3rd gen audio build - Joying tacoma headunit

Mine's got 2 right on the back of the unit. I've tried out both, they seem to drop the connection at the same places with about the same frequency. The only thing I can think to do to improve there is to remove the JOYING-provided USB extensions and just attach a decent 6-footer USB cable, reducing the number of connections being made and possibly increasing the overall wire thickness for the USB cable run.

 

On a side note, I've splurged the big bucks on an android app called "Headunit Reloaded". they have a 5-minute free trial app that seemed to work well installed on the JOYING, so I went ahead and spent the 5 bucks for the full version. I took it on a test drive down a stretch of Hwy 285 where Zlink dropped the connection about 10 times, and could only reconnect for a couple minutes at a time. with Headunit Reloaded it did not drop the connection a single time. Only weird thing now is that sometimes I have to unlock my phone and tell it to be a "Media/Android Auto" device in the USB connection settings notification dropdown menu, or the Headunit app just shows the phone as connected, but displays a black screen. At least it confirms that it sees the phone at all! I'll take the extra initial setup time over the random disconnects while I'm driving. I couldn't get the wireless Android Auto to work so far, but at least there's a ton of documentation on XDA. I'll report back on if its stable over the longer term.

 

I used android auto for about 2 days till I switched to using the headunit as android and tethering. I have youtube music, and everything is voice activated. I can search for songs right on the radio. Android auto makes you pick up your phone and search on it for songs. I have a police scanner app on there, plus all sorts of other music streaming.

 

I will likely follow that route as well if cannot achieve a consistently stable Android auto/carplay connection. I'm not sure how my cell carrier handles large data consumption via mobile hotspot, but at that point I would also try to download as much audio and map content as possible into the radio itself.
Police scanner app! Didn't know such a thing existed! Awesome, time for an intense Google-ing session

 

With youtube music, it will auto download a "mix" for you of what you listen to. You can also download as many songs as you want for offline listening. I have about 400 songs on mine, and it auto updates them removing songs I dont listen to much and replacing them with new songs I might like. It also auto downloads songs you thumbs up.

 

This is the police scanner app I use.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scannerradio_pro&hl=en_US&gl=US

 

Great write up and awesome build. Used to really be into system builds but went with OEM Audio this time. I have a old school build from 1998 in my other other truck I still enjoy. Nothing like clean music. Nothing like today's equipment but I'll see if I have pics.

 

When you cut off the 1/2inch on the mounting brackets, what did you use to join them together? I’m assuming I could use jbweld or something of the sorts, but I wanted to see what you used since the final product turned out so good!

 

So um, did you do this?

 

I did not, I got sick and paralyzed from the waist down for awhile, most things I had plans to do got put on hold for a extended period.

 

Yikes! Sorry man!

 

I have heard rumors that someone who used to be on here might be making some. While they dont have the best of reputations, they do have a few decent products out so I have faith they might do it.

 

TT?

 

ktjo4x4 was planning it. Not sure if she still is since the whole grab handle thing, but Im thinking she will.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CClS-LFAGZ5/

 

Has anyone replaced the Android 8.1 version of the Joying with the new Android 10 version? Are there any huge differences other than the version of Android? I really love mine. It would suck to try and sell this one just to buy a more expensive one if all that was changed was the version of Android.

 

Your not going to gain all that much in terms of features going from 8 to 10. You will gain some speed with the processor upgrade, and depending on what generation of the 8.1 you have (they updated the back of the unit a few times) you may end up with a cleaner wiring behind the dash.

But, I personally see these radios as a 5 year device. After 5 years your looking at the OS being outdated for some apps to even run. So if its working, and all your apps run, then there is no reason to buy a new one just to get a OS update.

 

I purchased mine from Amazon in December 2019 after reading through about 25 pages of this thread. It was probably the easiest headunit I've ever installed. Too bad they don't jump onboard the trade-in boat like how Samsung does their phones.

 

I spent the last 2 days reading this thread. Lots of great info. I decided to give it a try and ordered this one:

 

Messing around with backup plans for music in case my phone busted or I don’t have cell service. The included music player doesn’t recognize a bunch of files on my sd card, I had to download a different one.

It’s too bad you can’t use an iPod.

 

What about a portable hd?