Wireless CarPlay Adapter Options

Last year I reviewed a cheap Wireless CarPlay Adapter. It’s still going strong and in another car to what I started with.

One of the lesser explored options is that you can access a web panel, via it’s own Wi-Fi signal, where you can find assorted settings and even a firmware update feature.

First of all, it’s worth pointing out that I’m using a pretty generic adapter called SmartBox. There are other ones, such as Ottocast, which appear to much the same, and equally apply to what I’m sharing today.

Connecting to the web panel

First of all, you need to boot up the adapter. You can do this in the car or bring it in to the comfort of your home to do so. Once it’s running, head to your phone or laptop and look for its Wi-Fi name – this should be the same as the Bluetooth name you use to connect it to the car. Connect. You may find it never appears to complete connecting, but you can ignore that.

In your browser go to 192.168.1.101

This should load a screen like this…

Using the Web Panel

There are 4 sections and the last 2 won’t work unless you’re using your phone, as the data connection will allow them access to the internet.

• System Version – this is the software build that you’re currently using
• Settings – This is what we’ll get onto, below, but allows you to tweak how your adapter works
• Problem Description – This allows you to send a support ticket to… someone. I guess. I’ve not tried it to see who it goes to.
• Online Update – This will check for any firmware updates and allow you to apply them, if available

Settings

The important area for now is that second one, where there are 2 settings you can change – Audio Streaming Mode and Delayed Start.

But instructions are vague but, piecing it together from various model instructions, as well as from users, we can get a better idea of what they may do.

Audio Streaming Mode

Ottocast support gives no detailed explanation as what each audio mode does but does state what each audio mode could be a possible workaround for. In their broken English they state…

• Default: Most hosts use this mode to play sound and interface switching
• Mode 1: Solve the problem that some hosts play sound stuck
• Mode 2: Solve the problem that the sound mode of some hosts is cluttered and the interface is switched incorrectly.
• Mode 3: Solve the problem of synchronizing the entertainment information of the instrument panel and the central control screen.

They also say to change this setting “when you feel audio lag, mute, noise problem”.

Elsewhere, another generic brand says to use this for “audio lag or sound quality problem” and gives this explanation for each…

Default – A fixed setting suitable for most car models;
Mode 1 – A fixed setting suitable for some car models;
Mode 2 – Adaptive settings based on car parameters
Mode 3 – Unmodified car audio output settings

Usually, we recommend using the default mode and mode 2. You can also try other modes to get the best results

A product review has the following explanation…

There are four modes – Default, Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3. If you experience any issues such as audio lag, no audio, etc., you can switch to these modes one by one to resolve the audio-related issues.

Conclusion

Adding everything up, we can decide that this option is to fix audio playback issues. What we don’t understand is what each does, other than the fact that each is a different fix. Keep it it “Default” if you have no audio problems but, if you do, trying adjusting it to each of the different modes, in turn, to see if that resolves it.

Delayed Start

Back to our generic brand instructions, they explain that this is to be used…

When pairing, CarPlay does not start or the car prompts that the device is not compatible/does not recognize the USB

They seem to only be referring to changing it from “Default” to “Mode 1”.

Ottoplay state…

If you encounter the problem of unplugging the adapter several times and then plugging it in to get into carplay or Android Auto, adjust the delay start mode 1.

Again, this is ignoring the fact that there is a Mode 2 as well.

A user on Reddit noted the following…

[I] tried “Mode 1” and it fixed the Ottocast Mini Cube boot-up/hang issue I was having.

Basically “Mode 1” appears to delay the Ottocast’s attempt to connect to my iPhone until the USB port is given continuous power. In my case, it looks like it waits another 10 seconds or so. I’d guess “Mode 2” delays it even longer.

The Mode 2 usage is just speculation though.

A review of one of the Ottocast products gives some more detail…

Delayed start: Adjust the time delay for establishing communication with the car following the activation of the Adapter. There are three options: Default, 0.1s, and 60s.

A delay of 0.1s or 60s seems a lot and, looking at what the previous user said, maybe they meant 10s or 0.1 of a minute. Either way, it does confirm that Mode 2 is just a longer delay.

Conclusion

What this setting does it adjust how long the adapter waits, after it’s started, before attempting to communicate with your car’s CarPlay. This can resolve issues with connection.

Modes 1 and 2 are different time intervals – it looks like Mode 1 waits around 10 seconds and Mode 2 is longer.