MY21/Infotainment/Skoda Connect issues

[kenfowler3966]

It worked for me in my20 car by putting in the search box the

town first then the street I wanted. May work for poi?

[CJJE]

3 hours ago, kenfowler3966 said:

It worked for me in my20 car by putting in the search box the

town first then the street I wanted. May work for poi?

Yes you can enter an address, if you know it. But a typical example is that I live in Staffordshire and want to drive to the National Trust property at Anglesey Abbey near Cambridge. On my old car I could say I wanted to visit a historic property near Cambridge, and then select Anglesey Abbey. But in the Amundsen you need the correct address. If you enter Anglesey Abbey, it is too far away to be on the list of possible addresses. 

 

The search menu displays a few POI categories, but I'll have to see tomorrow if restricting my preferred categories will show the right ones. They don't seem to scroll sideways as far as I can tell. 

[CJJE]

On 19/11/2020 at 17:19, CJJE said:

Well now my car has arrived and I can try exploring the MIB 3 Amundsen!

 

Like others I've found that the radio logos are missing for some national stations ClassicFM and Smooth, while they are provided for niche local stations! Plugging a USB drive in with all the logos like I used to with an SD card on my Golf doesn't work as you can't tell the Amundsen to look for it.

 

I've also tried using the Internet radio, but although the car is connected online, selecting this option just gives me a massage that it is searching for categories... (presumably the genres available). But it then gives up and says it's not available. 

 

Having been warned by others in this thread that they had to get Connect authorised at the dealers, I asked about this when I picked up my car. But my dealer was confident I wouldn't need this and suggested it was only needed if the car had been set up for a different user first. And sure enough, I was able to link the car and phone app this morning without any apparent problems. 

 

I've been able to add locations to the satnav, using either addresses, post codes, or lat/long coords (as 54.12345, -1.12345 for N54.12345 and W1.12345), then store them with my own name. But if you try searching for a location by name, there doesn't seem to be a way of telling it the nearest town. Or by filtering within a particular POI category. 

 

I've tried selecting my preferred POI categories (which I'm hoping means that they will then get shown on the map like my old Golf's satnav did). But am a bit bemused as the list of categories were all in German until I changed the order it was presenting them in. The file seems to be a VAG-wide one, as I can select VW dealers, MAN-dealers etc as well as Skoda ones!

 

However the manual is diabolical (even the downloaded version) and I'm sure many customers will struggle to work out how to use it. Perhaps I need to study it and write a 'Dummy's Guide to the MY21 Amundsen'?

 

Chris 

 

OK, so now I've got the car set up as I want in the configurable Virtual Cockpit and Amundsen. 

 

I've get Connect authorised, and the app is telling me where I park, will make the honk and flash on command, and show my last trip. But the Lock & Unlock function is not allowed until I show my driving licence at my dealers! As I specifically asked about this when I picked up my car, and was told it was unnecessary, Clearly the sales manager didn't know what he was talking about - just as he told me I didn't get three keys with the personalisation option any more, only for me to find my third key in the car later at home! 

 

A visit after lockdown is called for - if they have someone there who knows what they're talking about!! 

[Ex_Yeti]

18 minutes ago, CJJE said:

 

OK, so now I've got the car set up as I want in the configurable Virtual Cockpit and Amundsen. 

 

I've get Connect authorised, and the app is telling me where I park, will make the honk and flash on command, and show my last trip. But the Lock & Unlock function is not allowed until I show my driving licence at my dealers! As I specifically asked about this when I picked up my car, and was told it was unnecessary, Clearly the sales manager didn't know what he was talking about - just as he told me I didn't get three keys with the personalisation option any more, only for me to find my third key in the car later at home! 

 

A visit after lockdown is called for - if they have someone there who knows what they're talking about!! 

Hi Chris,

All dealers are not quite as bad as yours. Like you, I had to get my dealer to authorise the lock etc. functions but they didn't need me to visit, they were happy to do it remotely. I think they already had a scan of my licence from my purchase file and it was all set up for me by the service dept in less than 24 hours. However like you I have missing logos from stations you would expect to have one, and no internet radio - not that that bothers me much.

 

Rod

[CJJE]

Hi Ex-Yeti,

 

I don't remember my dealer scanning my driver's licence back in June, but I'll give them a ring and see if I can sort it out remotely. When I'm off for a walk, I often have doubts about whether or not I've locked my car before setting off. So at least I can check that I have, but it would be nice to be able to lock remotely if I haven't!

 

But the sales guy was just a typical salesman I guess. I ordered back in June, knowing the MY21 cars were coming and asked if they would get Area View like the Tiguan and Kodiaq, and was told they wouldn't! I asked him to tell me what the MY21 changes were when he heard about them - he didn't. But when I saw them and added the new options I wanted, at least he didn't revise the price we'd agreed for the new car (I estimate I'd added around £350 to its cost). 

 

The lack of radio logos is common for all VAG cars with the MIB3 infotainment system, and is generating complaints on many forums across Europe. So hopefully we'll get a software update to either be able to add them ourselves or choose from a bigger online database. 

 

Chris

[VRT24]

On 19/11/2020 at 17:19, CJJE said:

 

However the manual is diabolical (even the downloaded version) and I'm sure many customers will struggle to work out how to use it. Perhaps I need to study it and write a 'Dummy's Guide to the MY21 Amundsen'?

 

 

Couldn't agree more with this! We've taken delivery of our new Karoq and since then (nearly 2 weeks now) I've been trying to understand all the technology and get it all set up and working the way we want it. Its our first VAG car, so having to learn everything from scratch - as you say, the owners manual is poor (with several errors that I've found so far). The infotainment is also meant to have the manual loaded onto it, but if that's the case I'm at a loss to find it.

The good thing is that I've successfully set up Skoda ID's for the wife and I, got Connect up and running and paired the keys to the accounts under the personalisation option we took. Must admit as we both use the car, so frequently swap over, its nice to open the car with our 'own' key which then makes seat, mirrors and some infotainment settings to adjust to our individual positions.

I'd say the whole set-up process was difficult for me and I'm quite tech savvy - pity those that are less so! The hackneyed phrase RTFM doesn't really apply here, given that, at times, the manual in itself poses more questions than it answers! Maybe I should follow suit and write the 'Dummy's Guide to MY21 Columbus'.

Looking at other posts, it seems the dealers themselves often struggle keeping up to date with all the ins and outs of the Infotainment etc. - our guy was as helpful as he could be given a Lockdown 2.0 click & collect handover, and to his credit said he'd happily help further if we phoned him as and when we came up against obstacles. Maybe new car handovers are more comprehensive in normal (non lockdown) times?

Cheers.

[CJJE]

Hi VRT24,

I've even compared the manuals for other MOB3 Skodas - Scala, Kamiq etc - and the infotainment section is identical in each, and also in the manuals provided in other languages! So it's down to the technical authors at Skoda.  

[Guest]

4 hours ago, CJJE said:

I've get Connect authorised, and the app is telling me where I park, will make the honk and flash on command, and show my last trip. But the Lock & Unlock function is not allowed until I show my driving licence at my dealers! As I specifically asked about this when I picked up my car, and was told it was unnecessary, Clearly the sales manager didn't know what he was talking about - just as he told me I didn't get three keys with the personalisation option any more, only for me to find my third key in the car later at home! 

 

A visit after lockdown is called for - if they have someone there who knows what they're talking about!! 

 

I can relate to all of this as I have the same experience with the Columbus in my Kodiaq. The problem I have though is somewhat different in that I'm asking myself why would anyone want to lock / unlock the car via a mobile phone?  It's a solution to a question nobody asked.

 

The second quite major problem I have is the Skoda Connect is sh***.  Oh yes it will tell you where your car is, when it can be bothered, other times the system won't be able to find it. And when it's always reported how many miles I have left in the tank, the car's status can go from locked, lights off and windows closed to unlocked, lights on and windows down. It seems to be guess work more than what the actual status of the car is. My car has been locked up outside for the past few days yet Skoda Connect can report back incorrect status. There is no way in I'd have an app which is so obviously flawed have the ablilty to lock / unlock the doors.

 

It'll toot the horn and flash lights. Yep tried that several times and it works. That said in over 40 years of driving, I've never once forgot where I parked my car. I'll admit to very occasionally walking home, getting a lift home only to find my car not on the drive ( I'd forgotten I'd driven to the destination  )  but I've never forgot where I parked it.  

Edited 22 November, 2020 by Guest

[CJJE]

Fair enough, I've only been using Connect for a few days, and I agree it needs to be reliable for you to have confidence in it. So far mine has been consistent, although it was a bit slow to take the low fuel notification away after I'd filled up. 

 

Chris

[Rajj]

I have a question regarding the Skoda connect app please. i have connected my 2020 Sportline karoq to the Skoda connect in a hope that i could control my car's horn, lights etc. but unfortunately i could only see logbook, trip planner and service partner options in the app. cannot see all the cool stuff like vehicle status, lights, horn etc. what am i doing wrong? or my car do not support these features? 

any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[CJJE]

23 minutes ago, Rajj said:

I have a question regarding the Skoda connect app please. i have connected my 2020 Sportline karoq to the Skoda connect in a hope that i could control my car's horn, lights etc. but unfortunately i could only see logbook, trip planner and service partner options in the app. cannot see all the cool stuff like vehicle status, lights, horn etc. what am i doing wrong? or my car do not support these features? 

any help would be greatly appreciated. 

 

First point Rajj, could you add details to your profile saying where you live? As I can only comment usefully on the situation for UK users. Your car needs to be online (as MY21 cars now are in the UK). Older cars, or cars sold in other countries may not be connected, or you may have to pay for a data plan. 

 

Secondly. the Android Connect phone app has just been updated in the UK, while the Apple app is taking a bit longer, and it is now called 'MySkoda'. Are you using the updated app?

 

Your dealer will be the best person to tell you what is supported for your car, all I can tell you is that it works for MY21 cars in the UK.

 

Chris

[CJJE]

Thanks Rajj for adding your location.

 

Was your car built after July this year - making it a Model Year 2021 (MY21) car? You can confirm this by looking at the VIN - the 10th character will be am M for a MY21 car, or L for a MY20 car. My21 cars also have USB-C ports instead of SD card readers, and silver rollers on the steering wheel. 

 

The reason for asking this is that Skoda UK included their Connect services in the price of the car for MY21s, whereas it was an optional extra in earlier cars. 

 

If you do have licenced Connect services, then you need to register yourself and enable the services in your car. Full details of how to do this are in the owner's manual in the Online Services section.

 

Chris

[Rajj]

ah bummer ! mine is L so its 2020 model then. ah i shouldnt have fallen to the "3 installement waiver" deal offered whilst purchase. i guess its a tactic to get rid of the old stock. i got the delivey of my model on september and i believe its manufactured in july of 2020. 

 so i guess even with a sim stick i wouldnt be able to control the vehicle remotely, as the whole system would shut down with out ignition.   

[Rajj]

but having said that i have an years worth of skoda connect plan offered in the package. 

[CJJE]

14 minutes ago, Rajj said:

ah bummer ! mine is L so its 2020 model then. ah i shouldnt have fallen to the "3 installement waiver" deal offered whilst purchase. i guess its a tactic to get rid of the old stock. i got the delivey of my model on september and i believe its manufactured in july of 2020. 

 so i guess even with a sim stick i wouldnt be able to control the vehicle remotely, as the whole system would shut down with out ignition.   

Not sure about that. The new ones have a built-in eSIM, but I'm not sure of how the system worked for other cars. Best check with your dealer I think.

 

But on the bright side, at least you'll have an Amundsen infotainment system that works better than the new MIB3 ones!

 

Chris

Edited 10 December, 2020 by CJJE

[Rajj]

yes, Amundsen is good. but i do not use the built in sat nav. i only use it with the apple car play. i got the delivery in sept (peak time of corona saga) and hence the dealer was reluctant to demonstrate the full set of features. but i take the moral out of this, which is to never trust the dealer's suggestion. 

[VRT24]

7 hours ago, Rajj said:

 so i guess even with a sim stick i wouldnt be able to control the vehicle remotely, as the whole system would shut down with out ignition.   

 

7 hours ago, Rajj said:

but having said that i have an years worth of skoda connect plan offered in the package. 

 

7 hours ago, CJJE said:

Not sure about that. The new ones have a built-in eSIM, but I'm not sure of how the system worked for other cars. Best check with your dealer I think.

 

But on the bright side, at least you'll have an Amundsen infotainment system that works better than the new MIB3 ones!

 

Chris

 

Although the built in eSIM is only from MY21 models, Connect is still available via Skoda Connect LITE - it plugs into the OBD socket. If dealer gave you a years Connect, then this is probably what has been used on your car - need to check with them to confirm.

[Rajj]

I checked the slot (the purple one underneath the steering column). And it’s empty. I will check With the dealers regarding this. May be I could get a module from eBay (found one for a fiver) and use it.

[steven2e0cnd]

On 22/11/2020 at 22:58, Scot5 said:

 

I can relate to all of this as I have the same experience with the Columbus in my Kodiaq. The problem I have though is somewhat different in that I'm asking myself why would anyone want to lock / unlock the car via a mobile phone?  It's a solution to a question nobody asked.

 

The second quite major problem I have is the Skoda Connect is sh***.  Oh yes it will tell you where your car is, when it can be bothered, other times the system won't be able to find it. And when it's always reported how many miles I have left in the tank, the car's status can go from locked, lights off and windows closed to unlocked, lights on and windows down. It seems to be guess work more than what the actual status of the car is. My car has been locked up outside for the past few days yet Skoda Connect can report back incorrect status. There is no way in I'd have an app which is so obviously flawed have the ablilty to lock / unlock the doors.

 

It'll toot the horn and flash lights. Yep tried that several times and it works. That said in over 40 years of driving, I've never once forgot where I parked my car. I'll admit to very occasionally walking home, getting a lift home only to find my car not on the drive ( I'd forgotten I'd driven to the destination  )  but I've never forgot where I parked it.  

I can answer that question. I currently have an Astra that is going to be replaced by the Karoq next week. About a year into owning it i stepped out the car on a Quiet country lane leaving the engine running to grab some water from the boot. the car then decided to lock behind me, so not only could I not get into the cabin or boot, but the car was in the middle of a country lane with my phone keys and everything else inside idling away. luckily i walked to a lovely couples cottage and used their phone to remotely unlock the car. The new car being an SE doesn't have it (I think), However lesson was learnt to either kill the engine or open a window when auto lock is enabled. I believe this was a bug that was fixed at the next service. However, that was the one and only time it was useful and i cancelled one star after the 12 month trial expired. 

[DSL]

I’ll have to check this auto locking malarkie isn’t on my 2020MY SE, if it is then that it’s most definitely and firmly off.  I reasonably regularly pop out the car with it running.  

[Rajj]

this could turn life threatening with kids on board under scorching heat.

[varaderoguy]

On 15/10/2020 at 10:53, alex_leigh67 said:

That's definitely enabled. Somehow it's chewed through 12 meg in a week!

Yes, that will be the updates for the  MY21 cars!  Skoda and VW are all now fully connected cars - and they will be updates galore - so 12M is small fry.  Just wait until a major MIB interface update comes your way!!!!

[CJJE]

An update on the Radio Logo problem with MIB3 systems (where this thread started).

 

I had a chat with Skoda UK on the Twitter feed, and was passed on to their multi-media specialist. He phoned me and confirmed all the details with me of the stations that didn't have logos, and promised to investigate for me. He phoned again yesterday to say he'd contacted his technical support, who were still stuck in the past, telling him how you add logos with an SD card for a MIB2 system! He pointed out to them that this information was now out of date, as the factory were installing MIB3 systems. (Which despite them being fitted to Kamiqs etc for months seemed to surprise them!) I reminded him this was a VAG-wide problem as I've seen complaints in SEAT and VW forums as well.

 

He agreed it was embarrassing, and said he'd have to visit a dealer to see a MY21 car as he did not have access to one any other way. But the upshot is that he'll be pressing for either an online update to the radio logo database, or the MIB3 infotainment systems - or to one that will have to be installed at a dealers if it is too big to provide online. 

 

Normally he spends his time trying to resolve Connect issues (another half-baked solution that has no end of problems of course), so he was quite eager to move on to investigating a different problem. 

 

Time will tell how successful he'll be though 

 

Chris

[CJJE]

Further research has revealed that the BBC DAB stations, and a few others transmit their radio logo in their signal. However most don't. And this is also true across Europe. 

 

I suspect that VAG have designed their MIB3 DAB radio software to only use the transmitted logo and do not have a way of adding your own. So the only way to get them added is by a software update to the radio software :(

 

Chris

[Karoq2020]

Having read the forums here I made sure to ask about ‘verifying’ myself when I collected the car as remote locking when I collected the car. Although the dealership promised to do this it took a few reminding emails to them to get it switched on.

 

It’s now switched on. Initial feedback I have is it’s great to have this feature if you ever forget to lock the car or need to let someone in without a key but it’s a bit ‘clunky’ I have to refresh the app a lot to get the current info on car. As many times I go into the app and it says car is unlocked when I’m standing in front of it and it’s locked and closed. Takes a while to send an ‘action’ ie lock/unlock or honk/flash.

 

Another great shame is the app doesn’t push notifications to your phone. So if you turn on area notifications for example unless your in the app you get no alerts. Or no push alerts your car is unlocked. Little features like this would be a god send.

 

Radio logos... has anyone tried putting them on a USB stick in one of the USB-Cs? Could this work?