CPLAY2air (Wireless Apple Car Play adaptor)

Cplay2

 

I’ve had my cplay2 adaptor for a few months and it works fairly well. I have noticed that it’s been failing to connect at least once a week resulting in me having to unplug/replug to get it working again. Minor annoyance for wireless freedom in a 2021 Tacoma. I used velcro to secure in right underneath the USB port so its a quick process to reboot it.

 

Me too. Mine and my wife’s both had previously been working great but lately not so much. Def still worth it but I hope it can be fixed. I have updated twice which temporarily fixed but am thinking maybe a clean wipe and reinstall if that’s possible....

 

Yesterday, I contacted CPLay2air asking if these will work with my truck.
This was their response:

"Thank you for your interest in out product! for now, it's only compatible with Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood and Sony aftermarket units. Please let me know if you have any more questions. thank you, April"

Maybe you "all" received a product (from the past) that will work but I am hesitant now due to the response.

 

I have weak cell reception in my area but the WiFi in the truck works great, so I use the truck for internet (streaming music) on the way to work. Do I have to choose between connecting to the truck WiFi or the CPlay2air?

 

FWIW - I ordered and installed the Carlinkit one and it works fine. No updates or anything needed for the 2021 JBL.
One week of use so far and I’ve only had to unplug and replug it in once - which is frankly par for the course for any Bluetooth item that doesn’t connect right away. While I ordered from them direct, I believe you can get them on Amazon too.

 

Like a lot of people who buy the CPlay2air - they have to plug it into the single *media* port in the front, and either stick it somewhere around there or just let it hang down.
Honestly - that annoyed me. I wanted it in the center console. Out of the way and out of sight.


So - I bought a USB port extender cable (6') asnd then popped the media port out of the console and plugged that bad boy in and put it on shrink tubing.


Routed it back to the center console and put it in the rear of it.


Added a 12v adapter in there as well.


Then plugged in my CPLAY2air wireless car play adapter. Worked great. No issues yet.


Bought one of these on Amazon... made sure it worked with the Apple MagSafe USB C charger (it did)


Then - just because I wanted an authentic apple MagSafe Charger in my center console because I didn't like the Qi charger.
NOW... I have everything right where I want it. Apple charger (wireless) and the CPLAY2air relocated to the center console.
All nice and tidy.

 

I decided to skip on the CPLay2air due to negative feedbacks and intermittent use (my opinion); i went with Carlinkit instead.
Yesterday, I installed the Carlinkit and within 2 minutes had wireless carplay. Everything worked as normal on the steering wheel and radio. So far, no issues. Haven't decided where to mount as of yet.

 

I ordered the CarPlay2Air prior to seeing this thread, but installed it yesterday and it works great! I Velcro’d it longitudinally right under the port.

My only question still remains, do I lose access to my wifi hotspot when using it. I noticed my truck’s hotspot name changed.

 

Mine has been doing this too - I just got it set up though. Glad it's not just me!

Guess I'll just wait for the next software(?) release. If it doesn't get better within a few weeks I'm talking to the Amazon gods and hoping for a return though. I think at that point I'd rather just route the cable to the center console and use a USB port in there and deal with that hassle. Won't lie though, I got the white one because it was cheap because everyone wants the black one. Getting in the truck with my keys and phone not leaving my pockets - pretty nice. Works great when I take the camelback out for a bike ride, load up my shite at home and then just drive away

 

Rather than unplug and replug, if you hold down the power button on the radio for a few seconds it reboots and will work again - still happens time to time, but after the reboot it works a-okay. Now that I figure that out, and I don't have to unplug replug, I'll definitely be looking at routing the new cable and stashing it in the center console, or in the center stack somewhere.

 

I like this! Did you find a dash button blank to fill the original spot the USB was in?

-RH01

 

Not yet. I think what will end up happening is that I will have to make that original opening either larger so it will accomodate a regular sized button or - buy the lower switch panel from Meso Customs and then remove the factory one and put that one in there. I am leaning towards the Meso as it can add in a few more button openings (7 or 8 depending on the one you get).

 

Anyone try the 3.0?

https://********************/products/carlinkit-wireless-adapter-for-factory-carplay

 

CPLAY2air wireless adapter for factory CarPlay on CARPLAY2air.com – CPLAY2air.com

I've been in I.T. for over 35 years - so take this from someone who rips apart stuff for a living. Both units do almost exactly the same thing. Both allow your iphone to sync wirelessly to the unit and then it connects to the CarPlay on your car through the wired media port. Both suffer from the same issues of locking up from time to time and heat related issues.

THAT BEING SAID... I prefer CarPlay2Air more than U2W Plus. CarPlay2Air still locks up from time to time - needs to have its USB plug pulled from the media port and rebooted from time to time. Has heat related issues when the car is too hot. I've solved the heat related issues by tearing the unit apart and putting in some thermal tape and adding a small micro-fan to the back of that and plugging that into another USB port for power - but occasionally it still locks up and refuses to engage with the CarPlay unless you reboot it.

The CPlay2Air connects faster, within 7-10 seconds, the U2W Plus is about the same time as the CPlay2Air - but this also depends on how fast your phone pairs with the unit. I've seen the CPlay2Air continually try and pair with the iPhone over and over or stall - but eventually connect. Same thing happens with the U2W Plus. It's a pairing issue mostly - which I feel is on the iPhone side. I've tried iPhone 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 - older iphones tend to be slower but still work.

Both units allow you to upgrade the firmware on them.

So what it comes down to is apples and oranges. Which one you personally like is up to you.

I have only really tested these with the carplay head unit and iPhones. I didn't do any android testing.

 

I have been using the CPlay2Air for about a year. I get the same sort of once in a while reboot problem mentioned. Very minor and fast reconnect with phone.
I have not run into heat problems; unless the need to reboot is the cause of excessive heat. If this is the case, it is very seldom.
I have not tried to upgrade the firmware. If it works, I don't touch.

Great review.

 

I have one of these and can't recommend it. It's inconsistent, and having had it for a little over a month, it now fails less often than it works.

 

Has anyone run the Zues in their third gen JBL unit, yet? I had it in my old whip and it worked great. It had full screen mirroring, not just android auto compatible apps. I also never had to reset it, so I was able to hide it behind the dash. It's a bit pricey though. I think I got it for $400 back then.
https://zz-2.com/products/zeus

 

Just updated my Cplay2Air This is the second update since I purchased it back in February. Don’t have any complaints with the unit at all.

 

Damn...$550 on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/393242902823