ANS-810 / ANS-510 (PROPER RNS-510 alternative)

[starionx]

I got my ANS-810 today (thanks Sandy ).

My experience installing the unit as a first time 'install anything in a car' person... not great. In fact after 2 hours I gave up.
The hard part (I thought) was going to be taking off the trim without damaging/breaking it. It took a bit of courage, but it eventually popped off. Taking the vw unit out was easy. Unplugging the cables was a little trickier (I was doing this in an underground car park with only the car interior lights on), but they came out. Plugging the cables into the new unit... FAIL! Try as I might, I could not get the FM cables out of the white socket. In my car, the two cables are connected to the one plastic socket. They swivel around, but would not pop out. For now, I have no FM. The instructions mention to 'connect to the slot with a clip on top of it', but I had no clue what that meant.
The position where the Ipod/USB cable and the audio/video cable goes (in the setup instructions diagram) is wrong. They need to be swapped around. For the life of me, I could not work out where to feed the USB cable from the interior, to the exterior. I'm not sure I want to be trying to remove more plastic trim.
The GPS antenna. Well, I had no idea where to put this. There was no room on top of the unit (once it's in) and there were no holes big enough inside the cavity that I could place it. I ended up just throwing it in the gap behind where the unit would sit. Hopefully the signal will get through without too much interference.

Finally, I put the unit with cables, into the cavity and it fit very snugly. Took the car outside and tried to set the Nav part up. This SHOULD have been easy, but it wasn't. I spent 20 minutes (I kid you not), trying to work out how to scroll through the GPS folders so I could get to the Primo.exe file. Every time I swiped the screen, nothing happened. I tried up, down, even left and right... no response. I tried starting from the folder icon, the folder name, even the blank part next to the name. Nothing. Occasionally, one of the folder names would light and it would take me into it. Press the Back button and start again. There is a dent in my head the amount of times I would bang it against the dash. FINALLY, by sheer luck, I worked out that you had to swipe HARD on the screen, for it to register. If I had to press that hard on my mobile, I'm sure the screen would crack. I don't think the screens on these units are very touch sensitive.
After that, the setup was a breeze.

If someone could help me workout what to do with the FM connector, how to expose the USB cable into the cabin interior, and where to place the gps antenna (my car is in my sig), I would be very grateful.

[wai]

If someone could help me workout what to do with the FM connector, how to expose the USB cable into the cabin interior, and where to place the gps antenna (my car is in my sig), I would be very grateful.

On the antenna cables, these are supposed to be FAKRA connectors. You need to press a tab built into the top of the plug. This lifts the catch over a small "peg" on the bit on the radio, allowing the plug to come out. If yours are joined together, it should just be a single press down to release both clips. As an absolute last resort it would be a case of cutting the cables off and re-terminating them. Just remember to tag the cables before you cut them so you know which one is which.

On the iPod/USB cables, about the only possibility on my Caddy is to remove the ashtray. This reveals an opening in the top if the cavity which might be suitable. The GPS antenna will be interesting for me.

Thanks for the information as I will be getting my ANS-610 for my Caddy shortly. I will post my experiences. I have been trying to get as much information on this as I can.

[DkN]

I got my ANS-810 today (thanks Sandy ).

My experience installing the unit as a first time 'install anything in a car' person... not great. In fact after 2 hours I gave up.
The hard part (I thought) was going to be taking off the trim without damaging/breaking it. It took a bit of courage, but it eventually popped off. Taking the vw unit out was easy. Unplugging the cables was a little trickier (I was doing this in an underground car park with only the car interior lights on), but they came out. Plugging the cables into the new unit... FAIL! Try as I might, I could not get the FM cables out of the white socket. In my car, the two cables are connected to the one plastic socket. They swivel around, but would not pop out. For now, I have no FM. The instructions mention to 'connect to the slot with a clip on top of it', but I had no clue what that meant.
The position where the Ipod/USB cable and the audio/video cable goes (in the setup instructions diagram) is wrong. They need to be swapped around. For the life of me, I could not work out where to feed the USB cable from the interior, to the exterior. I'm not sure I want to be trying to remove more plastic trim.
The GPS antenna. Well, I had no idea where to put this. There was no room on top of the unit (once it's in) and there were no holes big enough inside the cavity that I could place it. I ended up just throwing it in the gap behind where the unit would sit. Hopefully the signal will get through without too much interference.

Finally, I put the unit with cables, into the cavity and it fit very snugly. Took the car outside and tried to set the Nav part up. This SHOULD have been easy, but it wasn't. I spent 20 minutes (I kid you not), trying to work out how to scroll through the GPS folders so I could get to the Primo.exe file. Every time I swiped the screen, nothing happened. I tried up, down, even left and right... no response. I tried starting from the folder icon, the folder name, even the blank part next to the name. Nothing. Occasionally, one of the folder names would light and it would take me into it. Press the Back button and start again. There is a dent in my head the amount of times I would bang it against the dash. FINALLY, by sheer luck, I worked out that you had to swipe HARD on the screen, for it to register. If I had to press that hard on my mobile, I'm sure the screen would crack. I don't think the screens on these units are very touch sensitive.
After that, the setup was a breeze.

If someone could help me workout what to do with the FM connector, how to expose the USB cable into the cabin interior, and where to place the gps antenna (my car is in my sig), I would be very grateful.

Sorry you had a difficult experience.

Re the FM fakra connector, look here:



Ignore the right side, your connector end should be the same as the one on the left in that picture. Notice only one of the dual connectors has a clip with a tab. You need to pull the little tab back, away from the unit, before you can remove it by pressing the tab down and pulling the connector out. Where the connector with the tab is now will also be where you insert the provided single FAKRA antenna into.

For the GPS antenna, I have helped install a unit into a MY10 Golf GTI so it should be the same - on the left side of the cavity when you remove the unit, there should be a gap big enough to push the antenna through. If you use some double sided tape, you can stick it on the other side of that wall.

Also below your air con unit, after you remove the fascia, there should be a little shelf that is held on only by clips. Behind that shelf is a little gap that should be ok to fit the USB / iPod wires through, but you have to remove the shelf because the connectors are obviously too big to squeeze through. Just be careful and apply some force wiggling that shelf, it will come loose easily enough. Bring your USB / iPod cable around, from memory I think I removed the air con unit too to get the wires behind it - once you have the fascia off it's just 4 more torx screws. Then replace everything back and you should be set.

If all else fails with the cables, after you remove the air con unit, you should be able to push the cable through the fascia to your left where a gap can be found, picture below (mine is a mk5 Golf):



Ignore the cable on the left that's my RVC cable which is not yet buried. Cable on the right is USB and I just hook it back around to the centre console area.

[starionx]

Thanks for the pictures and info Sandy. I should point out that my frustration is more to do with my inability to get the job done, rather than a problem with the unit (well, apart from the touch screen sensitivity).

You mention using double sided tape for the gps antenna, so maybe I can tell you something you might not be aware of. You can peel off the orange/red film on the bottom which reveals a sticky surface.

I'll have another go tomorrow to see if I can properly finish the install.

[DkN]

Thanks for the pictures and info Sandy. I should point out that my frustration is more to do with my inability to get the job done, rather than a problem with the unit (well, apart from the touch screen sensitivity).

You mention using double sided tape for the gps antenna, so maybe I can tell you something you might not be aware of. You can peel off the orange/red film on the bottom which reveals a sticky surface.

I'll have another go tomorrow to see if I can properly finish the install.

Oh yes I forgot about that - the latest antennas they've been shipping has tape included, it's a recent thing

And by the way, the screen is resistive rather than capacitive, so touch scrolling will not be as sensitive as your smartphone but normal pressing of buttons shouldn't be a problem.

[DSGVW]

I have another request for the audiosources engineers if you can pass it along DkN. When browsing through the music folders or the equalizer, there needs to be more time (or no auto-switch-back for that matter) before it switches back to the main screen. You have like 3 seconds to make a selection before it switches back to the main screen and you are still stuck on your current music track. This should be a simple thing for them to change - and others can chime in on how long the pause should be. Personally, I'd prefer if it would just hold on the folder/track screen indefinitely until you find what you are looking for and then revert back to the other main screen or NAV setting.

I love the AND-810 as the screen is huge and the interface is great.. but there are quite a few oddities of the unit.

[starionx]

Just had a thought. My car came with the usb MDI interface. Does this now become useless?

Oh... and I agree with the above post re: item selection timing.

[macdub]

I have another request for the audiosources engineers if you can pass it along DkN. When browsing through the music folders or the equalizer, there needs to be more time (or no auto-switch-back for that matter) before it switches back to the main screen. You have like 3 seconds to make a selection before it switches back to the main screen and you are still stuck on your current music track. This should be a simple thing for them to change - and others can chime in on how long the pause should be. Personally, I'd prefer if it would just hold on the folder/track screen indefinitely until you find what you are looking for and then revert back to the other main screen or NAV setting.

I love the AND-810 as the screen is huge and the interface is great.. but there are quite a few oddities of the unit.

+1 on this..would like it to stay indefinitely too

[macdub]

Just had a thought. My car came with the usb MDI interface. Does this now become useless?


Oh... and I agree with the above post re: item selection timing.

yes MDI will become useless..I had the same..

[DkN]

Just reported it to the tech. He's still working at this hour, lol (8:37pm local time). Also the permanent up one level button etc.

They're busy fixing up the updated iPod music browsing menu atm, and are looking to release the new firmware when that is done.

[macdub]

Just reported it to the tech. He's still working at this hour, lol (8:37pm local time). Also the permanent up one level button etc.

They're busy fixing up the updated iPod music browsing menu atm, and are looking to release the new firmware when that is done.

eagerly waiting for proper ipod browsing..

meanwhile if someone wants to use the freeware below..I am using it and find it helpful loading playlists on SD card directly from itunes..

iTuneMyWalkman for Mac - CNET Download.com

i know one can drag and drop and make folders but just too much work..this integrates well with itunes and load playlists as folders in minutes..

[starionx]

Ok. I've managed to put it all together, and it all works. The confusion in regards to the FM antenna is a 50/50 split between me and the instructions. At first, I completely ignored the black antenna cable that comes with the kit because looking at the diagram, it has a line pointing to a connector in the middle (which the black cable plug could not possibly fit into). This is why I was trying to remove the Fakra connector from the white plastic housing. Putting more light onto the back of the unit (still working with underground lighting), I noticed the Radio hole for the black cable connector in the bottom left of the unit. The other end of this cable fits perfectly into the fakra connector (with the plastic clip). It was that easy. Obviously, things will be different from VW model to model (in regards to what stock cabling you have), but if this helps anyone else with an my12 gti, then my pain was worth it. The FM reception was perfect.

I sort of solved the issue with what to do with the usb cable. I just plugged my thumb drive into the connector and dumped it all into the back of the cavity. Of course, I'll need to take the whole thing apart if I ever want to change the music on the drive...

I haven't really played with the SatNav much, but it works, so that's good. I love the fact that it actually shows GPS Speed. My old 370Z's satnav didn't. Oh, and I did find a place in the back of the cavity, in the roof of it to place the gps antenna (I'm glad it has the sticky stuff).
In regards to the touch screen, it seems to have reasonable response. Thank christ there aren't too many screens that you need to finger swipe to scroll.

The one bad thing I've noticed is that the plastic trim does not fit flush anymore. I noticed this on an earlier post from someone with the same car as I. The trim sticks out a little in the top left corner. -

I might have to look to see if can sand off some of the plastic on the trim.
A few minor gripes about the screen navigation (e.g. setting up a satnav skin, but then having to go BACK through every screen you just came from), but nothing major. If I had to make a complaint, it would be on the song screen. I don't know if it's the same for ipod and SD card, but the USB song title (and probably a few other lines) only show about 12 characters. I'm sure this could be increased (lot's of space on the screen). The 3rd line seems to alternate between all the remaining mp3 tag info (year, comments, etc), by blanking out the line and then showing the next info. It's kind of like a slow flashing effect. At night this would be distracting for me because you would notice this out of the corner of your eye.

Overall, for the money, it's a no brainer swap for someone who doesn't have the VW satnav unit. The installation would have been a lot simpler if it wasn't for the FM antenna balls up on my part. I'm very glad I made the purchase.

[wai]

On the fit of the trim after the installation, is it because the radio is sitting too far forward, or is it because the radio surround is not the correct size?

If the radio is too far forward, it might be possible to bend the mounting tabs on the radio to adjust the position in/out.

You might also be able to loosen the mounting screws and move it a little left/right/up/down. Leave them partialy done up, then fit the trim by pushing the radio around to match the trim. Then remove the trim and tighten the screws.

[gviddy]

Here is a quick tutorial on getting the USB/IPOD cables coming out into the glove compartment.. I did this on my EOS which should be similar to a Golf.. includes photos....

https://gviddy.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/ans-810-gps-satnav-ipod-and-usb-installation-in-a-vw-eos/

[starionx]

Here is a quick tutorial on getting the USB/IPOD cables coming out into the glove compartment.. I did this on my EOS which should be similar to a Golf.. includes photos....

https://gviddy.wordpress.com/2012/09...n-in-a-vw-eos/

I had a quick look at my glove compartment and it does seem to have that plastic cover, but I couldn't work out how to get it off. May have to use a knife.