Is it possible to duplicate/expand the display on Android Head Unit ?

UnReal'

Senior Member
Sep 10, 2016
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Hello, I wanted to know if it is possible to duplicate/expand the display on Android HU:

(I saw the screen with LCD Screen on head support, but I don't want only the media app to be expandable)

In my car I have a GPS Display and I wanted to change it for an LCD screen where I can expand the HU.

(Screen for those who want to see: http :// www .forum-auto.com/uploads/200602/kevin_88_1140480500_image2.jpg)

Thanks you !
 

Teslamonger

Member
Aug 22, 2016
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So you basically want to remove the built in navigation system on your car as and put in a "second monitor" for the Android head unit? In terms of an easy plug-and-play solution, this is not possible. I don't believe it's possible at all even with a lot of hardware modification.
 
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UnReal'

Senior Member
Sep 10, 2016
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So you basically want to remove the built in navigation system on your car as and put in a "second monitor" for the Android head unit? In terms of an easy plug-and-play solution, this is not possible. I don't believe it's possible at all even with a lot of hardware modification.
Forget the modification of my car:

I just need to know if the Head Unit can expand there screen to a second display (with HDMI or VIDEO out ?)
 

Teslamonger

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Aug 22, 2016
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Wasn't talking about hardware modification of your car. Was talking about the motherboard of the unit. These units don't have HDMI out, and I would assume the RCA video out is only for DVD input, but don't quote me on that, I've never tried it. I can try the video out on my unit tomorrow and check if it sends out a duplicated screen.
 
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Zaphod-Beeblebrox

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The Newsmy units, for all their other faults, do support HDMI out (at least the NU series - can't remember if the NR series does). It will duplicate the android generated side of images (no AUX-in, or Reverse-cam, etc).

However, putting the same image in two places on your dash seems a little useless to me. What you really want is dual monitor support. Android in general doesn't do this very well. I think you can make this happen, but you will most likely be doing some type of completely DIY project where you have complete control of the hardware & software.
 
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UnReal'

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Sep 10, 2016
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Thanks you for the help !

@Teslamonger Yes it would be great !

@Zaphod-Beeblebrox Hmm... Really interresting... If you have some advice i'm listening. For the duplicated screen it's because the Head Unit is in a very bad area to look at when driving, getting the info on the replaced GPS screen would be a huge improvement. (You can see where the Autoradio is placed on my screen)

EDIT:



Someone know how this thing work?
 
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Zaphod-Beeblebrox

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Dec 3, 2009
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I think you are going to get your hands dirty to some degree no matter how you approach this based on those images... However, you might want to start with something like this

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/For...2662478354.html?spm=2114.40010308.4.17.PTmL5c

It already has a separated "head unit" and display. Could probably be modified to fit your existing screen.

Still lots of due diligence to work out (like what info can you keep/lose from the display? can you work this as a touch screen? Can you do enough with SWC and the unit buttons to avoid touch. Can you do voice control?
 
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UnReal'

Senior Member
Sep 10, 2016
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The Newsmy units, for all their other faults, do support HDMI out (at least the NU series - can't remember if the NR series does). It will duplicate the android generated side of images (no AUX-in, or Reverse-cam, etc).

However, putting the same image in two places on your dash seems a little useless to me. What you really want is dual monitor support. Android in general doesn't do this very well. I think you can make this happen, but you will most likely be doing some type of completely DIY project where you have complete control of the hardware & software.
I think you are going to get your hands dirty to some degree no matter how you approach this based on those images... However, you might want to start with something like this

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/For...2662478354.html?spm=2114.40010308.4.17.PTmL5c

It already has a separated "head unit" and display. Could probably be modified to fit your existing screen.

Still lots of due diligence to work out (like what info can you keep/lose from the display? can you work this as a touch screen? Can you do enough with SWC and the unit buttons to avoid touch. Can you do voice control?
This is a good starting point but it's not adapted for my car (Laguna II), I would have to change it to a 2din and the hardware seem to be "old".
I don't need to control it from the elder GPS screen, it's just because it's more adapted to see the information like Waze during driving, I can use the Android Head Unit or voice control to use it

Many thanks for your help ! :)
 

Teslamonger

Member
Aug 22, 2016
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Thanks you for the help !

@Teslamonger Yes it would be great !

@Zaphod-Beeblebrox Hmm... Really interresting... If you have some advice i'm listening. For the duplicated screen it's because the Head Unit is in a very bad area to look at when driving, getting the info on the replaced GPS screen would be a huge improvement. (You can see where the Autoradio is placed on my screen)

EDIT:



Someone know how this thing work?
Just based off that image, it kind of confirmed my suspicions. It looks like the AV out only moves videos to the external display. I was going to pull my unit out of my dash and try this to double check, but it's been raining all day... I'm still pretty curious about it so when I get a chance I'll try it.
 

UnReal'

Senior Member
Sep 10, 2016
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Just based off that image, it kind of confirmed my suspicions. It looks like the AV out only moves videos to the external display. I was going to pull my unit out of my dash and try this to double check, but it's been raining all day... I'm still pretty curious about it so when I get a chance I'll try it.
No way to bypass that?
 

UnReal'

Senior Member
Sep 10, 2016
59
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0
If it only duplicates Youtube and DVD inputs to the display, then it would require some fancy magic to get it working the way you want it to be, especially since the code on these android head units aren't open source as far as I know.

This is very sad ... Any idea to possibly making work a dual screen?