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- Aug 10, 2021
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- 22 Maverick
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- 2.0L EcoBoost
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- #1
I bought the TNVTEC wireless CarPlay adapter from Amazon a little over a month ago. I have an XLT 2.0 turbo Maverick. I just wanted to give an honest review after using it for a month. Getting it up and rung was very easy, just follow the instructions and it only took me about 3 minutes to get going. I did update the device to try to fix a few issues I had. I also use CarPlay exclusively, never the radio or system bluetooth. Here is what I found.
The bad:
First of all it takes a little longer to boot. I don't think that is just the adapter. See my issue below with my radio. When I start the truck I have to wait for a "collecting data" warning. That can take anywhere from 5 seconds to over a minute. Once that shows the radio boots into CarPlay in about 20 seconds. With a wire it takes about 5 seconds once that warning appears. I used to have a much longer delay as it connected my phone to the radio through bluetooth then to the adapter. Which lead to some rather long delays. I deleted my radio bluetooth connection (I never use it) and things got faster.
There is a slight delay in audio. At first it was a solid second or more, but after the update it is much less noticeable. It does vary with each boot, but it generally isn't noticeable. The only time I really notice it is the first song to play, or if I fast forward during a podcast. It doesn't show at all during calls. If I don't pay attention I forget the delay is even there.
The steering wheel controls for answering or ending a call do not work. The controls of volume and skipping forward and back do work, even though they are the same for answering a call (weird). Not a big issue for me as the display has huge red and green circles to press.
It does drain the battery faster. Both on your phone and the truck. If you are going on a long trip better to use wired. Also the USB stays active for about 30 minutes after you turn the truck off so it will have a bit of battery drainage. I noticed that my auto start/stop doesn't come on as often unless I drive for a longer time. I have tried unplugging the adapter when I get where I am going and the auto start/stop works more often now.
If you are on a call it is not seamless to switch to in car usage. First the device loads up and switches the call to the adapter then there is a delay before the truck loads the adapter. If I am on a call I have to switch the call back to the phone until CarPlay loads up then back to the truck. It isn't a problem since I don't often transfer a call to the truck, but it caught me off guard until I figured out what was going on.
The Good:
It reliable loads. When I first got it about 1 of 10 times it didn't load, but since updating it has loaded every time into CarPlay.
It is small and unobtrusive. I don't really remember it is there.
I have not noticed any visible differences between the adapter and wired CarPlay. If I am going on an hour or longer trip I use wired and visually on the screen I can't tell which one I am using. I have not noticed a delay on the touchscreen either, very responsive.
The great:
The few minor annoyances are far far outweighed by the convenience of it wirelessly connecting.
Wireless CarPlay is awesome. Like I said I exclusively use CarPlay and to have it automatically load is amazing, just get in and drive. It is best with a few stops on a trip. Get gas or one item at the store on the way somewhere is great. Just get in and out and CarPlay is there. No plug phone in, unplug, plug in, unplug. Some might say it is a first world problem, but I don't care. The wireless connection is awesome.
P.S.
I don't know if it is just my radio or not, but my radio seems to need to "boot" and sometimes it take a minute or longer to do so. I can tell by the time it takes to show to "collecting data" warning that always loads. Sometimes the warning takes 5 seconds sometimes it takes over a minute to load. Once I get this message the adapter takes about 10 seconds to get into CarPlay.
Also my radio keeps resetting. I will get in and my ambient lighting will be off. I go into check for update and notice that "last check" goes back to before I received my truck.
I am going to have the deal look at it when they fix the back controller recall. I have tried factory rests myself and it doesn't help.
Does anyone else have these issues?
The bad:
First of all it takes a little longer to boot. I don't think that is just the adapter. See my issue below with my radio. When I start the truck I have to wait for a "collecting data" warning. That can take anywhere from 5 seconds to over a minute. Once that shows the radio boots into CarPlay in about 20 seconds. With a wire it takes about 5 seconds once that warning appears. I used to have a much longer delay as it connected my phone to the radio through bluetooth then to the adapter. Which lead to some rather long delays. I deleted my radio bluetooth connection (I never use it) and things got faster.
There is a slight delay in audio. At first it was a solid second or more, but after the update it is much less noticeable. It does vary with each boot, but it generally isn't noticeable. The only time I really notice it is the first song to play, or if I fast forward during a podcast. It doesn't show at all during calls. If I don't pay attention I forget the delay is even there.
The steering wheel controls for answering or ending a call do not work. The controls of volume and skipping forward and back do work, even though they are the same for answering a call (weird). Not a big issue for me as the display has huge red and green circles to press.
It does drain the battery faster. Both on your phone and the truck. If you are going on a long trip better to use wired. Also the USB stays active for about 30 minutes after you turn the truck off so it will have a bit of battery drainage. I noticed that my auto start/stop doesn't come on as often unless I drive for a longer time. I have tried unplugging the adapter when I get where I am going and the auto start/stop works more often now.
If you are on a call it is not seamless to switch to in car usage. First the device loads up and switches the call to the adapter then there is a delay before the truck loads the adapter. If I am on a call I have to switch the call back to the phone until CarPlay loads up then back to the truck. It isn't a problem since I don't often transfer a call to the truck, but it caught me off guard until I figured out what was going on.
The Good:
It reliable loads. When I first got it about 1 of 10 times it didn't load, but since updating it has loaded every time into CarPlay.
It is small and unobtrusive. I don't really remember it is there.
I have not noticed any visible differences between the adapter and wired CarPlay. If I am going on an hour or longer trip I use wired and visually on the screen I can't tell which one I am using. I have not noticed a delay on the touchscreen either, very responsive.
The great:
The few minor annoyances are far far outweighed by the convenience of it wirelessly connecting.
Wireless CarPlay is awesome. Like I said I exclusively use CarPlay and to have it automatically load is amazing, just get in and drive. It is best with a few stops on a trip. Get gas or one item at the store on the way somewhere is great. Just get in and out and CarPlay is there. No plug phone in, unplug, plug in, unplug. Some might say it is a first world problem, but I don't care. The wireless connection is awesome.
P.S.
I don't know if it is just my radio or not, but my radio seems to need to "boot" and sometimes it take a minute or longer to do so. I can tell by the time it takes to show to "collecting data" warning that always loads. Sometimes the warning takes 5 seconds sometimes it takes over a minute to load. Once I get this message the adapter takes about 10 seconds to get into CarPlay.
Also my radio keeps resetting. I will get in and my ambient lighting will be off. I go into check for update and notice that "last check" goes back to before I received my truck.
I am going to have the deal look at it when they fix the back controller recall. I have tried factory rests myself and it doesn't help.
Does anyone else have these issues?
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