Wireless Android Auto/Car play

2868 Views 25 Replies 12 Participants Last post by x119, 5 mo ago

lightswede

Discussion Starter · 10 mo ago

Hi,

I recently bought a 2022 XC90 and the sales person mentioned that there is an upcoming update that enables wireless car play and android auto. Is there any truth to that ? Or do I need to get an ottocast to allow wireless connectivity with both services ? If anyone has tried setting it up, would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Thanks!

1 - 20 of 26 Posts

Flame Red

· #2 · 10 mo ago

I'll give you my experiences with Android.

I have a AAWireless dongle for quite a while now. The only problem with it is that Waze voice directions get cut off at the end sometimes. It is annoying/ I tried working with the developers and no solution yet. I have the AAWireless on a Mazda and Chevy and no problems.

I also tried the OTTOCAST Wireless Android Auto Adapter U2-X and it did NOT have that problem with the Waze voice directions at all, but it did have so many other quirks, the I returned it just before the return period expired. I decided that the AAWireless was better, more stable, even with that Waze fault.

The OTTOCAST was a bit harder to updated procedurally. They seemed to have updates every week. The OTTOCAST does not have any "helper" program like the AAWireless unit does. Setup is simplar for the OTTOCAST. Just too many bugs with the OTTOCAST, at least at the time I tried it. And if I remember correctly, the OTTOCAST is double the price of the AAWireless one.

Maybe if you are an Apple user, your experience would be totally different. .

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lightswede

Discussion Starter · #3 · 10 mo ago

Flame Red said:
I'll give you my experiences with Android.

I have a AAWireless dongle for quite a while now. The only problem with it is that Waze voice directions get cut off at the end sometimes. It is annoying/ I tried working with the developers and no solution yet. I have the AAWireless on a Mazda and Chevy and no problems.

I also tried the OTTOCAST Wireless Android Auto Adapter U2-X and it did NOT have that problem with the Waze voice directions at all, but it did have so many other quirks, the I returned it just before the return period expired. I decided that the AAWireless was better, more stable, even with that Waze fault.

The OTTOCAST was a bit harder to updated procedurally. They seemed to have updates every week. The OTTOCAST does not have any "helper" program like the AAWireless unit does. Setup is simplar for the OTTOCAST. Just too many bugs with the OTTOCAST, at least at the time I tried it. And if I remember correctly, the OTTOCAST is double the price of the AAWireless one.

Maybe if you are an Apple user, your experience would be totally different. .

Thanks for the response. The only reason Im contemplating on the ottocast is because my wife has an iphone.

From what I've been reading it sounds like aawireless is pretty solid for Android. I use waze too though. So what you are experiencing sounds pretty annoying. I don't know if anyone has tried the moto ma1 yet. That's another dongle that has decent reviews.

I was really hoping that an oem solution would be available. But I'm not holding my breath.

Marvel_Man_24

· #4 · 10 mo ago

Sounds like the salesman was confusing that with Apple Car Play being rolled out in an OTA update for the Google system. There are no discussions that we've heard about here at least regarding wireless Apple Car Play or Android Auto.

DFrantz

· #5 · 10 mo ago

Volvo had tried to roll with wireless but my understanding is they ran into what they considered to be security concerns with it that they were unable to overcome. I don't know the details on that any further though. And since I heard that several months ago I've seen no conversation or mention from Volvo on any intention for wireless. Sales person probably wasn't given even that much information, so the last thing they go was that Volvo was working on it.

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brad_saggy

· #6 · 10 mo ago

Flame Red said:
I'll give you my experiences with Android.

I have a AAWireless dongle for quite a while now. The only problem with it is that Waze voice directions get cut off at the end sometimes. It is annoying/ I tried working with the developers and no solution yet. I have the AAWireless on a Mazda and Chevy and no problems.

I also tried the OTTOCAST Wireless Android Auto Adapter U2-X and it did NOT have that problem with the Waze voice directions at all, but it did have so many other quirks, the I returned it just before the return period expired. I decided that the AAWireless was better, more stable, even with that Waze fault.

The OTTOCAST was a bit harder to updated procedurally. They seemed to have updates every week. The OTTOCAST does not have any "helper" program like the AAWireless unit does. Setup is simplar for the OTTOCAST. Just too many bugs with the OTTOCAST, at least at the time I tried it. And if I remember correctly, the OTTOCAST is double the price of the AAWireless one.

Maybe if you are an Apple user, your experience would be totally different. .

While I was waiting for my AAWireless, I found the Motorola MA1 in stock and decided to give it a try. Works flawlessly on my Subaru. You should give it a shot if you haven't.

alal

· #7 · 10 mo ago

No Android Auto available on AOSS or planned as far as I am aware. Same here, sales person told me the same

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Flame Red

· #8 · 10 mo ago

brad_saggy said:
While I was waiting for my AAWireless, I found the Motorola MA1 in stock and decided to give it a try. Works flawlessly on my Subaru. You should give it a shot if you haven't.

I never had herd of the Motorola MA1. Saw it on Amazon for $62 delivered from China in a week. So I ordered one. I'll post results in the XC90 if I receive it. I searched the questions with "Volvo" and there were a bunch of people that posted it worked perfect on Sensus and the XC90 and other Volvo platforms. Figured I would give it a shot since I can return it if it is glitchy!

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brad_saggy

· #9 · 10 mo ago

Flame Red said:
I never had herd of the Motorola MA1. Saw it on Amazon for $62 delivered from China in a week. So I ordered one. I'll post results in the XC90 if I receive it. I searched the questions with "Volvo" and there were a bunch of people that posted it worked perfect on Sensus and the XC90 and other Volvo platforms. Figured I would give it a shot since I can return it if it is glitchy!

Yeah the MA1's sort of the official Google backed wireless device for AA. It's got great reviews. It was always sold out in the first few months although looks like they're now finally in stock with most stores. They retail for 89, so if for some reason your device doesn't work well I'd doubt it's legitimacy and would suggest you buy from bestbuy or target or even the one directly shipping from Amazon.

Pioneer4x4

· #10 · 10 mo ago

MA-1 was JUST $79 on Amazon, I was shopping for other stuff as well, and went back, and boom out of stock again.

Flame Red

· #11 · 10 mo ago

Flame Red said:
I never had herd of the Motorola MA1. Saw it on Amazon for $62 delivered from China in a week. So I ordered one. I'll post results in the XC90 if I receive it. I searched the questions with "Volvo" and there were a bunch of people that posted it worked perfect on Sensus and the XC90 and other Volvo platforms. Figured I would give it a shot since I can return it if it is glitchy!

The China source of the Moto unit from Amazon was a bust and I am working to get a refund from Amazon. Meanwhile I got it in two days from Best Buy mail order. The price was indeed too good to be true.

Sadly, it has the exact same issue as the AAWireless unit - Waze directions cut out. It has other disadvantages.

There are no options menu that I could find like AAWireless to make it go automatically into AA on connect.
There is apparently no way to update the firmware to see if there is a newer version that will get around this problem. I will put in a support ticket to them and see if they respond.
There are no quirks like the OTTOCAST - seems stable.

So it looks like I will be returning this to Best Buy before the return window expires.

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Flame Red

· #12 · 10 mo ago (Edited)

EDIT: There is no way to update the Motorola MA1.

It will be returned!

wiseminosse

· #13 · 5 mo ago

I'm struggling with no results in connecting Aawireless to a XC90 MY16 (tried with no luck with a Note 9 and an S20)
Anybody got this car (the first version of the current XC90) connected to android auto in wireless mode (with AAW or other devices)?

JSoLaNo305

· #14 · 5 mo ago

Been using this one on my ‘23 XC90. Works smooth and fast. Barely any issues. Updatable too.

OTTOCAST Wireless CarPlay Adapter... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Q65SX47?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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wiseminosse

· #15 · 5 mo ago (Edited)

JSoLaNo305 said:
Been using this one on my ‘23 XC90. Works smooth and fast. Barely any issues. Updatable too.

I suppose my issue is in the IHU version of my car (MY16); next versions have a different Head Unit (my IHU is 3.0, your 3.2 - IHU Versions) and also mine doesn't have the latest sw upgrades (last time in Volvo in 2019).

That's the reason why I'm looking for somebody with my version of the car; I need to understand if it's a no way (IHU 3.0 is definitely not compatible) or if a Total Upgrade could solve

Gary-16-Xc90

· #16 · 5 mo ago (Edited)

wiseminosse said:
I suppose my issue is in the IHU version of my car (MY16); next versions have a different Head Unit (my IHU is 3.0, your 3.2 - IHU Versions) and also mine doesn't have the latest sw upgrades (last time in Volvo in 2019).

That's the reason why I'm looking for somebody with my version of the car; I need to understand if it's a no way (IHU 3.0 is definitely not compatible) or if a Total Upgrade could solve

You need to establish both the hardware and software baselines for ired USB connectivity for MY16 XC90

1. Do you have dual USB ports in the center console? A total software upgrade /Service 2.0 update alone will not enable Android Auto to my knowledge.

2. If no, have you ever had wired Android Auto (not to be confused with Android Automotive) installed and operational after the dual USB ports were installed?

Early on, only CarPlay was available and optional. Then somewhere with MY17/18, CarPlay was standard at least in US. Once the TJ came out in ~ May 2018 and dual USBs were installed in MY16 XC90s, the customer could elect CarPlay, Android Auto, or both. It seems like ~ 2019 both CarPlay and Android Auto were packaged and installed together.

FWIW, I had both Android Auto and CarPlay installed once it became a bailable and operational. My installed and usage has been 100% via wired USB. I never tried wireless dongles for neither CarPlay not Android Auto.

Here is the TJ 34222.1.1 US/Canada) - Addition of USB Hub and Android Auto dated 24 Oct 2018 with previous version.

P.S., Others can correct or confirm, but I believe Android Automotive did not become available until MY23 XC90. It is not backward compatible.

Sent from my BE2028 using Tapatalk

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wiseminosse

· #17 · 5 mo ago

Gary-16-Xc90 said:
You need to establish both the hardware and software baselines for ired USB connectivity for MY16 XC90

1. Do you have dual USB ports in the center console? A total software upgrade /Service 2.0 update alone will not enable Android Auto to my knowledge.

2. If no, have you ever had wired Android Auto (not to be confused with Android Automotive) installed and operational after the dual USB ports were install

My car was equipped with single USB port / CarPlay and later retrofitted to dual USB / CarPlay + Android Auto.
Latest sw upgrade was on 2019.
Wired Android Auto works like a charm.

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Gary-16-Xc90

· #18 · 5 mo ago

wiseminosse said:
My car was equipped with single USB port / CarPlay and later retrofitted to dual USB / CarPlay + Android Auto.
Latest sw upgrade was on 2019.
Wired Android Auto works like a charm.

Thanks for the info, @wiseminosse .

Apologies for dragging you through the Q&A. I might have skipped over those details. Nonetheless, it might be worth me trying out a "wireless" AA dongle to see how well it works. I will take a look and let you know if I jump into wireless foray.

FWIW, I was not impressed with BMW's wireless implementation of "CarPlay" on a BMW X2 rental - probably my unfamiliarity with BMW's infotainment system.

CocoPops UK

· #19 · 5 mo ago

I ordered an Ottocast U2X-Pro, based on feedback on volvoforums.org.uk and have it ready for adding to my MY23 AAOS XC90 due soon.

wiseminosse

· #20 · 5 mo ago

Gary-16-Xc90 said:
Thanks for the info, @wiseminosse .
it might be worth me trying out a "wireless" AA dongle to see how well it works

Thanks, I'm trying to understand if somebody with IHU 3.0 (see the map in my previous post) successfully connected a Wireless Android Auto device, and in this case, what device was used and what sw version the car is (latest Total Upgrade)

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