I ordered one to try out in my Mercedes - Mercedes are not always compatible with some of these adapters e.g. older Podofo (Cheerdriving) box that required a special firmware version (and that seems no longer supported but still works). I will report back, including the multiple phones bit.
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CarPlay CarPlay adapter to convert to wireless CarPlay?
- Thread starter MrMister111
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Let me know how it works out for you.
Tonight, I experienced my first issue with the adapter. CarPlay wouldn’t start up after turning on the car. I had to unplug/replug the adapter just like I used to do with carlinkit. This is the first time I experienced this. I did update to the latest iOS 18.1 beta yesterday and didn’t reset my CarPlay settings/connection after updating like I normally do. Hopefully it’s related to that.
Overall, I’m happy with the adapter’s performance so far.
All models of WiFi adapter act up from time to time and do not connect seamlessly 100% of the time. It generally occurs randomly and regardless of adapter, phone model, or software versions.
The dongle arrived today. It works perfectly in my Mercedes with Audio 2.0. The reason that no one can connect to the console is because it connects using IP V6. So a standard IPV4 address is meaningless.
Despite being very IT literate I do not have much hands on experience with IPV6. I will need to do some research to try to figure out the likely address for the dongle. My phone IPV6 address is 8E:61:B6:0B:AD:8A in case anyone with knowledge can advise.
Had no idea about dongles using IPV6. Maybe that explains why I could never connect to the web interface of a dongle I bought off aliexpress.
I can connect to the one I posted here by going to 192.168.1.101 but I have to be quick because the site switches to Chinese and the web interface becomes inaccessible. Odd behavior.
To update the FW, I had to try multiple times. A bit annoying but I can deal with it because it’s been the most stable dongle for me so far.
The darnedest thing... I can connect to 192.168.1.101 despite only seeing the IPV6 address. Interface was nicely in English and with an update available. Past tense because I updated and now it is in Chinese 😂\
I attach some screenshots before I updated.
A couple of notes:
I attach some screenshots before I updated.
A couple of notes:
- The wifi channels listed are only 5GHz
- The default setting Background: Off switched to On in the updated firmware.
- The selector for firmware version to update does not list a previous version once updated, at least not this time.
- Performance has been very good for the couple of short runs that I made today.
If you power cycle and go to the web interface again, it should be in English again? I have audio delay set to 500ms and both background mode and force display set to yet. Haven't messed with the wifi channel much.
Power cycle does indeed work. A side discovery that I have not timed: I have the impression that if you wait too long after booting up the web interface no longer responds: browsing to 192.168.1.101 just hangs as has been described higher up this thread.
What does Force Display actually do?
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Sometimes I can’t time it right and by the time I get to the web interface, it’s already in Chinese and unresponsive. Kinda annoying. Not sure what causes it but a fix would be nice.
I believe Force Display forces the infotainment to go to the CarPlay adapter screen be default? There’s question mark somewhere in the web interface that describes all the different settings.
Thanks for your reply. I cannot work out the timing on accessing the web interface - for how long after starting it is accessible - let alone any consistency in the language displayed. What I can say however is that the Sunweyer is consistently reliable to date on both long (4 hours) and short journeys. I have not once seen it reboot or go to its initial boot screen when starting. Always smoothly straight into CarPlay. Of course, now I have tempted fate! But performance really has surpassed my CarLinkIt 5.0 and earlier models.
In my experience, the web interface is accesible as soon as I see the CarPlay screen (home menu) in the infotainment. You prob have about a minute to use the interface before it becomes unusable. It may even be less.
I would maybe pay attention to the adapter’s LED patterns when the car is first turned on and keep trying to get to the web interface. Just to see when it’s ACTUALLY first accessible, if that makes sense.
I’m tempted to contact the manufacturer to see what they say. They have to be aware of this odd behavior.
I agree, it’s been a pretty reliable adapter. Best one yet for me.
Edit: I chatted with them via WhatsApp. Apparently the latest firmware version fixes the web interface behavior. It should be uploaded to their server by tomorrow.
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Good to hear, although I might let you update first
The combination of the size and reliability makes it a killer device as far as I am concerned. For those who care, I bought the USB-C version for future-proofing. It had a USB C to A adapter included.
The latest FW seems to fix the odd web interface behavior.Good to hear, although I might let you update first
The combination of the size and reliability makes it a killer device as far as I am concerned. For those who care, I bought the USB-C version for future-proofing. It had a USB C to A adapter included.
To update, I plugged in the adapter to a wall adapter (not sure if the power source matters), I then connected to the adapter’s WiFi network and went to the web interface as soon as the adapter’s green LED started blinking and then began the update.
The first time I tried updating it, I had waited too long to go to the web interface so the update failed. You get a message about it. I think it failed at 2%. I then power cycled the adapter and was able to update on the 2nd try. You have to get to the web interface as soon as possible.
I haven’t tested the new firmware in the car yet. Hopefully no issues.
I am running 18.1 release on an iPhone 13 mini - do you mean 18.2 beta? Since everything is rock-solid stable until now I will postpone updating. But a complete reset of the connection sounds worth trying.
Haven’t had to reset the connection but will probably do it for good measure.
I used CarPlay after updating to the latest adapter firmware yesterday and no issues.
Hello everyone. Any one could recommend a wireless dongle that will be working with SYNC 3.4 on 2015 Ford Focus (UK), my first dongle was XUDA NEW, phone is connecting as it should be, but unfortunatelly for some odd reason my sat nav app in CarPlay (Sygic) is not updating my location, when driving. It's the same issue with TomTom and Wize or Google Maps, but Apple Maps working fine (no surprise here). Then I've change it for OTTOCAST U2Air Pro, and still go the same issue. But when I connect my phone via cable everything is working as it should. iPhone 15 Pro Max iOS 18.2 beta 4. Thanks.
Carlinkit has a setting in its configuration page to use the cars or phones GPS. You can make it use the phones and then you eliminate any GPS problem from the car. I would assume most all the other dongles also have this setting. After changing the setting the device needs to restart because a negotiation happens at startup telling the phone when it connected what the car will support or not.
Hey all! Another satisfied Mazda owner here (Mazda 3, 2017) who just switched to the Sunweyer Unit. Everything works great out of the box - solid connection and easy access to the admin interface. Kept all settings default since the manual says not to update if it's working (smart!).
What a difference from the old v1 carlink... that thing would drop connection constantly and fail to boot 7 out of 10 times.
iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 18.3
Unit on Amazon.co.uk:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunweyer-Wireless-CarPlay-Android-Supports/dp/B0CTCX67F7?th=1
What a difference from the old v1 carlink... that thing would drop connection constantly and fail to boot 7 out of 10 times.
iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 18.3
Unit on Amazon.co.uk:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunweyer-Wireless-CarPlay-Android-Supports/dp/B0CTCX67F7?th=1
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
The Sunweyer unit really is proving to be great. Using mine daily for three months now and the number of times that it has not started up cleanly can be counted on one hand.
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Ottocast. Works great.I have a manufacturer fitted head unit that has CarPlay in and works great. The unit is wired only though. Works fine just a bit awkward when going short journeys when I'd like CarPlay but it's in bag or pocket and forget. It uses the USB plug in the front.
Is there a way to make it wireless somehow? I'm not talking a new head unit, a dongle or something? I know there is CarPlay dongle to add CarPlay on these Android head units, just wondering if there is such a thing.
I presume it communicates over Wifi and/or Bluetooth so is there not a USB dongle to fool the iPhone to say it's plugged in?
I'd buy one straight away for the convenience factor alone.
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Stickies
Firmware USB downloads, grabbed from CarLinkIt server depository (thanks to KevinGrabher). Use at own risk
https://projects.grabher-industries.com/U2W/
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Compatibility list
compatibility list
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Firmware update instructions USB method (at own risk)
1) Format a USB drive (format must should be FAT32/Allocation unit size 1024bit or default)
2) Copy the U2W_Update.img onto the root of the USB drive
3) Using a wall charger (iPad/iPhone etc), plug the dongle to it and then put it into a wall outlet power (don't plug USB drive yet)
4) Wait for the red light to turn solid red and then plug the USB drive into the dongle
5) The update has initiated once the dongle light switches from a solid red to alternating flashing red and green
6) Wait until the dongle light switches back to a solid red (about a minute or so), wait a couple of minutes more (to be safe), then the update is completed and you can unplug the dongle from the wall outlet and the USB drive from the dongle.
Firmware update instructions OTA
1. Connect your phone to the adapter and wait until CarPlay appears on the screen.
2. Enter 192.168.50.2 in your browser and click “Go.”
3. If you see an update available, click it.
4. Wait until the update bar reaches 100%.
5. When CarPlay reappears on the screen, you’re done!
Direct link from CarLinkIt website.
U2W firmware upgrade(Version 2.0 The official version） - Huizhou Yunlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Note: The activation method is changed to online account activation, please contact your seller to confirm before upgrading. Only for U2W (original car wired to wireless Carplay)www.carlinkit.com
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(U2W Plus) UPGRADE FIRMWARE OFFLINE -for Carlinkit CPC200-U2W/U2W Plus
Warning:Â We strongly recommend that you do not upgrade while the product is in good working condition. If you must upgrade, please strictly follow our operating instructions. If the product cannot work due to the failure of upgrading, you will need to send products back for repair and bear the...carlinkitcarplay.com
For language selection there is a small globe in the bottom right corner, of the startup screen of the dongle. Select the icon, it cycles thru the languages. You'll eventually get back to English.
After an update it sometimes goes back to default Chinese language.
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If you have 2 iPhones linked, and problems connecting, use following to delete an iPhone in connection list.
When showing the screen with both devices, hold down on the device that you want to get rid of. Hold it for 5-10 seconds and it should bring up a screen that says delete.
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SETTINGS:
Synchronous mode (normal, compatible):
Standard: normal mode
Normal mode: Resolve issues with the instrument panel display.
Compatible mode: Fixes the problem that certain vehicles cannot connect to the dongle.
Media sound (CD, DVD):
Standard DVD
DVD: better sound quality.
CD: Fixes the problem that certain cars have static / playback issues
Media delay (300 to 2000 milliseconds):
Standard 1000,
The greater the delay, the less the audio stutters. The smaller the delay, the better the music and album art / pictures will sync
Background mode information: some cars go black after plugging in. So, turning on background mode may fix this. This mode means it skips showing you the connecting' screen. It connects in the background and once it's conn
GPS: enables GPS via CarPlay
When enabled, the adapter passes on GPS coordinates received from the head unit via the car's GPS antenna in order to improve positioning, especially when the iPhone is hidden away, lacking a clear line-of-sight view to the satellites. This is not a mandatory feature for wired CarPlay. So it may not be supported by all cars with wired CarPlay only (probably only those with a navigation system built-in).
Start-up delay information: If you set the setting to 5 seconds, the adapter will start the system after 5 seconds when connected to the vehicle's USB port. (If a vehicle system does not recognize the adapter or the adapter only works to plug it in again, configure this setting parameter
The Sunweyer is by far the best dongle I've used. And I've used 2 other types. Solid and quick ship from UK to Missouri
I went ahead and bought one of the sunweyer a few months ago.
I did find it very difficult to switch between mobile devices. I ended up returning it, but if anyone notices a change to better support multiple device devices, I would love to know that thing was rock solid.
I did find it very difficult to switch between mobile devices. I ended up returning it, but if anyone notices a change to better support multiple device devices, I would love to know that thing was rock solid.
I have not found any that make it easy to switch between mobile devices once another device is already connected. My CarLinkit reliably connects to the last-used-device, but I have to switch it off in order to change to another phone. Occasionally I can catch it on the startup screen, but 95% of the time, it connects too quickly.
I don't think there's an easy way to jump back to a device selection screen on any device. There *may* be a device switching mechanism on native wireless systems, but since these are a bit of a hack (once connected there's not an easy way to connect to the dongle's OS) it may not be possible.
My concern is when a different driver takes the car with their own mobile device the carlinkit most of the time connect automatically or I can choose them from a list. With the sunweyer I had to go through the whole pairing process again.