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CarPlay CarPlay adapter to convert to wireless CarPlay?

bookemdano said:
It would be an interesting test for someone who isn't on 08.27 to try USB flashing the 08.29 version, but first rename it to auto_box_update.img. It may be that the adapters always look for both filenames.
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They are just copy pasting old instructions. Here is what they sent me on WhatsApp when my first adapter bricked last month.
Notice how it says Auto_Box_Update in the "Method" but they are providing a U2W_Update at the beginning.
Did they actually send anyone an image that is named Auto_Box?

Hello there,
This is the version of the firmware upgrade, you can try.
Please enter the link to download the unzipped folder and unzip the file "U2W_Update.img"

U2W_Update.img

drive.google.com drive.google.com
-------------
Upgrade video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1akjOcSqQE3Uf8dfrO8n0JFlvPhzsC_Tc/view?usp=sharing
This upgrade method is different from the past, you need to pay attention to 100% follow our upgrade steps, otherwise the dongle will die.
Please refer to the attached picture.
About upgrading the dongle/power adapter to upgrade the dongle:
●Preparation materials: product dongle, power adapter, USB flash memory
●Method:
1. Please save the Auto_Box_Update.img file on a USB flash drive
(The format must be FAT32/allocation unit size 1024bit or the default value) root directory, and insert it into the USB port of the product.
2. Insert the product into the USB charger (please do not use the USB port of the car and the computer!!!)
3. Wait 2-3 minutes until the red and blue LEDs light up at the same time. Unplug the USB flash drive.
4. When upgrading the product, do not turn off the power or remove the dongle.
●For details, please refer to the attached picture.
After a successful upgrade, you can return to the car for testing.
Looking forward to your reply,
best wishes. "
Click to expand...
 
bookemdano said:
How else do you explain that people on 08.27 can't flash backwards or forwards?
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People had issues with up- and downgrades every now and then with different firmwares until eventually one worked again via USB or OTA. Some of these firmwares are just very beta.
 
KevinGrabher said:
People had issues with up- and downgrades every now and then with different firmwares until eventually one worked again via USB or OTA. Some of these firmwares are just very beta.
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Issues downgrading, yes. I could be wrong but I don't recall any other instance of being unable to upgrade to a newer firmware. There is something different about 08.27.

And I don't think joyeauto would be handing out firmware that was very beta. They specifically provided this 08.27 firmware to @DarkEvilRivas.

Time will tell.
 
Hello guys,
I ordered from China the new dongle v2.0 and while i am waiting for it, i have a question. Do you guys recomend the OTA update when i get the dongle?or should i stay on the firmware that comes with the dongle?
Thank you.
 
Garkan said:
Hello guys,
I ordered from China the new dongle v2.0 and while i am waiting for it, i have a question. Do you guys recomend the OTA update when i get the dongle?or should i stay on the firmware that comes with the dongle?
Thank you.
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I'd suggest using it right out of the box without updating. If you run into issues then update using the instructions that came with the unit via OTA through the web browser.
 
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Trader05 said:
I'd suggest using it right out of the box without updating. If you run into issues then update using the instructions that came with the unit via OTA through the web browser.
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Thanks.
But the updates dont bring new features bug fixes,etc?
 
Will Carlinkit do a firmware update using the manual method if the firmware on the USB stick is the same? Or does it behave like OTA and just be like, "It's the latest?"
 
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bookemdano said:
I asked someone here to try that a few pages ago (can't remember who now and too lazy to go look). I think they indicated they tried it and no go.

Edit: Oh, it was you :D https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/carplay-adapter-to-convert-to-wireless-carplay.2193978/post-28837769
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It can be so hard to find posts in these threads.

Misery loves company. As much as I just want this to work it's comforting to have someone else having the same problem so you're not a lone pioneer. I mean, we are all pioneers with these things to a certain extent, but mileage varies wildly.

I keep pinging them on WhatsApp. As of last night they were still replying, so that's good.
 
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Interesting updates / downgrades are stuck now for those of us on 27-08.. am on it my self with the new UI with clinkit usb c... all working ok so I’m not going to play about with it too much for the moment and I actually quite like the new UI... will keep an eye out for the OTA updates though will be interesting if they appear.
 
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Yep, hopefully a future OTA update fixes those of us stuck, for now with a 2020 GMC infotainment 3 in my Sierra it's now just dead weight, won't connect at all, shows the new splash screen, tries to connect to the phone and then the factory unit kicks it out with "Connect a compatible CarPlay device". I just went past my Amazon return date, probably should have cut my losses and returned it, it's a hard problem to crack across vehicles, but it's just too beta.
 
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toddm said:
Yep, hopefully a future OTA update fixes those of us stuck, for now with a 2020 GMC infotainment 3 in my Sierra it's now just dead weight, won't connect at all, shows the new splash screen, tries to connect to the phone and then the factory unit kicks it out with "Connect a compatible CarPlay device". I just went past my Amazon return date, probably should have cut my losses and returned it, it's a hard problem to crack across vehicles, but it's just too beta.
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I feel that. Just processed a return today for mine on Amazon and now I'm thinking I should just hang onto it. Haha
 
bookemdano said:
Yeah I wonder if this does boil down to what firmware you had prior to trying to flash 08.27. Were you on 08.12? Maybe Carlinkit programmed in a check to the later August firmwares to block installing Joyeauto firmware. I think you, @D3ggy and @alanplum all had the experience of flashing 08.27 but not seeing the new interface. Do all of you remember what version you were on prior?

I'm almost positive that my adapter was on 08.04 (I remember flashing 07.29 via USB and then doing an OTA update to 08.04). I then flashed 08.27 via USB and immediately saw the joyeauto interface. I haven't checked 192.168.50.2 yet but will do that later today to see what it says, but I suspect I will have the same result as @DarkEvilRivas.
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I am pretty sure I was on 8.10. It was definitely the last "official" OTA FW before 8.22. Was that 8.10? Damn, all these fw's, can't keep track.
 
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Hey Y'all,

I upped my Carlinkit v2 (USBC) to 8.22 via OTA without issue. Sadly, I cannot report the success that @2018 Denali posted about, as without the delay harness, it doesn't seem to get picked up by my headunit at startup. So, for now, I still use the delay harness. All functions appear to work as well as they did in 8.4, so I don't really see any improvement there. I do have access to that settings dialog, but left everything default.

An oddity however, my CPlay2Air adapter (the resurrected one, currently on 8.4) does not offer the 8.22 update. As a matter of fact, it doesn't offer ANYTHING. When visiting 192.168.50.2, it just presents that animated "spinner", never landing on a page. Doesn't say I have the latest and doesn't offer the "discover a new version...". Super odd. However, it still works on v8.4, flawlessly. Not sure what that is all about, but figured I'd contribute my experience.

Not sure that is worth anything...unless someone else is seeing that behavior as well.
 
BUXjr said:
An oddity however, my CPlay2Air adapter (the resurrected one, currently on 8.4) does not offer the 8.22 update. As a matter of fact, it doesn't offer ANYTHING. When visiting 192.168.50.2, it just presents that animated "spinner", never landing on a page. Doesn't say I have the latest and doesn't offer the "discover a new version...". Super odd. However, it still works on v8.4, flawlessly. Not sure what that is all about, but figured I'd contribute my experience.

Not sure that is worth anything...unless someone else is seeing that behavior as well.
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Hmm... Did you try multiple times? Like could it just have been a transient problem contacting Carlinkit's server? I have never seen that page spin endlessly before. Maybe try it again later after it's been unplugged a while to see if you get a different result.

If it still does the same, maybe you'd want to try flashing it via USB? Or maybe better to just leave it alone for now 😃. That's what I'm doing with my older USB-A Carlinkit. I don't even remember what version it's on--all I know is that it works so I'm keeping it as my backup in case my USB-C one bricks or craps out.
 
DarkEvilRivas said:
:(

Well, it only remains to wait for an OTA. By the way new firmware also today:

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Welp, this is kind of sad. I bought a CarLinkit adapter on Ebay last October, and have been going back and forth (on and off) since then with the contact. I gave up for several months and even lost track of the device, but then found it again. I actually had it working intermittently over the last few weeks in my Mazda... today I installed this firmware update. Everything seemed normal – as it updated, the flashing lights, then a steady light. But now it does nothing at all when I plug it in, either to the charger or the car. Dead, I guess.

I'll put dreams of wireless CarPlay on hold for a while. Oh well. It was a fun experiment while it lasted...
 
CopyChief said:
Welp, this is kind of sad. I bought a CarLinkit adapter on Ebay last October, and have been going back and forth (on and off) since then with the contact. I gave up for several months and even lost track of the device, but then found it again. I actually had it working intermittently over the last few weeks in my Mazda... today I installed this firmware update. Everything seemed normal – as it updated, the flashing lights, then a steady light. But now it does nothing at all when I plug it in, either to the charger or the car. Dead, I guess.

I'll put dreams of wireless CarPlay on hold for a while. Oh well. It was a fun experiment while it lasted...
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It matters which light was lit steady after the flashing lights. Was it the red light or the blue one?

I wouldn't give up yet. First of all, do you have access (even temporarily) to any other CarPlay-equipped car you can try it in?

Second, you can try flashing an earlier version via USB, unless you've already tried that? What charger are you using? Try to use an authentic Apple iPad charger if you have one, or at least something of decent quality outputting more than 1A @ 5V.

Edit: Is this the first time you updated the firmware? Like was it still running on firmware from October when you flashed it today?
 
Jim Schroeder said:
Lucky me it seems to just be a problem with working at all on a Cadillac now (at least prior it would connect if plugged in after the car was started). In the Cadillac CUE system you have to allow CarPlay on a connected device, which I do, but after that the Carlinkit will sit for several seconds with a red light and then reboot itself. This cycle continues until unplugged or the car is shut off.
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What year is your Cadillac? I can't remember if you ever said.

I also wonder if there is some thing in this build of firmware where it is looking for a different firmware name than the U2W_Update.img. The quote from their directions state, "1. Please save the Auto_Box_Update.img file on a USB flash drive..."

Uh, Auto_Box_Update.img?

I tried renaming the U2W_Update.img to that but it didn't work. Still looking for a firmware update solution that will allow me to at least get back to the 8-22 firmware that mostly worked.
Click to expand...

Auto Box Update files are mainly for Wireless CarPlay devices intended for Android/WinCE headhunts.
 
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KevinGrabher said:
I doubt the whole JoyeAuto theory. I think the JoyeAuto device is just a Carlinkit with a different casing. I doubt the device "knows" wether it's a Carlinkit or Joye Auto at all. I think the 'new' interface is just that - the new interface, and Firmware files are exactly the same for either device. And the fact that some are seeing it and some aren't is just a glitch, and has been removed from 08-29 until it's fixed and ready and will eventually come back in a later update.

I also believe the whole Autobox-thing is just a typo. They also keep mixing up the colors of the LEDs (blue/red vs green/red on USB-A vs USB-C versions) in their instructions.
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The hardware doesn't have to know what it is, if it can be made the job of the firmware instead. It's called whitelisting, an annoying practice HP would do with their PC bios to prevent users from upgrading to hardware that was not tested by HP.

In this case the joyeauto firmware probably reports CRC value A but the CP2A/Carlinkit firmware expects CRC value X and has a hysterical laughing fit at the idea of being flashed.

————-

Given that D3ggy was unable to install the firmware file I used to upgrade both my usb-a and usb-c devices to 08.27, I feel there is a similar whitelist in place so only systems that have been tested successfully with the new firmware can install it. It would be a very simple thing to do given how the firmware saves the vehicle brand as part of the Wireless Access Network.

Has anyone with 08.27 tried it in a different vehicle brand to see what happens? In reverse, has anyone unable to install 08.27 plugged their unit in a different vehicle brand then tried to upgrade?

@MrMister111 Have you tried your unit in a different brand vehicle to see what happens? I’m still looking for your update file btw, need to reinstall my software and stuff first.
 
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bookemdano said:
It matters which light was lit steady after the flashing lights. Was it the red light or the blue one?

I wouldn't give up yet. First of all, do you have access (even temporarily) to any other CarPlay-equipped car you can try it in?

Second, you can try flashing an earlier version via USB, unless you've already tried that? What charger are you using? Try to use an authentic Apple iPad charger if you have one, or at least something of decent quality outputting more than 1A @ 5V.

Edit: Is this the first time you updated the firmware? Like was it still running on firmware from October when you flashed it today?
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I've been semi-steadily upgrading the firmware since October, but much more consistently the past month or so, once I discovered the 2.0 upgrade and the fact it was actually working with my car. I should've left well enough alone, but thought today's upgrade might help squash some of the bugs. It did not, obviously.

I wish I could remember which LED was steady after the upgrade. I know it had been plugged in for >10 minutes, so it was most definitely finished. Now when I plug it in, there are no lights... ever, and a USB stick plugged into it does nothing. I've used the same charger/plug to do all of the upgrades, and they've all gone fine. Ugh.

Unfortunately I don't have access to another CarPlay-equipped vehicle right now... and I'm not sure it would matter, since the dongle seems to be completely unresponsive. Oh well.
 
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