I should add the first time you connect you have to agree to a load of stuff.

Yeah, lots of pop-ups/pop-ins asking if you agree to all sorts of shenanigans!

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Android 5.1.1 is that lollipop? No luck so will download android auto, will let you know......

Defo get android auto; your very unlikely to get anything working without it

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..... Success thanks guys, Google maps comes straight up and works a treat. Car is awesome by the way, will get some pics up ASAP. One small hitch though, wrong alloys lol

What am I doing wrong, connect USB cable to my Xperia z3 and to the car, search device list and click on the number that comes up but will not connect, just says check phone compatibility???

What number?

Are you trying MirrorLink or Android Auto?

Is it the Sony USB cable as they can be twitchy on cables.

Hi all, collecting a new VRs with SmartLink next week, have a few questions, apologies if they have been asked a thousand times before

System will be used with an iPhone 6, running current iOS level (9.1), does SmartLink automatically sync with the phone or do i need another data cable (if so can phones current one be used?)

Is a data connection required for the Nav element (Apple Maps)? ... Only currently have 3G

Can an alternate Nav app such as Sygic be used, given it is entirely offline, or perhaps Google Maps

I missed Yoda (as my 5 yr old calls them) deciding to standardise to the Amundsen from build week 45 onwards by a week, but least pleased I included SmartLink.

Thanks for the assistance, lots of fab stuff in this forum

Just plug it into the USB socket with a lightning cable mate, go to the bolero menu and you should see CarPlay, if not and you see smartlink, just choose that and then you will see a CarPlay icon.

Just follow the prompts and in a second or two you are up and running

Nav is Apple maps only, and it will use your data connection.

You control it mostly using Siri

On your steering wheel control, when in CarPlay mode, you can press the voice button and Siri will kick in.

I've tested it with an iPhone 5s, 6, 6plus as well as Galaxy S6 edge plus and Moto X Style, have to say I prefer Android Auto to CarPlay but they both work very well so far.

If ever you get a connection glitch, unplug the usb cable a second and plug it back in.

Only other thing I've found is sometimes they can be twitchy with cables, so an original lightning cable or a good charge / sync cable for an android can make a difference.

Edited 12 November, 201510 yr by fluffmeister

Thanks for the reply and detail within

I'm guessing the codes are now available from dealerships to have Smart Link activated? They weren't a month ago when I collected the car. I've a have a gratis activation slip burning a hole in my pocket.....

I have been having huge issues trying to connect my phone to android auto (sure you have seen me mention it!) anyway tried different cables, resetting the phone and car, tried uninstalling android auto and reinstalling it again. Always wanted to connect to Mirror link instead. Eventually had enough and uninstalled all the Smartgate apps which also connect via mirror link and Android Auto is finally connecting with some regularity.

Moral of the story, buy Smartlink, but don't buy Smartgate if you want to use Smartlink as the two don't play nice together.

I have been having huge issues trying to connect my phone to android auto (sure you have seen me mention it!) anyway tried different cables, resetting the phone and car, tried uninstalling android auto and reinstalling it again. Always wanted to connect to Mirror link instead. Eventually had enough and uninstalled all the Smartgate apps which also connect via mirror link and Android Auto is finally connecting with some regularity.

Moral of the story, buy Smartlink, but don't buy Smartgate if you want to use Smartlink as the two don't play nice together.

Would your problem be that the Smartgate WIFI was stopping your data connection during your Android Auto installation. I know on installation of mine it needed a data connection to complete the process.

The other day I went to simulate the maps on AA. It wouldnt connected the maps, a few days later I realised I had the Smartgate unit installed a few days previous ( my Smargate wasnt fitted at factor and inatalled later at dealers).

Edited 16 November, 201510 yr by GAFF

I don't think so. AA was definitely installed and running (and working for a time) when it wasn't working properly. I haven't had a good enough time to work out what is not working with Smartgate though, but I have had WiFi turned off for a time as when I had AA connected (when it was fixed) it wouldn't provide routing data for mapping. (worked again when I disconnected from the car WiFi)

Would your problem be that the Smartgate WIFI was stopping your data connection during your Android Auto installation. I know on installation of mine it needed a data connection to complete the process.

The other day I went to simulate the maps on AA. It wouldnt connected the maps, a few days later I realised I had the Smartgate unit installed a few days previous ( my Smargate wasnt fitted at factor and inatalled later at dealers).

How have you found Smartgate since you had it installed?

Google maps question....

With Google maps running on Android auto is there any way to deactivate night time mode For daytime driving? I know that if the lights are off then it works as normal but as soon as lights come on in auto mode when it raining it switches to night mode, any ideas?

Google maps question....

With Google maps running on Android auto is there any way to deactivate night time mode For daytime driving? I know that if the lights are off then it works as normal but as soon as lights come on in auto mode when it raining it switches to night mode, any ideas?

I would like to know this too.

I would like to know this too.

 

Slightly relevant, one of the things I'd like to do with VCDS is set the lights to come on later than they do. As a side effect it would keep the screen in day mode longer.

Google maps question....

With Google maps running on Android auto is there any way to deactivate night time mode For daytime driving? I know that if the lights are off then it works as normal but as soon as lights come on in auto mode when it raining it switches to night mode, any ideas?

 

Surely the "Night"/"Day" data is coming from the phone ?? No??  Is the phone in a place where it can "see" whether it's daylight or dark?

Edited 17 November, 201510 yr by Dithane

Surely the "Night"/"Day" data is coming from the phone ?? No?? Is the phone in a place where it can "see" whether it's daylight or dark?

I know what you mean, but I don't think this is likely. I keep my phone in the cubby hole and I don't think it would be able to tell whether it is day, dusk, dawn or night

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I know what you mean, but I don't think this is likely. I keep my phone in the cubby hole and I don't think it would be able to tell whether it is day, dusk, dawn or night

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Mine never goes into night mode. I turned that off in the amundsen and it seems to apply to Google maps too.

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Surely the "Night"/"Day" data is coming from the phone ?? No?? Is the phone in a place where it can "see" whether it's daylight or dark?

No it must be the linked to the and lights as when you turn them off it switches to day mode

How have you found Smartgate since you had it installed?

If I'm honest I haven't really had a chance to really use it.

I'd love someone to give me a 5 minute demo of how it works....that is the key parts I'd find interesting. To be honest from what I've seen so far I find it a bit pointless (maybe I haven't seen the benefits yet).

The one this that really annoys me is the number of apps.....why not just have 1 which contains the other functionality.

If I'm honest I haven't really had a chance to really use it.

I'd love someone to give me a 5 minute demo of how it works....that is the key parts I'd find interesting. To be honest from what I've seen so far I find it a bit pointless (maybe I haven't seen the benefits yet).

The one this that really annoys me is the number of apps.....why not just have 1 which contains the other functionality.

I know what you mean. Haven't had that much time to play with it either but so far just been a hassle trying to get it to work.

Hi, don't think this has been asked already but does it work over Bluetooth or is it necessary to connect by USB?

 

 

Thanks

Do any of you guys use an old phone that is continually connected in the car?

I was thinking I may try this when I get a new phone. Just leave a sacrificial one in the car for Smart Link duties, and connect my main phone via Bluetooth for taking calls, if it can be done .