Finally cracked the wireless carplay dongle problems

[micknomates]

I have tried 6 different wireless carplay dongles with none managed to either connect at all or dropped connections or blank screens. Finally tried MMB box approx. £40 on Amazon. Managed to get it working fine with no dropped connections but had to unplug and then plug in the dongle adapter for connection when starting new journey. Then bought usb switch (power & data) from Amazon £6. Now when new journey, get in car, foot on brake, and when screen boots up, flick swich on and off, and away we go.
My car is 2024 LR Trophy.
Think the problems have been with MG usb connection and hopefully that will be addressed with my next software update, and then maybe ditch the switch.

Links for switch and dongle.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CDB742BR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07VN1Q8L5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[calwoo]

I have tried 6 different wireless carplay dongles with none managed to either connect at all or dropped connections or blank screens. Finally tried MMB box approx. £40 on Amazon. Managed to get it working fine with no dropped connections but had to unplug and then plug in the dongle adapter for connection when starting new journey. Then bought usb switch (power & data) from Amazon £6. Now when new journey, get in car, foot on brake, and when screen boots up, flick swich on and off, and away we go.
My car is 2024 LR Trophy.
Think the problems have been with MG usb connection and hopefully that will be addressed with my next software update, and then maybe ditch the switch.

I have the same dongle issue and now switch CarPlay off by pulling out the USB plug by 1mm (not out completely) and push back in on next start-up.

 

[Tig170]

... by far the best solution I've found is an old iphone 6 (no sim) on a permamently connected short cable (I'm lucky that live in a rural area, so theft risk is lower?), connected via Personal Hotspot (& bluetooth? ) on my iphone 12. Yes car play is a bit slow, but it just works every time.

 

[Apple4]

I bought the switched cable linked above. Arrived today but I can’t get it to work. Just noticed the ad on Amazon says not data?

 

[micknomates]

As you were. My switch cable although advertised as power and data is probably not good quality as have had dropouts using switch. Still OK unplugging and plugging in adapter OK and no dropouts. Will return switch and try another one with better quality.

 

[Apple4]

I’m going to return the one linked above as it’s definitely not data. Now ordered this one will report back if ok.

Compact White TypeC USB Cable with On/Off Switch Fast- Charging and Data Syncing | eBay

Features: With a convenient switch, this white USB to Type-C data cable is the perfect solution for quick charging and data transfer. Sescription: USB-A/Male+304 Switch+Type-C Male Rated-Current 3A. Specifications: Itemï¼ Type-C USB cable.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[micknomates]

Tried the switch again and now working. Think is was a loose connection. Will try it for a few more days and report,

 

[micknomates]

Update. Wireless carplay been working well with no dropouts using the switch off/on when starting journey. Car booked for updates 10th May so hopefully may be able to ditch the switch.

 

[zollyuk]

I have the same dongle issue and now switch CarPlay off by pulling out the USB plug by 1mm (not out completely) and push back in on next start-up.

Thank you so much for your recommendation and the MMB device worked.

 

[Mark Hewitt]

Find it quite crazy you have to flick a switch. Might as well plug in the cable at that point.

 

[Robf]

It is really important to wirelessly connect your phone to the dongle and set the delay to 30 seconds (dongle has to be plugged into non data power source, address and password will be in the instructions) otherwise it will work intermitently, or not at all. I have tried less than 30 secs and it didnt work. This is to do with the time car system needs to boot up, if dongle tries to connect beforehand then it will fail. It is why it is working when you pull out the USB and push back in. It really is an easy fix. The above applies to android as well as apple devices (I have apple).
I use the following without any problems.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D8QPTWZ4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[Giller]

It is really important to wirelessly connect your phone to the dongle and set the delay to 30 seconds (dongle has to be plugged into non data power source, address and password will be in the instructions) otherwise it will work intermitently, or not at all. I have tried less than 30 secs and it didnt work. This is to do with the time car system needs to boot up, if dongle tries to connect beforehand then it will fail. It is why it is working when you pull out the USB and push back in. It really is an easy fix. The above applies to android as well as apple devices (I have apple).
I use the following without any problems.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D8QPTWZ4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Thats interesting, don't have that particular dongle but similar and has been giving me issues, will set the delay time and see how it goes.

 

[drivethru]

It is really important to wirelessly connect your phone to the dongle and set the delay to 30 seconds (dongle has to be plugged into non data power source, address and password will be in the instructions) otherwise it will work intermitently, or not at all. I have tried less than 30 secs and it didnt work. This is to do with the time car system needs to boot up, if dongle tries to connect beforehand then it will fail. It is why it is working when you pull out the USB and push back in. It really is an easy fix. The above applies to android as well as apple devices (I have apple).
I use the following without any problems.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D8QPTWZ4?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Thanks, just ordered. I have an iPhone, where do I set the 30 second delay?

Also can you give me more details on what you mean by connecting the dongle to the non data power source? Is this the USB a port at the front of the mg4?

 

[dsimpkins]

Thanks, just ordered. I have an iPhone, where do I set the 30 second delay?

Also can you give me more details on what you mean by connecting the dongle to the non data power source? Is this the USB a port at the front of the mg4?

Non data, as plug it into a USB charger at home so it boots up, but isn't connected to something using data (car/computer/tablet/etc)

 

[Susanna]

Setting the delay is crucial, I believe, for all CarPlay adapters from what I have read on this forum for any MG version. It simply allows the car infotainment to fully boot up, and subsequently connect to the adapter. Using without this delay appears to cause confusion to the infotainment and frustration to the driver.

Alternatively, you could simply unplug your device, and wait the 30 seconds before plugging back in.

It’s also essential that your phone is not connected to the car, just to the CarPlay adapter.

I have a Carlinkit adapter - 192.168.50.2 brings up the Carlinkit page on my phone, and from there updates and settings can be downloaded/changed.

 

[drivethru]

Thanks - how do I set a delay? I understand how I can do it manually but is there a way to automate this?

 

[siteguru]

Thanks - how do I set a delay? I understand how I can do it manually but is there a way to automate this?

Setting the delay via the web interface of the dongle should mean that the settings persists (until you change it again).

Details of how to access the web interface should be in the instruction booklet that should have come with the device.

 

[tsedge]

Agreed with all the above comments:

1. Plug device into power-only USB plug (no desktop, no laptop, no phone, no tablet, not in car).

2. Connect to its wifi network and access its web interface to change the settings (details vary, see included instructions) and set a delay timer on start up.

3. Disconnect phone from car bluetooth.

4. Plug device into car.

5. When it has started up, typically you connect the phone to the device via bluetooth and it connects you from there automatically (usual security prompts / access to contacts etc... first time you do it).

It varies how they cope with multiple phones.

Mine always tries to connect to the last phone used automatically. So if a different driver gets in the car they just have to reconnect their phone to the device bluetooth.

If we are both in the car to swap over
phones we just disconnect from device bluetooth and connect the other phone. Simples.

 

[Susanna]

I don’t unplug my Carlinkit from the car to update it. Just log into the webpage on my phone when the car is at least on ‘accessories’. Works fine for me.

 

[ReintjeWA]

I don’t unplug my Carlinkit from the car to update it. Just log into the webpage on my phone when the car is at least on ‘accessories’. Works fine for me.

Yeah same, I think they advise against it because most ICE cars nowadays have an eco-mode (or whatever they call it) and turn off the power to accessories when the engine isn't running after a while, but our EV's don't do that as far as I know. I just set the car in ready mode, and update.