Hello, I'm using Android Auto 3.1.581054 on my Honor 8 smartphone, and the Sync3 v3.0 multimedia system on a Ford Fiesta mk8.
If I don't use AA, i can push the voice activation button on the steering wheel, and dictate commands to access some of the car's functions (for example, change FM radio station).
When i connect my smartphone via USB and enable AA (e.g., to use google maps on the car's screen), the google assistant overtakes the steering wheel voice activation button; I can therefore only use it to dictate Android functions on the phone (maps directions, send whatsapp message, etc). I can't control via voice the car's functions anymore, at least until I disconnect the USB cable, because obviously Android knows and can nothing about the car's FM radio or whatever.
This is a very unfortunate behaviour, because to change the FM radio channel I now have to fiddle with the car's touch screen controls, that is very distracting while driving.
Is there a way to manage this problem? I heard that, on some previous versions (of what? AA? Sync3?), pushing the steering wheel voice activation button once triggered the car's Sync3 recognition, while pushing it for 3 seconds would trigger the google assistant recognition. Is it true? What happened to this function? E.g., see https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/android-auto/SNCguGKYiZE
Doesn't answer your direct question, but I'm also using a Mk8 Fiesta, and wanted to point out that if you're already on one of Radio audio sources you can use the steering wheel next and previous track buttons to switch between stations within the preset group you're in. I've only tried this on DAB but it probably works on FM as well.
I've also found that sometimes it's possible to select whichever source and station you would like from a list using the steering wheel menu button (provided you're looking at the audio screen on the instrument cluster - not sure if all the trims have this functionality?). This works all the time without Android Auto connected, and sometimes when you're within Android Auto, but not always. I think this might be to do with starting up a radio source before connecting the phone, and making sure not to start any audio playing within Android Auto. Haven't had chance to properly test this yet.
Let me know if you discover any tricks!
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I have a 2013 Chevy Spark with bluetooth. It has the voice control activation button on the steering wheel. When I had my Galaxy Note, this would activate S-Talk and I could use voice controls through the car. When I try with the One, an app pops up and quickly closes on the phone, then the radio says voice control isn't supported, but half the time if I start talking, the voice control works anyways. Does anyone know if there is a way to fix this? I am on ARHD, but I had the same issue when I was still completely stock with a locked bootloader. This could be a deal breaker because I do a ton of driving and use voice control a ton.
So I installed the 4100nex and mapped the audio controls to my 2005 Altima SE-R steering wheel controls but It doesn't have a microphone button. So every time I want to search for something I have to touch the mic button on the head unit while using android auto. I DON'T want to have to do this and was wondering why OK Google won't work even after setting my M8 to always listen for the commands? Does android auto app automatically turn off that function when connected to the HU? I am sure other folks with cars without microphone buttons and android auto head units have similar issues?
Thanks!
search the mtc keys thread and you'll will find your answer
If this is the answer than I am assuming the OK Google always listening isn't supported within Android auto.
it's not, but if you used an imaestro datalink for the steering wheel you can reprogram it and set a button for the mic
mburke178 said:
it's not, but if you used an imaestro datalink for the steering wheel you can reprogram it and set a button for the mic
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Nope it's a pac audio swi-rc. I thought Android auto was supposed to be true hands free but but I guess not if have to push a button to activate it. A little dissapponting. I've contacted google and asked about it. Well see what they say. Maybe an app update could add it.
I'm looking into buying an Android head unit, but I'm a bit overwhelmed by the many options. As my car (Peugeot 207) has a CAN bus, one of the things I'd like to know a bit more about is the CAN bus functionality that Android head units provide.
I'm seeing that some units do have a CAN bus connection and can be configured for a specific car model (e.g. Peugeot 207, or Honda Jazz, etc). I do have some questions about this:
The most basic function would be to be able to use the steering wheel controls, so I assume this works? But what buttons do work (Volume up, down, next, previous, ffwd, rwd, source, and I also have a sort of scroll wheel (for menu navigation))?
A more advanced function would be the climate control (dual zone). Is this possible? I've seen it on some Volkswagen-specific units?
I have a multifunction display in the car, which is also operated by CAN bus. Do Android head units also provide functions to display data on such a screen (like song metadata, etc)
It would be nice to be able to manually configure the CAN bus mapping, in a UI or maybe in a file. Is that possible?
The Peugeot radio works on a comfort/fault tolerant CAN bus at 125kbps. Is that supported (I have had some problems with devices that only support high speed CAN bus which is not compatible on a hardware level)?
If such functions exist, does it differ per unit/brand? Can it be copied or migrated in a custom rom or apk?
I realise this is quite a broad question, but I hope you guys can share some of your experiences. Of course, experiences with a Peugeot (a 207 even) would be best.:good::fingers-crossed:
This is with a Px3 unit and a VW Eos, but... on my vehicle with CanBus, the steering wheel controls worked with no configuration - volume controls, back / forward buttons, the phone button launches the dialer, I believe, and there's a mic button that was for (a thoroughly useless) voice activate command on the original head unit, this acts as a mute button. At least on my vehicle with Canbus, there is NO ability to custom configure the wheel keys - they do the above, and that's the only option.
The multifunction screen doesn't have a page from my head unit - moving horizontally went between car data (speed/consumption/etc) <-> Setup <-> Radio, and with the new h/u, it just flips between setup and car data.
I haven't figured out climate control yet.
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After I upgraded my Nexus 6 to LOS 18.1, I discovered that Android Auto is included in the necessary package MindTheGapps. I am able to use AA via USB cable in my car (Hyunday i10/2017) and I am beginning to like it. Controlling the music player is so much better in the car's big screen!
I tried to establish a wireless connection using Bluetooth, because the AA app on my phone offers that option, but I can not make that connection, and I am beginning to think I might have a problem of understanding this technique. So I would appreciate a bit of help and explanation here.
Without the cable, just using BT, I am able to select people in the address book and make phone calls. The control buttons on the steering wheel also working perfectly: take calls, hang up, volume control. I guess this is some sort of typical old school free hand phone call protocol.
Also, when on BT, I get minimum control over the phone's music player with the steering wheel buttons, *after* I started the player on the phone's screen: next/previous track, volume control.
When I plug in the USB cable, AA starts and I get full control over the music player using my car's entertainmane screen: I can dig around in artists and albums list, and I can do any thing I can do on the phone's screen.
As said before: the AA app belonging to the MtG package offers to connect AA through BT, and I very much would like a galvanic separation between my car and my phone. But I can not make it work that way.
So, my question is: am I on the wrong track there? Does AA over BT work at all? Or do I need to make a wifi connection? What conditions need to be fitted on the phone, the LOS version, the GAPSS version and the car?
Many thanks in advance!
Wireless AA uses WiFi, you can not do AA with just BT. Your car does not support Wireless AA. You can connect via USB and use AA (it will use BT, too), or you can connect wireless with just BT, without AA.
Thanks!
I was totally confused there, because the AA app in LOS offers wireless connection to the car using BT. If I am getting it right now, that option only applies to streaming phone calls and music to the car.
Wouldn't it be better to label that option otherwise?
This one is really annoying me - with my new Dacia Jogger, I've found that Android Auto always thinks I'm driving, even when parked, with the engine off. The problem with this is some navigation apps completely disable the ability to search for a destination, so I can't progam in a route once I'm connected! Also Gameshack is disabled because AA thinks I'm driving too.
There any way to fix this or stop AA from disabling interactions?
Your headunit has a wire connected to the handbrake sensor in your car, and this way it knows if you're parked and can't restrict some activities. This information is passed from the headunit's firmware to Android Auto internally, and this way Android Auto can restrict or allow you to do some stuff like use the touchpad, use certain buttons, etc.
In order to save money (or due to a bad Android Auto implementation), some headunits don't send handbrake status information to Android Auto. This way you can use the onscreen voice button all the time (in the lower corner of Android Auto) even if the car is moving, but the downside is that some Android Features get broken, like Gamesnacks or alphabetic search in lists. They can do this for a number of reasons, like not having a dedicated voice button in the steering wheel or headunit, but it's not the ideal case.
I suggest you to find other people with the same car model and see if their cars behave in the same way. If so, then this is a headunit problem and the carmaker should release a fix. If this only happens in your car, I would check if there's a wiring issue in the handbrake or something similar is happening.
you might also want to check if there's some settings menu in your headunit with some option to check this.
You can also try to sync a new phone over bluetooth to your car headunit while parked. If it refuses because the car is moving (even if is not) then it could be a wiring issue.