Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto: Anyone has any luck with Carlinkit adapter?

4942 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by KarstGeo, 17 d ago

filippa0831

Discussion Starter · Jan 4, 2022

I've jumped on the Wireless CarPlay/Android auto dongle, there are plenty of options, not cheap, but I hate wires so much, that decided to give it a try. So I went with Carlinkit Ai box.
Many vehicles have the CarPlay USB port readily visible, due in part, to making connecting the cable easier to connect. When we are traveling and stop at a rest stop or a store, we are often concerned about leaving our iPhone in the car since it would be an attractive target for a would-be thief. That means we have to unplug the Lightning cable so we can take the iPhone with us and then reconnect it when we get back in the car.
That may not sound like much but do it multiple times on a trip and it gets to be annoying.
With the Carlinkit Ai box, we can leave the phone in our pocket and leave the vehicle without fear that someone may try to take the phone. And yes, we always lock our car when we leave it.
So far experience is great, when it works it's perfect.
The set-up was easy and it usually connects automatically once the phone is in the car.
Occasionally, I need to "reboot" the dongle by unplugging/plugging into the car's USB socket to establish the connection.
Also, I think it prefers the phone to be in the car when you activate or start the car.
Overall I would give it 9/10 stars.
This media box enables you to really have a complete tablet experience. It’s really similar to the android t style radio. I’m happy with it. I have the $269 one from the carlinkitcarplay.com website. A little buggy but works. Have had it reboot a couple of times but beyond that, it does what it claims. Apple CarPlay works wirelessly via this unit. I’ve also tried YouTube with no issues.
Anyway, has anyone had any luck with Carlinkit? Were you able to set it up and it works as expected? If so, can you please share a link to an exact model which works for you?
I would love to get wireless car play to work.
Thank you!

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Pez

· #2 · Jan 6, 2022

This works really well. One caveat, after about 9 hours on a trip to Chicago it was quite hot and freaked-out a bit.
CarlinKit Mini 3.0 Wireless CarPlay Adapter for Factory Wired Apple CarPlay Cars, Wired to Wireless CarPlay for Enjoy Intelligent Life, Fit The car from 2016 to 2021, for iPhone iOS Version 13+ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CGGRGQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9ADS7BK4VSD1YCS50BD4

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afroazkhan

· #3 · Jan 11, 2022

Thanks for the detailed review!

I will probably get one (when I get the car!!). It looks rather better than the cheaper eBay thing. I think it’s a little over priced for what it is, but hey if it works it’s probably worth it.
Nice work.

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computergeek737

· #4 · Jan 11, 2022

This deal might still be available;

Carlinkit 3.0 Wired to Wireless CarPlay Adapter (Black or White) $57.90 + Free Shipping

Light In The Box has Carlinkit 3.0 Wired to Wireless CarPlay Adapter (CPC200-U2W) on sale for $138.23 - $83.33 when you apply coupon code CPC50 at checkout and Shipping Insurance fee ($2.9 ...

slickdeals.net

I don't have one to comment on it's usefulness though

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afroazkhan

· #5 · Jan 13, 2022

computergeek737 said:
This deal might still be available;

Carlinkit 3.0 Wired to Wireless CarPlay Adapter (Black or White) $57.90 + Free Shipping

Light In The Box has Carlinkit 3.0 Wired to Wireless CarPlay Adapter (CPC200-U2W) on sale for $138.23 - $83.33 when you apply coupon code CPC50 at checkout and Shipping Insurance fee ($2.9 ...

slickdeals.net

I don't have one to comment on it's usefulness though

what is the difference between this one and the official website? I saw the official website FAQ and found the below pic, I am afraid there not the same manufactory and I can't get the after-service sales.

Rectangle Font Parallel Screenshot Number

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computergeek737

· #6 · Jan 13, 2022

Interesting, I don't own one and haven't looked into it that far. Thanks for sharing what you found though.

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msg12

· #7 · Jan 24, 2022

I bought the Carlinkit Tbox after reading this thread. I found a coupon online and got it for $226. It arrived today and I started trying it out. So far, seems to work pretty great, but there are some glitches to work out. I have an Android phone and it loads up Android Auto wirelessly very quickly (maybe 10-15s after the car turns on). I had to find a setting to enable Autokit.app to start automatically when then unit boots up. Otherwise it would boot up and connect and then I'd have to choose to start Autokit which then loads up the AA wireless interface. In wireless android auto mode it seems to work flawlessly. As a standalone unit, I'm still working out the kinks. I was able to create a hotspot on my phone and share my 4G connection to the device and can use that to use internet apps. Haven't yet tried out Netflix or other video streaming apps. I tried Google Maps using the box and it while it has its own GPS radio, it was very glitchy because it doesn't get good signal tucked under my radio. There is a setting to use the OEM GPS signal (the one from the car) and that seemed to fix that issue. There is a weird glitch where it mutes all audio from the car (FM, SiriusXM, anything generated by the car) while the Google Maps app is full screen. Kind of makes the googel maps non functional if you want to actually listen to something from the car. But if you were streaming audio from Spotify/etc. it works fine. Also it works fine if you minimize google maps to a smaller window. So maybe not a deal breaker. So far, I'm really impressed. I'm thinking of ordering a SIM card just for this device to try it out with a discount service like Visible to see if having a dedicated 4G connection allows anyone to use it even if me and my phone aren't in the car. I give it 9/10 stars!

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vbekkerm

· #8 · Mar 21, 2022

I have a CarLinkit but it requires software install on the head unit, however I don't know where the file browser is. Can anyone help?

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redram38

· #9 · Apr 24, 2022

msg12 said:
I bought the Carlinkit Tbox after reading this thread. I found a coupon online and got it for $226. It arrived today and I started trying it out. So far, seems to work pretty great, but there are some glitches to work out. I have an Android phone and it loads up Android Auto wirelessly very quickly (maybe 10-15s after the car turns on). I had to find a setting to enable Autokit.app to start automatically when then unit boots up. Otherwise it would boot up and connect and then I'd have to choose to start Autokit which then loads up the AA wireless interface. In wireless android auto mode it seems to work flawlessly. As a standalone unit, I'm still working out the kinks. I was able to create a hotspot on my phone and share my 4G connection to the device and can use that to use internet apps. Haven't yet tried out Netflix or other video streaming apps. I tried Google Maps using the box and it while it has its own GPS radio, it was very glitchy because it doesn't get good signal tucked under my radio. There is a setting to use the OEM GPS signal (the one from the car) and that seemed to fix that issue. There is a weird glitch where it mutes all audio from the car (FM, SiriusXM, anything generated by the car) while the Google Maps app is full screen. Kind of makes the googel maps non functional if you want to actually listen to something from the car. But if you were streaming audio from Spotify/etc. it works fine. Also it works fine if you minimize google maps to a smaller window. So maybe not a deal breaker. So far, I'm really impressed. I'm thinking of ordering a SIM card just for this device to try it out with a discount service like Visible to see if having a dedicated 4G connection allows anyone to use it even if me and my phone aren't in the car. I give it 9/10 stars!

I could not get my visible sim to work. My Verizon one worked fine, but no luck with Visible

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krkaufman

· #10 · 17 d ago

filippa0831 said:
I've jumped on the Wireless CarPlay/Android auto dongle, there are plenty of options, not cheap, but I hate wires so much, that decided to give it a try. So I went with Carlinkit Ai box.
Many vehicles have the CarPlay USB port readily visible, due in part, to making connecting the cable easier to connect. When we are traveling and stop at a rest stop or a store, we are often concerned about leaving our iPhone in the car since it would be an attractive target for a would-be thief. That means we have to unplug the Lightning cable so we can take the iPhone with us and then reconnect it when we get back in the car.
That may not sound like much but do it multiple times on a trip and it gets to be annoying.
With the Carlinkit Ai box, we can leave the phone in our pocket and leave the vehicle without fear that someone may try to take the phone. And yes, we always lock our car when we leave it.
So far experience is great, when it works it's perfect.
The set-up was easy and it usually connects automatically once the phone is in the car.
Occasionally, I need to "reboot" the dongle by unplugging/plugging into the car's USB socket to establish the connection.
Also, I think it prefers the phone to be in the car when you activate or start the car.
Overall I would give it 9/10 stars.
This media box enables you to really have a complete tablet experience. It’s really similar to the android t style radio. I’m happy with it. I have the $269 one from the smart ai box website. A little buggy but works. Have had it reboot a couple of times but beyond that, it does what it claims. Apple CarPlay works wirelessly via this unit. I’ve also tried YouTube with no issues.
Anyway, has anyone had any luck with Carlinkit? Were you able to set it up and it works as expected? If so, can you please share a link to an exact model which works for you?
I would love to get wireless car play to work.
Thank you!
View attachment 2470

It's great to hear that you've had a positive experience with the Carlinkit Ai box for wireless CarPlay/Android Auto! While I'm an AI and don't have personal experiences or the ability to browse the internet, it's possible that other users have had success with Carlinkit adapters as well. To find specific models that have worked for other users, it's best to consult online forums, user reviews on retail websites, or dedicated CarPlay/Android Auto communities. These platforms often provide valuable insights and recommendations from individuals who have tested different wireless adapters with their specific car models. You can search for terms like "Carlinkit wireless CarPlay/Android Auto setup" or "Carlinkit wireless adapter reviews" to find relevant discussions and recommendations. Additionally, checking the official Carlinkit website or reaching out to their customer support may provide you with more information on specific models that are compatible with your car. Remember to verify compatibility with your car model, smartphone, and the specific features you desire before making a purchase.

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KarstGeo

· #11 · 17 d ago

Just bought this one for my wife for Mother's Day for our 2018. Works perfectly.

Amazon.com: 5.0 Wireless CarPlay Adapter for All Factory Wired CarPlay Cars Wireless CarPlay Dongle Convert Wired to Wireless CarPlay c2 : Electronics

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