[ember1205]

Originally Posted by Anjilslaire

yeah, it connects to the phone via wifi, but I haven't done any packet analysis beyond that to see if they each each have a unique ssid, or maybe they're going by MAC address, which is an easy enough system.


Aside from these dongles, I have enough of a headache when my wife & I start both of our cars to go different places, ad her phone likes to connect to the wrong car (mine). Then I have to drop her connection from my dashboard, and switch it over to my phone.


First world problems, I know

The only way the WiFi would be an issue is if they used the same SSID with -different- passwords.

Same SSID, same password - this is how a device can "roam" throughout a mesh WiFi at home or across a number of AP's at work.

Different SSID is like switching from your network at home to the network at work.

The BT connection should function as a "control channel" to direct the phone on what to do anyhow...

[jamala00]

I'll only be starting with 1 to see how much I like it, but if I like it, then I'd get one for my Tahoe and one for my Harley. That being said, I'd only be using one vehicle at a time, but just didn't know if the phone can connect to multiple different devices... Just one at a time though.

Or, maybe it would be smarter to just get one and switch it to the vehicle I'm taking. Maybe I'll just do that.

[Jus Cruisin]

A naive question.... What is the reason for this? Everything comes with Android Auto so I don't understand the point. Probably dumb but I don't get it....

[jamala00]

Originally Posted by Jus Cruisin

A naive question.... What is the reason for this? Everything comes with Android Auto so I don't understand the point. Probably dumb but I don't get it....

Ahh. I don't think it's a naive question. I've been on the fence about getting one of these for a long time. (Still on the fence). In all my vehicles I already use AA when needed by just plugging my phone into the USB. It then also charges when being used. There are some times where it would be nice to not have to deal with plugging it in, but that would be my only reason. For me really.. It's just a gadget and I kind of like gadgets.

In the newer vehicles that are equipped with wireless charging, I see it being a nicer option.

[ember1205]

Originally Posted by Jus Cruisin

A naive question.... What is the reason for this? Everything comes with Android Auto so I don't understand the point. Probably dumb but I don't get it....

For me, the biggest frustration in general is that there simply isn't a good place to put the phone. A secondary problem is having to connect the phone via cable to USB (2020 and older) means that you lack any sort of fast charge capabilities for the device. That puts many phone owners in the situation where the phone is plugged in and STILL doesn't get charged because the charge rate from USB is slow and the phone uses power for AA functions faster than the car can add power to it.

With wireless AA, you get in and go - even if the phone is in your pocket or in a bag in the trunk or back seat. If you want to plug it in for charging, you get to use an actual fast charge solution that plugs into the 12VDC outlet.

[jamala00]

Originally Posted by ember1205

For me, the biggest frustration in general is that there simply isn't a good place to put the phone. A secondary problem is having to connect the phone via cable to USB (2020 and older) means that you lack any sort of fast charge capabilities for the device. That puts many phone owners in the situation where the phone is plugged in and STILL doesn't get charged because the charge rate from USB is slow and the phone uses power for AA functions faster than the car can add power to it.

With wireless AA, you get in and go - even if the phone is in your pocket or in a bag in the trunk or back seat. If you want to plug it in for charging, you get to use an actual fast charge solution that plugs into the 12VDC outlet.

I'm not totally sure that is the case. When I use AA plugged in to USB, my phone does charge. It can be at 85% and I'm using AA and depending on where I'm going or how long i'm in the car, it will charge to 100% while using AA. Normally the only time I use AA via USB is when I want to use Maps. If I'm just streaming music, i just do it via bluetooth. Maybe it depends on what all apps you are using?? Not sure

[ember1205]

Originally Posted by jamala00

I'm not totally sure that is the case. When I use AA plugged in to USB, my phone does charge. It can be at 85% and I'm using AA and depending on where I'm going or how long i'm in the car, it will charge to 100% while using AA.

On a newer device, depending on the functions being used via AA, even large format phones will charge over time. I've had my Pixel 6 Pro take well over an hour to finally hit the 100% mark, though, and the phone is always quite warm to the touch as a result of the inefficient charging overall.

If I use the same phone in my truck, with Waze / Google Maps for navigation (like in the car), but I have it plugged in to a higher output charger, the phone charges faster and doesn't get anywhere near as warm.

Older, larger format phones with battery wear are going to have a more difficult time being able to charge via USB with AA in use. So, yeah, it doesn't apply universally that "your phone won't charge", but the slower charging rate does have an impact that's more noticeable on large format and/or older phones with battery wear.

[jamala00]

Originally Posted by ember1205

On a newer device, depending on the functions being used via AA, even large format phones will charge over time. I've had my Pixel 6 Pro take well over an hour to finally hit the 100% mark, though, and the phone is always quite warm to the touch as a result of the inefficient charging overall.

If I use the same phone in my truck, with Waze / Google Maps for navigation (like in the car), but I have it plugged in to a higher output charger, the phone charges faster and doesn't get anywhere near as warm.

Older, larger format phones with battery wear are going to have a more difficult time being able to charge via USB with AA in use. So, yeah, it doesn't apply universally that "your phone won't charge", but the slower charging rate does have an impact that's more noticeable on large format and/or older phones with battery wear.

That makes sense... I have a Galaxy S21

[RxSummit16]

My main reason for finally getting one is that the usb can be temperamental. It seems to depend on when I plug it in during car start up. It will work fine for weeks then one day it wont connect until I shut off the car and restart.

[RxSummit16]

Also, if you hit the cable and it gets loose from your phone port, you can lose the connection.

[RamAir02]

Originally Posted by RxSummit16

Also, if you hit the cable and it gets loose from your phone port, you can lose the connection.

As I mentioned here, this sounds like either a poor cable or dirty USB-C port. Especially since you mentioned bumping the cable loses the connection -- USB-C has a noticeable 'click' connection and shouldn't have any issue with looseness or losing connection. It's much more solid than the previous micro USB & mini USB port types.

[ember1205]

Originally Posted by RamAir02

As I mentioned here, this sounds like either a poor cable or dirty USB-C port. Especially since you mentioned bumping the cable loses the connection -- USB-C has a noticeable 'click' connection and shouldn't have any issue with looseness or losing connection. It's much more solid than the previous micro USB & mini USB port types.

While I wholeheartedly agree that quality cables make a difference, the "click" you're referring to can easily be lost on many phones that simply are not well-built in terms of the USB port's attachment to the main board in the phone. If you have your phone plugged in to charge, sitting on the desk/table, and it gets knocked off accidentally, the phone seemingly tends to fall charge port down and land on the cable (much like buttered bread always lands buttered side down ) and can damage the port.

In other words, I agree about having quality cables, but sometimes the problem is that the phone itself is damaged.

[MakCamaro]

Originally Posted by ember1205

For me, the biggest frustration in general is that there simply isn't a good place to put the phone. A secondary problem is having to connect the phone via cable to USB (2020 and older) means that you lack any sort of fast charge capabilities for the device. That puts many phone owners in the situation where the phone is plugged in and STILL doesn't get charged because the charge rate from USB is slow and the phone uses power for AA functions faster than the car can add power to it.

With wireless AA, you get in and go - even if the phone is in your pocket or in a bag in the trunk or back seat. If you want to plug it in for charging, you get to use an actual fast charge solution that plugs into the 12VDC outlet.

I have the AAWireless and this is what I do: when I get in the car, my phone connects within a few seconds, while I fasten my seat belt and start the car. I then drop it on the wireless charger behind the seats. So I can stream music, use Waze/Google Maps, the phone charges and most importantly I do not have any wires in the way. The lack of wires and a place to put my phone while driving (and keep it charged) are great benefits for me.

I know that many of you will argue that many phones will not fit into the wireless phone charger in the back. Well, I cut the short edges on the rubber charging pad and now my Galaxy S22 fits perfectly, even with a case.

[jamala00]

Originally Posted by MakCamaro

I have the AAWireless and this is what I do: when I get in the car, my phone connects within a few minutes, while I fasten my seat belt and start the car. I then drop it on the wireless charger behind the seats. So I can stream music, use Waze/Google Maps, the phone charges and most importantly I do not have any wires in the way. The lack of wires and a place to put my phone while driving (and keep it charged) are great benefits for me.

I know that many of you will argue that many phones will not fit into the wireless phone charger in the back. Well, I cut the short edges on the rubber charging pad and now my Galaxy S22 fits perfectly, even with a case.

Is that right or did you mean seconds? If it takes a few minutes for it to connect, I'd never get one of these devices.