[JazzCatGab]

A message here kind of triggered an idea. My question to you is: Crackpot or not?

I have the phone compartment and Apple CarPlay on my soon to arrive base Cayman. I buy a used (doesn't have to be pretty) iPhone 6 or 7, update it to the iOS 12 and make sure it has the Google Maps app on it. Activate Find My Phone on it. Put it in the phone compartment in my car and leave it logged in and hooked up.

The advantage to this is that it would always be there so I don't have to fish it out of my pocket, and more importantly, remember to take it out of its holder. I can add it to my iCloud list of devices so my text messages will always include the car's phone, if the car wanders off, I can use Find My iPhone to locate it (and the car), I can message driving directions to it from either my normal phone or my iMac. I can forward my calls on my usual iPhone to the car phone when I'll be out in it.

I can get a used iPhone off eBay for $200 or less. I can add it to my wife's Consumer Cellular plan for $15 per month (and get the SIM free), and I can bump her data plan for about $5 per month also.

So, for $20 per month, I have an always accessible iPhone in the car, and the possibility of tracking it (and the car) if it gets stolen.

The only flaw that I see about this is that at some point, if I'm not using the car a lot in the winter, I'd have to charge the phone up. What flaws in this plan do you see?

 

[Viffermike]

A message here kind of triggered an idea. My question to you is: Crackpot or not?

I have the phone compartment and Apple CarPlay on my soon to arrive base Cayman. I buy a used (doesn't have to be pretty) iPhone 6 or 7, update it to the iOS 12 and make sure it has the Google Maps app on it. Activate Find My Phone on it. Put it in the phone compartment in my car and leave it logged in and hooked up.

The advantage to this is that it would always be there so I don't have to fish it out of my pocket, and more importantly, remember to take it out of its holder. I can add it to my iCloud list of devices so my text messages will always include the car's phone, if the car wanders off, I can use Find My iPhone to locate it (and the car), I can message driving directions to it from either my normal phone or my iMac. I can forward my calls on my usual iPhone to the car phone when I'll be out in it.

I can get a used iPhone off eBay for $200 or less. I can add it to my wife's Consumer Cellular plan for $15 per month (and get the SIM free), and I can bump her data plan for about $5 per month also.

So, for $20 per month, I have an always accessible iPhone in the car, and the possibility of tracking it (and the car) if it gets stolen.

The only flaw that I see about this is that at some point, if I'm not using the car a lot in the winter, I'd have to charge the phone up. What flaws in this plan do you see?

Some scattershot thoughts on this from somewhat of an Apple fanboi, both purposefully and by necessity (i.e., work):
- As long as the 718-anchored iPhone uses the same phone # as your primary phone, it should work fine. Just be sure to turn off all notifications on the phone so you don't have them both ringing at the same time, for instance ...
- I would recommend an iPhone 7 or above for this because of processor speed. The ideal cost-effective model for this, to me, would be an iPhone 8.
- You'll probably still need to disconnect the 718-anchored iPhone regularly for iOS updates. That may not need to happen if you park your car at home in range of WiFi and set the 718 iPhone to update automatically -- but even then you'll need to trigger the update manually on the phone itself.
- CarPlay will not always 'take' on PCM4; I encounter occasional hiccups. Rebooting PCM4 (Push the volume knob in for 20 seconds --
this can be done even when the car's running/rolling) and/or re-connecting the Lightning cable to the iPhone almost always fixes those.
- Be careful in the summer if it gets warm. Batteries generally don't like it when temps get above 120-130 degrees F -- and IIRC you're in the southern U.S., so that's a very real concern.

If you end up doing this, keep us posted!

 

[garyinmotion]

Get out of my head! ? I did this exact same setup in my CGTS!

iPhone SE - permanently in the armrest, always ready to serve up Google Maps, messages and phone calls via CarPlay. Find my Porsche/iPhone ready.

iPhone 8S - my mobile device outside of driving.

Crackpot minds think alike!

 

[JazzCatGab]

Thanks guys! Sorry garyinmotion, but I'm happy to hear from another crackpot! I think it is a particularly genius idea, btw (although more genius when I thought I was the only one who would think it).

Glad to meet another Apple fanboi Viffermike (although reading so many of your comments I knew you had to be particularly bright!) My current iPhone is the 8 and I thought the faster processor on the 7 would be a good choice, although I hadn't considered garyinmotion's SE option (somewhere closer to the 7 than the 6). Thanks for the tip on the PCM4 hiccup, that would have been puzzling if not forewarned. And thanks for the temperature reminder, although I live in a condo with a garage underneath the building and my plan is to be zooming around the countryside when I'm not there! But point well-taken. I remember someone I worked with once left her iPad in her car and she brought it in at lunch all worried. We flipped the cover back and there was a message on the screen complaining about the heat! Something like, "I'm hot! Don't leave me out in the heat!" but I don't really remember exactly.

garyinmotion, please let me know if you remember any particular peccadilloes you have experienced with this setup. I'm planning to add a Dual XGPS160 to the mix if needed.

 

[greywing]

The USB port in the phone compartment is always live so will be a constant current battery drain albeit probably small when the phone is fully charged. It's a consideration.

 

[JazzCatGab]

The USB port in the phone compartment is always live so will be a constant current battery drain albeit probably small when the phone is fully charged. It's a consideration.

I probably should have got the ashtray option to have a nearer 12v port, but I was also thinking of plugging in a USB power plug in the port on the passenger side floor for when it is snuggly parked in my garage. I have been thinking of adding a charging plug in the frunk already, and that would sort of cap the deal. Thanks for the input.

 

[JazzCatGab]

Just an update. It is early days yet, but I ended up getting a used unlocked GSM iPhone 7. I'm not driving enough due to temperatures to get a feel for just leaving it in the car, except for overnight once when I did back-to-back trips. I do use it with a Dual XGPS 160 and that pairing is working great for map accuracy. I'm also playing with a background app called Speedometer 55 Pro that allows you to export trips as a KML file to Google Earth, supposedly with speed data (but I've only used it once and still playing with it).


It is on my Apple ID so I get messages, and I forward my usual iPhone 8 to it and then silence the 8. As it goes mainly from garage to garage, I'm not expecting to have any heat issues and I did have to restart the PCM once (thanks VifferMike!) and once turn the right-hand knob counter-clockwise to make it behave (kind of weird).


It did not seem to use much juice overnight that night, and it does charge while the engine is running. The overnight drain will need to be watched when spring arrives, but it does always end up fully charged, so far.

 

[garyinmotion]

Thanks for the update and glad it's working out for you. Meanwhile, the holidays had me go the other direction. I ditched two of my iPhones (that were in a similar configuration), and went Android.

But wait, what about CarPlay (you say)? Turns out I really like the Google integrated Porsche nav and didn't like the CarPlay interface cutting into about 20 percent of the console's screen real estate.

So we'll see what happens if Porsche adds Android Auto this year.

 

[JazzCatGab]

Thanks for the update and glad it's working out for you. Meanwhile, the holidays had me go the other direction. I ditched two of my iPhones (that were in a similar configuration), and went Android.

But wait, what about CarPlay (you say)? Turns out I really like the Google integrated Porsche nav and didn't like the CarPlay interface cutting into about 20 percent of the console's screen real estate.

So we'll see what happens if Porsche adds Android Auto this year.

Yes, well, if you have the navigation module already, and that affects screen real estate, then this makes sense. I don't have the navigation and so it is a "bring your own GPS" kind of thing, and as I've said, I'm basically an Apple fan boy. That said, it is easier to store offline maps for Google Maps, so I am using that for my outside-of-town navigation, and the Apple Maps to answer "Where's the closest [fill in the blank]" questions. Still learning up and down sides to it all.

 

[Barryng]

I added an iPhone 7 to my family plan a few days ago for $20.00/month and my intention is for this phone to reside permanently in the cell phone compartment. So far I have mixed results with respect to its functionality and reliability so the jury is still out with respect to if I keep it. Pandora is my raison d'etre for Apple Carplay but it is almost impossible for me to twist around to plug my phone in/out as is necessary for Apple Carplay to work (yes, I can use a cord hanging out of the compartment but with a passenger there is no where convenient for the phone to reside). Keeping this phone permanently in the cell phone compartment solves that problem but it complicates using the telephone. It works great for outgoing calls but does not work at all for incoming calls as, intentionally, no one knows its phone number. Therefore, I have to use my iPhone XS (that replaced this iPhone 7) to answer any incoming call with a hands free earpiece. That works but it is a make do solution that really seems out of place in a car as advanced and high tech as my 2019 Boxster. I am looking to see how to permanently forward calls from my XS to the 7 after a fixed number of rings but no one, even AT&T, knows how to do that. Certainly calls can be set to forward using the Settings dialog but that has to be activated/deactivated every time I get in/out of the car so it is not a viable solution. Interestingly BMW has Bluetooth wireless Apple Carplay and that completely solves this problem.

In my opinion Apple Carplay, at least the instance in my new Boxster, is not quite ready for prime time. It mostly works, but not without a lot of annoying glitches that I perceive are probably due to just immature buggy software.

There is an option in the iPhone Apple Carplay setup to "Allow CarPlay While Locked". Although this option is turned on, more frequently than not, I have to twist around, open the lid, and unlock the phone with my fingerprint to get the car to see it.

Sometimes the car definitely sees Apple Carplay but the screen goes totally blank if Carplay is selected. It is necessary to unplug/replug the phone in to fix this problem.

All to often the Pandora radio station screen locks up (cannot even scroll), will not respond when a station is touched, or an error message, "Identifier not found" pops up when a station is touched. This typically happens while a previously selected station is playing and I am trying to change Pandora stations. Again, it is necessary to unplug/replug the phone in to fix this problem.

When using Apple Music sometimes I can select a Radio station (like CBS News) but most of the time an error pops up stating "You're Offline" even though I am clearly on line because a Pandora station might be playing. If I select the station using the phone it works but this is not viable when driving.

I am not optimistic it will ever happen but one can always hope software upgrades to the car and/or phone will make this otherwise great feature reliable and even, maybe, support Bluetooth wireless mating ala BMW. Since searches indicate these problems are common and not unique to me, there might indeed be some hope for software updates.

I am currently experimenting with the cable to see if this effects the issues I described above. Apple Carplay clearly requires a high quality cable and it will not work at all with some cables. For that reason I have been using an Apple cable that Apple provided with an iPhone. Only a few inches are needed so I neatly folded up the remaining 6' and snugly (not tightly because there are coaxial cables in the jacket) hold it together using a small nylon wire tie. I am wondering if the relatively small loops change the electrical characteristics of the cable so I just installed a new cable that is splayed out across the seat. Update coming later how that works. The Atlanta PEC gave me a non Apple cable (but seeming good quality) with the car so I am going to try that too.

 

[DriveInHouston]

How hot is the phone after a few hours in the garage with the engine off? Mine was so hot that I gave up the idea for a permanently connected iPhone.

 

[JazzCatGab]

How hot is the phone after a few hours in the garage with the engine off? Mine was so hot that I gave up the idea for a permanently connected iPhone.

I'm currently doing an experiment with how long my iphone battery lasts when the car isn't driven. I'm doing the experiment with the phone always on and when it is turned off while connected in the phone compartment. I will check the heat, but I haven't felt any doing what I have been doing. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[jimmuller]

For the past few days I've tried an unused iPhone5 plugged into my center console. I used it today running CarPlay. I have observed that its battery stays charged, even gained charge from it starting point. I have not noticed any great heat but I have not left it over days.

I discovered that the PCM can run CarPlay and play music from my Jukebox simultaneously. That's a winning scenario, as my wife likes the stuff in the Jukebox. (Well, I put most of it there for her.) It also handles incoming phone calls to my Android which connects via Bluetooth. In other words, running CarPlay seem to be transparent.

Since that phone has been deactivated from our wireless account it has no data access while I'm driving. However our data plan allows me to activate the Personal Hotspot on my Android and the iPhone is able to connect to that via wi-fi. So it should be able to get real-time data and navigate, while we listen to the radio or the Jukebox.

 

[Barryng]

Some good observations and thoughts above.


I also noticed my iPhone 7, permanently in the cell phone compartment, always appears to be exceptionally warm. However, I do not think this is from charging and it does not appear to represents any electrical drain on the battery when the car is shut down. I think the cell phone compartment runs warm because of engine heat coming up from below and behind into a small enclosed effectively insulated area. The car has been sitting in my enclosed garage for the past three hours. I just carefully measured temperatures around the car, the cabin, and the interior of the cell phone compartment. The cell phone compartment is 7 degrees F warmer than the interior of the cabin. Also, the phone is apparently not charging after the car electrically settles down a very short time after the engine is turned off. When I open the door, the car comes partially awake and the phone makes that chime sound indicating it started charging again. I will check it in the morning and am expecting all temps to be in equilibrium.



Two months ago I did try exactly what jimmuller suggested above: setting my iPhone XS up as a wifi hotspot and then having the iPhone 7 in the cellphone compartment connect to it. It did somewhat work but the connection appeared to be very slow and it just did not work well. My current solution, paying AT&T $20 month, works reasonably well but I always have to unlock it when I start the car (even though "unlock when using carplay" is on) and it cannot be used to receive calls to my 'real' telephone number.

 

[vhs]

it cannot be used to receive calls to my 'real' telephone number.

Before you get in the car, you can call forward your XS to the 7, and then get the calls in the car. Of course you have to remember to end forwarding when you leave the car as well. You probably won't get text messages though.

 

[DriveInHouston]

My take was that the cell phone was working overtime trying to communicate with the network in the confines of the armrest/car. Overnight, it had lost 40% of its battery charge. Mine is an iPhone 8.

 

[JazzCatGab]

My take was that the cell phone was working overtime trying to communicate with the network in the confines of the armrest/car. Overnight, it had lost 40% of its battery charge. Mine is an iPhone 8.

BTW, in my testing, iPhone on and iPhone off, it wasn't getting hot at all. Now, it has been hot before and I think it was when it needed charging and I took a longish trip (about 1.5 hours each way). Halfway through, when I stopped, I picked it up out of the tray just to look and it was pretty hot at that moment. I plan to go out tomorrow, and when I get to that halfway mark, I will check how hot it gets. Right now, I'm thinking either busy doing something or recharging or a combo of both.

 

[jimmuller]

On my commute this morning I tried running CarPlay with the iPhone connected via wi-fi to my Android running as a wi-fi Hot Spot. It worked just great. I could even bring up Siri with the push-to-talk button and tell her to navigate to work. My jukebox was also running just fine. But the car did not connect via bluetooth to my Android and whenever I brought up a phone function it said I had to make calls through CarPlay. However when I got to work I disconnected the iPhone and the Android phone immediately connected as it usually does. Then I plugged the iPhone back in and brought up CarPlay and the Android stayed connected. Apparently the order of connection is important. More testing will happen on my ride home.
Addendum ... Phone would not work.

 

[jimmuller]

I realize this thread has been dormant for a while but I thought I'd re-open it.

I'm still trying to puzzle out if I can use CarPlay and my Android phone simultaneously. The iPhone is decommissioned as a phone but it does wi-fi just fine. If I turn on Mobile Hotspot on my Android phone the iPhone can use it as an Internet source and get directions. Works like a champ. (I don't think this has anything to do with my reason for posting.)

Without the iPhone plugged into the special USB socket the Android phone pairs to the car via Bluetooth just fine, always has. But the last few times I've run CarPlay the PCM loses its pairing to the Android and the multi-function display shows something like "Searching for phone". As soon as I unplug the iPhone the Android re-pairs immediately.

Now, the thing is, on some previous occasions the Android phone has stayed connected and I could both initiate and receive phone calls. Recently I set the iPhone to allow CarPlay even when locked, figured it would be more convenient. So now instead of the PCM telling me to unlock the phone it starts up CarPlay immediately. Starting CarPlay immediately seems to correlate to it losing the Android phone, but that may be coincidence.

One more data point is that I can hold the voice-input button and the PCM first displays a banner like "No voice input phone found", but then Siri comes up anyway and does what I ask. And even when the Android was staying connected, voice input to Siri seemed to disconnect it.

So there seems to be some feature that lets it stay connected, or doesn't let it, according to its own whims. I wonder if any of you know more about it. Can you run CarPlay on a connected iPhone while a different phone is paired via Bluetooth? If so, what's the trick?

Thanks,

 

[JazzCatGab]

Jim, what you need to do is see if you can isolate the sequence that ever allows you to use the bluetooth car connection and Apple CarPlay at the same time. According to the manual:

• If you use Apple CarPlay™, you can only use the connected iPhone® for making calls.
  Mobile phones that are connected to the PCM via Bluetooth® are automatically disconnected.

What I did was piggyback on my non-techy wife's Consumer Cellular account ($15/mo for an extra SIM and $20/mo for extra 5 gigs of data). Because I use Google Maps in the car, I can save maps to the phone and avoid usage, so I may be able to reduce the cost of the data after I use it for awhile and see what I do use.

Definitely not as inexpensive as what you are doing with your hotspot, but then all I do is forward my regular phone to my car's phone and off I go (about a 20 second operation on the iPhone).