Hello friends,
After doing tons of research and finally deciding on a head unit I went with the 7” Xtrons TE706PL. It features an 8-core CPU, 4GB memory, and 32GB onboard storage (no optical disk drive). I wanted something with bang-for-buck quality and strong community support without paying $500+ for a head unit that will eventually lose support. Here are the parts I used for this build:
1. Xtrons TE706PL Android 8.0 head unit.
http://a.co/f9YgedD
2. Panlong OBD2 bluetooth diagnostic scanner
http://a.co/eAcaB9Q
3. CRUX SWRTY-61N stereo harness
404 Not Found – Caraudio Closeout
4. Scosche TA2106B dash kit
http://a.co/bInxTDl
5. 2.4Ghz SMA connector WiFi antenna
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078N9J5YP/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_ASpJCbC470S8Z
6. BATIGE 2 port dual USB 3.0 flush mount extension
http://a.co/cTs4ckz
7. Buffalo iBuffalo Classic USB gamepad
http://a.co/d/iLpYRlj
Xtrons Head Unit:
This head unit is very fast as the initial cold boot is ~30 seconds but every time after, it loads ~2 seconds when you turn on the vehicle. It features built-in WiFi (2.4Ghz), Bluetooth, 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 MicroSD slot, and GPS which made it pretty versatile. I prewired everything prior to fully mounting to test in the 4Runner and was blown away by the performance. I installed the apps I typically run for media, GPS, etc. and they run without issues. I use my hotspot from my mobile phone and it's like a computer in the dash. There are too many features to list but in short, it is pretty much an Android tablet mated to a sound processor. With full Google Play Store support, you can install whatever apps work best for you. VLC, Waze, Spotify, Pandora, Chrome, Google Assistant, YouTube, Torque, Prime Video, Netflix, Arlo are among the apps I use most. Lastly, I wanted to comment on the resolution of this screen. It is 1024x600 and looks really good compared to other 7” units by Pioneer or Kenwood as these usually are 800x480.
Note: This head unit is just slightly bigger than most double dins and does not slide through the dash kit. It is sitting flush up against the rear of the bezel. I used 1000 grit to lightly sand the rear mating surface of the bezel smooth prior to install.
Panlong OBD2 Scanner:
This scanner is installed under the steering wheel of the car in the diagnostic port and pairs to your head unit. I installed the Torque app and it detected it quickly and works well. I have read somewhere that the transmission temp can be added as well which would make it great to monitor when hauling. There is a separate kit for TPMS which includes the control unit and sensors but I did not order it.
Note: You need to go to the bluetooth settings in "Settings" to pair this device.
CRUX Stereo Harness:
This was an easy install with the CRUX harness. Inside of the kit you should have an adapter for the steering wheel controls. It uses a 3 cable harness for key1, key2, and ground. On the steering wheel control module I used the pin settings for a “BOSS” head unit for compatibility.
Note: You are only able to retain 6 buttons for the steering wheel control; however, you get to program each button with dual use for short press and long press giving you more options and flexibility.
With the CRUX head unit harness kit I was able to retain the USB and aux input ports, and reverse backup camera. I didn’t need the mic as the head unit has a built in mic that works well. I didn’t use the GPS retention as the head unit came with a GPS antenna.
GPS and WiFi Antenna:
I ordered a separate WiFi antenna so that it can be mounted under the dash. I wanted to get as much range as possible. The WiFi antenna that came with the head unit is small and mounted to the rear. The SMA connector made it easy to swap this out. Both the GPS and WiFi antenna (upgraded one) have double sided tape which are mounted in the following places: For GPS, I taped this under the dash on the left side of the center AC vents. For the WiFi, I taped this under the dash on the right side of the center AC vents.
BATIGE USB Extension:
I wanted a clean install of the USB ports so I bought this flush mount kit and installed it inside of the glovebox at the factory “round” slot. The slot pops out and I had to use a tree bit to bore the hole slightly to fit the USB extension.
Overall, I am very happy with the head unit and please do the research before going this route. It is not for everyone and can take some time to tweak and set up but I enjoy geeking on this stuff. I haven’t even entered the realm of USB controllers and emulators yet. There are options for a front camera and DVR which I will do sometime in the future.
UPDATE: Picked up 2 Buffalo Classic USB controllers that pair great with Snes9x EX+ (Play Store Download). Setting key input for each controller was a breeze and now able to play 2-player games. The setup as it stands I have 1 USB port for 256gb USB flash drive, 1 USB Port - USB controller, 1 USB Port - USB controller.
UPDATE: Some people experienced sound quality problems with Bluetooth which the firmware and os updates resolve.
https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1FU9kI2MQvrlsk2T_GYQ1AcNPPJO63rIL?usp=sharing
Sites that helped me tremendously:
https://www.xda-developers.com
http://www.toyota-4runner.org
www.youtube.com
