**Android Auto Frustration**----aftermarket HU
 

so i will begin this rant because i was very upset with my head unit based on what KENWOOD's website and info stated.

I installed the system last weekend including a KENWOOD DMX905s w/android auto

The reason i purchased this (DMX905s) is because i was under the impression that i would NOT need to spend an extra $300.00 on a head unit that COMES WITH NAV because i would be using the nav on my android phone.

Phone: LG V20
Carrier: Verizon USA
Android: 8.0
Headunit: Kenwood DDX9705s Firmware: S_V1_2_0009_1900

here is what i get--

1-access error of USB drive has occurred-----so i bought the ANKER suggested cable......same thing
2-USB device not recognized
3-While the USB cable is plugged into the device, the phone will recognize that something is plugged in, then disconnected every few seconds, then after half a minute, will show that the AA service is running on the notification area, but not running on the phone, and the headunit recognizes that it's charging a phone, but AA isn't accessible.
4-tried to connect through WiFi----device not supported.

so in a round about way, KENWOOD weblink, WAZE, Android auto & the USB are all not working.

so im not left with a car that has no navigation, unable to use the advertized tools that are provided by kenwoods head unit . I basically have a $400.00 BT hea dunit with no NAV that was marketed back in 2010

what should i do?

EDIT*****posted on 3-22-19 for results on how to get the radio to work

It is the connection. The Kenwood is just fine. Get someone else's phone to connect, to see if it works.

Try this:

Can you elaborate on connection?

My headunit does me no good if it doesnt work on my phone.
Know what i mean?

I'm not sure on Kenwood but on my Pioneer I had the issue. In my case it was just that I was using the wrong USB on the HU.
On Pioneer 1 USB is for android the for apple.

Kenwood told me the same thing

Tried both cables enterchanged with ever combo of usb c type I habe here (4) and get the same stuff
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0a8da7c4d5.png
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...169591b9a7.jpg


Here are most recent reactions combined with usb errors

Im lost LOL

Ugh...that sucks.
I just installed an Alpine iLX-F309 for Apple CarPlay. My car is still down but I hooked up the unit to a battery to test all functionality just to be sure.

ya i saw that, pretty sweet man, your car is going to be awesome next spring!!!

i should have known something was up when the 1st headunit that i got from kenwood was completely defective..It wouldnt turn on, power cycle or anything. took it out, sent it back, got this last weekend and installed just to run into another bunch of BS with this connectivity issues


i have 1 more cable on order that is "supposed " to be the fix. after that if AA still doesnt work, ill be only using it as a BT radio and cutting ties with kenwood forever.

I've always been an Alpine guy, so I saw no need to change LOL
Can't wait toget her back on the road......everything will be differnt from the last time I drove it :)

Borrow someone's Galaxy S9 and see what happens.

so far since the the other night ive tested as follows

lg v20
lg v10
HTC m8
Galaxy s7 edge all with the same results-----all phones have the minimun or current android OS that kenwood requires which is android 5 per their manual

i have a buddy bringing over his iPhone this weekend so ill report back after that

Weird.. I just put in a Kenwood DMX7704s about a month ago, using Android Auto with a Galaxy S9.. it's been flawless. I use one USB port for a thumb drive with music on it, and the other for my phone.

i originally ordered a discounted 7704s, but it arrived broken and would not power on. so i sent it back and the dmx905s was the only thing that they had close to it.


ive given up on the thing to be honest. kenwood cant tell me whats wrong, NO one else has the same problem. ive spent another 100 bucks on all of the "its the wrong cable" fixes and even talked to KENWOOD on the phone in the car testing all this stuff out, and they have no fix for it other than to tell me to get a PIXEL phone

i lost the ability to have navigation
dont have android auto, and spent close to 400 bucks on a usb/BT headunit
im a littly salty over it still:lol:

Have a look at the Pioneer AVH4200NEX over on Newegg, It's a $700 unit for $350 and it works great. All motorized screen to tilt for sun angles, CD, DVD, SD, apple play, and android, back up cam.
I'm very happy.

I love my Alpine iLX-207.

My buddy has that head unit....and he was begging me to buy it because its so nice.
but he also uses iphone so either way it was a 50/50 chance of me getting it and ot working woth my phone

I still may disconnect it and buy an alpine with built in NAV

SO i have an update

plugged in my buddies iPhone 8plus saturday and without a single app installed on the phone pertaining to the radio....it pulled up apple carplay, worked just fine, was able to use the NAV and all the apps inside carplay without any problems at all.


very disappointed that i cant access functions on my radio without an iPhone. Considering it and ANDROID AUTO radio, it sure doesnt seem to show it.

You're using the wrong USB on the head unit. 1 is for apple the other for Android.

CORRECT ONE IS BLACK AND ONE IS GREY
I GOT IT

this problem is not a cable issue, we are past that being the problem

OK so I take it you tried it then.
I'm going to take it that you also have the Android Auto app installed on your phone and know how to use it, along with using the USB cable that came with the phone and not a knock off 3' or less in length.
Is this all correct?

Correct
see post 5 in this thread

I wrote post 5.

Correct
post 6 ia your answer

When you plug the phone in does the bluetooth automatically turn on? If not try turning it on after it's plugged in or before if it doesn't work.
The reason I say this is because I always notice it turns on my bluetooth automatically when I plug it in.
Good luck man, I feel the pain after all the work and $$.

im sorry for being short and rude....im just so pissed about this man

So ive tried both ways

The only time this has attempted to connect was with BT off and android installed but not opened. It opened through the head unit for a split second then kicked a kenwood error 4446 device not compatable

When i turn on the head unit witj bt connected it connects then android auto opened....then asks for permission for usb detected i give it
then the phone vibrates, dings asks for permission to acess the usb again, vibrates , dings asks permission over and over
and thats on the first connection

If i unplug the phone and plug it back in it automatically says device error 4446 again

So kenwood errors are
4446
4448
Error accessing the usb

That does suck. While I'm not a big Apple fan, I must concede that iPhone products and their licensed integration partners seem to have a leg up on anyone else.
I finally relented and moved to iPhone products for my communication needs and I will say that even the OEM implementations of CarPlay in new vehicles I have driven have worked flawlessly.
The Alpine unit I got seems to work perfectly as well, and is fast !!!

I'm sure that I'll be of no help to you but maybe others looking for information will find something so I'll hijack the thread. The Pioneer nex4200 is the only deck I have personal knowledge of, for android auto to work you need both bluetooth and a USB connection to port number 2 located in the rear of the unit (I hung two down to save headaches) . As far as cables go I used some junk from Ebay or Amazon (nothing special ). Originally I has a S5 that took forever to launch , my S9+ is much faster but make sure the app and associated apps have permission to turn on. One thing to remember is that it prefers to have the phone plugged in before the deck is turned on, the premise of Android auto is to keep people from playing with their phones when driving. Btw first level troubleshooting is insuring that Android auto works on your phone without the deck, next make sure bluetooth works then check connection ports. Btw my deck and the first couple I put in needed to have updates installed.

One issue I have run in to is my company's mobile device management software (MaaS 360) preventing android auto from working properly. My LG V20 would work, but only if I didn't have the software installed.

I have a note 9 now and need to give it another shot. The LG has a special MaaS helper app you need to install, so I'm kind of hoping that it will work better with the Samsung.

id be interested in any issues with the note 9. that's the phone I have and i'm going to be installing a kenwood DDX9904s with android auto. Hoping it works well. worst case, i'll at least be able to stream music via bluetooth

It didnt work on my sisters note9 , I tried it on christmas and it had an "internal application" error every time we connected it


This thread should be a direct reflection of kenwood issues.....you better make sure that you connect it to a display and launch the app for music pandora and maps because kenwood is ABSOLUTELY ZERO help if you buy an outdated head unit from an eBay/amazon vender

Good luck buddy keep us posted

Here is some more info on the phones that have been plugged into this HU
LG V10
LG V20
LG V30
LG ThinQ
HTC m8 & m9
Samsung 8
Samsung Note 9
iPhone 8 plus------only phone that works


https://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/excelon/dmx905s/


the funny part is that their website has them using 2 phones connected to the reciever LOL what a joke

Note 9 works great on my Pioneer

until i have a definitive answer why my phone wont work with the supporting software (android 8) listed in KENWOODs instruction manual. i WOULD NOT recommend any kenwood HU to forum members, unless you plan on having a iphone and using carplay

alpine
pioneer
anything else out there sounds better than the DMX905s by kenwood (for android)

I'll try and make some time to peel off the cover and see if my 9 works.

:cheers:
in for the results


thanks!!

Interesting thread. Subscribed. I am a lifelong Alpine guy but I installed a double din Kenwood Excelon (entry level) in my son's car over break and it sounded fantastic and works really well. Was thinking about buying Kenwood's flagship to throw in my Vette. Your thread has me a bit concerned though. Hope you get it working.

ive come to the conclusion that the only FIX to this android headunit is to buy a damn iphone, which i refuse to do

just chalking it up as a loss in my book, ill never buy kenwood again. I'm just using it as a BT radio, no other functions work

I have the stuff to install my Kenwood DDX9904s .... really hoping it works with my Note 9 for auto android. if not, I guess I'll just be doing blue tooth streaming as well. i will update when i do the install. However, not exactly sure when that will be .

I have an update for this thread that's actually good news. My cell phone contract ended and I was able to purchase an iPhone 8 plus plug it into the Kenwood and everything works flawless through CarPlay


For anyone that has an android pray that your next update doesn't disable anything in your car

Since I've set my phone up I've gained access to my radio, screen sharing on my 4K TV, and my DJI drone againBy simply having an iPhone


crazy lol

Finally tested my phone when I took the vette out of the garage this weekend - Note 9 works great even with the mobile device management software.

That's what I've been using too. Note 9.
Works great.

I was having issues with Android Auto on my Kenwood DDX9704S in my subaru. I have a pixel 2 and it would sometimes connect and then freeze constantly. Couldn't get it to work consistently and was very irritating. My Pioneer in the vette works perfectly. I finally found the issue and now works perfectly. I had been using a nice short anker usb c cable but then realized I would try removing the usb extension cord that plugs into the usb port on the back of the head unit. I disconnected that and then used my usb to usb c cable that came with the phone. Just plugged that directly into head unit usb and plugged my phone in. Worked right away and has never disconnected again. I think with google, there's an issue with usb cables and essentially having that extra extension in there, it was causing problems. My Kenwood works perfectly now. Might want to try that if anyone is having problems.

Good to know! Great news! I was really hoping my note 9 would work ok with my DDX9904s. Will be installing within the next few days..... anything I need to be aware of that could cause problems?

In for curiosity. I alleviate all these problems by not using smart anything. LOL

LIES!!!!!!!!!


lol

Actually...a fact. I have/own ZERO smart devices. It's actually quite nice.

I was able to use my Note 9 with no issues at all with my ddx9904s this weekend. absolutely love the WAZE screen on my head unit. I was fearful that I may miss the factory navigation on my HUD.... but WAZE is sooooo much better!!

Speaking of LIES!!!!

LOL Just messing with you! Glad the Iphone you refuse to get solved your problem....