T9 Headunit

I plugged into the oem port so I could clean everything up before it came in from Amazon. One thing that you need to do is run the audio for both phone calls and music through Bluetooth and not through “autokit” which is the CarPlay output. It normally defaults to that but occasionally I need to go into the default radio phone app and press play on the audio button there.

I also had good luck using my phones hotspot and running waze and xm apps natively. Only annoying part about that is the iPhone hotspot only activated when I went to the hotspot screen and I couldn’t figure out how to address that.

 

Okay I’ll try it when the dongle arrives. I am pretty frustrated with this unit. I can’t find a service provider that has a compatible SIM card. Whenever I give them the IMEI number I am told it’s not a compatible device. So far Verizon, and sprint have shot me down. I would like to know what people are using for a service provider for this unit????

 

I planned on doing straighttalk tablet plan before getting the dongle to work.

https://get.straighttalk.com/bring-your-own-tablet/

 

Love the look of this Head Unit, but it sounds like you need a software engineering degree to be able to use it in your truck.

 

I agree. It looks good but getting it to work the way they say isn’t so easy. I contacted the supposed tech guy for them and he says the CarPlay wireless connection is fouled up because of a recent iPhone update. He wants me to do this process of resetting my phone, resetting the T9, downloading another app, tethering the phone to the T9, its all crap. Plus they claim you can use any SIM CARD in it but none of the major carriers Verizon Sprint etc SIM cards are compatible, so you can’t add it as a device on you plan. I regret my purchase for the time and frustration in trying to get it to work. But $1700 for the Alpine is really crazy.

 

After a couple days of frustration, and help from Mfavic89, I got the unit to work. Sort of, I have given up on the wireless CarPlay connection and went with the dongle, no skipping, no lag, sounds great. It took some serious time to set the unit up to get the back up camera to work the way I wanted with the dynamic line etc... the steering wheel controls work correctly, the CANbus works correctly, the only thing that doesn’t work is the wireless CarPlay and from what I have read it sucks anyway so I’ll stick to the dongle and can live with it.
Overall I like the unit now that I got it working, it looks much better than the OEM, I like some of the features for better sound quality and it does seem to sound better than OEM, I like that I can use CarPlay, the installation part was pretty easy with the hardest part being the wiring connections considered that there are no instructions.
So bottom line would I recommend the unit? I would say yes, it was frustrating to get it working but you eventually figure out the interface, it looks good, better than OEM. So for the $$ it was worth it to me so far, as long as it doesn’t blow up in the next 10 years I will be happy with it.
If your after quality wireless CarPlay than it would not be a good purchase for you.


Edit: I finally got the wireless CarPlay to work. Instead of using the CarPlay button on the home screen I use the ZLink app and it connects. It does pop occasionally so I’ll probably stick with the dongle, but at least it works.

 

Anybody know why it’s only 2014 and up and not the earlier years, eg my 2012

 

We're you able to find a sim card that works by chance?

 

It would be a gsm based bands. Either tmobile or att would work best.

 

I have not. Verizon gave me one to try but no joy. I might check into the T-Mobile one.

 

Verizon is basically GSM these days too.

Been considering an Android unit. The T8/T9 looks to be the only one I've found specifically for the 4Runner. It would probably be better to use hotspot instead of paying for a second line. I could configure my phone to automatically enable hotspot when the unit comes on.

 

Tmobile works perfectly. Just ask for a sim card, they probably won't even as for details about the device.

 

Are you able to hook up a datalink Maestro or something similar? Or can this radio pull data from the vehicle as it comes? Would like to be able to run Torque app or something like that.

 

I bought mine from rhino radios and they had a Bluetooth odb2 for $10. Works great with torque lite. It is Android so any compatible odb2 should work fine.

 

Does the 2020 TRD Pro come with the T9 head unit? I hope so as there would be added functionality like being able to read Android micro SD topo maps for off roading and hunting, and without installing.

 

It does not come with the T9. Its a revised entune unit with car play etc...

 

hmmm I am wondering if it will read navigation SD card maps for Android? That functionality would be good to have for off roading and hunting

 

The wireless CarPlay feature has a lot of bugs. Often it would not connect regularly and now that Apple did a new security iOS update it won’t connect at all. I have heard from others that have the same issues.
I ordered my unit on August 21, 2019 and paid $575 for it and now your selling it for $450, does the 30 day warranty cover lower price? I can provide an order number.
Other than the wireless connection issues I do like the unit and it is better than the OEM head unit in looks, it would be nice if it had SiriusXM capability.

 

Hey all,

I bought the T9 on 9/6 and received it on 9/13. I chose the free shipping and was amazed it came to my door so fast.

Wiring was stupid simple but there is a lot of $hit to plug in and work around. I'm concerned that when I add my RCA's and Remote wire for my amp, it could get interesting.

The two issues I'm having with the unit are the following.

1. High Frequency Hum- Coming from the head unit and gets higher in pitch when accelerating. Per the manufacturer, I should move the connector cables around, disconnect the bluetooth, Hotspot, wifi, and then turn the unit back on. (To me... this seems like a grounding issue but not sure how to repair on my end with an aftermarket head unit.)

2. I'm still waiting on a response from the manufacturer regarding this one, but my Hotspot is VERY spotty. It connects and disconnects regularly. Also, the WIFI connected initially to my home WIFI and now will not connect at all. I'm told by another 4runner owner that he was having similar issues, but once he purchased and put his data SIM, all has been working much better.

Overall, I like the unit. It looks great and has some real cool features. I'm an Android user to begin with and feel that it handles everything well, however I was unable to find Netflix in the Google store. Must have blocked it from being downloaded onto the head unit.

Only other item that I don't like is when you put your vehicle in reverse, the sounds gets cut off completely.

 

My buddy (4run_nick) on IG let me know that he got a data SIM from T-mobile and it works well with his head unit.

 

Keep up posted on the amp/sub. At the moment I am planning to get the amp/sub and t9 at the same time. Only have to get to remove the HU once. Well that is the plan anyways.

 

So let me know if the T9 unit is worth installing? Or just leave the unit that came with my 2019 4runner ... thank you

 

At the price point it is currently sitting at and all the bugs it is NOT WORTH installing. Just wait for the T11 or T12 which should be out anytime now...

 

In my few days with it, I would definitely recommend getting the T9. It is much easier to navigate and the look is pretty awesome.

Would encourage you to attach all wires first so that install is easier once you have everything removed. Also, I would leave the brackets that come with the stock stereo off the new unit. Just detach the wire that goes to the emergency flashers and discard the brackets. It's a VERY easy install if you don't have them.

 

My opinion after having it for about a month is mixed but with the recent price drop I would say it’s worth it. My only problem is that when it comes to Apple CarPlay it’s finicky, Apple and Android don’t seem to like to play nicely all the time. Occasionally the wireless won’t connect up, and occasionally when wired through the dongle it freezes up. If you connect up to CarPlay and just leave it it works good. But if you jump back and forth it gets hinky 25% of the time. It looks much better than OEM, I like that I can use the Torque Pro app and Carista app on it.

 

Has anyone else (in addition to @ANNIE_GOT_A_RUN) had any issues with a high frequency whine that is present anytime the volume isn't muted? It's something internal best I can tell, I've done all the regular checks - not alternator, not ground, not radio/antenna interference. Cartrimhome is working to exchange but they wanted me to send back instead of just ordering another in case it's a common issue that needs to be corrected to many units. Just curious if anyone else who has purchased one is also hearing this.

After saying that, I LOVE this unit - this is the only thing that bugs me. Also, @Living the dream yes I found out the same thing after trying to get a SIM for mine too.... sucks. I'm just hotspotting from my Verizon phone for now, and it works fine enough. I have Tasker automatically enable when the bluetooth connects so I don't have to manually do it every time.

I just read through several of these posts, and let me say very definitively - I would recommend this completely. I'm an android user already and love the functionality. I'm impressed that it has options galore to play with. I've seen a few mentions of things like backup camera settings, one of which is whether or not it will mute the audio. It does by default and I don't like that, as someone else mentioned. Just change the option. I toggled tons of stuff like this. I don't want to see the climate control stuff, so disabled it from showing up. I've downloaded the apps I want. You can have nav autolaunch for example, and set Waze as your Nav app. You could launch it from either startup or the screen or even a steering wheel button. You can configure so many things. Another example is tweaking the brightness in day and separate for night, as detected by headlights being on.

I'll put some time into a more complete post to highlight and screen capture more for you guys. I just can't get over how much a step forward this is from Entune, and the fact that it blends in perfectly to the truck. You certainly don't need a software engineering degree, but set some time aside to dig into options on it, and it's going to be exactly whatever you could want for. Feel like I should have gotten one at discount rate after making this post.... /sigh

 

Agreed man. As I'm an Android guy, I love the capabilities this unit has. My kids love being able to watch Peppa Pig on the head unit on the way to school and I love it for Waze, Torque, Google Music, etc. My wife has an Iphone and will probably try to see if it works well this weekend for the Apple Carplay. Other than that, this unit is pretty awesome. Definitely worth the $475 or whatever they are offering it up at right now.

I'm going to reach out to the manufacturer regarding the sound but other than that, it has been awesome. I haven't had time this week to follow their instruction of adjusting the wires behind but hopefully will do this weekend. If the sound persists, I'll reach out.

I'm also planning to hook up my sub and amp soon. Will report on that as well with pics etc of the set up.

 

@ruster34 @ANNIE_GOT_A_RUN are both of you getting the noise during audio? This is a first I heard of it and was just wondering as I am looking at buying the T9 but just want to make sure the sound quality is there. Also does it come with the dongle to hook up for Apple carplay? I heard the wireless is pretty rough. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

Oh crap one more thing don't know if you guys got the silver one but if you did does it match the silver on the interior pretty good?

 

I’m not sweating the shittyness of this T9 when there is this which is coming soon.

https://youtu.be/tAsPgWLAz0o

 

Hi, I am not really hearing the noise when audio is playing. It is very light but nonetheless, I would rather not hear it at all. Other than that, the sound quality is pretty awesome. I like any type of music from hip hop to hard rock. It is MUCH better than your stock unit. The dongle is extra. I believe $45 but you would need to look on their website.

I have an SR5 so my interior is normally silver... I went with the black surround on this unit which I like a lot and plan to turn all of my silver accents inside to the black color. I've heard the silver does match pretty well, however.