The MA1 is a very simple and effective answer to the wired Android Auto ‘problem’. The AAWireless still requires importing from the US which can present some additional faffing about, while the MA1 is available through local Amazon and Telstra. There’s only limited options for wireless Android Auto dongles in Australia that are sold locally. Once you put one into Airplane mode, the other should connect with no issues and you can go about your business. You’ll need full Airplane mode as the MA1 uses Wifi Direct and Bluetooth to run. I found I had to go into Airplane mode on one phone, depending on who would be in control of the stereo. The only ‘tricky’ part is pairing multiple devices – say, yours and a partners – then sharing the car with both devices. There is a decent amount of battery drain, so if you’re going on a long car trip it may be worth actually plugging your phone into the USB port simply to ensure you don’t arrive at your destination with a flat battery in your phone. There is a downside to wireless Android Auto in that you don’t have the phone plugged in and charging while you use it. There’s not been any lag or janky playback with the 5 GHz WiFi support able to give a solid connection that has plenty of bandwidth to transport data across the wireless signal. and easily navigated through your stereo display screen. By the time I was reversed out of the driveway and starting to head off the MA1 was connected and we were off and racing.Īll your Android Auto compatible apps are available, Maps/Wayze, Audible, PocketCasts etc. Once paired, simply hop in the car, start it and you’re done. The actual user experience of the Motorola MA1 dongle is great. I haven’t run across any experience breaking issues that require a firmware update, but it’s something to note. As it’s a direct Bluetooth pairing there doesn’t appear to be anyway to update the MA1 dongle wirelessly. There’s pros and cons on this front, the MA1 is easier to install and use, however the AAWireless dongle and it’s companion app receive regular firmware updates. The difference between the MA1 and the AAWireless dongle I reviewed earlier this year is the need for an app to use the AAWireless dongle. You will likely have to run through the basic on-boarding for Android Auto on the phone and head unit as part of the setup, but it’s one-off at setup and a follow the bouncing ball style setup. The light on the front of the dongle will flash when in pairing mode, or stay solid when it’s connected. You can manually put the dongle into pairing mode by holding the side button down for a few seconds, then selecting it from the available devices. I’ve been using the Motorola MA1 for a week now, so is it worth the investment? Selling in Australia for $159, the Motorola MA1 is a far cheaper option than a new head unit, fascia and all the install costs normally associated with swapping your stereo – as well as on-going cable replacements for the inevitably faulty cables that break. The MA1 just makes it possible, and easy to go wireless. The Motorola MA1, announced on-sale in Australia earlier this month, supports the more than 500 car models which support Android Auto, though most of these models require a cable to connect the phone to the stereo. The last option was great but Motorola, in partnership with SGW Global is the first well known brand to put their name behind a wireless Android Auto dongle. I’ve used wireless Android Auto dongles before and come away fairly impressed. This is where the Motorola MA1 wireless Android Auto adapter comes in. Having to plug your phone in can be a pain though, with dead or faulty cables often a problem. Android Auto is a real boon for users who want to use the apps on their phone in the car, without the associated risk of touching their phone while driving.
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