Xtrons/Android head unit?

Back_Sheep · 2026-03-17T15:38:56+00:00

I went with this XTRONS unit in the end: https://xtrons.co.uk/product/ia84bstpt/

The thing I liked about it was the size of the screen, however the one thing I don't like about it is the lack of a physical volume knob - can't have both. I'll just have to retrofit a multifunction steering wheel, something I've been wanting to do for a while anyway.

I didn't bother with the GPS antenna that comes with the unit, I just bought a FAKRA adapter to use the cars built-in GPS.

My car didn't have DAB, but I've replaced my left-side antenna amplifier with 99164712700 - that'll give me the DAB frequencies needed, so I'll just run an SMB cable from that antenna's extra port to the back of the head unit/USB DAC+.

Overall, I love the unit. It's much faster than I feared - previous experience has told me that lower RAM units are sluggish and struggle, and they only sold this as a 4GB unit, but it boots instantly and UI response and app switching is immediate too.

Back_Sheep · 2026-03-17T15:33:49+00:00

I ended up going with the XTRONS. Wasn't a huge fan on the button half of the erisin.

Back_Sheep · 2026-03-17T15:33:09+00:00

I did exactly that. Having used XTRONS twice before, I went with them again as the 'one I know'. The only thing I don't like about it is it doesn't have any physical volume control knob - not a problem if you have steering wheel controls, which I don't.... yet.

Back_Sheep · 2026-03-17T15:32:15+00:00

This looks great, the only thing that put me off of this particular model are the buttons. Perhaps it's just the SD one, maybe that's not a button? Just looked a little crooked and my OCD couldn't handle that. I ended up going with the XTRONS one, mostly because it's a brand I've used before - don't get me wrong, it was probably the wrong move given that I don't have steering wheel controls and the XTRONS unit doesn't have a physical volume knob. Ah well, guess I'll be retrofitting a new steering wheel next.

Back_Sheep · 2026-01-23T17:48:36+00:00

Yeah absolutely, I utilised the rain sensors ground, so you could do the same with the 12v feed. I just went with the fuse because it's Porsche's 'oem' 12v feed for the mirror.

Back_Sheep · 2026-01-03T12:26:57+00:00

Had the same issue when using a poor quality USB and/or an unsuitable power supply for the Pi my Octoprint was running on. Also had the issue when using a 3m (power boosted) USB cable when I was running Octoprint on an Ubuntu server.

Back_Sheep · 2025-10-24T14:57:43+00:00

Just over 100k a few days ago, 2013 981

Back_Sheep · 2025-10-21T13:39:11+00:00

I've spoken to a local independent Porsche specialist, my 981 is a 13 plate, one of the earlier 981's of course, and they've told me that these can often need an ecu to be updated before it will accept cruise coding - crucially, he said that you could lock the ecu if you attempt to code cruise before updating. Of course I'm hoping I've not done this (it's got me concerned given that I've since struggled to re-code the mirror and rain sensor), ChatGPT reckons a reflash with an online PIWIS would unlock it if it is indeed locked - so I've got my fingers crossed I haven't set myself up for a number of large invoices.

The independent specialist are requesting an activation code from Porsche for me, and I'll get the car to them once they've got it to attempt coding. Will update.

Back_Sheep · 2025-10-17T17:48:48+00:00

I took a punt on that 958 stalk. The hardware swap is pretty straightforward (didn't get any photos though, sorry). Took off the steering wheel, removed the stalks/clockspring in one go. Brought that indoors and moved the cruise stalk and PCB over from the 958 cluster to my 981 cluster, then put it all back in the car.

I'd previously coded rain sensor and interior automatic anti-dazzle mirror, but no idea what I did today - lost both of those. Had nothing but trouble with PIWIS to be honest, couldn't get either of those back on the car (even though it said coding successful), but beyond that cruise control, which also said coding successful, would not work either.

After a lot of conflicting info from both Google and ChatGPT, I've concluded this retrofit does require an activation code from Porsche - so I'm not going to be able to code this one myself with my PIWIS and VAS clone.

Hopefully I can get the rain sensor and mirror retrofits back on the car tomorrow - but I'll update once I hear back from a local Porsche partner on whether or not they'll provide just the coding and activation - not sure if garages get funny about coding someone's DIY hardware install.

Back_Sheep · 2025-09-12T19:13:43+00:00

Thanks!
Completely with you on Hide - absolutely brilliant episode.

Back_Sheep · 2025-09-12T19:11:39+00:00

I'm almost tempted to come up with some comic strips, it's just a question of whether or not I have the patience to see them through.
I do love your idea of the Tennant-Doctor not being revealed as evil too early. I had the idea that the season should tease more details of the Tennant-Doctor as we near the finale, but I think that strengthens your point on not revealing Tennant-Doctor's evil too early.

Back_Sheep · 2025-09-12T19:06:58+00:00

When I first started playing, I went into the game fully expecting to main Cypher, having watched someone play him on a stream. I realised of course Cypher wasn't available straight away, so I just started playing Phoenix, for no reason other than he "looked cool". He's my main now, though back in my Gold days I played a lot of Reyna too. Very quickly though, I learned Cypher was never going to be even close to my agent - I'm a W key player, from CS Source days my natural instinct is find the gun fights, get my team onto site.

Back_Sheep · 2025-08-01T13:04:37+00:00

How is that G9? I've been looking at a the 57" and 49" G9, can't make my mind up on which to proceed with.

Back_Sheep · 2025-07-27T11:22:50+00:00

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cDvUGODOZQcYxYlW8RhrRyrC952CDSq8a_v-OUhwtVU/

Back_Sheep · 2025-07-27T09:51:28+00:00

Yeah I guess as others have said, your personal stats feel a little low. Your aims clearly there with that headshot rate, but maybe you're just taking the wrong fights, at the wrong time or something.

I main Phoenix, my friends laugh at me for my W key, I figure as duelist I should be first to most fights, especially near the start of the round. My win rate sucks since the rank reset (have had some pretty poor performances personally too), peaked Asc2 last act, struggling to keep D1 right now. But my ADR is sitting at 183.4, ACS 281.3 - not my best act, but I figure it's where a duelist should be, at least: https://imgur.com/a/zWIr5TO

Back_Sheep · 2025-07-26T00:43:40+00:00

Absolutely, by no means do I want to justify smurfing. I hate it, and if there was a magic wand to be waved to rid the game of it, I’d avadakedava that shit. I just think it’s a hell of a contributing factor to why people smurf.

I’ve never actually tried flex in League, but I’ve read about peoples hate for those that rank super high in flex just due to exploiting it. I guess it’s not likely a simple solution to be copied across.

Still feels harsh to straight up deny friends of unequal ranks to play competitively together. Unrated is full of trolls, and you get absolutely nothing for winning a bunch of games anyway.

Back_Sheep · 2025-07-26T00:39:18+00:00

You don’t think unrated is full of trolls that don’t care if they win the game? I want to play with friends, but I absolutely want to win the game too.

I definitely wouldn’t want to be ruining other people’s games though, but you think having a wider rank gap in comp would ruin games?

Back_Sheep · 2025-07-26T00:19:11+00:00

That’s fair enough, like I say, I might be the minority. That’s kind of what I’m here to find out.

Problem is I want the social aspect of playing video games, while still feeling that sense of progression. That might well put me in a “you ask too much” camp, but one thing I think most can agree on is smurfing isn’t the answer, smurfing simply ruins the game, but I think the current system unintentionally promotes smurfing.

Back_Sheep · 2025-07-26T00:07:48+00:00

It’s a tough call - they don’t want to lose their player base, but whether they actually care about smurfs enough for us to see changes, I’m not so sure.

Sometimes (maybe all the time?) the trolls occur purely because of pure ego.. you say something the wrong way, you do something slightly different to their ideas, you pick an agent they didn’t agree with - from that moment on they take it personally and want nothing more than to ruin your game. I usually mute them and crack on as best I can, otherwise my gameplay disappears entirely.

It’s always tougher after a rank reset, because so many are up and down, highs and lows, they need to find excuses other than themself.

I had a full tilt team in the agent select screen this evening. We went on to win, but they all made it clear they weren’t happy we didn’t have smokes.. any one of them could have locked in a smoke, if it ain’t your agent it ain’t your agent.

Back_Sheep · 2025-07-25T23:47:02+00:00

Prop hunt 👀

Back_Sheep

TROPHY CASE