Android auto + external mobile wifi hotspot

[Pierre444]

OK i could not find this answer anywhere. I do not have the wifi hotspot plan through the Bronco. I have a Verizon phone and was trying to connect to a T-mobile wifi hotspot (which is confirmed to work with iPad, etc.) while using android auto (I was trying to avoid putting more data on the Verizon plan, it's stupid I know). It seemed like whenever the Bronco is on, it forced a wifi connection to the phone that I am unable to have the phone "forget". I thought that Android auto used Bluetooth, no? Is it conceptually possible to have my phone connected to a wifi hotspot and running android auto (maps,, spotify, etc.) on the Bronco at the same time? thank you if you can help

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[RagnarKon]

The initial handshake between your vehicle and your phone is done via Bluetooth. After that initial handshake is made, a private Wifi network is spun up automatically, and your phone and the Bronco will connect over Wifi.

I haven't used Android since my employer stopped supplying work phones... so not sure if it still works. But you used to be able to disable the Bluetooth, connect your phone to the Bronco via USB cable, and then connect wirelessly to a Wifi hotspot. That effectively lets your phone use Android Auto over the USB connection rather than wirelessly.

Oh, and Apple's CarPlay works largely the same way, for those curious.

 

[Pierre444]

Thank you!

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