Wireless CarPlay adapters

[Largefarva]

Figured I would make a thread where we can talk about our experiences with various wireless CarPlay adapters.

Personally I’ve used both the carlinkit 4.0 as well as the 2air (newest model) and not incredibly impressed with either of them. They randomly disconnect at times and sometimes on startup they freeze up the audio source so you can’t change channels on satellite radio or change the volume. The 2air has to be unplugged and reset on an almost daily basis because it will disconnect and refuse to reconnect.

In searching for a replacement I heard people have had good luck with Ottocast so I ordered one last weekend. Long story short….it’s getting returned tomorrow. It’s hot garbage. It caused my entire stereo system to freeze up several times on startup and CarPlay audio is sketchy at best…randomly stutters and jumbles up music and even Apple Maps guidance voice prompts. Avoid the Ottocast at all costs.

So I’m hoping to find something that other people have used by creating this thread because for now I will go back to one of the carlinkit units but I definitely want to find something more reliable.

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[jludave]

Personally I’ve used both the carlinkit 4.0 as well as the 2air (newest model) and not incredibly impressed with either of them.

I have been using this for nearly 3 years with absolutely zero issues.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P1GWQDB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have it connected to the USB port in the center armrest console. My iPhone 13 Pro Max connects to it within seconds.

I have the 8.4 inch radio running the latest firmware.

Prior to the 3.0 unit, I had the 2.0 and it too worked flawlessly.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

I have been using this for nearly 3 years with absolutely zero issues.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P1GWQDB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have it connected to the USB port in the center armrest console. My iPhone 13 Pro Max connects to it within seconds.

I have the 8.4 inch radio running the latest firmware.

Prior to the 3.0 unit, I had the 2.0 and it too worked flawlessly.

@jludave

Curious... when you turn off your JL it's USB ports stay powered up for approx. 1 hr..

...With that said when you turn off your JL, does your Apple smart phone keep trying (very annoying & disruptive) to connect to this dongle for the next hour / until the JL's USB ports power down? I believe I know your answer...

To my knowledge there is only one wireless dongle (Android) that successfully deals with the mentioned major shortcoming in regard to wireless dongles and the JL/JT.. That dongle has an associated app that makes it shine.

.

 

[Grayhound]

I’m using 2air. It’s not perfect but I really enjoy not having to plug in my phone.

I installed it behind the control panel. So every time you open a door it tries to connect to my phone. That helps for faster connect times, but when working on the jeep it disrupts the bt speaker in the garage for a minute.

 

[jludave]

when you turn off your JL, does your Apple smart phone keep trying (very annoying & disruptive) to connect to this dongle for the next hour / until the JL's USB ports power down?

It does not keep trying to connect. Even though the USB port remains powered, the radio is off and not calling for CarPlay so the phone disconnects from CarPlay and does nothing once I turn off and leave the vehicle.

 

[sstuner]

Following

 

[utjmac]

I have been using this for nearly 3 years with absolutely zero issues.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P1GWQDB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have it connected to the USB port in the center armrest console. My iPhone 13 Pro Max connects to it within seconds.

I have the 8.4 inch radio running the latest firmware.

Prior to the 3.0 unit, I had the 2.0 and it too worked flawlessly.

Just ordered one of these on your recommendation. There's also currently a 18 coupon on this item, so if it keeps me from having to plug in, I'm alllllll for it. I seem to replace cords pretty often as it is. Hope it works as well as you've experienced!

 

[jromanmd]

I posted a bunch of my tests and solutions here:

Solution Found for JL Center Console USB Car Play Issues

 

[Rhinebeck01]

.

It does not keep trying to connect. Even though the USB port remains powered, the radio is off and not calling for CarPlay so the phone disconnects from CarPlay and does nothing once I turn off and leave the vehicle.

I was referring to the dongle itself... since the USB stays powered up, the dongle is still powered up and talking in essence to the smart phone not the radio. This is a given. With that said the smart phone keeps waking up , etc..

IF you are not seeing/noticing/experiencing this, you have something very special and unique going on with your wireless CarPlay...

 

[jludave]

I was referring to the dongle itself... since the USB stays powered up, the dongle is still powered up and talking in essence to the smart phone not the radio. This is a given. With that said the smart phone keeps waking up , etc..

IF you are not seeing/noticing/experiencing this, you have something very special and unique going on with your wireless CarPlay...

I understand what you were referring to. It is likely the phone just remains connected to the dongle via Bluetooth and does not try to keep reconnecting. I certainly do not notice/experience anything on the phone when I leave the vehicle and am in the house within range. I don't get any CarPlay pop-ups, phone wake ups, etc. during the 1 hour time period after shutting down the vehicle, and I am constantly glued to my phone. I'm an IT/tech guy, (do it for a living for over 25 years) so I know what I'm looking at/talking about.

 

[oldcjguy]

.


I was referring to the dongle itself... since the USB stays powered up, the dongle is still powered up and talking in essence to the smart phone not the radio. This is a given. With that said the smart phone keeps waking up , etc..

IF you are not seeing/noticing/experiencing this, you have something very special and unique going on with your wireless CarPlay...

It is possible that their hardware checks for the radio and does not allow the phone to connect to it. It's something that could have always been solved in firmware, but was probably an oversight that was discovered later on some vehicles like our jeeps. Software app to the rescue, but it's kind of a band-aid. That being said, I have the AA Wireless dongle and love it. I love that band-aid!

 

[jludave]

Wireless CarPlay in the vast majority of vehicles (if not all) and with the add-on adapters (at least the CarLinkit one I use) uses Bluetooth to set up the connection between the phone and the vehicle and then it switches to WiFi for the actual functionality. The phone initially connects to the CarLinkit dongle via Bluetooth. I can see the adapter listed in my Bluetooth settings. When the vehicle is started and the phone is in range, the phone connects. For the CarPlay aspect, as mentioned above, it switches to WiFi.

This is from CarLinkit:

"Principle: Our adapter has WiFi and Bluetooth hardware. It connects with Bluetooth and sends the WiFi credentials to the phone, then disconnects from the Bluetooth network. It works solely on WiFi from that point on."

So when the vehicle is shut off and the radio is no longer needing/calling for CarPlay the WiFi connection is severed. And, since the Bluetooth connection was previously severed, the phone does not seek to reconnect.

 

[truffles615]

Figured I would make a thread where we can talk about our experiences with various wireless CarPlay adapters.

Personally I’ve used both the carlinkit 4.0 as well as the 2air (newest model) and not incredibly impressed with either of them. They randomly disconnect at times and sometimes on startup they freeze up the audio source so you can’t change channels on satellite radio or change the volume. The 2air has to be unplugged and reset on an almost daily basis because it will disconnect and refuse to reconnect.

In searching for a replacement I heard people have had good luck with Ottocast so I ordered one last weekend. Long story short….it’s getting returned tomorrow. It’s hot garbage. It caused my entire stereo system to freeze up several times on startup and CarPlay audio is sketchy at best…randomly stutters and jumbles up music and even Apple Maps guidance voice prompts. Avoid the Ottocast at all costs.

So I’m hoping to find something that other people have used by creating this thread because for now I will go back to one of the carlinkit units but I definitely want to find something more reliable.

I saw the SuperiorTek 5.0 on a YT video by Dirt Road Cred
and decided to give it a try. I absolutely love it! It connects quickly, sounds great and does not give me any issues. As it also lives in the bottom of my center console, I feel completely wireless. Here’s the link:

5.0 Wireless CarPlay Adapter for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C19F7F5S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Mos.Jeep]

Based on review from Dirt Road Cred I bought the SuperiorTek adapter in May. It has just been barely ok. Disconnects often, causes entire system freeze ups. Generally not recommended.

 

[NicoBravo]

I just bought a Carlinkit 5.0 a couple months ago and it seems very solid so far. Have not experienced any issues yet.

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