There's a lot of thread on this topic but most are like a year old now. I'm looking into install either Naviiks or NavTool. Both had it pro and con- nothing perfect Those who own Naviks or Navtool, should I invest in it or just forget it since it "problematic??" I saw in NovTool had firmware update if any future update but Naviks don't from what I see (I might be wrong).

If invested, which is better in term of usage. My goal is simple. Mirroring Youtube and Apple Map to iMid, and hard drive for audio and video. Not interest in any other mod.
Naviks: Acura TLX HDMI Video Integration Interface $400
NavTool: ACURA TLX VIDEO INTERFACE with BUILT-IN HD SMARTPHONE MIRRORING via HDMI $300

 

It would be nice if someone had experience using any of those product come back and report "how was it" I don't care about customer services, just care if it works good.

60 views but no feedback.

 

i contacted navtool first but did not provide me with a module for a year and half (even though I paid) so i cancelled and helped spread the word about them when the "group buy" happened. most folks didn't believe me until navtool kept saying "next month" too many times and pissed everyone off. enough complaints went into it that moderators revoked navtool's ability to have group buys. having said that you'll find a couple of posts of those who finally got their module and seemed happy with it.

at the time naviks was still putting together the TLX version of their module (they already had one for the current MDX) but i appreciated their quick response and honesty (they simply wouldn't take my money first under false promises) and did contact me when the module became available. by then i got other things in my plate so didn't have the time for a module anymore but lots of MDX and TLX folks went that route according to forums as well.

if i was you i'd go naviks simply because they do honest to goodness business and shouldn't put them in the same category as the navtool crooks. however if i had to rate it in terms of hardware performance i haven't picked up any issues on either modules. probably what may boil down to is the warranty and whether it will be honored if issues arise. again i'm inclined to think naviks will but this is unfounded.

ps: in terms of "resolution" and other specs you might use to make your decision: remember that the top screen of the TLX is 800x480 (or WVGA for folks old enough to remember it) meaning standard definition modules that use RCA jacks will do just fine. bottom line is that the TLX screen does not and cannot display HD resolution and will downgrade it. pay extra if you will for additional HDMI-In ports for piece of mind but i'd recommend you consider your use case scenarios and not go overboard with it i.e.: adding a modified Apple TV and simply plan on using an AV adapter to mirror the phone.

 

I think I want Naviks unit for my next major purchase for car, well minus a new set of tires.

I saw the demo video and just want to make sure as I couldn't tell, it charges the phone while plugged in correct? As I have a phone that uses USB-C I'll have to make sure that there is a kit that works with it. Also, did you install it yourself or did you have it installed by someone else?

I want Android Auto so much, but that's obviously not an option in a 2015...

 

For the iPhone i know it does but that's purely due to the Apple AV adapter making room for a lightning port in. If I was you I'd purchase an authentic AV adapter dedicated to mirror your phone via HDMI. You can ofcourse test the rig on your TV beforehand.

 

“Back in 2015 I was under impression that NavTool was bit expensive for my TL” I decided to save money this time around.

Do not buy Naviks or similar junk. In 2018 only NavTool interfaces work as described.

Naviks red flag that I have clearly missed is that they have no reviews or only few positive reviews, either they have no customers or they are not real. Even world’s top brand such as Apple have plenty negative reviews. I should have never wasted time with Naviks or China. Buy cheap, buy twice.

Here is my journey, I purchased an interface from eBay straight out of China. Order Arrived almost 4 weeks late with no manuals and no tech support whatsoever. So, I took my best guess to install and it didn’t work. Lost money as eBay refused to help me and seller had refused to accept it. Nextttttttttttttt

Ordered Naviks junk, I was really surprised when I received same exact junk that I had previously received directly from China (when I ordered from eBay, eBay China=Naviks) So anyway, I went ahead and installed the Naviks interface, you guessed it right it didn’t work, but now at least I have the installation manual. Now I can go ahead and install Chinese junk using Naviks manual. That Chinese junk works except image is all pixilated. So, to summarize using Naviks manual I was only able to make Chinese interface work, but quality of the image was super low. I ended up taking it out of the car.

(I had NavTool back in 2015 but only for about a week until my car got flooded)

Next, I contacted NavTool because I’m determined to have Waze on my car screen, from NavTool website I learned that its 100% made in the USA and they been in business for a decade now.

Interesting fact About Naviks that I have learned from having a conversation with NavTool. Naviks is made up of NavTool ex-employees who decided that they want to become NavTool competitor, but unlike NavTool who designs and manufactures the product in USA, Naviks guys just bring it form China. Please don’t start telling me how iPhone is made in China, because iPhone isn’t made in China, iPhone is designed in USA, and it’s simply assembled in China out of the best components.

When I couldn’t make Naviks work, I asked a friend of mine who is an engineer to open it up and look inside. He said that Naviks stuff will never work in your car as its made from consumer grade components, and even if it works it will not last more than a couple of month due to stress automotive parts usually get, form vibration to sudden temperature changes.

After lengthy research, I have learned the following facts and purchased NavTool.

What did I learn about NavTool?
1. They are the original video interface company, and been in business since 2002
2. They are 100% made in USA
3. They are 100% automotive grade, confirmed by my friend who is an electrical engineer.
4. Technical support is 7 days a week, and US based.

These are just some facts that made me buy one, and it works in HD quality image mirroring.

I Placed an order on the NavTool website, Received it 2 days later. Installed pretty easy and it works in HD quality image.

P.S. if you do your own research you will not find any company other than NavTool that makes car video interface in USA with HD quality image. Every other brand I checked out were from China and looked china-naviks junk. It’s very sad that quality products are hard to find and market is getting flooded with low quality product and Chinese knockoffs from car electronics to household items.

If you want Naviks, order it directly form China, you will get 0 support same as with naviks , but at-least buying from China you will get it cheaper and working.

All these Chinese products are low quality and dangerous.


Typed on smartphone please excuse grammar and typos.

 

Just my side of the story. I order Navik not from ebay but from their actual site. Got my order I think 2 days. The manual wasn't the same as the actual item. I think they need to update their manual. Install in my 2017 TLX and everything working great. HD or not HD, TLX top screen isn't HD anyway.

 

if you actually read what i wrote above, i first ordered one form china, then one from naviks direct. not sure if its HD or NOT but with navtool i get clear picture identical to what i see on my iPhone and i can actually read the text

 

same as on my screen for iPhone 8p. Clear and working good. I like the fact that it actually true plug&play. No wire cut for power. Just my experience using this for less than a month.

 

NavTool is also plug and play, you get to control it from the car joystick. Now i'm planing to add side lane watch cameras and front camera, options that are not even available with naviks.

All i'm trying to say, if you want naviks get it on ebay directly from china for $200 less then buying directly from naviks, they just resell it with no support.

 

oh ok.. sorry for misunderstand. i spoke with navtool and they said i need to tap into oem wire for power. whereas, navik, it plug and play.. no tap to oem power wire. but anyway, i'm happy with it.

 

i had chance to install both, actually 3 of them - one with naviks white label never worked, only one from china worked, but it was same as naviks. Navtool is built way better and digital wires are not exposed like naviks have it all exposed. On top of it all extra cameras on NavTool is a huge bonus, and supporting your homeland is a bonus points for you karma