Android RNS-E

GrahamS4 said:
Just seems strange that supposedly different sellers all sell out at exactly the same time, especially when several of them claim to hold UK stock, but perhaps I'm just being cynical? I may go back to the original idea of a 2nd hand RNS-e unit as I doubt I'd use half the apps on it anyway, just need to be able to have phone, connection and music. :thumbs up:
Click to expand...
Nothing's strange actually. All the sellers use the same stock. None of them have a unit at home. They dropship your purchase, eg when you order an item, they go to their partner account at the manufacturer's/wholeseller's and purchase the item with the money you just paid them and give your address for delivery. They don't buy and sell, they sell off a remote stock and likely have never held what they sell in their hands. So, when the item is out of stock, it's out out stock for everyone. If I was going to buy the headunit today, I would contact Xtrons and ask them when they are expecting a new arrival. And I would wait for Xtrons, not another brand.
 
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So, I'm in the current situation:
  • 2009 (59-plate) S3 S-Tronic
  • RNS-E that talks about 'Media' rather than 'CD' - so presume this is the 'newer' version
  • Non-Bose
  • Non-Reverse Camera
  • Non-Front Parking Sensor
  • Audible Rear Parking
Now, for the hard of thinking (i.e. me), I'm thinking I 'need':
Am I going to need anything else?

I see mixed stories of these units working straight out the box, or not. Some suffering from static noise, some not. Some needing to rewire to get rear non-BOSE speakers working, some not. All in all, a mixed bag.

Any pointers? And I'm going to be using the VIP15 to get 15% off, which helps.

Cheers,

Rick
 
TheTomCutler said:
Try this chap, will be a few pounds extra but at least you might get a bit of after sales service. Trust pilot reviews are few but all 5 star https://www.androidice.co.uk/


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Click to expand...

I got a very limited response from Julian at this place basically saying I need an adapter lead or the aerial on my car, which I couldn't order via their website as every time I clicked on the link for accessories it threw up an error on the page, and to contact a professional fitter to adapt the wiring to power my rear speakers. I've ordered a unit and OBD dongle thing from him and I'll have to order the aerial lead from ebay, hopefully there are some members here can advise me re how to wire it for the rear speakers to work on a non Bose system. :thumbs up:
 
ab1702 said:
They’re in stock from what I can see

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/173177285951

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/173178818887

I just typed in eBay Audi A4 Android 8.

Be better off buying one off the xtrons website though, if you use the discount code VIP15 you get 15% off and it will be cheaper than eBay. You can pay with PayPal aswell so you’ll still get your 6 month buyer protection.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the thought but both of those appear to be the older style unit with a knob on each side whereas I was after the one with both knobs, a large and a smaller one, on both sides. I used the link post by Tom Cutler and ordered one from Android ICE, a tenner dearer than the sellers on ebay but at least shown as being in stock. :thumbs up:
 
Dr_Rick said:
So, I'm in the current situation:
  • 2009 (59-plate) S3 S-Tronic
  • RNS-E that talks about 'Media' rather than 'CD' - so presume this is the 'newer' version
  • Non-Bose
  • Non-Reverse Camera
  • Non-Front Parking Sensor
  • Audible Rear Parking
Now, for the hard of thinking (i.e. me), I'm thinking I 'need':
Am I going to need anything else?

I see mixed stories of these units working straight out the box, or not. Some suffering from static noise, some not. Some needing to rewire to get rear non-BOSE speakers working, some not. All in all, a mixed bag.

Any pointers? And I'm going to be using the VIP15 to get 15% off, which helps.

Cheers,

Rick
Click to expand...

It will all work fine straight out of the box, I know it says on their adverts that the wiring has to be modified for none bose but it’s wrong, just plug it all in and it will work.

You can’t use an fm splitter to get dab it will not work, the aerial on your s3 goes into an amplifier before it reaches the radio and fm splitters are not compatible with active/amplified aerials. You will need a stick on windscreen aerial or get a proper aerial fitted on the outside.
 
GrahamS4 said:
Thanks for the thought but both of those appear to be the older style unit with a knob on each side whereas I was after the one with both knobs, a large and a smaller one, on both sides. I used the link post by Tom Cutler and ordered one from Android ICE, a tenner dearer than the sellers on ebay but at least shown as being in stock. :thumbs up:
Click to expand...

Which have you ordered then out of interest? Is it android 8 octa core?
The ones I linked to are the newest versions.

*edit.. both those links I copied are different units, if you look again you will see the one you are referring to.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/173178818887
They have them on the xtrons website aswell, if you’d have got it off their website you’d have saved yourself about £50 with the discount code.
 
ab1702 said:
Which have you ordered then out of interest? Is it android 8 octa core?
The ones I linked to are the newest versions.

*edit.. both those links I copied are different units, if you look again you will see the one you are referring to.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/173178818887
They have them on the xtrons website aswell, if you’d have got it off their website you’d have saved yourself about £50 with the discount code.
Click to expand...

Sorry I must have clicked on the top link twice as that goes to an older style, although not necessarily older unit if you get what I mean, the bottom one is shown as Tomotec or something. I'm sure they're all the same but I went for the Xtrons one - https://www.androidice.co.uk/index....-custom-fit-for-audi-a4-s4-rs4-seat-exeo.html
 
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ab1702 said:
It will all work fine straight out of the box, I know it says on their adverts that the wiring has to be modified for none bose but it’s wrong, just plug it all in and it will work.

You can’t use an fm splitter to get dab it will not work, the aerial on your s3 goes into an amplifier before it reaches the radio and fm splitters are not compatible with active/amplified aerials. You will need a stick on windscreen aerial or get a proper aerial fitted on the outside.
Click to expand...

Well that's a bit rubbish. I wonder whether there is a different solution that doesn't involve sticking things on the windscreen (for them to peel off later).
 
Dr_Rick said:
Well that's a bit rubbish. I wonder whether there is a different solution that doesn't involve sticking things on the windscreen (for them to peel off later).
Click to expand...

There’s no other option, either fit an external aerial or use one of the stick ons. It’ll not fall off if you apply it to a clean windscreen without getting your fingerprints all over the aerial.

You will get a lot better reception if you have an external aerial on the roof compared to one that sticks in the window.
Go on dabonwheels.co.uk and have a look at all the different aerials they do.
 
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GrahamS4 said:
Sorry I must have clicked on the top link twice as that goes to an older style, although not necessarily older unit if you get what I mean, the bottom one is shown as Tomotec or something. I'm sure they're all the same but I went for the Xtrons one - https://www.androidice.co.uk/index....-custom-fit-for-audi-a4-s4-rs4-seat-exeo.html
Click to expand...

Yes that is the one, it is still an xtrons it is just that tomotec are the ones selling it, there are lots of different sellers selling the same thing.
Anyway it’s too late now, all I were saying is that if you’d have bought it from the xtrons website (they are in stock on the website) then with the discount code you would have got the exactly same unit for about £260.
 
ab1702 said:
Yes that is the one, it is still an xtrons it is just that tomotec are the ones selling it, there are lots of different sellers selling the same thing.
Anyway it’s too late now, all I were saying is that if you’d have bought it from the xtrons website (they are in stock on the website) then with the discount code you would have got the exactly same unit for about £260.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that I do appreciate the thought, my own stupid fault for clicking on the same link twice, doh!
 
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GrahamS4 said:
I got a very limited response from Julian at this place basically saying I need an adapter lead or the aerial on my car, which I couldn't order via their website as every time I clicked on the link for accessories it threw up an error on the page, and to contact a professional fitter to adapt the wiring to power my rear speakers. I've ordered a unit and OBD dongle thing from him and I'll have to order the aerial lead from ebay, hopefully there are some members here can advise me re how to wire it for the rear speakers to work on a non Bose system. :thumbs up:
Click to expand...

As there is no phone number for these people on their website I'd massaged them twice asking them to phone me and confirm that they had the 3 units in stock that their website said they had. Receiving no reply I had to take their website at face value and ordered one of these units which prompted an email from Julian saying that they didn't hold physical stock of this unit and would confirm with the UK supplier that they had the 3 units in stock. Needless to say today I received a further email saying they did not have any stock let and my payment had been refunded but I could order the other style of unit. Had I wanted the other style unit I would have ordered that one in the first place and had their website not held misleading information I wouldn't have wasted my time ordering from them in the first place.

If he'd actually made the effort to pick up the phone as asked it would have saved him and I all this trouble, not at all impressed.

I appreciate Tom Cutler had good service from these people but I can only speak as I find and I won't be going anywhere near them again in the future.:grumpy::grumpy:
 
audi upgrades
GrahamS4 said:
As there is no phone number for these people on their website I'd massaged them twice asking them to phone me and confirm that they had the 3 units in stock that their website said they had. Receiving no reply I had to take their website at face value and ordered one of these units which prompted an email from Julian saying that they didn't hold physical stock of this unit and would confirm with the UK supplier that they had the 3 units in stock. Needless to say today I received a further email saying they did not have any stock let and my payment had been refunded but I could order the other style of unit. Had I wanted the other style unit I would have ordered that one in the first place and had their website not held misleading information I wouldn't have wasted my time ordering from them in the first place.

If he'd actually made the effort to pick up the phone as asked it would have saved him and I all this trouble, not at all impressed.

I appreciate Tom Cutler had good service from these people but I can only speak as I find and I won't be going anywhere near them again in the future.:grumpy::grumpy:
Click to expand...
That is so out of order was they counting on you would ok I'll have one that I didn't want. I feel for you mate you do all the graft finding correct one then pay expecting it to be on its way. Can you image how many others going through same thing as you. I would be so vex right now.

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TheTomCutler said:
So sorry to hear this Graham, very disappointing. Looks like ab1702's options of getting it straight from Xtrons is your best bet for now.


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Click to expand...

Xtrons UK, if they are even in the UK, don't have stock either as they are who supply AndroidIce.UK, I just find it infuriating that someone posts on their website that they have three units in stock when actually they have none. Also how come all the sellers on ebay knew that the wholesaler was out of stock but these people didn't and why would I want a unit just because they have stock of it rather than because it's what I want?
One of the ebay sellers I originally contacted to query stock responded saying they were expecting further stock in on 11th March so even if not they shouldn't be too far away and I'll be quicker on the button next time.
 
Very frustrating, apologies for the bad recommendation Graham. Buying from far east suppliers is a bit hit and miss, it's often very easy and very cost effective but when you get a hiccup the service can be poor and you are left not knowing where your kit is (normally on a boat somewhere making its way very slowly) or when it'll arrive. Let's hope one of your eBay sellers gets in touch when the unit is back in stock.


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TheTomCutler said:
Very frustrating, apologies for the bad recommendation Graham. Buying from far east suppliers is a bit hit and miss, it's often very easy and very cost effective but when you get a hiccup the service can be poor and you are left not knowing where your kit is (normally on a boat somewhere making its way very slowly) or when it'll arrive. Let's hope one of your eBay sellers gets in touch when the unit is back in stock.


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Click to expand...

Hi Tom certainly not your fault, like me you speak as you find, I've learnt a lesson as this is the first time I've ordered an item where the sellers don't hold physical stock. I used to do R/C car racing with my son and I ordered all our parts direct from Hong Kong and never had a problem, even though most of the ebay sellers appear to list themselves as being in the UK it seems this is not the case but at least they seemed to have access to live stock levels.
As I'm going to have to wait anyway I probably would have stuck with AndroidIce if he'd just simply picked up a phone explained what the situation was but to ignore my request to do this and let me go ahead and order and then tell me has put me off them.
 
A little courtesy goes a long way, sounds like he doesn't deserve your business.


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GrahamS4 said:
As there is no phone number for these people on their website I'd massaged them twice asking them to phone me and confirm that they had the 3 units in stock that their website said they had. Receiving no reply I had to take their website at face value and ordered one of these units which prompted an email from Julian saying that they didn't hold physical stock of this unit and would confirm with the UK supplier that they had the 3 units in stock. Needless to say today I received a further email saying they did not have any stock let and my payment had been refunded but I could order the other style of unit. Had I wanted the other style unit I would have ordered that one in the first place and had their website not held misleading information I wouldn't have wasted my time ordering from them in the first place.

If he'd actually made the effort to pick up the phone as asked it would have saved him and I all this trouble, not at all impressed.

I appreciate Tom Cutler had good service from these people but I can only speak as I find and I won't be going anywhere near them again in the future.:grumpy::grumpy:
Click to expand...


Not having much luck with this are you!!

With Xtrons I doubt they are in the uk but they have a UK warehouse, when I ordered mine it came in 2 days.

How do you know these units are out of stock? When you go on eBay they are saying Buy It Now and if something is out of stock on eBay then it doesn’t let you Buy It Now.
Even though they are out of stock are they not advertising them as out of stock?
 
ab1702 said:
Not having much luck with this are you!!

With Xtrons I doubt they are in the uk but they have a UK warehouse, when I ordered mine it came in 2 days.

How do you know these units are out of stock? When you go on eBay they are saying Buy It Now and if something is out of stock on eBay then it doesn’t let you Buy It Now.
Even though they are out of stock are they not advertising them as out of stock?
Click to expand...

What I refer to as the older style units, similar in style to what I think was the RNS-d?, are in stock and there are loads of them available but I was after the one that looks similar to the RNS-e with a large and small button both on the same side and nobody has any at the moment. There's the Pumpkin version but that's running Android 7.1 rather than 8.0 and has 2Gb rather than 4Gb.
It's probably my own fault really as I spent so much time humming and hahhing as to whether to go for a used OEM RNS-e or Android that missed out thinking the market would be flooded with them as they're Chinese. There are several brands of the same thing but Xrons certainly appear to be the most popular.
There are these which you posted a link to, which are showing as buy it now, is the Xtrons that much different or better? - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A4-...823772?hash=item285243245c:g:ChoAAOSwU-1aki35
On thing that does appear to be different is the aerial socket as it appears to have an old style, I mean really old style, aerial socket rather than an ISO or Fakra socket?
 
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GrahamS4 said:
What I refer to as the older style units, similar in style to what I think was the RNS-d?, are in stock and there are loads of them available but I was after the one that looks similar to the RNS-e with a large and small button both on the same side and nobody has any at the moment. There's the Pumpkin version but that's running Android 7.1 rather than 8.0 and has 2Gb rather than 4Gb.
It's probably my own fault really as I spent so much time humming and hahhing as to whether to go for a used OEM RNS-e or Android that missed out thinking the market would be flooded with them as they're Chinese. There are several brands of the same thing but Xrons certainly appear to be the most popular.
There are these which you posted a link to, which are showing as buy it now, is the Xtrons that much different or better? - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audi-A4-...823772?hash=item285243245c:g:ChoAAOSwU-1aki35
On thing that does appear to be different is the aerial socket as it appears to have an old style, I mean really old style, aerial socket rather than an ISO or Fakra socket?
Click to expand...

That is an xtrons unit.

They’re the best to get as they tend to come with everything you need and looking at that one it does have all the cables and adaptors that you need.
I’d just ask them if they have any in stock first as all sellers tend to get their stock from the same place.

If it isn’t an xtrons unit it looks very much like one and it has all the correct cables you need. With it being android 8 octo core and 4gb then it’s practically the same and there would be no difference
 
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ab1702 said:
if you’d have bought it from the xtrons website (they are in stock on the website) then with the discount code you would have got the exactly same unit for about £260.
Click to expand...

Discount code?? Pray tell thee more!
 
When I bought my first Xtrons a year ago from a UK store, the unit was out of stock. The Xtrons sales manager contacted me and asked if I wanted to wait two wheeks of get a refund. I chose waiting and got the head unit shipped exactly when they promised. The head unit was shipped from the UK address, not Asian. When I ordered my second Xtrons a few weeks ago, the package was shipped from Germany if to believe the track & trace number.

As to waiting for the units are in stock again and hope to be first to hit the buy button, I would just place an order and secure my place in the line.
 
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dp_motley said:
When I bought my first Xtrons a year ago from a UK store, the unit was out of stock. The Xtrons sales manager contacted me and asked if I wanted to wait two wheeks of get a refund. I chose waiting and got the head unit shipped exactly when they promised. The head unit was shipped from the UK address, not Asian. When I ordered my second Xtrons a few weeks ago, the package was shipped from Germany if to believe the track & trace number.

As to waiting for the units are in stock again and hope to be first to hit the buy button, I would just place an order and secure my place in the line.
Click to expand...

So I decided as I have to wait anyway I may as well wait on Xtrons and ordered one through their website using the discount code and now it's just a waiting game. The Tmotec unit looks identical from the front with the same spec but the aerial connector is wrong and I don't really want any more adaptors behind it than necessary. :thumbs up:
 
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just ordered the xtrons unit (chorus lookalike). does it come with the headunit removal keys?
 
We SO should have enquired re a group buy, as im about to click "BUY" now too...

hmmm before I do that, is anyone thinking of a purchase within the next 7 days?
 
Simply D said:
We SO should have enquired re a group buy, as im about to click "BUY" now too...

hmmm before I do that, is anyone thinking of a purchase within the next 7 days?
Click to expand...
Me, I'd do it.

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Same here!
By the way does anyone know how many phones can you connect over Bluetooth at the same time?
Units from Pioneer and Kenwood allow two devices simultaneously.
 
@Dr_Rick @maxpayne I will spam xtrons an email n see if they bite, although to be honest the current 15% promo is decent in its own right n it is usually what companies tend to reduce for group buys.

buuuuut I will let you know what they say, will prob need a minimum of about 5ish people though :s

Hi @Sandra are there any rules/guidelines I should be following regarding this, I don't want to step on any toes :(
 
maxpayne said:
Same here!
By the way does anyone know how many phones can you connect over Bluetooth at the same time?
Units from Pioneer and Kenwood allow two devices simultaneously.
Click to expand...
That's actually a good question. I usually have my personal phone plus a work phone that I could do with having hooked up at the same time.

I could do that with my Kenwood unit I fitted to my last Lotus Evora.

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I got an email today, as others probably have as well that have placed an order, confirming the A4 unit is out of stock but should be sent out on Tuesday when fresh stock should arrive.
 
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maxpayne said:
does anyone know how many phones can you connect over Bluetooth at the same time?
Click to expand...

Just the one I'm afraid, it behaves the same as any android phone or tablet but with a different UI overlaid. (Unless I've been missing a trick of course!)

Usually it'll store as many devices as you want but it'll only connect to one at a time, it's likely to get confused if you have two stored devices in range or just connect to the most recent device.


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My last Kenwood DMX7017DABS had both my phones stored, and yes it would 'connect' to only one at a time, but I could switch phones via the HU at the press of a button.

With the RNS-E I've paired both my phones with the HU but, unless I'm missing something, to switch handset connections on the move requires me to switch off the BT on the connected device, and initiate the connection on the other device. Less than ideal.

Would the XTrons HU be like the Kenwood, or like the RNS-E?
 
Dr_Rick said:
My last Kenwood DMX7017DABS had both my phones stored, and yes it would 'connect' to only one at a time, but I could switch phones via the HU at the press of a button.

With the RNS-E I've paired both my phones with the HU but, unless I'm missing something, to switch handset connections on the move requires me to switch off the BT on the connected device, and initiate the connection on the other device. Less than ideal.

Would the XTrons HU be like the Kenwood, or like the RNS-E?
Click to expand...

It would be similar to the kenwood, you would see both devices on the screen and it would show in green which it is connected to. You can press a button to disconnect it from that phone and then press the other phone showing on the screen aswell and then it will connect to that one
 
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