UhOh
Top Post Dawg
I'm looking at replacing the stock HU (Head Unit) in my Golf. Replacement units I'm looking at have Android Auto and I'd like to take advantage of this. Issue is, this requires a physical USB cable. Most units have the USB connectors off the back of the units, in which case it becomes necessary to run these leads/cables (with, perhaps, extensions) toward the front of the dash.
I started angling toward using an empty dash spot (I don't have ESP, so there will be one spot available- I'm putting in heated seats, which takes up the other two available spots) but before I do this I'm self-checking whether I actually know how I'll be placing and using my phone. So...
For those that have some sort of wire connection between their phone and the HU (could be for an RCA jack, or, perhaps USB for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay), where are you placing your phone?
I know that some folks use the dash cup holders to set their phones in: it's even a popular thing to use these VW cup holders in other vehicles for this purpose. Issue, for me (and anyone with a double DIN HU), is that when the cup holder is out it masks off some of the HU, which if one were using the HU for CarPlay or Auto this would tend to defeat the purpose (block the screen). So, I got to wondering...
Is there such a thing as a cubby for that cup holder spot? I know that it's really pretty small, but a phone would slide right in there: nothing, however, like the lower cubby slot which exist when there's only one DIN slot in use. I don't think that I could use this cup holder slot for the USB ports I have in mind (it's a double port- I "think" I can manage to cut it down to fit inside one of the dash blanks); but, still leaves the issue of where the phone can go. Keep in mind that with CarPlay or Auto you don't have any need to actually touch/access your phone, in which case being tucked out of the way isn't a concern.
I don't like the vent mount solutions: I'll have to be straight here, I don't operate any of this currently, I'm just familiar with my wife messing around with this stuff in her car (though it's not wire connected, other than using the cigarette lighter for a USB charging port- messy). Same with anything that looks to attach to the windshield.
The HU I'm looking at provides two USB connectors, and while I wouldn't be using the Apple CarPlay cable for an Apple device, that connection can still be used for charging. So, I'd prefer to be able to have the two USB ports available.
Here's the cable that I'm going to try working with (I already have it):
https://www.amazon.com/USB-Panel-Flush-Mount-Cable/dp/B073SQYP3W/ref=pd_sbs_107_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2HBMMREH6JZT7E66E6ZC&dpID=41alrXDxPEL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail
I started angling toward using an empty dash spot (I don't have ESP, so there will be one spot available- I'm putting in heated seats, which takes up the other two available spots) but before I do this I'm self-checking whether I actually know how I'll be placing and using my phone. So...
For those that have some sort of wire connection between their phone and the HU (could be for an RCA jack, or, perhaps USB for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay), where are you placing your phone?
I know that some folks use the dash cup holders to set their phones in: it's even a popular thing to use these VW cup holders in other vehicles for this purpose. Issue, for me (and anyone with a double DIN HU), is that when the cup holder is out it masks off some of the HU, which if one were using the HU for CarPlay or Auto this would tend to defeat the purpose (block the screen). So, I got to wondering...
Is there such a thing as a cubby for that cup holder spot? I know that it's really pretty small, but a phone would slide right in there: nothing, however, like the lower cubby slot which exist when there's only one DIN slot in use. I don't think that I could use this cup holder slot for the USB ports I have in mind (it's a double port- I "think" I can manage to cut it down to fit inside one of the dash blanks); but, still leaves the issue of where the phone can go. Keep in mind that with CarPlay or Auto you don't have any need to actually touch/access your phone, in which case being tucked out of the way isn't a concern.
I don't like the vent mount solutions: I'll have to be straight here, I don't operate any of this currently, I'm just familiar with my wife messing around with this stuff in her car (though it's not wire connected, other than using the cigarette lighter for a USB charging port- messy). Same with anything that looks to attach to the windshield.
The HU I'm looking at provides two USB connectors, and while I wouldn't be using the Apple CarPlay cable for an Apple device, that connection can still be used for charging. So, I'd prefer to be able to have the two USB ports available.
Here's the cable that I'm going to try working with (I already have it):
https://www.amazon.com/USB-Panel-Flush-Mount-Cable/dp/B073SQYP3W/ref=pd_sbs_107_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2HBMMREH6JZT7E66E6ZC&dpID=41alrXDxPEL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail