Eonon GA5153F Android Radio

After reading all of the postings from the golfmk6 forum about this radio (http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96142). I decided to replace my RCD-510 with the unit from Eonon.

I was able to buy it via eBay for $295.00 doing the best offer option. This was $34.00 cheaper than the GolfMK6 forum Group Buy.

Here is the listing at eBay for $399.00 with the Best Offer option http://r.ebay.com/8y3iQb

I am aware that Sirius XM will be gone, but I may be able to use the online version instead.

The reason I decided to buy is because of the GPS navigation and music via Spotify or Google Music:

1. I am a Waze user and so far I've been running the app on a Galaxy tab 7 tethered via WiFi to my phone. However, I also have Torque and for obvious reasons I cannot run the two at the same time on the tablet. So is either one or the other. My plan is to run Waze on the radio and Torque on the tablet.

2. There are no radio stations where I live that play music that I like. My alternatives are Sirius XM, Spotify or Google Music. I use my phone to stream music via bluetooth. As you may all know, as soon as I turn off the engine, the connection is lost. Getting the streaming back is a long tedious process. Turn on the car, turn on the radio, wait for bluetooth to connect, push play on the phone app and then push the media button on the RCD-510. My hope is that I can use the apps directly on the radio.

3. Sirius XM stations Octane, Liquid Metal and Ozzy's Boneyard are a constant non stop F-word this and F-word that from their DJs between songs . Not very kid friendly. At least when I stream music I can control the content.

Eonon return policy is "We will provide Exchange or refund (Buyer's choice) for the defective product or dissatisfied purchase which reported within 60 Days." This is also the same length of time PayPal gives a buyer to file a dispute. No need to worry about return.

Anyway, I'll do my best to do my own review and post it here.

Nice! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the radio

I'll be following as well. I have had my eye on this unit.

Unboxing and installation

Installation is no different than from this video.

Installation took only 10 min. All fit perfectly. No issues at all. Sound is loud and clear. No sound difference between stock radio and new unit.

Immediately I logged in to my Google account and downloaded SiriusXM, Spotify and Waze.

The navi button opens Waze.

Wheel controls work right out of the box. No programming needed.

Without any software tweaks, the $300.00 are worth it. I have a much better radio with the things I wanted and the potential to customize the way I want to. Of course I'm going to root the system and make changes. I will post below.

These are the pictures I took right after uboxing.







Unit came with a Dual FAKRA antenna adapter. No modifications needed.





WiFi antenna



GPS antenna



Canbus adapter



Radio Home Screen after installation

Rearview Camera installation

Eonon offers a rear view camera for $65.00. The specs of the camera are not very impressive. I decided to go to eBay and buy a cheaper camera with similar specs.

Just like on this post, the camera worked when the car was off, but when I turned on the car, I would get a black screen on the display. Inspired by this post, I bought a 4 pin relay and now the camera works.

Software tweaks and apps

First thing I did was what I do every time I get an Android device. I rooted it.

I do not take responsibility for you breaking your system, do this at your own risk.

To root:

1. Go to Settings > Factory Settings > Pasword prompt > *#hct#root#
2. Open the Google Play store and download and install SuperSu go through prompts, when asked rooting method choose normal, now the system is rooted.

To install Malaysk ROM for RK3188 800X480 Only!

1. Go to RK3188 firmware and scroll down and find latest update for RK3188 800X480.
2. Download and extract firmware.
3. Copy update.img file to the root of a USB flash drive.
4. Remove the radio from the dashboard and connect Flash Drive to the USB port in the back of the unit.



To get into the Recovery Menu:

1. Use a paper-clip and press and hold the RES button by the eject button for 3 seconds.
2. Keep the RES button pressed and hold the power button for 3 seconds.
3. Release the RES button, keep power button pressed
4. Release the power button once the lights turn on.

Flashing the rom from the recovery menu:

1. Wipe all the data/factory and cache reset.

Note: This will erase the flash memory and give 2 gb of instead of the 1 gb of factory application installation memory using the Malaysk Rom. It will also delete the factory rom. No going back.

2. Update system image from usb with cleaning.

Watch this YouTube video doing the same process. Unit is not the same as Eonon GA5135F but the procedure is identical except the upload is done with an sd card instead of a USB Flash Drive. ****I tried to update from SD Card but it did not work***

Once MALAYSK Custom is installed I would change the screen dpi to 180 under settings:

Got to System > Lcd Density Change density to 180 and reboot.

Here is my YouTube video doing a brief demonstration of the unit.

This YouTube video demonstrates a rooted GA5153F with changes only to the stock firmware.

RADIO

FM radio is loud and clear. I have not been able to get reception with any AM stations. This seems to be known issue. I can get around that by using TuneIn Radio and go to the AM station stream service.

My only "problem" is that I have a VW style rearview camera and it is a RGB with the VW plug and to use it I will need to get a converter.
I may put one in my old 2009 to try it out before I consider moving it to my 2013 JSW which also has the RVC.
Connie likes the RNS-510 which I moved from the 2009 to the 2013.
The 510 is slow and takes a while to boot up and for the RVC.

Thanks for the informative thread.

I looked at this unit. If I understand you don't get USA FM radio? That's a
bummer. My area has some fair to good classic rock, pop stations. Not a
big country fan, but we have two of those as well. There is some country
music I can stand for limited duration. A friend got a new car with HD radio.
One of the sub bands to a country station of all things, is ALL classic rock
and contemporary rock, albums.... pretty cool.

No Sirius was one small issue in my mind. I have been playing the renew
every 5 to 6 months game for 4 years. That does not come with online
service. I have not heard the foul language on those channels, except for
Howard Stern, which is just more vulgar and immature. Not a fan but he
does have good interviews sometimes, all the other stuff is garbage. The
music channels can be kind of same old. They do now have a Tom Petty
channel (I think it was Bruce Springsteen for a time). I am a fan of the
Heartbreakers. However after 4 years I now find my self not listening to
Sirius for days or even weeks at a time. There is always the portable
Sirius XM receiver option through the Aux input, if you control it through
the separate receiver head. So if that was the only down side it would not
be a deal breaker. I could live without Sirius XM.

My solution to replacing the head unit was add-ons. RCD-510 is still
working for my needs with streaming BT media from phone and the iPod
connection and the SD cards full of music. The RCD-510 has hands free
phone. I don't have address book on display. Don't care, don't talk on
phone in car except for occasional incoming, even then I keep it short.
I do still get the green BT connected light in the overhead console.

Garmin 2598LMTHD GPS (w/ traffic) with BC-30 wireless backup camera
was added. I like waze better for NAV real time traffic and info in many
ways, but I can't stream music at the same time. Also the Garmin GPS
has nice features and it is there all the time, dedicated NAV without having
to get the phone out. It has lifetime map and traffic update. The traffic is
kind of slow, even although this is suppose to be HD traffic, more frequent
updates. GARMIN has voice control and features that waze does not. I have
the Garmin mounted off the air vent next to the door, it looks fine, out of
the way, easy to access. The power cord is mostly 100% out of sight wired
under dash. Only complaint is it blocks the air vent a little.

BC-30 - Wirless backup camera that works with select Garmin GPS.
Finally getting the BU Cam Install done. It works well. The size and
resolution is not up to the state of the art of wired OEM units, but it's
good enough. I would not care if I was still parking in my house garage,
straight in, but I now live in apartments with big multi-deck commercial
parking garage. Backing into a tight spot is hard to judge distance to the
concrete. It's not a must have, but what the heck. It's there and works.
I would say (assume true of all BU Cams) it's useless in rain. Of course
in covered parking garage that is not as big a factor, however water on
lens does make image distorted. I should try some Rain-X on it.

Samsung Galaxy S5 - BT streaming media and Waze duties: I have
another air vent mount above RCD-510. I need a better set up. It looks
tacky when the phone is not there. I have ideas of how to mount off the
center console without drilling holes. The phone and unlimited data I
already have, so this is a big part of my entertainment.

iPod and SD Card - The RCD-510 of course has MP3 covered, with my
iPod 32GB Touch connected by cable, and I also have a 32GB card. This
is enough media on it's own. I really don't need both. I should take the
iPod into the house and use it there. The SD card is good enough....

Scan gauge II for extra info duty on the steering column.

Escort Redline under mirror "blend mount" for LEO awareness duties.

I see retiring this car in about 5 or 6 years. I really don't want to spend
money on accessories, but the Eonon is a bargain. It has the button on
wheel connections I understand. The aftermarket Pioneer NSX models
can add up to $2000 (or more) with all the add-on's, bells and whistles.
Even still it his not a bull's-eye hit the mark for me. None of the options
are slam dunks, over the top better than the RCD-510, for my needs.
With the add on's to the RCD-510 it's good enough, for now. When I
upgrade the radio it will be attached to an upgraded new car....

Keep us updated!

Hi guys. Radio arrived yesterday and I already have installed. I'm still doing some tweaks on it and I will post on sections 4, 5 and 6 above.

gmcjetpilot said:

If I understand you don't get USA FM radio?

Click to expand...

USA FM radio does work. FM reception is bad and AM is non-existent. One solution posted was to get the HD-RX8 Radio FM AM Signal Amplifier. I just placed the order on eBay and I will post the results on section 6 above.

XDA Developers Hui Fei Type WiKi has been a great help.

redbarron55 said:

My only "problem" is that I have a VW style rearview camera and it is a RGB with the VW plug and to use it I will need to get a converter.
I may put one in my old 2009 to try it out before I consider moving it to my 2013 JSW which also has the RVC.
Connie likes the RNS-510 which I moved from the 2009 to the 2013.
The 510 is slow and takes a while to boot up and for the RVC.

Click to expand...

Links to converters

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High...try-Camera-VW-Original-Camera/1737938580.html

http://car-solutions.com/en/oem-camera-connection-adapter-for-volkswagen.php

redbarron55 said:

Links to converters

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High...try-Camera-VW-Original-Camera/1737938580.html

http://car-solutions.com/en/oem-camera-connection-adapter-for-volkswagen.php

Click to expand...

My car never had a built in camera. I was not about to pay $65 for Eonon's camera. Upon close look. I noticed that the cable that goes from the camera to the head unit has a power cable. I bought a stand alone reverse Camera on eBay for $9.99 and a similar video cable for $3.79. I will post above the results one the cable arrives. If it works I will save myself $51.22. Again I will post the results above.

The day I need a backup camera, auto lights, auto wipers,etc...is the day I stop driving.

Donald

dmarsingill said:

The day I need a backup camera, auto lights, auto wipers,etc...is the day I stop driving.

Donald

Click to expand...

Depends on the car/truck/SUV... Some cars have massive blind spots that a backup camera works great in.

Our cars have great rearward visibility so I don't really miss the feature

dmarsingill said:

The day I need a backup camera, auto lights, auto wipers,etc...is the day I stop driving.

Donald

Click to expand...

Need is the key word in your sentence. It is true one does not need a backup camera but they sure help out when parking and when hooking up to a trailer, etc.

You could say the same about most features on the car...radio, blinkers (can't you just stick your arm out the window to signal?), seat belts, heated seats, etc.

I installed the rear view camera when the grand daughter started walking.
The deathly fear that on of us might back over a child now that we are old enough that te neck won't swivel like it did.
The trouble and time is worth the peace of mind. It helps abclin up in the parking lots that are stuffed full of big trucks and SUVs.
My wife asked why I was installing on in her car (the first one I installed) she didn't need one.
After she got the idea.... grand daughter, backing up etc.... she said the first thing when we bought the 2013 JSW was when was I going to put the rear view camera in it!
Children are the reason for the RVC.

I make sure the kids are in my forward view before I move.....or the dogs. I can see it if it were a van.

Donald

Software tweaks and apps update, see section 6 above.

UBUGME said:

Software tweaks and apps update, see section 6 above.

Click to expand...

What did you accomplish with rooting it?

Graplr said:

What did you accomplish with rooting it?

Click to expand...

Rooting allows me to upgrade my unit to a newer software that has sleep mode, personalized music app, personalized functions, xposed, can remap buttons, etc.

Car Service. Allows to use Steering Wheel Control (SWC) and buttons with 3rd party apps. I can control Spotify music with my steering wheel. The stock software only controls the stock apps for music. See this video.

Speed-sincronized volume increase: Allows you to modify the volume of your unit according to the speed. The amount sensitivity can be adjusted.

Here is a list of what upgrades you gain by using Malaysk firmware.

There are many other things that can be accomplished if you root anything that runs Android.

UBUGME said:

Rooting allows me to upgrade my unit to a newer software that has sleep mode, personalized music app, personalized functions, xposed, can remap buttons, etc.

Car Service. Allows to use Steering Wheel Control (SWC) and buttons with 3rd party apps. I can control Spotify music with my steering wheel. The stock software only controls the stock apps for music. See this video.

Speed-sincronized volume increase: Allows you to modify the volume of your unit according to the speed. The amount sensitivity can be adjusted.

Here is a list of what upgrades you gain by using Malaysk firmware.

There are many other things that can be accomplished if you root anything that runs Android.

Click to expand...

Cool, thanks. How's it working?

Graplr said:

Cool, thanks. How's it working?

Click to expand...

So far, I was able to install an aftermarket back up camera. The sound is great. Same as the stock unit.

My home alarm has an app that I can use to arm and disarm. I installed the app on the radio.

For music, I use Spotify, Pandora and TuneIn Radio (I have not been able to get reception with any AM stations. This seems to be known issue. I can get around that by using TuneIn Radio and go to the AM station stream service). This gives me more options for music and news.

GPS - I use Waze. Nothing beats free with up to date reports from other Waze users.

Bluetooth displays all my phone contacts and I can dial from the radio If I need to. I have only received one call since I installed the unit and there were no problems with the call.

I have an unlimited 4G LTE data plan with Simple Mobile for $60.00 a month. The radio is tethered to my phone at no additional cost, thanks to rooting. I keep the phone charged by using a Scosche reVOLT USB242M Dual 12-Watt 2.4A USB Rapid Car Charger.

Over all, it works for me.

UBUGME said:

I was able to buy it via eBay for $295.00 doing the best offer option. This was $34.00 cheaper than the GolfMK6 forum Group Buy.

Click to expand...

Just ordered mine... got it for $295 on ebay using best offer as well...hahaha

Sounds like rooting it & throwing a custom rom on is the only way to go...

shane.short said:

Just ordered mine... got it for $295 on ebay using best offer as well...hahaha

Sounds like rooting it & throwing a custom rom on is the only way to go...

Click to expand...

Great!!! Let me know if you need any help.

Got the radio installed, custom rom installed & I'm stinking loving it! Way better than pioneer avic-7000nex & kenwood ddx9702 I've owned since I bought the car in October. This install was seamless. Literally all you need to know is how to take apart your dash and to turn a screw driver lol Still tinkering with the unit. Installed Google maps and downloaded my area for offline use. So far so good.

Does anyone who received this unit have the dynaudio stereo?

I bought the GA5153F and put it in a jetta with the fender system. Somehow, after hours of reading about the headunit, I missed the part where it does not work with a factory amp. Read some more and found out the canbus is what tiggers the amp and some solutions were to put in a aftermarket amp. Well I read on a post that someone with the Joying brand radio was able to use the headunit with a fender system. I found the canbus on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Can-bus-Volks...57051177&sr=8-1&keywords=joying+canbus+fender

Unit was working for a few days without any big problems. I was able to root it, but now it is stuck with the VW logo once i tried to install the Malaysk custom rom, so I am kind of in a hole.

TWill said:

...but now it is stuck with the VW logo once i tried to install the Malaysk custom rom, so I am kind of in a hole.

Click to expand...

Same thing happened to me the first time I flashed. Make sure you choose "Wipe all the data/factory and cache reset." from the recovery menu.

Got it flashed. Thanks for the help.

Wow!! Thanks and following