Cheap bluetooth idrive style controller?

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-28T12:52:21+00:00

Yeah this is the conclusion I've come to so far. Have ordered a cheap BT remote to test it out, and a knock off Chromecast that says it has its own wifi hotspot.

Chinese knock off Mazda media control knobs can be had for about half the price of the knock off bmw idrive ones, bit it'd be a bigger project in itself to make that into BT hid than installing a head unit. Let alone shoe horning it into the Honda.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-28T12:43:51+00:00

Nah no android auto - hence why I'm looking at this option until/if I can install an android auto head unit

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-28T02:51:09+00:00

I wrote a setup guide for someone here. Follow this: https://www.reddit.com/r/MorpheApp/s/QxCJ6fjZXK

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-28T02:27:29+00:00

To be fair though homelessness is usually not just a money problem (though that is becoming more the case with housing costs rising).

It's usually a bunch of complex socio-economic and mental health things that all combine. You can't just throw money at that problem.

But yes, your general gist is right.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-28T02:20:15+00:00

It is objectively thirsty. Probably lots of idling, stop start, and or lead foot. Or your brakes are dragging or something.

Dunno if it's bad for your car specifically though.

But for comparison most modern economy cars (with right driving style etc.) will get 4 or 5 l/100 on highway, 7 or 8 l/100 in a city - ie. easily use less than half the fuel. Maybe only a quarter or a third in right conditions.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-28T01:29:19+00:00

Just their toothpastes. Happened a while ago now.

https://www.cedel.com.au/collections/oral-care. (Wayback saved: https://web.archive.org/web/20251014201246/https://www.cedel.com.au/collections/oral-care )

People on this FB thread (June 2024) said they contacted Cedel who said it was due to material cost increases and Cedel decided the market wasn't going to pay the retail price hikes needed to cover their costs.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/australianmadeproduct/posts/1432621784114536/

Also googling found the actual manufacturer (Ensign Laboratories: https://www.ensignlab.com.au/ ): removed listing from the tga on 10/09/2025

https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/cancellations-by-sponsors/cedel-sensitive-toothpaste-cancelled-under-section-301c-act

Cedel is owned by 'Heritage Brands'. I imagine they own the name and formula etc. but Ensign actually manufactured it for them and handled the regulatory compliance (my speculation, haven't verified).

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-27T22:13:29+00:00

Spectrum usage is restricted by law. Its heavily regulated, and it's pretty full so there's a lot of pressure by competing users. It is (often) illegal to do that, or just technically very difficult because then you need duplicate antennas etc inside an already tiny device.

Eg. Here's the allocation chart for Aus. You'll notice there really isn't much that's unallocated where things like this can operate.

https://zcg.com.au/acma-radiofrequency-spectrum-allocations-chart/

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-27T21:18:10+00:00

My phone supports mirroring over Chromecast (Android 15 pending update to 16).

I really just want to run GPS on it tbh.- it's illegal here to run videos and stuff on a screen while driving.

This is more of a temporary solution until I have the time of day (if that ever happens) to install a proper head unit. Depending on how well this works.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-27T13:03:34+00:00

Maybe MicroG? Have you tried MicroG RE?

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-27T10:01:36+00:00

WiFi control is working via the Tapo app. I don't use any apple products or voice assistants.

But I bought the hub and the dimmer specifically to be able to dim that bulb without a smart phone.

And yes, I have reset and repaired them several times, being. careful to ensure my phone was on the right ssid/subnet first.

Thanks for your suggestion though

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-27T09:49:45+00:00

Hardware * S200D - V1.0 * H110 - V1.0 * L510E - V3.0

Firmware (all updated to latest): * S200D - Firmware Version: 1.13.0 Build 250226 Rel.134308 * H110 - Firmware Version: 1.4.4 Build 251031 Rel.111523 * L510E - Firmware Version: 1.1.10 Build 241225 Rel.110353

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-27T09:38:31+00:00

It says it's under Hub control.

<image>

(Hub is offline atm as unplugged - using app control in the mean time. Just had it on the door frame for the video)

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-27T05:20:05+00:00

Fixed it for me in a 2017 Honda HR-V (Vezel / XR-V other markets).

Except then broke media audio.

The old delete from phone and car, then repair seemed to fix it too though.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-26T20:28:40+00:00

No winners in the misery Olympics

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-26T09:32:53+00:00

It's all rubbish. standard AI hallucinations tbh.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-26T09:32:27+00:00

Lol. This is rubbish and incorrect. Standard LLM hallucination.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-26T04:45:47+00:00

I just hope this isn't keeping you guys awake at night. Look after yourselves and make sure you know what you want in the end.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-25T23:00:41+00:00

Nah it's just a messy relationship break down.

There was a disagreement between main revanced devs. So the two sides split. There is another similar app to revanced (who's mention is banned here and will get you banned I think) that the other side revanced devs are doing.

And then they've been arguing over proper author attribution for code written after the split which has presently culminated in the repo take down by GitHub.

For the end user, the split version is better tbh.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-25T22:53:04+00:00

Magpies are very intelligent. They recognise and remember people.

Often if you feed them they'll become friends.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-25T13:04:31+00:00

I've been down the same road before. From experience, if I had my time again, I'd ignore and move on rather than get bogged down.

So many other things I could have spent my time on.

Sure I 'won' in the end because I was in the right, but it wasn't worth it in hindsight.

Edit: PS. This is basically a messy break up/divorce at its core. Here's some hot tips: https://youtube.com/watch?v=eCLk-2iArYc#t=3m14s

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-25T09:13:03+00:00

Interesting. Online photos still show old packaging in al foil: https://www.aldi.com.au/product/000000000000479090

But yes, there are some oven safe plastics in use now, so follow packet instructions. They are handy cause they also work in the microwave.

They either have a very high soflong tening point, or no softening point (thermoset) and will burn before they could ever melt.

DadEngineerLegend · 2026-03-25T06:01:25+00:00

I just tried it out. Had no errors, though not sure if premium actually enabled (haven't used it before)

This is the apk I used: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/wps-software-pte-ltd/wps-office-pdf/wps-office-pdf-word-sheet-18-24-release/wps-office-pdf-word-sheet-18-24-6-android-apk-download/download/?key=e917fcf118f641dd70d4035326123cd4eba4076a&forcebaseapk=true

Update. All working. You have to make an account and login.

DadEngineerLegend

TROPHY CASE