Android Auto through Bluetooth?

[Joester]

I searched threads and did not find what I was looking for so I'll ask -
Can the entertainment system in the Maverick play Android Auto using only Bluetooth?
I ask because during a recent rental of a Chrysler Pacifica for company use I used the vehicles screen with Android Auto. During setup, the last yes/no question was if I wanted the connection to be made using Bluetooth for future connections.
I have not seen or found that option in the Maverick, but I know for certain it can be done, at least in other vehicles. And it was a painless question during setup that worked great.
Has anyone figured it out?
Or is that one of the "no you can't" things they strip from not having the top-of-the-line system?

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[Gullzway]

Android Auto works with a cable or over wifi with an adapter or built in AA wireless in the head unit.
Bluetooth connection is for media and audio, but also required for Android Auto to function.

https://www.makeuseof.com/android-a...ot possible to use,data to handle the feature.
"It's not possible to use Android Auto over Bluetooth alone, since Bluetooth can't transmit enough data to handle the feature"

 

[Joester]

It worked GREAT in the Chrysler Pacifica. No wire connected. Played SXM and used Waze.

 

[Kofad]

No, the Maverick does not come with wireless Android Auto. You can, however, buy a cheap adapter off Amazon that will bridge the gap.

 

[ejouie]

Wireless Android Auto is not Bluetooth. It uses a type of local, short-range Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth is still for calls wired or wireless. Android Auto will connect Bluetooth as part of its startup.

 

[UberGadgetFreak]

I use one of these in both Mavericks:
https://www.amazon.com/Ottocast-Wireless-Android-Adapter-Plug/dp/B0BGS8X66Y

They are a bit finicky trying to update the firmware, but if you can get that done, they work great. It takes a few seconds to connect after the radio comes on, but otherwise its flawless. There are others out there a bit cheaper, too. I have another one but its a generic brand that does both AA and CarPlay that cost a bit more, but don't use it since its slow as sin to connect.

 

[Sembazuru]

I searched threads and did not find what I was looking for so I'll ask -
Can the entertainment system in the Maverick play Android Auto using only Bluetooth?
I ask because during a recent rental of a Chrysler Pacifica for company use I used the vehicles screen with Android Auto. During setup, the last yes/no question was if I wanted the connection to be made using Bluetooth for future connections.
I have not seen or found that option in the Maverick, but I know for certain it can be done, at least in other vehicles. And it was a painless question during setup that worked great.
Has anyone figured it out?
Or is that one of the "no you can't" things they strip from not having the top-of-the-line system?

As mentioned by these posts, WiFi is used for most of the heavy lifting of data transfer with Android Auto.

Android Auto works with a cable or over wifi with an adapter or built in AA wireless in the head unit.
Bluetooth connection is for media and audio, but also required for Android Auto to function.

https://www.makeuseof.com/android-auto-wireless/#:~:text=It's not possible to use,data to handle the feature.
"It's not possible to use Android Auto over Bluetooth alone, since Bluetooth can't transmit enough data to handle the feature"

Wireless Android Auto is not Bluetooth. It uses a type of local, short-range Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth is still for calls wired or wireless. Android Auto will connect Bluetooth as part of its startup.

But you won't have to setup the WiFi connection yourself. During setup once you connect your phone to the wireless Android Auto device (either built into the car's head unit, or through a dongle like we have to use on our Mavs) with Bluetooth, the Android Auto app on your phone and the device you connected to with Bluetooth will setup the WiFi connection for you. At least that is how it worked for me setting up the Motorola MA1 wireless android auto bridge that I use.

EDIT: If you are considering the MA1, I found this good video showing setting it up. He also discusses some pros and cons of the device, and also briefly goes over pairing multiple phones to the device. This review seems to not be too marketing heavy, and mirrors my experience of the MA1.

 

[Mikeetch]

Correct me if I'm wrong but If Ford didn't do away with the Mavericks hotspot you'd have wireless Android Auto

 

[Sembazuru]

Correct me if I'm wrong but If Ford didn't do away with the Mavericks hotspot you'd have wireless Android Auto

I can't correct you with hard evidence, but my gut feeling is the hotspot feature and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay were separate subsystems. I could be wrong (as well), but I wouldn't expect AA/ACP to work through the hotspot feature.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

I installed the Motorola ma1 device, it's been absolutely flawless. My phone never leaves my pocket now, connects within seconds of me sitting down in the truck. It's not the cheapest wireless adapter out there, $89, but to me worth every penny for not having to think about it

 

[Darnon]

Correct me if I'm wrong but If Ford didn't do away with the Mavericks hotspot you'd have wireless Android Auto

I can't correct you with hard evidence, but my gut feeling is the hotspot feature and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay were separate subsystems. I could be wrong (as well), but I wouldn't expect AA/ACP to work through the hotspot feature.

The Maverick never had wireless AA regardless of the 4G hotspot being there or not. Even then the infotainment system is still capable of direct WiFi connection (such as to update the firmware). It just comes down to wireless AA not being implemented.

 

[AutobahnSHO]

Correct me if I'm wrong but If Ford didn't do away with the Mavericks hotspot you'd have wireless Android Auto

The original top of the line Maverick with the hotspot was NOT advertised with wireless AA.

 

[colinl]

I've been using this one about a month:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZTTGMH1

No app, no firmware update on the device. I have no idea if it'll die at some point down the road or if it's actually updating AA somehow behind the scenes. I just plugged it in, paired to it, and used strong double-sided tape to stick it under the USB connections, somewhat out of sight. The cord is not long enough to do anything else - you're not going to set this on the tray under the ports without a USB extension cable.

Audio quality is fine.

I have been experiencing some weirdness with voice prompts but I'm not sure if that is due to an AA update on my phone or some other reason. I do still have a wired cable that I use when I need my phone to charge, and I unplugged the AA wireless dongle for several hours and still had voice prompt issues. My AA app says it was updated 8/8/23 so I guess I'll just wait for the next update and see if it's fixed.

 

[KEMeyer]

As mentioned by these posts, WiFi is used for most of the heavy lifting of data transfer with Android Auto.




But you won't have to setup the WiFi connection yourself. During setup once you connect your phone to the wireless Android Auto device (either built into the car's head unit, or through a dongle like we have to use on our Mavs) with Bluetooth, the Android Auto app on your phone and the device you connected to with Bluetooth will setup the WiFi connection for you. At least that is how it worked for me setting up the Motorola MA1 wireless android auto bridge that I use.

EDIT: If you are considering the MA1, I found this good video showing setting it up. He also discusses some pros and cons of the device, and also briefly goes over pairing multiple phones to the device. This review seems to not be too marketing heavy, and mirrors my experience of the MA1.

Yup, Motorola MA1 was a plug-n-play for me and works flawlessly.

As mentioned by these posts, WiFi is used for most of the heavy lifting of data transfer with Android Auto.




But you won't have to setup the WiFi connection yourself. During setup once you connect your phone to the wireless Android Auto device (either built into the car's head unit, or through a dongle like we have to use on our Mavs) with Bluetooth, the Android Auto app on your phone and the device you connected to with Bluetooth will setup the WiFi connection for you. At least that is how it worked for me setting up the Motorola MA1 wireless android auto bridge that I use.

EDIT: If you are considering the MA1, I found this good video showing setting it up. He also discusses some pros and cons of the device, and also briefly goes over pairing multiple phones to the device. This review seems to not be too marketing heavy, and mirrors my experience of the MA1.

Yup, Motorola MA1 was a plug-n-play for me and works flawlessly.

 

[Mike1597]

When pairing your phone through a wireless adapter do you lose any functionality from Sync 3? I assume the phone must be unpaired from the built-in Bluetooth before being paired to the USB wireless adapter. More specifically, will the 911 ASSIST feature still work?

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