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CarPlay CarPlay adapter to convert to wireless CarPlay?

Here's my experience with the adapter: I have a Mazda MX-5 Miata with the latest Mazda Connect firmware (70.00.352B). I received the USB-C version of the dongle with the 03.18 version of firmware installed. When it works, it's awesome, but unfortunately I am having both connection issues on starting the car and then random Mazda Connect reboots while driving it. To Carlinkit's credit, they warned me that they had not tested the adapter with my car. I am keeping the adapter in hopes the issues get fixed with future firmware (on either Mazda's or Carlikit's sides), but I do not recommend current Mazda Connect users buy this adapter. I will update the forum if the issues get fixed.
 
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josejrp said:
Here's my experience with the adapter: I have a Mazda MX-5 Miata with the latest Mazda Connect firmware (70.00.352B). I received the USB-C version of the dongle with the 03.18 version of firmware installed. When it works, it's awesome, but unfortunately I am having both connection issues on starting the car and then random Mazda Connect reboots while driving it. To Carlinkit's credit, they warned me that they had not tested the adapter with my car. I am keeping the adapter in hopes the issues get fixed with future firmware (on either Mazda's or Carlikit's sides), but I do not recommend current Mazda Connect users buy this adapter. I will update the forum if the issues get fixed.
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I have the exact same issues with my Mazda 6 also on 70.00.352B, however i was told that it would work with my car :mad:
 
josejrp said:
Here's my experience with the adapter: I have a Mazda MX-5 Miata with the latest Mazda Connect firmware (70.00.352B). I received the USB-C version of the dongle with the 03.18 version of firmware installed. When it works, it's awesome, but unfortunately I am having both connection issues on starting the car and then random Mazda Connect reboots while driving it. To Carlinkit's credit, they warned me that they had not tested the adapter with my car. I am keeping the adapter in hopes the issues get fixed with future firmware (on either Mazda's or Carlikit's sides), but I do not recommend current Mazda Connect users buy this adapter. I will update the forum if the issues get fixed.
Click to expand...
Please keep us posted on any progress you make. I also have a Miata. I tried CarPlay2Air 5 months ago and it worked for 5 minutes, then stopped and never recovered. I sent it back. I would try again, if they ever made it work right. (I had asked before ordering if it would work with my car and they said yes. They lied.)
 
I have a v1 CPlay2Air with 0122 F/W in a Fiat 124 Spider using Mazda CarPlay H/W and S/W v70.00.100 NA N It's basically the same as running it in a Miata. When it works it's great, but I'm having the exact same issues as you Miata guys are. The CPlay2Air connects about 50% of the time, and when it does connect, it is prone to randomly reboot the car's CMU. I'm getting more and more frustrated with the erratic performance. If things don't get appreciably better in the next F/W release, I'm going to call this a failure, swallow the monetary loss, and go back to wired, much as I don't want to. In it's current state, as much as I like wireless CarPlay, this device is a clumsy hack and is too unstable for primetime.
 
josejrp said:
Here's my experience with the adapter: I have a Mazda MX-5 Miata with the latest Mazda Connect firmware (70.00.352B). I received the USB-C version of the dongle with the 03.18 version of firmware installed. When it works, it's awesome, but unfortunately I am having both connection issues on starting the car and then random Mazda Connect reboots while driving it. To Carlinkit's credit, they warned me that they had not tested the adapter with my car. I am keeping the adapter in hopes the issues get fixed with future firmware (on either Mazda's or Carlikit's sides), but I do not recommend current Mazda Connect users buy this adapter. I will update the forum if the issues get fixed.
Click to expand...

Same with my 2019 Honda CR-V. Sometimes it works, sometimes it is a pain to connect. I unplugged it and will try again at the next firmware update. I'm a little disappointed, but I knew it was a risk and I had to try it.
 
Same problem as all Mazda owners here - problem with first connect, then after many tries if it connects it reboots MZD Connect randomly. And after all - disconnecting also cause rebooting MZD Connect. In two different Mazdas. Two different Carplay2Air. For now it's useless and probably I will return it (I'm testing it for 3 days now). Current version that I have is 2020.03.18.1455 and there is no update. Lag on UI is acceptable, but lag on phone calls is not.
 
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I've been noticing a new issue lately (maybe since iOS 13.5? I haven't installed 13.51 yet) where an active wireless CarPlay connection will drop while driving (car's head unit returns to its normal Sync 3 interface), and I have to toggle BT off and back on on the phone to get it to reconnect.

Nothing else has changed in my setup (still on Carlinkit firmware 3.4 and no updates to my car's head unit) and this issue is continuing to happen periodically despite rebooting my phone (Carlinkit loses power when the car is off so it gets regularly rebooted).

Anyone else seen this behavior recently? I will try updating to iOS 13.5.1 here today to see if that helps.
 
I just received my Carlinkit 2.0 USB-C version. It came with firmware 2020.05.28.0115, which according to the built-in webpage is the current version.

I have a question about the USB-A port that's also available on the USB-C version. The manual suggests that it can be used as a wired CarPlay passthrough. I guess that might be handy if your phone battery was dying and you didn't want to bother disconnecting the Carlinkit to plug in your phone, but I can also see some potential with being able to just charge Device A device while using wireless CarPlay through Device B. Is this possible, or would connecting a different iPhone to the USB-A port cause even an existing wireless CarPlay connection to be dropped? I thought about just testing it myself, but given the reports of things that have gone wrong when connecting things to that port, I thought I'd ask if anyone else had already tested it.
 
jphughan said:
I just received my Carlinkit 2.0 USB-C version. It came with firmware 2020.05.28.0115, which according to the built-in webpage is the current version.

I have a question about the USB-A port that's also available on the USB-C version. The manual suggests that it can be used as a wired CarPlay passthrough. I guess that might be handy if your phone battery was dying and you didn't want to bother disconnecting the Carlinkit to plug in your phone, but I can also see some potential with being able to just charge Device A device while using wireless CarPlay through Device B. Is this possible, or would connecting a different iPhone to the USB-A port cause even an existing wireless CarPlay connection to be dropped? I thought about just testing it myself, but given the reports of things that have gone wrong when connecting things to that port, I thought I'd ask if anyone else had already tested it.
Click to expand...
Wow, another new firmware, 5.28 is a first. Curious what type car you are using it on and how it is working for you?

In terms of the USB A port on the back, I am fairly certain that whatever phone you plug into it will take precedence as a wired CarPlay device, so the wireless adapter will not be active. I guess this can only be an issue of you simply want to charge someone else's phone but use yours for CarPlay. I suggest if you don't have another USB port, get a lighter USB outlet and stick a lightening cable in it. This is what I do. I have a power outlet in my center console.
 
LarryJoe33 said:
Wow, another new firmware, 5.28 is a first. Curious what type car you are using it on and how it is working for you?

In terms of the USB A port on the back, I am fairly certain that whatever phone you plug into it will take precedence as a wired CarPlay device, so the wireless adapter will not be active. I guess this can only be an issue of you simply want to charge someone else's phone but use yours for CarPlay. I suggest if you don't have another USB port, get a lighter USB outlet and stick a lightening cable in it. This is what I do. I have a power outlet in my center console.
Click to expand...

Using the adapter on a 2019 VW Golf R with an iPhone X running iOS 13.5.1. I've only spent about 20 minutes using it thus far, but three things I've noticed:
  • If I'm within range of home WiFi when I start the car (I have a solid signal in my garage), then the Carlinkit doesn't seem to automatically connect. However, if I actually select my phone from the pairing list that shows when the Carlinkit can't connect automatically, that DOES work. So I'm guessing that the Carlinkit can send some signal to the phone over Bluetooth to make it switch over its WiFi from my home to the Carlinkit. Good deal.
  • In terms of changing audio tracks with the steering wheel controls, I was using Spotify and noticed that when I pressed the Next Track button on my steering wheel, after about 1 second the album art image would change, and after 1 more second the next song started playing. But even wired CarPlay isn't immediately responsive here, so I don't think this is the Carlinkit's fault.
  • When using the Carlinkit, CarPlay seems to think it's connected to a non-touchscreen vehicle (even though I have a touchscreen) since I'll see a blue highlight around an app icon or other areas of the interface. Tapping something on the screen to go elsewhere and then going back removes it. The blue highlight reappeared a few times even within a given "session", although I couldn't figure out what triggered it. Maybe I had switched my head unit away from CarPlay entirely and came back, or maybe due to something happening within CarPlay that caused the interface to change. Not a big deal, but maybe that'll be improved with a future firmware update. This doesn't happen at all when using wired CarPlay.
Thanks for the info on the USB-A port. I do have this car charger, which I love, but I don't keep it plugged in with a cable attached all the time because of where my car's power outlet is. By comparison, I've always kept a 1-foot Lightning cable plugged into my car's CarPlay USB port since it's behind a door. But if the Carlinkit's USB-A port becomes an issue, I can definitely just use the car charger more often. Thanks!
 
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jphughan said:
Using the adapter on a 2019 VW Golf R with an iPhone X running iOS 13.5.1. I've only spent about 20 minutes using it thus far, but three things I've noticed:
  • If I'm within range of home WiFi when I start the car (I have a solid signal in my garage), then the Carlinkit doesn't seem to automatically connect. However, if I actually select my phone from the pairing list that shows when the Carlinkit can't connect automatically, that DOES work. So I'm guessing that the Carlinkit can send some signal to the phone over Bluetooth to make it switch over its WiFi from my home to the Carlinkit. Good deal.
  • In terms of changing audio tracks with the steering wheel controls, I was using Spotify and noticed that when I pressed the Next Track button on my steering wheel, after about 1 second the album art image would change, and after 1 more second the next song started playing. But even wired CarPlay isn't immediately responsive here, so I don't think this is the Carlinkit's fault.
  • When using the Carlinkit, CarPlay seems to think it's connected to a non-touchscreen vehicle (even though I have a touchscreen) since I'll see a blue highlight around an app icon or other areas of the interface. Tapping something on the screen to go elsewhere and then going back removes it. The blue highlight reappeared a few times even within a given "session", although I couldn't figure out what triggered it. Maybe I had switched my head unit away from CarPlay entirely and came back, or maybe due to something happening within CarPlay that caused the interface to change. Not a big deal, but maybe that'll be improved with a future firmware update. This doesn't happen at all when using wired CarPlay.
Thanks for the info on the USB-A port. I do have this car charger, which I love, but I don't keep it plugged in with a cable attached all the time because of where my car's power outlet is. By comparison, I've always kept a 1-foot Lightning cable plugged into my car's CarPlay USB port since it's behind a door. But if the Carlinkit's USB-A port becomes an issue, I can definitely just use the car charger more often. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Nice. Sounds like you are off to a good start. The slow track changes are normal, in that I mean we all have it. You will get used to it. I think cars with apples wireless CarPlay change slower too. I’m terms of your home WiFi, also a common situation for other users here, but not for all. My home WiFi is strong in my garage and I just start the car and CarPlay boots right up, but you are not alone. The blue highlight is another known “feature”. We all have it. I actually like it. I have a touchscreen and a knob so I find it convenient to scroll around as my knob is right on my console. But yeah, normal wired CarPlay does not have this.

For me, I wish the track changes were a little quicker, but as I said, you get used to it. Everything else works perfect for me and I can’t imagine having to plug in.

In terms of your charger, that looks big. Search amazon for low profile RavPower brand. It’s really short and performs well.


Car Charger [2-Pack] RAVPower 24W... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MCTX722?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
 
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LarryJoe33 said:
Nice. Sounds like you are off to a good start. The slow track changes are normal, in that I mean we all have it. You will get used to it. I think cars with apples wireless CarPlay change slower too. I’m terms of your home WiFi, also a common situation for other users here, but not for all. My home WiFi is strong in my garage and I just start the car and CarPlay boots right up, but you are not alone. The blue highlight is another known “feature”. We all have it. I actually like it. I have a touchscreen and a knob so I find it convenient to scroll around as my knob is right on my console. But yeah, normal wired CarPlay does not have this.

For me, I wish the track changes were a little quicker, but as I said, you get used to it. Everything else works perfect for me and I can’t imagine having to plug in.

In terms of your charger, that looks big. Search amazon for low profile RavPower brand. It’s really short and performs well.


Car Charger [2-Pack] RAVPower 24W... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MCTX722?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Click to expand...

I don't mind the track change speed. But my car doesn't have a navigation knob; it's touchscreen only, so that's just an annoyance, albeit a minor one. What car do you have that offers touch and knob controls?

I also at one point noticed that the Carlinkit's LED was solid red even while I had a wireless CarPlay connection running from my phone. I thought it was supposed to be green in that condition, but not a big deal. It's tucked in a compartment anyway, so if it works I don't really care what the LED is doing.

I'm very familiar with Anker products and own several (EDIT: You seem to have changed your brand recommendation to RAVPower since the email notification I received), but the short ones you're referring to don't offer a USB-C port that supports 60W output, which I wanted in case I ever want to charge my laptop in the car. I do have a Scosche USBC242M in another car that is very low profile. But it only supports dual simultaneous 12W charging via its two USB-A ports.
 
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jphughan said:
I don't mind the track change speed. But my car doesn't have a navigation knob; it's touchscreen only, so that's just an annoyance, albeit a minor one. What car do you have that offers touch and knob controls?

I also at one point noticed that the Carlinkit's LED was solid red even while I had a wireless CarPlay connection running from my phone. I thought it was supposed to be green in that condition, but not a big deal. It's tucked in a compartment anyway, so if it works I don't really care what the LED is doing.

I'm very familiar with Anker products and own several (EDIT: You seem to have changed your brand recommendation to RAVPower since the email notification I received), but the short ones you're referring to don't offer a USB-C port that supports 60W output, which I wanted in case I ever want to charge my laptop in the car. I do have a Scosche USBC242M in another car that is very low profile. But it only supports dual simultaneous 12W charging via its two USB-A ports.
Click to expand...

Yeah I edited it after I checked my Amazon orders and discovered a misspoke. All my cables are Anker. My car is a Maserati. I know what you mean about the USB C chargers. My 11 Pro Max came with the brick and man it charged fast. I didn’t realize you can get the same performance from a lighter plug power outlet.
 
LarryJoe33 said:
Yeah I edited it after I checked my Amazon orders and discovered a misspoke. All my cables are Anker. My car is a Maserati. I know what you mean about the USB C chargers. My 11 Pro Max came with the brick and man it charged fast. I didn’t realize you can get the same performance from a lighter plug power outlet.
Click to expand...

The brick that the iPhone Pro models come with is Apple's 18W USB-C charger. There are multiple Anker car chargers that can provide that or better while remaining pretty low profile, such as:
  • PowerDrive PD 2: 18W USB-C + 12W USB-A
  • PowerDrive Speed+ 2: 30W USB-C (for MacBook non-Pro and iPads) + 12W USB-A
  • PowerDrive III Duo: Dual 18W USB-C
  • PowerDrive III+ Duo: 30W USB-C + 18W USB-C
None of those are as low profile as the Scosche unit I have that protrudes above the socket only just enough to allow you to grip it for easy removal when needed, but they're still pretty small.

Power outlets in cars can provide a surprising amount of power. On the sockets I've seen that actually have max output labels, it's been around 180W, which I guess would be 12V with a 15-amp fuse. Evidently heating up those cigarette lighting coils in a timely fashion requires quite a few amps!
 
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jphughan said:
The brick that the iPhone Pro models come with is Apple's 18W USB-C charger. There are multiple Anker car chargers that can provide that or better while remaining pretty low profile, such as:
  • PowerDrive PD 2: 18W USB-C + 12W USB-A
  • PowerDrive Speed+ 2: 30W USB-C (for MacBook non-Pro and iPads) + 12W USB-A
  • PowerDrive III Duo: Dual 18W USB-C
  • PowerDrive III+ Duo: 30W USB-C + 18W USB-C
None of those are as low profile as the Scosche unit I have that protrudes above the socket only just enough to allow you to grip it for easy removal when needed, but they're still pretty small.

Power outlets in cars can provide a surprising amount of power. On the sockets I've seen that actually have max output labels, it's been around 180W, which I guess would be 12V with a 15-amp fuse. Evidently heating up those cigarette lighting coils in a timely fashion requires quite a few amps!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I think the 18w duo will be good for me. I don’t charge my MBP in the car.
 
jphughan said:
The brick that the iPhone Pro models come with is Apple's 18W USB-C charger. There are multiple Anker car chargers that can provide that or better while remaining pretty low profile, such as:
  • PowerDrive PD 2: 18W USB-C + 12W USB-A
  • PowerDrive Speed+ 2: 30W USB-C (for MacBook non-Pro and iPads) + 12W USB-A
  • PowerDrive III Duo: Dual 18W USB-C
  • PowerDrive III+ Duo: 30W USB-C + 18W USB-C
None of those are as low profile as the Scosche unit I have that protrudes above the socket only just enough to allow you to grip it for easy removal when needed, but they're still pretty small.

Power outlets in cars can provide a surprising amount of power. On the sockets I've seen that actually have max output labels, it's been around 180W, which I guess would be 12V with a 15-amp fuse. Evidently heating up those cigarette lighting coils in a timely fashion requires quite a few amps!
Click to expand...

This one?


Anker USB C Car Charger, 36W 2-Port PowerIQ 3.0 Type C Car Adapter, PowerDrive III Duo with Power Delivery for iPhone XR/Xs/Max/X, Galaxy S10/S9, Pixel 3a/3/XL, iPad Pro 2018 and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RL2N8YY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3la5Eb9JV1ZJD
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
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I've now tried the Car2Play and the Carlinkit USB C model in two different cars with similar results. Neither one connects at startup on either car like expected, but both work if you plug in after starting the car. They both work decently for streaming music, audible, etc. They both also struggle when you are streaming music or audible but also using Waze, which I use daily for cops and traffic. They cut out and get static's for a few seconds, you have to pause the audio for about 5 seconds to restart. My daily commute is 45 minutes or so, have to do that about 5-6 times with each of them. If I only run audio and don't use Waze, I only have to pause and play to avoid the static once or twice.

I really like them overall, and like the idea of them and eliminating the one wire plugging in my phone, but to me, just not there yet. I am hopeful that software updates will improve things, so I will keep following this thread. But as of now for me, just dealing with the wire and plugging in the phone is the better solution.

Hopefully this keeps improving though, because I love it when it works. My trial has been about two weeks total.
 
Lobwedgephil said:
I've now tried the Car2Play and the Carlinkit USB C model in two different cars with similar results. Neither one connects at startup on either car like expected, but both work if you plug in after starting the car. They both work decently for streaming music, audible, etc. They both also struggle when you are streaming music or audible but also using Waze, which I use daily for cops and traffic. They cut out and get static's for a few seconds, you have to pause the audio for about 5 seconds to restart. My daily commute is 45 minutes or so, have to do that about 5-6 times with each of them. If I only run audio and don't use Waze, I only have to pause and play to avoid the static once or twice.

I really like them overall, and like the idea of them and eliminating the one wire plugging in my phone, but to me, just not there yet. I am hopeful that software updates will improve things, so I will keep following this thread. But as of now for me, just dealing with the wire and plugging in the phone is the better solution.

Hopefully this keeps improving though, because I love it when it works. My trial has been about two weeks total.
Click to expand...

Too many issues, what you are experiencing would be a non-starter return for me. If I had to plug the damn thing in manually on every start I may as well plug the phone in wired.
 
I read somewhere that there was an issue when running Waze and Spotify together, has this now been fixed?
 
Waze works well for me. Also use Amazon music at same time. Running IOS 13.5.1. Running Carlinkit (USB hardwired model) firmware 3.04. Exciting about May firmware though I suspect its not on OTA. I may have noticed some recent similar behavior mentioned a few posts ago about occational resets. I'm swapping Iphones soon as my old 8 Plus reboots itself multi daily so Ill know better when work orders me a replacment.
 
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LarryJoe33 said:
Too many issues, what you are experiencing would be a non-starter return for me. If I had to plug the damn thing in manually on every start I may as well plug the phone in wired.
Click to expand...
I wonder if he has a General Motors car? If so, the USB ports are powered by the opening of the door and that messes up the connection of the dongle to the phone. In those cars you have to plug the dongle in AFTER the radio interface is fully up and running. I have one of those cars :) ! The USB switch from Amazon makes all the difference.
 
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