Android Auto Wireless Adapter Akcord A2A Dongle, fit for Cars and Stereo Systems That Support Wired Android Auto, Plug & Play Connect wirelessly Easy Setup, No Cord No Problem, for Android Phones

It's 2022 (going on 2023) and I think all cars should have Wireless Android Auto by now... but sadly, that's strangely not the case. I just bought a new 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid SEL w/convenience that includes Hyundai's ubiquitous 10.25" infotainment screen (included in many "high-tier" Hyundai vehicles), which for some strange reason has Wired-only Android Auto, while the "cheaper" 8-inch infotainment screen in lower tier Hyundai vehicles has Wireless Android Auto... go figure [shrug].Not wanting to spend the next several years plugging my phone in with a cord to get Android Auto, I searched for a solution and decided to go with this one, a lot of the decision was based on size and hoping to get it "out of the way" for a nearly seamless integration.*Setup only took a couple of minutes... plug it into the data port, use your Android Phone to find it via Bluetooth ("smartBox-XXXX")... and... that's it! After my phone connected to the smartbox my Hyundai 10.25" infotainment screen said "Android Auto Available" and the icon appeared. It's Android Auto alright, and my phone was in my shirt pocket, no wires attached... AWESOME!I also tested the device several times with the old "turn engine off, turn it back on" and yes, the Wireless AA kicks in every-time without me having to do anything other than show up with my phone in pocket. I then thought "what if I unplug the box, then plug it back in, do I have to 'reconnect' my phone to it?" Nope... works as usual either way.As for the device itself, it is small, I have two pictures with this review, one of it just kinda plugged-in, lazy fashion, and the other after I "tucked it away" (and yes, it stays that way). It's pretty much completely out of the way and in the "install and forget about it" category. My Tucson also has a wireless charging pad, so don't need the port to charge my phone either.'If there's one caveat, it's a weak one, but I'll list it just to be fair... the USB cord is hard-wired to the box (it has an USB-A to USB-C adapter if you need it, I did not). I might like the option of using my own cord in it if I wanted any "right angle" cords or if I needed a longer cord to stash the box somewhere else (maybe stick it under the dash or something). I have seen other Wireless AA adapters have plug-in cords as opposed to being hardwired, but they also cost much more. A very minor nitpick to be sure... as for me personally, the cord is neither too long nor too short to stash my box out of the way (as seen in picture), so I I had to do it all over again, i'd still pick this box with no regrets! Great box, I recommend!*On Setup, it's important to remember Android Auto uses more bandwith than Bluetooth can provide, but Bluetooth is a much easier and faster way to connect than WiFi... therefore all Android Auto adapters have a dual Bluetooth/WiFi capability built-into the unit. Most (if not all of them, including this adapter) require you to connect your phone via Bluetooth on initial setup (as I mentioned above), once this is done the unit will automatically connect data back and forth with your phone via WiFi... THIS IS DONE AUTOMATICALLY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MESS WITH CONNECTING VIA WIFI. There's a few people in the comments of this (and other units) complaining about trying to connect via WiFi... those people are doing it wrong! Just do setup as the instructions say and connect via Bluetooth... the WiFi will do its thing automatically after that, you don't have to worry about it! ;-)**6 Months later post-edit commentary:I've been using this for 6 months now, NO PROBLEMS at all... works just fine. I still think this is a great device, especially for the price. I am, however, nitpicky and to some this wouldn't be an issue, to me it's one of those "perfectionist" things. One thing I noticed after extended use, and this is probably specific to whatever car you have and how the data-port is powered... on my car (a 2023 Hyundai Tucson), the data port stays powered for five minutes after the car is turned off, then the data port powers down. Note, this device doesn't keep the port running nor does it power the port down... it stays on if the port stays powered, so that's specific to your vehicle... and in the case of my vehicle, my data port is powered for five minutes after the car is turned off.What does this mean? It means your phone will still be connected via Android Auto to your car for five minutes after you turn off your car IF YOU'RE STILL IN RANGE OF THE CAR'S WIFI. For me, if I park in my garage and come in the house, my phone is still in range of the WiFi this device puts out from my car... if I park at work and head into the building, I immediately go out of range of the WiFi and my phone resumes normal operation. So when coming home, my phone won't hook up to the home wifi for five minutes after I come home... minor inconvenience, it wasn't a complete dealbreaker, but just wanted to point that out. Your car may vary depending on how long your data port stays powered after turning the car off (if at all). Of course, you could also unplug the AA adapter, but that kinda defeats the point of not messing with plugging in and unplugging a device to get AA in your car.After having said all that and living with it for 6 months, I decided to get a new (more expensive) dongle, the AAWireless dongle (also sold on Amazon)... it comes with an App that allows you to disable the dongle when the car is turned off, avoiding that 5 minute problem I had with this dongle. Mind you, a minor one that I could have lived with... I'm just always seeking to tweak things to perfection in my mind. I still love this dongle, and for the price, it can't be beat... just doesn't come with an App to turn it off automatically like the AAWireless dongle does... I still wouldn't mark a star off for that though, as it can vary by your needs/useage and how long your vehicle leaves the data port turned on.

It works Okay sometimes is connect's right up some times it never will. When it works it works well I'll be having another play if I can't get it working better I'll be sending it back

Phone: Pixel 6aCar: 2017 Ford Escape with Sync3I was so excited about this product and it worked great. For about a day. Then my phone was searching for Android Auto and wasn't connecting to the device. I came back to the Amazon reviews to see if I could find a solution and user "acee" saved the day! The firmware update they provided worked and now AA connects flawlessly. Hopefully it will stay that way for a while, but the firmware update was fairly simple. I'm copying the steps acee provided in case their review is too far down the list. Thanks, acee!(from acee)Firmware update:After some research on the internet I discovered how to update the adapter’s firmware. I would not advise doing this unless you are comfortable with the risks of firmware updates and the system is not working to your satisfaction. When I first set the system up it would not automatically restart android auto on returning to the car. This problem was solved after updating the adapter’s firmware. Updating firmware is at your own risk.Briefly, the procedure I followed was• Plug wireless adapter into a PC USB port• Connect smartphone to adapter’s Wi-Fi (network will be Smartbox-????)• The Wi-Fi password is 8888888• Click yes if a dialogue asks if you want to remain connected as there is no internet access• Open browser on smartphone and enter 192.168.1.101, this opens the adapter’s web-based interface.• Click on ‘Switch P2P’ button• On smartphone, go to WiFi >> Advanced settings >> WiFi direct. Make sure Smartbox-???? is connected• Enter 192.168.1.101 again on smartphone browser• Click on ‘Update’ button’• The blue LED will flash rapidly while updating. Once it stops flashing wait a further 30s then disconnect.

The device was a bit hit and miss when I first installed. After reviewing other comments I realised there was a firmware update that could be performed. Once updated the device worked perfectly. If you have issues with your phone not always connecting then please update the firmware Instructions included in many other comments so I've not duplicated them again here.I've updated the firmware 3 times in 6 months - so always good to check it on a regular basis!

I've been using Android Auto for years now and I had hoped that this would allowed me to connect with my latest Fiesta's Sync 3 wirelessly to do away with the USB cable. Sadly this proved not to be because although it connected straight away first time, any subsequent returns to the car would be a hit or miss. Whether it would connect automatically, or I would have to muck about turning the Bluetooth or WiFi on and off; to hope that it would connect... not ideal. This ends up taking way longer than expected if it does even work and although I don't want to be constantly charging via the USB, I'll take that over having no battery because it goes fast using this device.Simply not worth all this hassle for something that costs £59.99! Returning.