Help Needed - Vehicle Hotspot Making Fun of Me

[hardhaus]

As the designated tech support person for the whole extended family (not by choice, just by age and sex I think), I must admit embarrassment over not being able to sort this out myself. But anyways.

The Problem: I'm not able to seamlessly switch between my phone's (T-Mobile) data roaming and the cars Hotspot Wi-Fi (AT&T) while being connected through Android Auto.

I'm able to connect any number of devices to the car's wifi, while my phone's connected (laptops, tablets, other phones), but not MY phone, unless I disable bluetooth and force disconnect the Android Auto and then connect to the cars wifi.

The whole point of having the car wifi for me was to expand on my cellular network data coverage as I'm in the mountains and often find myself in locations where T-Mobile has some coverage but not AT&T and vice versa.

Anyone know anything about this?

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[FrankThompson]

So, I'm going to assume you mean Android Auto Wireless and not the USB connection (though I haven't tested it, #2 may apply to USB as well)

1) depends on your phones hardware, and
2) depends on your version of Android Auto

Starting with #1. Not all phone can maintain 2 wifi connections at once. Android Auto Wireless uses Wifi Direct to make a direct connection between the phone and the truck, while using normal Wifi for the hotspot. If I'm not mistaken, it will actually use 2 different frequences for this (one on 2.4.ghz, the other using the 5ghz frequency). I know that my pixel 6 pro is capable of this and there is a thread showing me do this (albeit with my home wifi in the video, thought at the time I had done it as well with the truck's wifie).....until.....

#2 came around. Starting around AA Wireless 7.8, If you attempt to connect to wifi with AA wireless on, or turn on AA Wireless. the phone will drop the wifi and connect to AA Wireless. Doesn't matter how many times you try. IT will connect for a second to wifi and then AA will shut that down and reconnect to the AA Wireless connection.

Basically, this is on Google. It sucks, yes. I have no clue why they would do this. It makes zero sense. Some have had luck using a separate wifi hotspot instead of the built in one (not in Fords, but in other cars), but from my testing, that will no longer work. I've tried forcing specific frequencies for each wifi type in the truck. Nothing works

So you're not alone.

Google just sucks sometimes.


P.S. I have not tried this with the USB connection. It's possible that it will connect to wifi while using AA wired instead of wirelessly.

 

[powerboatr]

mine will at random BLOCK my phone via wifi connection to the trucks wifi AT&T
i have to go back in settings screen and UNBLOCK my device
i have no idea why it does it, but it does it at least once a month .
not sure if this helps
it drove me nuts until i figured it out, my phone would see the trucks wifi (kingranch) but was denied connection,
i dont use android auto or usb connection with my phone

my wifes phone a newer a something samsung works perfect as do teh dell venue tablets
my samsung s6 is only one that it does this to

 

[hardhaus]

So, I'm going to assume you mean Android Auto Wireless and not the USB connection (though I haven't tested it, #2 may apply to USB as well)

1) depends on your phones hardware, and
2) depends on your version of Android Auto

......

These are very helpful insights, appreciate it!

#1 Interesting, I also happen to have a 6 Pro, so may have to try and play around with settings. It seemed to me that the Android Auto connection (cell to car) was all through Bluetooth. Therefore it would be a non-issue to toggle between the 5G and the car's own wifi hotspot.

#2 This was exactly what caused me the most frustration.. such an infuriating experience

Re using wired connection, that has not even worked at all for me, only charges. Speaking of charging the wireless charging pad is a joke..

 

[hardhaus]

mine will at random BLOCK my phone via wifi connection to the trucks wifi AT&T
i have to go back in settings screen and UNBLOCK my device
i have no idea why it does it, but it does it at least once a month .
not sure if this helps
it drove me nuts until i figured it out, my phone would see the trucks wifi (kingranch) but was denied connection,
i dont use android auto or usb connection with my phone

my wifes phone a newer a something samsung works perfect as do teh dell venue tablets
my samsung s6 is only one that it does this to

Frustrating for sure! Sounds like it's mainly an older phone/software compatibility thing then. But annoying to have to buy a new phone..

 

[FrankThompson]

These are very helpful insights, appreciate it!

#1 Interesting, I also happen to have a 6 Pro, so may have to try and play around with settings. It seemed to me that the Android Auto connection (cell to car) was all through Bluetooth. Therefore it would be a non-issue to toggle between the 5G and the car's own wifi hotspot.

#2 This was exactly what caused me the most frustration.. such an infuriating experience

Re using wired connection, that has not even worked at all for me, only charges. Speaking of charging the wireless charging pad is a joke..

For Carply or AA Wireless, it definitely uses Wifi for the "video" feed (it's basically screen projection over wifi). IT does still use BT for audio though.

Even if you use wired AA, it still uses BT for audio.

And yes......I found this out while we were without power after Ian. Once I told the truck to not use AA Wireless for my phone, I at least could connect to the Hotspot (our cell provider, verizon was out, but AT&T was not). The problem was even in my house it would maintain the AA Wireless connection, which was pointless for me in that situation.

 

[hardhaus]

For Carply or AA Wireless, it definitely uses Wifi for the "video" feed (it's basically screen projection over wifi). IT does still use BT for audio though.

Even if you use wired AA, it still uses BT for audio.

And yes......I found this out while we were without power after Ian. Once I told the truck to not use AA Wireless for my phone, I at least could connect to the Hotspot (our cell provider, verizon was out, but AT&T was not). The problem was even in my house it would maintain the AA Wireless connection, which was pointless for me in that situation.

Ah, that of course makes all the sense in the world. Thanks again for sharing.

 

[HammaMan]

Re using wired connection, that has not even worked at all for me, only charges. Speaking of charging the wireless charging pad is a joke..

Try the front USB ports -- only those 2 under AC controls down in the cubby are data. Additionally you could be trying a charge only USB cable.

As for wired android auto using the vehicle's wifi -- yes, if wired, the phone will then pickup the truck's wifi so long as it's been connected to it previously. Quite annoying that wireless won't use vehicle's data.

 

[hardhaus]

Try the front USB ports -- only those 2 under AC controls down in the cubby are data. Additionally you could be trying a charge only USB cable.

As for wired android auto using the vehicle's wifi -- yes, if wired, the phone will then pickup the truck's wifi so long as it's been connected to it previously. Quite annoying that wireless won't use vehicle's data.

Very helpful, thank you!

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