14.4" Screen for the 2020-2021 Trucks

[mds2004]

I must have missed it during my install, I thought the RCAs were for video?

I don't have this radio, but from my installs in past vehicles the RCA on the radio is the signal output to aftermarket amplifiers.

 

[elindley01]

Anyone having issues with steering wheel track skip forward and back while using CarPlay? My AutoTec 12.2” system skips two tracks forward and back for each press of the steering wheel button. Auto Tex provided a software update today, but it made no difference.

Yeah, I’m having issues with the track buttons too. They don’t work at all for me with any of the native tablet apps. I emailed Autotec, who did the same thing: offered a software update that didn’t work, then ghosted me when I followed up. I haven’t found a solution and it’s pretty frustrating. Hope someone here can help.

 

[TomSkerritt]

For anyone curious about the AliExpress unit for substantially less than AutoTec, I’ve actually had pretty good communication with the seller who sent me pictures of it on a test bench next to an invoice with my shipping info today and told me it is updated with the latest android available for it and if I needed any future updates to contact them. I have chatted with them each day since ordering- below is where it appears to come from, I’m wondering if this is where autotec is getting their unit.

 

[DrSpeed]

For anyone curious about the AliExpress unit for substantially less than AutoTec, I’ve actually had pretty good communication with the seller who sent me pictures of it on a test bench next to an invoice with my shipping info today and told me it is updated with the latest android available for it and if I needed any future updates to contact them. I have chatted with them each day since ordering- below is where it appears to come from, I’m wondering if this is where autotec is getting their unit.

which Ali Express seller did you go with? Have a link?

 

[TomSkerritt]

which Ali Express seller did you go with? Have a link?

I ordered from VikNav. Link below

Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

Make sure if you order from them to have the app on your phone because they message you asking to verify your vehicle before they will ship.

 

[JTredway]

I ordered from VikNav. Link below

Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com

Make sure if you order from them to have the app on your phone because they message you asking to verify your vehicle before they will ship.

pretty substantial memory upgrade options too, i dont recall what the original one has but options are nice. I am torn between wow this is cool and I want this and conspiracy tinfoil hat, AHHHH Chinese are stealing our datas. lol

 

[Nick@ApolloOff-Road]

I am torn between wow this is cool and I want this and conspiracy tinfoil hat, AHHHH Chinese are stealing our datas. lol

I'd be lying if I said this exact thought hasn't crossed my mind lol

 

[TomSkerritt]

Believe me I felt the same way, That's why I read every single post in over 100 pages on a couple different forums before going for it. A guy on the F150 forums knows his way around android pretty well and has checked background programs and for anything else malicious and didn't find anything out of the ordinary.

It comes down to the fact that its plug and play and if it sucks I can easily go back to stock (I went with the AliExpress unit for this purpose). From what I've read tho, even with some quirks it'll be a nice upgrade and the possibilities are even greater once someone can root the system and refine some things.

 

[TomSkerritt]

Just an update, I did receive the unit today and it works. I dont know that much about android and not sure I got the GPS antenna hooked up because it doesn't get very good signal, other than that it was worth getting on AliExpress.

 

[JTredway]

Just an update, I did receive the unit today and it works. I dont know that much about android and not sure I got the GPS antenna hooked up because it doesn't get very good signal, other than that it was worth getting on AliExpress.

is the AE version the same variant just w/o the middle man markup?

 

[TomSkerritt]

is the AE version the same variant just w/o the middle man markup?

Yes, it is the same unit 100%

I’d imagine you’ll get a little bit better customer service from AutoTec because of the language barrier, but the VikNav seller on AliExpress has been very responsive and said that any updates for the system I could get from them.

 

[toofy]

I wish they made one of these for the 2022 F250s with Sync 4.

 

[TomSkerritt]

I wish they made one of these for the 2022 F250s with Sync 4.

If I had a 2022 with the big screen I would probably just get a magic box and be happy. This is a great option for the trucks with the smaller screens tho, Split screen ability is nice.

 

[TomSkerritt]

A few quirks here and there but refining it the way I like it, so far so good.

 

[toofy]

I was going to try a Verizon SIM card when mine arrives, but it looks like Verizon wont work. I typically drive with two cell phones so I guess I'll figure something out. Would like to make sure it connects automatically every time I turn it on.

What type of SIM card DOES work? Anyone know?

 

[toofy]

I don't have this radio, but from my installs in past vehicles the RCA on the radio is the signal output to aftermarket amplifiers.

I think I saw somewhere the RCA cables are for aftermarket cameras if you don't have OEM cameras. I could be wrong.

 

[TomSkerritt]

What type of SIM card DOES work? Anyone know?

Most guys I have seen are using T-Mobile. You may be best using the truck hot spot thru AT&T if you're going to be spending money on another plan.

I didn't hook up the sim card cable as I was told the verizon sim wouldn't work. One annoyance with not having the sim card is no matter what settings I have on my phones or the dash unit, every time I start the truck if I want internet features, I have to connect the wifi to my phone hotspot. Not a huge deal but a sim card would fix that. If you're going to be using any data intensive apps tho you're going to burn thru some data on a sim card.

For most drives I find myself content with the wireless apple car play, but I do find it handy to have the internet connected if I want to bounce between spotify and Sirius without going to the Sync screen. Which by the way, I find myself using the factory SYNC screen less and less to the point that I will probably only use it now to adjust settings that can only be done thru there (Ambient Lighting)

 

[toofy]

Free, I did it in about 30 mins

I just installed mine. Took me about 4 hours, but I'm not very handy and can barely change a light bulb. Much of the time was rewinding the installation video and trying to figure out what they are going. I like it so far.

 

[TomSkerritt]

I just installed mine. Took me about 4 hours, but I'm not very handy and can barely change a light bulb. Much of the time was rewinding the installation video and trying to figure out what they are going. I like it so far.

I took my time and did a lot of it in the AC out of the truck because it was 95 that day and it probably took me an hour. I think I missed plugging in the GPS antenna for the unit itself because it gets crap signal.

Did you end up going autotec or AliExpress?

 

[toofy]

I took my time and did a lot of it in the AC out of the truck because it was 95 that day and it probably took me an hour. I think I missed plugging in the GPS antenna for the unit itself because it gets crap signal.

Did you end up going autotec or AliExpress?

I did Autotec.

Much of my time was spent trying to figure out how to unhook some of the plugs. They have some little hidden tabs which were not obvious to me.