Wireless CarPlay or Hiding Charging Cord?

[TangoBravo]

Anyone have any suggestions on the best and most discrete wireless CarPlay dongle out there? Ideally it would almost look like the blue tooth connector for a wireless laptop mouse (I.e the size of a thumbnail, but not sure that exists).

Alternatively, my phone is currently mounted on a bullet rubigrid rail system; anyone have a discrete corded setup they really like that hides the cords really well? Anyone fish their cord behind the dash through the bottom and have it come out by the windshield?

Open to any suggestions! Thx!

 

[YukonCornelius]

I've had really good experience with Cplay2Air... have 3 currently, one in each vehicle. My JK has a Sony head unit that they pushed a firmware update to and killed the Cplay... I contacted Cplay and they sent me a new firmware that supported the Sony within a day. Support by them is top notch.

I do however, find that I have it unplugged in the JL more often than not. I just really like the 4C interface.

 

[KungFu392]

I've had really good experience with Cplay2Air... have 3 currently, one in each vehicle. My JK has a Sony head unit that they pushed a firmware update to and killed the Cplay... I contacted Cplay and they sent me a new firmware that supported the Sony within a day. Support by them is top notch.

I do however, find that I have it unplugged in the JL more often than not. I just really like the 4C interface.

What's the "4C interface" you're referring to? Just the regular GUI on the factory head unit?

 

[YukonCornelius]

Just the regular GUI on the factory head unit?

Yup!

 

[KungFu392]

Yup!

Oh... yeah, that's a hard pass for me. Still seems antiquated to me. I much prefer apple carplay to that. Plus, I pretty much only listen to apple music or Pandora for sounds and prefer google maps for nav.

 

[Rscx4]

I have the Garlin Carplay kit and am perfectly happy with it.

https://www.amazon.com/Carlinkit-Wireless-CarPlay-Compatible-CPC200-U2W-Plus/dp/B08ZHCS8R3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3A3TSDSIJ1BQX&keywords=garlinkit+carplay&qid=1657755283&sprefix=Garlin%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-5

Actually on sale today for Amazon Prime day. It’s plugged inside the center consul hidden and out of the way and works great.

 

[KungFu392]

I have the Garlin Carplay kit and am perfectly happy with it.

https://www.amazon.com/Carlinkit-Wireless-CarPlay-Compatible-CPC200-U2W-Plus/dp/B08ZHCS8R3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3A3TSDSIJ1BQX&keywords=garlinkit+carplay&qid=1657755283&sprefix=Garlin%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-5

Actually on sale today for Amazon Prime day. It’s plugged inside the center consul hidden and out of the way and works great.

Does it ever drop connection and reconnect on its own while driving? I’ve had the C2play for over a year and it has constantly dropped and reconnected in the 392. It seemed to work fine in my 2020 Rubicon.

 

[Turboencabulator]

To answer the OP’s question:
I tried a few of the CarPlay options (OTTOCAST Wireless CarPlay and CPLAY2Air) plugged into the center consul hidden away as described. They are not super small like a mouse dongle but you won’t see them. I did have some connectivity issues with both. Nothing bad, just needed to be unplugged and then plugged back in. To be clear, these dongles are defiantly NOT supported by Apple so they use “work arounds” (hacks) to connect to the UConnect4 which can result in a less than ideal user experience.
I have taken apart the dash and you can definitely run a wire up there behind the dash but your going to have to drill a hole in the dash somewhere. Personally I don’t love the look of cords. But it has been done.

But the real issue with CarPlay was when navigating using Google or Apple Maps. When you’re connected to CarPlay the moving map is disabled on your phone. All you get a list of turn by turn directions. I really like manipulating the map when navigating on my phone. So CarPlay wasn’t going to work for me.

That left me with no option but to use the built in Bluetooth in the UConnect4.

My experience using the UConnect4 Bluetooth has been superb! I haven’t missed Apple CarPlay at all. It is seamless, IMHO. Never drops a call, never had an issue with music, connects automatically and even auto plays music where I left off. Basically Apple CarPlay but with full Map control and no annoying dongle that needs to be reset.

I have it setup on my “Media” with SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and FM as the sources. My daughter and her friends often want to play their “cool” music from the back seat. It’s so easy to change the Bluetooth source in the “Setup” and select her phone. I love the UConnect4 and the Bluetooth which is very stable. It does everything I need without all the frills. Kinda like my Jeep 392.

 

[Rscx4]

Does it ever drop connection and reconnect on its own while driving? I’ve had the C2play for over a year and it has constantly dropped and reconnected in the 392. It seemed to work fine in my 2020 Rubicon.

It has a few times but reconnects on its own, not enough to consider a constant problem.

 

[Rscx4]

I can’t speak to the other two maps, but I use Waze to look out for upcoming hazards on CarPlay. I am able to switch music options between my phone and Sirius or radio while still keeping Waze active so for me, I‘m happy. I hate the cords and the having to plug, so a drop that reconnects on its own once every couple weeks is far more tolerable.

 

[KungFu392]

I can’t speak to the other two maps, but I use Waze to look out for upcoming hazards on CarPlay. I am able to switch music options between my phone and Sirius or radio while still keeping Waze active so for me, I‘m happy. I hate the cords and the having to plug, so a drop that reconnects on its own once every couple weeks is far more tolerable.

Once every couple of weeks would be fine. Cplay2air does it multiple times every time you drive. At least mine does.

 

[scarab]

What do you guys use for wireless iPhone charging? I don't need wireless CarPlay or basically CarPlay at all cause as @Turboencabulator mentioned it's pretty much useless with Google Maps or any other navigation software, as all of them, or al least all that I've tested behave like that.

 

[KungFu392]

What do you guys use for wireless iPhone charging? I don't need wireless CarPlay or basically CarPlay at all cause as @Turboencabulator mentioned it's pretty much useless with Google Maps or any other navigation software, as all of them, or al least all that I've tested behave like that.

To answer your question, I use this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09F8RLBQY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

attached to this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09Z4SSPMM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Using This:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0851TMQR4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's an excellent "semi-custom" solution.

That said. I am still perplexed by why people are saying that Carplay is useless in the JL... The interface is WAY better than the factory interface. Google Maps and/or Waze are leaps and bounds better than the built in NAV and there is no reason to need to see the map on the phone when using carplay because the map is ON THE 8" SCREEN.

I'm not sure what I'm missing here, but I've tried it every way possible and I still keep coming back to Carplay. You can even use the other audio inputs (XM - which I never use - radio, etc.) while still using your google maps on carplay.

Anyway, to each his own, I guess, but for wireless charging, I like the setup above. You will, of course, need the Apple (or aftermarket) magsafe case for that setup, but it works quite well.

 

[dblplay1212]

To answer the OP’s question:
I tried a few of the CarPlay options (OTTOCAST Wireless CarPlay and CPLAY2Air) plugged into the center consul hidden away as described. They are not super small like a mouse dongle but you won’t see them. I did have some connectivity issues with both. Nothing bad, just needed to be unplugged and then plugged back in. To be clear, these dongles are defiantly NOT supported by Apple so they use “work arounds” (hacks) to connect to the UConnect4 which can result in a less than ideal user experience.
I have taken apart the dash and you can definitely run a wire up there behind the dash but your going to have to drill a hole in the dash somewhere. Personally I don’t love the look of cords. But it has been done.

But the real issue with CarPlay was when navigating using Google or Apple Maps. When you’re connected to CarPlay the moving map is disabled on your phone. All you get a list of turn by turn directions. I really like manipulating the map when navigating on my phone. So CarPlay wasn’t going to work for me.
View attachment 5898
That left me with no option but to use the built in Bluetooth in the UConnect4.

My experience using the UConnect4 Bluetooth has been superb! I haven’t missed Apple CarPlay at all. It is seamless, IMHO. Never drops a call, never had an issue with music, connects automatically and even auto plays music where I left off. Basically Apple CarPlay but with full Map control and no annoying dongle that needs to be reset.

I have it setup on my “Media” with SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and FM as the sources. My daughter and her friends often want to play their “cool” music from the back seat. It’s so easy to change the Bluetooth source in the “Setup” and select her phone. I love the UConnect4 and the Bluetooth which is very stable. It does everything I need without all the frills. Kinda like my Jeep 392. View attachment 5900

But you don't get Google Maps on the dash screen, right?

 

[KungFu392]

But you don't get Google Maps on the dash screen, right?

Yes you do. That's why the moving map on the phone is pointless! That's what I'm trying to say. Why do you want to see the moving map on your tiny phone when you can just look at it on the screen, through carplay?

 

[dblplay1212]

Yes you do. That's why the moving map on the phone is pointless! That's what I'm trying to say. Why do you want to see the moving map on your tiny phone when you can just look at it on the screen, through carplay?

Yea once I plug my phone in, I put it down and don't use it. That's the whole point of it lol. I use Android bc I prefer the Samsung phones, but it's the same shit overall. I hate the wire but overall I love the experience of Android auto and I don't need my phone at all.

 

[KungFu392]

Yea once I plug my phone in, I put it down and don't use it. That's the whole point of it lol. I use Android bc I prefer the Samsung phones, but it's the same shit overall. I hate the wire but overall I love the experience of Android auto and I don't need my phone at all.

Right. I actually have my phone on the Bulletpoint mount with a wireless charger hovering above the 8" screen. Once in a while I'll get notifications AND I can also see the "turn by turn" directions on the phone with the full map showing on the 8" screen. Really the best of both worlds.

 

[scarab]

Thanks @KungFu392!
There are several reasons why I don't like the way Google Maps integrates with CarPlay. The main ones are:
1. It does show alternative routes on the fly on a map but doesn't show the time difference between current route and alternative. That's absurd, what's the point of alternative route if you don't know the time and distance difference.
2. Route preview, I mean zooming in and out, map browsing is super clunky with CarPlay
3. Imagine a scenario that you're heading from Denver to Moab, you've got your route already set but you wanna quickly stop by King Soopers somewhere on the way just to grab a sandwich or whatever. Super quick and easy to do with iPhone Google Maps interface, but with Google Maps over CarPlay - well, good luck.
It totally sucks as CarPlay has a lot of potential and with some basic adjustments would have been fantastic but it doesn't seem like software developers are willing to make it better.

 

[KungFu392]

Thanks @KungFu392!

3. Imagine a scenario that you're heading from Denver to Moab, you've got your route already set but you wanna quickly stop by King Soopers somewhere on the way just to grab a sandwich or whatever. Super quick and easy to do with iPhone Google Maps interface, but with Google Maps over CarPlay - well, good luck.
It totally sucks as CarPlay has a lot of potential and with some basic adjustments would have been fantastic but it doesn't seem like software developers are willing to make it better.

Wow... that's a very specific (and I suspect exceedingly rare for 90% of us) example. Even with that one, very specific example, on balance, Carplay is much better for me than the factory GUI. But hey, as I've said numerous times in this thread already... to each his own.

Also - I find it hilarious that we have become a society who is so desperately dependent upon "google maps" to tell us how to get places that we have figured out how to find for generations in the past. I get having to look at it initially to get your game plan... and yes, I get the value in live traffic/delay updates and all of that, but it's just funny to me that "adventurous," "wilderness loving" off roaders in Jeeps feel so crippled by the thought of not having Waze or Google tell us every turn we need to make.

 

[dblplay1212]

Thanks @KungFu392!
There are several reasons why I don't like the way Google Maps integrates with CarPlay. The main ones are:
1. It does show alternative routes on the fly on a map but doesn't show the time difference between current route and alternative. That's absurd, what's the point of alternative route if you don't know the time and distance difference.
2. Route preview, I mean zooming in and out, map browsing is super clunky with CarPlay
3. Imagine a scenario that you're heading from Denver to Moab, you've got your route already set but you wanna quickly stop by King Soopers somewhere on the way just to grab a sandwich or whatever. Super quick and easy to do with iPhone Google Maps interface, but with Google Maps over CarPlay - well, good luck.
It totally sucks as CarPlay has a lot of potential and with some basic adjustments would have been fantastic but it doesn't seem like software developers are willing to make it better.

1. I can't speak for Apple, but on Adroid Auto, there's an alternate route icon that looks like this:

. If you hit it, it'll pop up other routes and show the times for each. It'll label them as A, B, C, etc on the map and then to the leff it'll give times for each.
2. Not an issue for me. I can't say I zoom in or out much, I just follow the diretions.
3. Grab phone, google King Soopers, click directions, and now the dash unit will show those directions. I never search for anywhere on the dash unit.

So yea, I can't speak for CarPlay but all of that is super easy with Android.