Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
CarPlay CarPlay adapter to convert to wireless CarPlay?
- Thread starter MrMister111
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Whilst hunting for the statement of Carlinkit and Carplay2air being the same, I found this
www.carlinkit.com
with exception to the last 2 firmwares, it’s the release notes.
U2W Update Log - Huizhou Yunlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Software version: 2019.12.12.1302, MD5: 20ddcd5337452c1925250339f20191da, Internal testing, please do not update (download).
with exception to the last 2 firmwares, it’s the release notes.
Well they got the volume working at least. Next up is track buttons.
I may go ahead and pop for one now.
Can anyone let the Carplay2air manufacturer know (through Error report) that 2018 Honda Accord still not supported?
Thank you.
Am a little disappointed in this product for a strange reason. Android Auto (which earlier was claimed to be supported) was removed in more recent updates. Only Mirroring is supported on Android Devices. Wireless Carplay is alright as long as the phone you are using it with has a data connection but if it relies on wifi its essentially useless for anything other than music or maps.
Well, it is even more restricted than that if no 4G LTE data connection. It will play music, but only music stored on the phone, not streamed music. It will display maps (at least Apple maps) but it won't calculate or display routes. Bottom line: it is pretty much useless without an unlimited data connection
One thing surprising to me is the number of people here who evidently use the cars hot spot for WiFi. I don’t and won’t. Waste of money for me. I have unlimited on my phone. (And it’s cheaper than the car hotspot would be anyway) But it’s very interesting how many people do.
It’s one of those features that seems OTT at first but can be useful in some circumstances. In some countries, prepaid data (without calls) can be a lot cheaper. It also can be handy for families.
Before my carrier do unmetered Apple Music I used the car hotspot for several months with a free data-pooling/share sim card connected to my wife’s acct (her plan comes with a lot of data but she‘s on it for the unlimited international call and roaming, not data). With this setup I can have my phone on the cheapest prepaid package as I’m always on wifi at home and work anyway.
Having a sim card also allows you to access additional car features. Most of them are gimmicky but may be enough to convince some.
Before my carrier do unmetered Apple Music I used the car hotspot for several months with a free data-pooling/share sim card connected to my wife’s acct (her plan comes with a lot of data but she‘s on it for the unlimited international call and roaming, not data). With this setup I can have my phone on the cheapest prepaid package as I’m always on wifi at home and work anyway.
Having a sim card also allows you to access additional car features. Most of them are gimmicky but may be enough to convince some.
iPhone has a feature called "Wi-Fi Assist". If you enable, it automatically uses cellular data when Wi-Fi connection doesn't have Internet.
So when you have Wireless Carplay through Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi between your iPhone and the Wireless Carplay Dongle), all your Apps that need data/internet will work fine.
I suspect we are talking about two different issues. I know about wi-fi assist, but that doesn't solve the problem of limited data availability over 4G LTE. Wi-fi assist, as I understand it, simply substitutes OTA data for wi-fi when wi-fi connectivity is weak. if used, it would simply deplete any available OTA data more rapidly. The dongle usurps completely the phone's wi-fi connection and essentially blocks wi-fi access to the car's own data plan if any. As a practical matter, you still need unlimited cellular data to stream music.
This is not the adapters fault. This is how Wireless CarPlay is designed. If you want wireless CarPlay you can only get data over LTE.
ive found many a document from BMW confirming the same who have Wireless CarPlay built in.
ive found many a document from BMW confirming the same who have Wireless CarPlay built in.
Be that as it may, my contention is that, since the car's own Internet access is available to the iPhone via wired cable from the USB port, it would be wonderful if that access could somehow be passed through by the adapter to the phone. As you say, the limitation may well be in the nature of Wireless Car Play itself, rather than in the implementation through the adapter. I will continue to dream, however.
I’ve not heard of the cars internet being available when connected via USB. In my car, when connected via Lightning cable for CarPlay, it connected to the Wifi hotspot provided by the car. I supplied my own SIM in the SIM slot in the car and that worked well.
Over the latest year or so I’ve got more data on my phone and streaming over 4G isn’t too much of a worry. In addition I download my Apple Music playlists so much of what listen to is already on my phone anyway. Works better for flying that way too.
FWIIW, I just subscribed to a bargain-priced unlimited data plan for two from Verizon (in the US) that they keep well-hidden. Called "55+ Loyalty" or some such thing, they apparently offer it only to long-time older customers who have only two cell phone lines (i.e., no kids at home) and subscribe to their fiber optic service as well, apparently figuring that seniors are typically technologically challenged and don't use the Interweb thingy all that much. They certainly misjudged me, as I stream, download, and store humongous amounts of classical music (think long songs) on multiple devices. 
Now I have to see if I can dispense with the AT&T unlimited data plans on both my Volvos and use the wi-fi hotspot from our phones on Verizon to feed the cars' infotainment systems and the Car Play dongles. Unless there is an unforeseen gotcha, we should be golden. Wish me luck.
Now I have to see if I can dispense with the AT&T unlimited data plans on both my Volvos and use the wi-fi hotspot from our phones on Verizon to feed the cars' infotainment systems and the Car Play dongles. Unless there is an unforeseen gotcha, we should be golden. Wish me luck.
Still no luck in USB Updating the Carplay2air firmware. No Blue LED.
Those who updated, please share the Carplay2air USB update firmware download link.
Let me know the brand name, model, size and file system of the USB drive used.
I tried two SanDisk usb drives of 16 GB and 256 GB and one Kingston of 64 GB. All with FAT32 file system.
Still no luck in updating
Still no luck in USB Updating the Carplay2air firmware. No Blue LED.
Those who updated, please share the Carplay2air USB update firmware download link.
Let me know the brand name, model, size and file system of the USB drive used.
I tried two SanDisk usb drives of 16 GB and 256 GB and one Kingston of 64 GB. All with FAT32 file system.
Still no luck in updating
Find older 8GB sticks, I managed it with a 16gb stick but it was a 6 year old one. Newer ones didn’t work at all.
I tried 8 before I got one to work. And I can’t find that one now.
Do you insert the USB stick before you plug the adapter into the USB power supply?
It is important that the adapter is plugged into a power supply, not at the PC and not in the car!
Yes. Drive was connected to the dongle before its plugged to power supply. Was not PC/Car
I haven't noticed any degradation. Certainly better than BlueTooth.
Thats great! I was thinking that you would lose some audio quality. Right now I have my native system but in the future when the lag problems in android system get solved maybe I will install an android display. Its possible to use the carplay2air in a Android system or only is valid for native multimedia system?
If your Android system supports carplay it should also work with the dongle.
But for Android systems there are also cheaper carplay dongles (an APK must be installed)