just like my iPhone works when using waze, that is the volume for the radio or internet music (or USB I suppose) is separate from the waze volume and you can only adjust the waze volume when it is actually talking to you otherwise you are adjusting the sound source volume.

I usually have waze up louder than my music and that still seems to work the way I like on my unit.

 

[Antithos]

I've got it installed just as you said and very happy with it it's just catching it when it's talking to you to adjust the volume so you can actually hear the damn thing doesn't help that I've got a spider and a MagnaFlow Corsa exhaust on the back that's loud

 

[Forza4c]

Mine uses the factory microphones after I bought a cheap adapter. Siri will even respond to my commands at 85mph if I yell loud enough.

Ziggy Did you get around to testing the external mic?

I sent a message to the Power Acoustiks support team and they answered the next day that the external mic input should work and that a 2 section 3.5mm mono input is all that is required but a 3 section (stereo?) plug should also work (I suppose maybe because the right 2 pins get touched inside the socket in the radio).

I tried a mono mic (2 pin plug) off ebay and called my answering machine - it's definately using the external mic. I also tried 2 different 3 section 3.5mm plug mics that I had (one for a PC and another for some audio recorder) and they all work. The external ones definately seem clearer than the built-in one. I haven't tried it at speed when things get noisy yet to compare mics - less easy to do alone)

I haven't tried the 4 section plug with the adapter you suggested off amazon yet (4 section 2.5mm female to 4 section 3.5mm male - typically used for stereo headphones) as I don't have one but I suppose if the right 2 sections touch the right spot in the socket in the radio then it should work too.

I'll take your word for it that it works and order one because if that works as well as the other external mics I tried I would rather not mess with the wiring that is already there for the mics up by the mirror and just use the adapter with the existing mics (remember my car is 2015 so I have the 2 mics that are there for the parrott radio - not sure later cars are set up the same with Alpine radios).