Interesting but seems a heck of a lot of faff - seems it lacks the refinement both software and hardware - potential seems good but seems like it needs more engineering. On our radio you can plug in a USB and play music from that or just Bluetooth from the phone and ask Siri to change tracks - and the Avtex Tourer 2 does a good job I think (got that after your review and happy with that) - imagine with all those screens it would be massively distracting, especially if there’s unreliability. Thanks for not just showing the good bits. Have a a lovely weekend, all the best, David 👍
Thank you very much Bob. I was thinking about this but after watching this I think I'll give it a miss, the mirroring problem is very annoying!. Thanks again
To be honest, the simple fact that they are calling Apple CarPlay 'i-Play' leads me to suspect that they potentially do not have the appropriate licenses in place with Apple. Either that, or they have stupidly called it 'i-Play' on the screen as I did notice that they instructions had 'CarPlay' written on it. There is no such thing as 'i-Play' from Apple. I personally wouldn't touch this device with a barge pole.
I think the landscape mirror issue isn’t an issue - it just replicates what the phone does and I don’t think UA-cam Studio works in landscape on a phone anyhow? I personally wouldn’t use google/Apple Maps in a motorhome anyhow as they will always take you down an unsuitable road. Personally I’d rather have a better head unit. Our new latest Ducato PVC comes with a 10” display which makes it look like a Tesla Campervan !!
With the latest 10 inch fiat head unit you can input the vehicle dimensions into the native (built in) sat nav so no need for an additional one - fingers crossed I’ll be able to import the gps locations of the major clubs sites 👍
Hello Bob and thanks for another honest and practical review. Can’t see us purchasing one of these. We have just bought an aguri RV760 sat nav plus dash cam bundle. It’s quite all singing and all dancing. Imagine my surprise when I found it has the UA-cam app and I can play all my favourite Bob Earnshaw vids while trucking along! Don’t worry I certainly won’t be doing that and won’t be recommending this to anyone either except when parked up of course. Looking forward to hearing about your next travel plans, we enjoyed the Scotland tour very much, love from Sue and Siobhan.
Hi Bob, I bought the Carpuride after watching Gadget John's review. The radio on my 2020 Fuat is awful but using the Carpuride I've linked my phone's radio and it's excellent. I also use Cygnet truckers on my phone which also works well. All in all I've had no problems mirroring etc and find it really good value.
I'm using the PRO version which is an update from the one Bob reviewed. There is a bit of a learning curve setting it up but once it is set up it works really well with my Android phone, giving me wireless Android Auto in my motorhome. I have used it with Waze so far and very impressed. The unit switches on with the ignition and as long as you have a cell signal on your phone it connects wirelessly to it within around 30 seconds. It is easy to switch from one app to another and you can select which apps to show in Android Auto settings on your phone. The PRO version has 2 bluetooth connections so you can connect to your phone and to your vehicle audio system wirelessly. The sound quality is much better than the FM option although you can still use that option if your vehicle audio does not have BT. All the inputs and outputs are identical to the non PRO model. The screen is bright and clear and has a brightness sensor built in that controls the brightness depending on conditions. You can also adjust the brightness manually if that is your preference. Music played via USB or SD card is easy to select. I am using the VNC player app. I don't see it as being any different with an Apple phone and CarPlay but I do not have any Apple products to try it. I am using the extendible bracket on my Ford Transit and it holds it very securely, you could put a couple of felt pads underneath if you wanted to give it extra support on your dash. The mirroring on Android does require a wired connection whereas on an iPhone it is wireless. It is not something I would want to do often so I don't see it as a con for me. Having had two Caravan specific sat navs I would never buy another, the maps are never as update as Waze or Google Maps and are yesterdays technology as far as I am concerned. Would I buy the 901 PRO again, definitely, in my opinion much better value than a caravan/motorhome specific satnav. A smaller version might be preferable in a car but I do like the larger 9" screen, especially when approaching junctions, roundabouts etc. Just a bit of further information, for motorhomes and Caravans Sygic Caravan Premium + Android Auto extension can be used with this unit. Sygic allows you to set the details including dimensions of your vehicle. The downside is it is not cheap and traffic/speed add ons are paid extras. You can try it for free (not sure about connection to AA) and it is sometimes discounted making it less painful on the wallet. Just to be clear I bought this unit with my own money and am not sponsored by Carpuride, Sygic or anyone else.
Hi I have been using the 10inch version of this device which although bigger is not as tall as the 9 inch. I have principally used it as a satnav via Apple Maps, and or Tom Tom. I bought it because my existing satnav has very small screen and was getting old and out of date. I have found that with the Carupride I need to mount the iPhone on the dash and not keep it my pocket as I used to do otherwise the satnav/map app gets “lost” eg driving down M56 and and map thought I was going across the land alongside the motorway. Also using the phone as satnav drains the phone’s battery substantially after a journey of a couple of hours so have purchased a wireless charging mount for the phone. Last week went to Jersey and encountered new problem. Using phone based maps or satnav app requires use of mobile data which at home in UK is pretty inexpensive but Jersey is not in UK or EU so international roaming rates apply which are ludicrously expensive. After 1 days use I switched off Carupride and reconnected my old satnav which I had fortunately brought with me. I assume I might encounter similar high data charges if Carupride used in Europe although my mobile provider does give me an EU data roaming allowance.
Thanks for the talk through Bob! Watched this similar with another channel, possibly Herman Hits the Road, thought it would be brill to bring my Tia upto date, however as raised in your vlog, there us alot of messing around. I have been considering changing my Pioneer headunit to a screen/gps unit instead. But like you mentioned, im happy with my gps unit, and use my phone/google as a last resort. L would have to move the reverse camera screen toward the passenger side as my dash will end up looking like a flight simulator!
Interesting but seems a heck of a lot of faff - seems it lacks the refinement both software and hardware - potential seems good but seems like it needs more engineering. On our radio you can plug in a USB and play music from that or just Bluetooth from the phone and ask Siri to change tracks - and the Avtex Tourer 2 does a good job I think (got that after your review and happy with that) - imagine with all those screens it would be massively distracting, especially if there’s unreliability.
Thanks for not just showing the good bits.
Have a a lovely weekend, all the best, David 👍
Thanks.
Thank you both for an excellent review and for saving me £190 !
What with Sat Nav Tyre Pall and Web Cam any more in windscreen won’t see where you a going. No not for me.
Thank you very much Bob. I was thinking about this but after watching this I think I'll give it a miss, the mirroring problem is very annoying!. Thanks again
To be honest, the simple fact that they are calling Apple CarPlay 'i-Play' leads me to suspect that they potentially do not have the appropriate licenses in place with Apple. Either that, or they have stupidly called it 'i-Play' on the screen as I did notice that they instructions had 'CarPlay' written on it. There is no such thing as 'i-Play' from Apple. I personally wouldn't touch this device with a barge pole.
Thanks Bob a great honest review as ever and would be a good upgrade for older vans but seems like it needs some work to make it even easier to use
They are good for older vehicles that haven’t apple play etc
I think the landscape mirror issue isn’t an issue - it just replicates what the phone does and I don’t think UA-cam Studio works in landscape on a phone anyhow? I personally wouldn’t use google/Apple Maps in a motorhome anyhow as they will always take you down an unsuitable road. Personally I’d rather have a better head unit. Our new latest Ducato PVC comes with a 10” display which makes it look like a Tesla Campervan !!
Think I'd prefer the same, at least I could keep the sat nav in the middle.
With the latest 10 inch fiat head unit you can input the vehicle dimensions into the native (built in) sat nav so no need for an additional one - fingers crossed I’ll be able to import the gps locations of the major clubs sites 👍
Hello Bob and thanks for another honest and practical review. Can’t see us purchasing one of these.
We have just bought an aguri RV760 sat nav plus dash cam bundle. It’s quite all singing and all dancing.
Imagine my surprise when I found it has the UA-cam app and I can play all my favourite Bob Earnshaw vids while trucking along! Don’t worry I certainly won’t be doing that and won’t be recommending this to anyone either except when parked up of course.
Looking forward to hearing about your next travel plans, we enjoyed the Scotland tour very much, love from Sue and Siobhan.
It's amazing what sat navs can do these days.
Hi Bob, I bought the Carpuride after watching Gadget John's review. The radio on my 2020 Fuat is awful but using the Carpuride I've linked my phone's radio and it's excellent. I also use Cygnet truckers on my phone which also works well. All in all I've had no problems mirroring etc and find it really good value.
Good to hear, we would have used it if we didn't already have a good sat na[v.
I'm using the PRO version which is an update from the one Bob reviewed. There is a bit of a learning curve setting it up but once it is set up it works really well with my Android phone, giving me wireless Android Auto in my motorhome. I have used it with Waze so far and very impressed. The unit switches on with the ignition and as long as you have a cell signal on your phone it connects wirelessly to it within around 30 seconds.
It is easy to switch from one app to another and you can select which apps to show in Android Auto settings on your phone.
The PRO version has 2 bluetooth connections so you can connect to your phone and to your vehicle audio system wirelessly. The sound quality is much better than the FM option although you can still use that option if your vehicle audio does not have BT. All the inputs and outputs are identical to the non PRO model.
The screen is bright and clear and has a brightness sensor built in that controls the brightness depending on conditions. You can also adjust the brightness manually if that is your preference.
Music played via USB or SD card is easy to select. I am using the VNC player app.
I don't see it as being any different with an Apple phone and CarPlay but I do not have any Apple products to try it.
I am using the extendible bracket on my Ford Transit and it holds it very securely, you could put a couple of felt pads underneath if you wanted to give it extra support on your dash.
The mirroring on Android does require a wired connection whereas on an iPhone it is wireless. It is not something I would want to do often so I don't see it as a con for me.
Having had two Caravan specific sat navs I would never buy another, the maps are never as update as Waze or Google Maps and are yesterdays technology as far as I am concerned.
Would I buy the 901 PRO again, definitely, in my opinion much better value than a caravan/motorhome specific satnav. A smaller version might be preferable in a car but I do like the larger 9" screen, especially when approaching junctions, roundabouts etc.
Just a bit of further information, for motorhomes and Caravans Sygic Caravan Premium + Android Auto extension can be used with this unit. Sygic allows you to set the details including dimensions of your vehicle. The downside is it is not cheap and traffic/speed add ons are paid extras. You can try it for free (not sure about connection to AA) and it is sometimes discounted making it less painful on the wallet.
Just to be clear I bought this unit with my own money and am not sponsored by Carpuride, Sygic or anyone else.
Thanks for your detailed feedback. We just couldn't get on with it.
Hi I have been using the 10inch version of this device which although bigger is not as tall as the 9 inch. I have principally used it as a satnav via Apple Maps, and or Tom Tom. I bought it because my existing satnav has very small screen and was getting old and out of date. I have found that with the Carupride I need to mount the iPhone on the dash and not keep it my pocket as I used to do otherwise the satnav/map app gets “lost” eg driving down M56 and and map thought I was going across the land alongside the motorway. Also using the phone as satnav drains the phone’s battery substantially after a journey of a couple of hours so have purchased a wireless charging mount for the phone. Last week went to Jersey and encountered new problem. Using phone based maps or satnav app requires use of mobile data which at home in UK is pretty inexpensive but Jersey is not in UK or EU so international roaming rates apply which are ludicrously expensive. After 1 days use I switched off Carupride and reconnected my old satnav which I had fortunately brought with me. I assume I might encounter similar high data charges if Carupride used in Europe although my mobile provider does give me an EU data roaming allowance.
Yes, that's the reason we prefer map based sat navs, less dependent on mobile data.
A good review Bob, but it seems a rather troublesome thing to use.
Another good review, thanks 👍. Seems like there is a lot of faffing around to use it, and don't think that I'd purchase one.
Fair enough!
Jenny you were right a waste of money
Thanks for the talk through Bob! Watched this similar with another channel, possibly Herman Hits the Road, thought it would be brill to bring my Tia upto date, however as raised in your vlog, there us alot of messing around. I have been considering changing my Pioneer headunit to a screen/gps unit instead. But like you mentioned, im happy with my gps unit, and use my phone/google as a last resort. L would have to move the reverse camera screen toward the passenger side as my dash will end up looking like a flight simulator!
Yes, too much screen space!
Bin it Captain
Another good honest review Bob
Thanks for this Bob, it looks an interesting bit of kit. I am not sure that I am not sure that I would buy one though.
Me neither