So it looks like the CTHome T9 head unit is out, waiting for reviews.

have you had any issues with boot time with the hardwired dongle?

how long does the boot-up time take in the morning versus after you run into the store for a few minutes?
 
I'm on day 3 of using this thing so bare with me. I've let it sit maybe a minute or so between turning the car off and on, and there was no lag there. But it seems like 5 minutes or more requires a full boot up, which I just counted after I dropped my son off at school today and it was 23 seconds. Note: You can not connect your phone hard wire until after it fully boots or the head unit won't recognize it. I tried again last night to get my phone (iPhone 8) to connect to car play with bluetooth and it won't, it only will connect wireless over the phone's Wi-Fi and it crackles and pops and lags like crazy. (This could just be my iPhone). Hardwire is the way to go for my situation and the boot time is OK considering I have so much more technology and options than with the stock JBL unit.
 
gainman... are you using hard wired or wireless for carplay? If wireless, are you using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? Also what phone/model are you using?
 
Update: So it's been a few days now. I removed my head unit today to try and find out where the static noise was coming from. I can only hear it when no music is playing and I've discovered it's only when there is data downloading, so it must be coming from the WiFi antenna. I've got that noise mostly minimized now. When I head the head unit out I ran one of the USB cables (with an extender) to my console, but this time I put the hard wired carplay dongle in my console. Now I just unplug it before I turn off the T4R and I no longer have the reboot issue and I'm hardwired! (I tired wireless carplay again today and it's choppy as all hell). Before installing this headunit I used to always plug in my phone to use Waze, so reaching into the console to plug in my phone isn't an added step for me.

I have a new problem now though. I can not download any apps from GooglePlay. The error I get is "Waiting for download" and nothing happens. I've tried most of the usual online tips but none of them work, because it's not a true 'Certified' device and I can't seem to get to some of the settings mentioned. I'll keep searching.
 
Has anyone order this from RhinoRadio?

It is a lot cheaper.

I just wanted to see how long ship time was for people.

Thanks

Owen
 
AutoKit/USB forcing T9 to reboot update!!!:

I was able to RESOLVE the reboot issue (for me anyway) with a combination of tricks from folks on the T9 Facebook page. Basically the T9 does not supply enough power for the demand of certain USB devices... I bought this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NIGO4NM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 splitter on Amazon. This splitter has 1 USB that supplies power and 1 USB that supplies power and data. Essentially you take the power from both USB's on the head unit to supply power to the AutoKit. (There is a video on their FB page on how to do this) I've been testing for two days now with not a single reboot. I did have to play around with the USB ports as it was particular about which one to use and I didn't take a picture of which one I used for power only, so you will have to play around with it as well. ALSO, you will have to go into the AutoKit settings on the T9 (without the phone plugged in) and click on advanced and then select 'Weak' on charging mode. Again, so far so good! I've also fixed the whine sound per manufacturer suggestion, bought a sharkfin adaptor and fixed the slight noise I was getting (WiFi antenna was plugged into the wrong port) which also made wireless carplay faster. I opt to still use wired carplay so that the T9 can connect to the hotspot on my iPhone. (When using wireless car play you can not use the hotspot on your phone on the T9, and it's really clunky to flip back and forth from wireless carplay to hotspot). Hopefully this helps others!
 
Now we need the T10 to come out and fix all the small bugs that the T9 has.

Glad to hear you were able to fix the nuisances though.

The reboot issue you're talking about; is that a reboot while in use or the "reboot" that the device does when the USB is plugged in and the car is powered off? So instead of the head unit sleeping for like 2 hours or whatever it would always need a full boot whenever the car is powered on
 
Now we need the T10 to come out and fix all the small bugs that the T9 has.

Glad to hear you were able to fix the nuisances though.

The reboot issue you're talking about; is that a reboot while in use or the "reboot" that the device does when the USB is plugged in and the car is powered off? So instead of the head unit sleeping for like 2 hours or whatever it would always need a full boot whenever the car is powered on

Yes. I should have been more specific. This fix resolved the issue of a hard/cold reboot every time the truck was turned off. They have also given me a tip to fix my Wi-Fi signal, a tip to reduce the whine noise and I've ordered a shark fin adaptor for GPS for when I'm not using carplay. I think all of my bugs are resolved! I also had an issue with Google Play store, and I couldn't figure that one out because it's not a Google 'Certified' device so not all of the cache settings, etc are available, but logging out of google and back in resolved my issue. Now if Apple would just leave the hot spot turned on all of the time on the iPhone instead of turning it off after 90 seconds of no devices connected, life would be grand! I may end up adding a SIM card to the back of the T9.
 
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Just ordered my T9

I don’t really want to use a SIM card, just my phone as hot spot.

I don’t really want to do wired CarPlay, so I’m hoping to use phone as hotspot and run Spotify on app of the head unit as well as a Nav app using the units nav system

Those are my biggest hopes.
I would assume the head unit will display when a text comes through without being in CarPlay
 
Just ordered my T9

I don’t really want to use a SIM card, just my phone as hot spot.

I don’t really want to do wired CarPlay, so I’m hoping to use phone as hotspot and run Spotify on app of the head unit as well as a Nav app using the units nav system

Those are my biggest hopes.
I would assume the head unit will display when a text comes through without being in CarPlay


You can't use your phone as a hotspot and do wireless CarPlay at the same time. Wireless CarPlay requires your phone's Wi-Fi and bluetooth at the same time, therefore disabling the hotspot. Same problem I ran into, which is why I went hardwired for my CarPlay. Note: Install the driver from the dongle, and then use that CarPlay app (AutoKit) and not the icon that says CarPlay... Also switching from wireless CarPlay back to your hotspot isn't simple. Now that I have the wired CarPlay all sorted out, to me it's the best way to go. I can use my hotspot for the non CarPlay stuff, have CarPlay and my phone charge all at the same time. The wired CarPlay dongle does not come with the unit, you have to add it at the time of purchase or buy your own.

I also ordered a sharkfin adaptor to use the built in GPS antenna instead of the one that came with it. The one that came with it isn't completely accurate (note I have it stuck under the dash at the moment and sometimes it can't find where I am, so I'm removing it tonight and connecting back to factory)

As for texts, no, mine doesn't read texts to me, just through CarPlay.

I REALLY wish Apple would leave the hotspot on all of the time when you've turned it on on your phone. I found out from researching online that if there are no devices connected to your iPhone's hotspot, it disables the hotspot after 90 seconds to save battery. Which, to me, they should then turn the slider off in your settings.
 
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You can't use your phone as a hotspot and do wireless CarPlay at the same time. Wireless CarPlay requires your phone's Wi-Fi and bluetooth at the same time, therefore disabling the hotspot. Same problem I ran into, which is why I went hardwired for my CarPlay. Note: Install the driver from the dongle, and then use that CarPlay app (AutoKit) and not the icon that says CarPlay... Also switching from wireless CarPlay back to your hotspot isn't simple. Now that I have the wired CarPlay all sorted out, to me it's the best way to go. I can use my hotspot for the non CarPlay stuff, have CarPlay and my phone charge all at the same time. The wired CarPlay dongle does not come with the unit, you have to add it at the time of purchase or buy your own.

I also ordered a sharkfin adaptor to use the built in GPS antenna instead of the one that came with it. The one that came with it isn't completely accurate (note I have it stuck under the dash at the moment and sometimes it can't find where I am, so I'm removing it tonight and connecting back to factory)

As for texts, no, mine doesn't read texts to me, just through CarPlay.

I REALLY wish Apple would leave the hotspot on all of the time when you've turned it on on your phone. I found out from researching online that if there are no devices connected to your iPhone's hotspot, it disables the hotspot after 90 seconds to save battery. Which, to me, they should then turn the slider off in your settings.


Couple things:

1. the headunit itself does not notify you of text messages if connected to bluetooth??? As every headunit does? Is that correct? You have to be connected to CarPlay?????

2. Can you tell me what sharkfin adaptor you purchased? You are saying you had to get an adaptor to use the OEM Nav antenna?
 
Couple things:

1. the headunit itself does not notify you of text messages if connected to bluetooth??? As every headunit does? Is that correct? You have to be connected to CarPlay?????

2. Can you tell me what sharkfin adaptor you purchased? You are saying you had to get an adaptor to use the OEM Nav antenna?



1. I have not seen a single setting about text messages other than in CarPlay. I prefer CarPlay anyway, because Siri responds pretty well for me.

2. A GPS antenna is included, but if you want to use the OEM Sharkfin you have to purchase the adaptors that Blu42 mentioned earlier in this thread. My adaptor was just delivered last night and I haven't had time to put it in yet.

I wish the USB Y splitter and the Sharkfin adaptors were included in the box as well as an adaptor to use the OEM microphone.

The metra adapter for vehicle sharkfin:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K03PORU
Adapts metra cable to head unit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y631SY1
 

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