** Just wanted to note that since writing this a few of the quirks I mentioned in the original post have been corrected by recommended changes to settings by AA Wireless Tech Support. Want to be clear, it you're interested in this device also read Post #7 **
I've been promising this review for a couple of weeks. And I apologize for the delays. I realise some may be waiting to determine whether or not this is the one.
Long story short, between the AA Wireless and the CarlinKit 4.0, I would go with the AA Wireless for Android Auto specific use. I'm going to point form this as much as I can as I'm short on time.
The Good:
Works exactly as if Wired.
Connects just as fast.
The response to touch is just as fast.
Easier updating than the CarlinKit.
Tech support has been responsive, they truly seem to want to help.
The Bad:
Has some quirks I'm still ironing out.
Quirk 1:
An update ought to be part of the initial setup, I had some issues connecting out of the box, which was immediately corrected after performing an update. Why didn't it just do that as part of the initial setup? Minor inconvenience.
Quirk 2 | Corrected
Had frequent disruptive disconnects from the phone while 5ghz wireless was set to 'Auto'. Tech support made the recommendation of changing Wireless option from 'Auto' to 'Channel 149'. This did help enormously but wasn't a complete fix. Disconnects from the phone continued but far less frequently. Days apart instead of 20 minutes apart. On my own I tried a lower channel, 36 I think. 'Channel 36' was almost as bad as 'Auto'. So I switched to the highest available channel, thinking it was 'Channel 165'. It's been a little over a week now with no phone disconnects. I have also heard the issue can be resolved by forcing 2.4ghz rather than 5ghz. That will be my next step if I see further disconnects. All in all, I worked the issue down to an acceptable level. Inconvenience level not knowing the above, pretty bloody irritating. But lucky you, you now know what to do to attempt correction, making it a mild inconvenience for you.
Quirk 3 | Corrected see Post #7
And this is thanks to KIA and their always-on USB port, which is dumb as f**k. The AA Wireless stays active and your phone will continue to connect to it when in range for a ridiculous amount of time after turning the engine off. Like 30 minutes after turning the engine off if I go up my back steps my phone will reconnect to the AA Wireless. An hour after it won't. In comparison, the CarlinKit did a MUCH better job of releasing the phone when turning the engine off. Tech support did recommend a solution but I've either botched the job or don't entirely understand. I believe the recommended fix was to set the AA Wireless to 'Dongle Mode: Enabled'. Now I've attempted this twice but either I've messed it up twice or 'Dongle Mode' keeps disabling itself. I'll continue to work on this issue and report back. The second suggested solution was to enable 'Start/Stop' functionality. But I'm not entirely sure what the feature does so I never got around to messing with it. The inconvenience level may change depending on your location after exiting the car. If your office is within 30 feet of your car you could be in for a really irritating situation. As long as you're out of range of the AA Wireless where ever it is you are after leaving the car inconvenience level may not be all that bad.
Quirk 4 | Corrected see Post #7
Haven't looked into this one yet as it's only happened a few times. On occasion, the phone connects and is controllable by the headunit. But sound comes from the speakers in the phone, not the stereo. Very weird. This is the next quirk I'll look into. I do find it often occurs when I turn the engine off, go in someplace for a very short time, often within range of the AA Wireless, maybe pick up food, or grab something quick from the convenience store. The engine was off, but I return to the car after a very short departure and this quirk will sometimes rear its ugly head. And it's not an easy one to fix. I often find I have to reboot my phone. Unplugging the AA Wireless isn't enough. Occurrence, maybe once or twice a week. Keep in mind I spend most of my day in my car so once or twice a week is nothing. Inconvenience level mild. Again I blame KIA's always on USB data port. DUMB.
AA Wireless over CarlinKit 4.0 for Android Auto specifically.
I'd still go with AA Wireless. The CarlinKit was incapable of playing Audible without multiple audio dropouts every minute, making it impossible to listen to a book. The CarlinKit was slooooow to load. The AA Wireless responds and loads the same as if plugged in. The CarlinKit couldn't be easily updated to new firmware. CarlinKit did have a more robust build quality. The CarlinKit stretched the video across the screen elongating everything. Wasn't able to find a solution.
I've been promising this review for a couple of weeks. And I apologize for the delays. I realise some may be waiting to determine whether or not this is the one.
Long story short, between the AA Wireless and the CarlinKit 4.0, I would go with the AA Wireless for Android Auto specific use. I'm going to point form this as much as I can as I'm short on time.
The Good:
Works exactly as if Wired.
Connects just as fast.
The response to touch is just as fast.
Easier updating than the CarlinKit.
Tech support has been responsive, they truly seem to want to help.
The Bad:
Has some quirks I'm still ironing out.
Quirk 1:
An update ought to be part of the initial setup, I had some issues connecting out of the box, which was immediately corrected after performing an update. Why didn't it just do that as part of the initial setup? Minor inconvenience.
Quirk 2 | Corrected
Had frequent disruptive disconnects from the phone while 5ghz wireless was set to 'Auto'. Tech support made the recommendation of changing Wireless option from 'Auto' to 'Channel 149'. This did help enormously but wasn't a complete fix. Disconnects from the phone continued but far less frequently. Days apart instead of 20 minutes apart. On my own I tried a lower channel, 36 I think. 'Channel 36' was almost as bad as 'Auto'. So I switched to the highest available channel, thinking it was 'Channel 165'. It's been a little over a week now with no phone disconnects. I have also heard the issue can be resolved by forcing 2.4ghz rather than 5ghz. That will be my next step if I see further disconnects. All in all, I worked the issue down to an acceptable level. Inconvenience level not knowing the above, pretty bloody irritating. But lucky you, you now know what to do to attempt correction, making it a mild inconvenience for you.
Quirk 3 | Corrected see Post #7
And this is thanks to KIA and their always-on USB port, which is dumb as f**k. The AA Wireless stays active and your phone will continue to connect to it when in range for a ridiculous amount of time after turning the engine off. Like 30 minutes after turning the engine off if I go up my back steps my phone will reconnect to the AA Wireless. An hour after it won't. In comparison, the CarlinKit did a MUCH better job of releasing the phone when turning the engine off. Tech support did recommend a solution but I've either botched the job or don't entirely understand. I believe the recommended fix was to set the AA Wireless to 'Dongle Mode: Enabled'. Now I've attempted this twice but either I've messed it up twice or 'Dongle Mode' keeps disabling itself. I'll continue to work on this issue and report back. The second suggested solution was to enable 'Start/Stop' functionality. But I'm not entirely sure what the feature does so I never got around to messing with it. The inconvenience level may change depending on your location after exiting the car. If your office is within 30 feet of your car you could be in for a really irritating situation. As long as you're out of range of the AA Wireless where ever it is you are after leaving the car inconvenience level may not be all that bad.
Quirk 4 | Corrected see Post #7
Haven't looked into this one yet as it's only happened a few times. On occasion, the phone connects and is controllable by the headunit. But sound comes from the speakers in the phone, not the stereo. Very weird. This is the next quirk I'll look into. I do find it often occurs when I turn the engine off, go in someplace for a very short time, often within range of the AA Wireless, maybe pick up food, or grab something quick from the convenience store. The engine was off, but I return to the car after a very short departure and this quirk will sometimes rear its ugly head. And it's not an easy one to fix. I often find I have to reboot my phone. Unplugging the AA Wireless isn't enough. Occurrence, maybe once or twice a week. Keep in mind I spend most of my day in my car so once or twice a week is nothing. Inconvenience level mild. Again I blame KIA's always on USB data port. DUMB.
AA Wireless over CarlinKit 4.0 for Android Auto specifically.
I'd still go with AA Wireless. The CarlinKit was incapable of playing Audible without multiple audio dropouts every minute, making it impossible to listen to a book. The CarlinKit was slooooow to load. The AA Wireless responds and loads the same as if plugged in. The CarlinKit couldn't be easily updated to new firmware. CarlinKit did have a more robust build quality. The CarlinKit stretched the video across the screen elongating everything. Wasn't able to find a solution.
