Pioneer SPH DA-120 - head unit - HELP

Pioneer SPH DA-120 - head unit - HELP

Author
Discussion

IceBoy

Original Poster:

2,443 posts

221 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
Hi All,

Just purchased a new toy and this head unit is fitted.

It looks absolutely smashing.......but I believe it is carplay? Is that an Apple thing?

Sorry for the numpty questions, I am not an Apple person and have a Samsung S6 Edge.

There are two usb's leads marked usb1 and usb2 ?

Can I use android with this head unit?

I have no instructions and am a little baffled.

Iceboy

zed4

7,248 posts

222 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
I have this stereo, I use it with an iPhone with Apple CarPlay and it's fantastic. I'm sure it will work with a non-Apple phone to play music etc. You'll probably need to connect via Bluetooth for making calls though.

Connect it to either USB port and have a play with it.

IceBoy

Original Poster:

2,443 posts

221 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
I have connected it to both usb's but not sure what to do next?

I have now got my phone working through it, via bluetooth which is great.....I guess music will also work this way.

Would love it to mirror my phone, not sure what or how it can do that?

Iceboy

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

220 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
With the iPhone, 'Carplay' only works through USB1. If you connect it to USB2, it just treats the phone as an 'aux' disc or ipod. Maybe it's the same with the Samsung?

You'll need to read through the instructions to get more specific info for your device.

I had it for a day and returned it as I didn't like it tbh. I'll wait for the technology to mature a bit more and hopefully will have Wi-Fi by then.


IceBoy

Original Poster:

2,443 posts

221 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
I will see if I can find the instructions online.
Iceboy

chrispj

264 posts

143 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
I've recently worked my way through this same issue as the previous owner of my Evora had replaced the factory fit Alpine system.

You can connect via bluetooth and play music through your phone, this was simple enough. The downside is that you have to control music selection etc from the phone.

Theoretically you could use Pioneer's Appradio to talk to you Android phone, but I believe they stopped developing this a few years ago with the onset of Android Auto (or whatever the latest thing is called), so out of the box the official apps on Google Play only work with some old phones on older versions of Android.

If you use an app called appradio unchained (~£20) you can get the DA120 to mirror your phone screen. The main issue there is you have to root your phone and also get an HDMI to USB converter cable. Then your phone sends info to the stereo over the HDMI connection, but receives data back through bluetooth. To get it to work you also have to go into the DA120 settings and change the HDMI connection so it doesn't expect to see an iphone. If you search ARunchained and DA120 there are some good guides on how to set everything up.

The one thing I haven't managed to get to work is making or receiving phone calls - it appears to connect but no sound, so presumably there is a problem interfacing with the mic and speaker for that function. Otherwise the DA120 screen mirrors my phone screen and apps appear to work normally, so far I've tried playing music and sending texts (while parked).

Hope this helps.

denisb

509 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
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Have you downloaded the Pioneer "AppRadio" app, or are you going with Mirrorlink?

IceBoy

Original Poster:

2,443 posts

221 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
I think I would like Mirror Link but not sure what to do or what I need?
Iceboy

denisb

509 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
Follow page 28 of the manual and double check your settings. Make sure "Apple Car Play" is off.

On the phone, the mirrorlink options are under "more connection settings".

Might also be worth giving the Pioneer Appradio app a test, to check connectivity if nothing else.

About all I can offer...I have the earlier version of the head unit and its different. I know have to go through a Chromecast...long story!

chrispj

264 posts

143 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
A clarification, I use the Appradio Unchained Reloaded app, to give it the full name.

My phone is a nexus 5 running Android 6.

The cable I needed was a Slimport (micro-USB connection) to HDMI adaptor, you would need to check whether your phone supports Slimport, if it doesn't then that will probably be a showstopper for using Appradio.

denisb

509 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
Oh yeah, the S6 doesn't have MHL. Just remembered why I am using a Chromecast!

chrispj

264 posts

143 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
I don't have mirrorlink on my nexus 5 so haven't looked into that but this page might be useful:

http://www.appradioworld.com/2014/11/correctly-con...

zed4

7,248 posts

222 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
Apple CarPlay is exclusively for iPhones AFAIK.

You should be able to mirror your device, as the posters above has described. You will need the HDMI adapter.

I've never tried an Android phone in mine, both my girlfriend and I have iPhones.

denisb

509 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
zed4 said:
You should be able to mirror your device, as the posters above has described. You will need the HDMI adapter.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 doesn't do HDMI (aka MHL). You need to do mirrorlink over USB.

Or do something really wonky like go through a Chromecast as I do. Not recommended!