CarPlay wireless dongles

[Philes]

Hi, I just got a 2022 Icon with wired CarPlay. I can also play music from my phone via bluetooth, which surprised me--but the sound quality is murky. I see a bunch of cheap dongles for wireless CarPlay on Amazon--can they provide the same sound quality as the wired CarPlay?

[jthspace]

I've used them on a number of cars and they've been good, mind you I don't listen to music from a library, just, for example, some DAB stations that the car didn't cover.

[Paul john]

1 hour ago, Philes said:

Hi, I just got a 2022 Icon with wired CarPlay. I can also play music from my phone via bluetooth, which surprised me--but the sound quality is murky. I see a bunch of cheap dongles for wireless CarPlay on Amazon--can they provide the same sound quality as the wired CarPlay?

Carlinkit 2air v5. Using it for 2 years plus . Not murky and connects well. Apple music has a number of radio stations. 

[Paul john]

Found this today https://www.amazon.co.uk/MoKo-Magnetic-Adapter-Connector-Transfer/dp/B0BYNZG9NK

This might do (haven't tried it) for those who want the convenience / speed  of wired carplay / aa and the convienience of a quick connect without having to resort to a wired to wireless connection box.
It provides data and power via a magnetic connection. 
Only usb-c though not lightning. 

[Campblor]

I haven't noticed any difference in audio quality with this one, I used a bit of strong velcro to stick it to the underside of the cubby

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DG5WLRB2?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Only issue is the phone Battery dies quick. 

[152bobby]

I read somewhere that the only two officially recognised wireless adapters (could be wrong) are the Motorola MA1 and the AAWireless Adapters.

I have been using the AAWireless adapter for a couple of months and it's pretty faultless.  I'm just waiting on the AAWireless 2 to come out, because that has a small button to change from one phone to the other. 

Both these and MANY more are all on Amazon UK etc, but be aware that some only do Android or IOS, the AAWireless adapter I have does both, which we need, because I have an Android Phone and my wife has iPhone.

[Paul john]

1 hour ago, 152bobby said:

I read somewhere that the only two officially recognised wireless adapters (could be wrong) are the Motorola MA1 and the AAWireless Adapters.

I have been using the AAWireless adapter for a couple of months and it's pretty faultless.  I'm just waiting on the AAWireless 2 to come out, because that has a small button to change from one phone to the other. 

Both these and MANY more are all on Amazon UK etc, but be aware that some only do Android or IOS, the AAWireless adapter I have does both, which we need, because I have an Android Phone and my wife has iPhone.

Carlinkkit 2air v5 does both and is also faultless. Been using it 2 years now on iPhone and android. 

[152bobby]

21 minutes ago, Paul john said:

Carlinkkit 2air v5 does both and is also faultless. Been using it 2 years now on iphone and android. 

Can I ask, what you have to do when changing from using a Android to a iPhone?   

[152bobby]

On 10/28/2024 at 6:52 PM, Philes said:

Hi, I just got a 2022 Icon with wired CarPlay. I can also play music from my phone via bluetooth, which surprised me--but the sound quality is murky. I see a bunch of cheap dongles for wireless CarPlay on Amazon--can they provide the same sound quality as the wired CarPlay?

https://uk.pcmag.com/mobile-phone-accessories/141911/the-best-wireless-adapters-for-carplay-and-android-auto-in-2022?p=1

[Paul john]

6 hours ago, 152bobby said:

Can I ask, what you have to do when changing from using a Android to a IPhone?   

Nothing.

The default setting is “automatic”. The way v5 works against v4 or previous is a direct connect not a translation to the other system, if that makes sense.

so i take my pixel 8 and i get android auto  

i take my iPhone i get carplay 

 

 

[152bobby]

18 hours ago, Paul john said:

Nothing.

The default setting is “automatic”. The way v5 works against v4 or previous is a direct connect not a translation to the other system, if that makes sense.

so i take my pixel 8 and i get android auto  

i take my iphone i get carplay 

 

 

So just to be CLEAR 😄.  If I had one of these in my car and after set up etc.  if I get in the car with my Pixel 8, which was the last phone connected, it will connect to that and not my wife's iPhone and vice versa.  And it auto connects to the last phone connected with no human intervention?😄

[Paul john]

42 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

So just to be CLEAR 😄.  If I had one of these in my car and after set up etc.  if I get in the car with my Pixel 8, which was the last phone connected, it will connect to that and not my wife's iPhone and vice versa.  And it auto connects to the last phone connected with no human intervention?😄

Ok there are a couple of questions there.

Both phones present:
If you want to choose which phone to use: On the connection screen, that appears on the head unit, uncheck the autoconnect button (once only) and choose which device you wish to connect from that point on.

if you dont want to muck around with autoconnect toggle: make a one time change on an iPhone (connected to carlinkkit). go to web page 192.168.50.2 which is the carlinkkit backend. Choose settings and change “startup delay” to 1, 2 or 3 seconds which will give you time to choose which phone connects…

Single phone present:

if you want carlinkkit to autoconnect and only one device is present and autoconnect is enabled then it will connect to that device, switching between AA and Carplay automatically.

does that help?

 

[Paul john]

On 11/10/2024 at 1:31 PM, Paul john said:

Found this today https://www.amazon.co.uk/MoKo-Magnetic-Adapter-Connector-Transfer/dp/B0BYNZG9NK

This might do (haven't tried it) for those who want the convenience / speed  of wired carplay / aa and the convienience of a quick connect without having to resort to a wired to wireless connection box.
It provides data and power via a magnetic connection. 
Only usb-c though not lightning. 

As a follow up. Not quite “wireless” but certainly a “magnetic quick connect”

i tried one of the right angled adapters and “quick connect” wired Carplay is worth a try. 
i found carplay much more responsive with a 3 second connect. No lag (1 sec) on track change.  
 

[152bobby]

If anyone is interested, I have a AAWIRELESS going for £40 👍

[Philes]

On 11/11/2024 at 7:22 PM, 152bobby said:

https://uk.pcmag.com/mobile-phone-accessories/141911/the-best-wireless-adapters-for-carplay-and-android-auto-in-2022?p=1

Thanks, this was an interesting read. They chose a much higher price point for their reviews--I bought this one for about £24: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CZLFRSL6?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

It works perfectly, and I didn't run into any of the setup hassles the reviewers mention in that article. I do a lot of short drives, and having carplay without taking my phone out of my pocket feels like I'm living in the future, in a good way.

I picked the one I did because it was cheap, and small, and non-dangling. I bought a 90-degree USB adapter for a few pounds so that it sits parallel to the dash, rather than jutting out.