Viofo Wi-Fi & Android Auto

[DJ70]

Being a long time BlackVue user the switch to Viofo is a learning curve, so please forgive me if this seems a silly question. It was never an issue with BlackVue.

When I connect to the camera Wi-Fi via their app, with the car ignition on, Android Auto tries to take over & if I allow it then the A329T Wi-Fi disconnects.

With ignition off the app will connect to the camera.

It seems impossible to have the ignition on & still connect to the cameras' Wi-Fi.

Am I missing something? 🤔

Tnx.

 

[LateralNW]

Being a long time BlackVue user the switch to Viofo is a learning curve, so please forgive me if this seems a silly question. It was never an issue with BlackVue.

When I connect to the camera Wi-Fi via their app, with the car ignition on, Android Auto tries to take over & if I allow it then the A329T Wi-Fi disconnects.

With ignition off the app will connect to the camera.

It seems impossible to have the ignition on & still connect to the cameras' Wi-Fi.

Am I missing something? 🤔

Tnx.

Viofo mention a clash with Android units. It looks like it is because the phone is already bound to the head unit and the wifi signal may be a lower signal strength.

Please disable the Android Aauto and then try to connect your phone to the camera wifi again. There may be interference from the Android Auto and your phone will be connected to it in prior.

 

[DJ70]

Yes, if I turn off Android Auto dashcam Wi-Fi works, but that kind of defeats the object.

It wasn't a problem with BlackVue so it should be possible.

Definitely something Viofo need to work on.

 

[lufa6977]

Yes, if I turn off Android Auto dashcam Wi-Fi works, but that kind of defeats the object.

It wasn't a problem with BlackVue so it should be possible.

Definitely something Viofo need to work on.

How did BlackVue solve the problem?

 

[DJ70]

How did BlackVue solve the problem?

There never was a problem with BlackVue, at least I never had any.

BlackVue had many problems, but this wasn't one of them.

 

[Karagandinez]

Most likely, it all depends on the Wi-Fi module's power in each device.
A dash cam doesn't require as powerful a Wi-Fi module as an Android Auto device,
so Android Auto devices will always have priority.

 

[DJ70]

Most likely, it all depends on the Wi-Fi module's power in each device.
A dash cam doesn't require as powerful a Wi-Fi module as an Android Auto device,
so Android Auto devices will always have priority.

At the risk of repeating myself, I never had this issue with BlackVue so they must have found a way to overcome it.

Something Viofo needs to work on.

 

[Karagandinez]

At the risk of repeating myself, I never had this issue with BlackVue so they must have found a way to overcome it.

They probably installed an expensive and powerful Wi-Fi module from the start...

Something Viofo needs to work on.

The solution to this problem in Viofo models can increase their cost by several tens of dollars.
But not all users will like this.

 

[DJ70]

They probably installed an expensive and powerful Wi-Fi module from the start...

The solution to this problem in Viofo models can increase their cost by several tens of dollars.
But not all users will like this.

Not all maybe, but some definitely will.

 

[irving9901]

My solution to this in my car (Citroen C3 Aircross) ist simply turn off bluetooth before ignition on. The car is using bluetooth to establish the WiFi-Conncection for Android Auto. With Viofo's bluetooth switch I turn on WiFi-Connection und my Smartphone will connect to Viofo app.

 

[Karagandinez]

My solution to this in my car (Citroen C3 Aircross) ist simply turn off bluetooth before ignition on. The car is using bluetooth to establish the WiFi-Conncection for Android Auto. With Viofo's bluetooth switch I turn on WiFi-Connection und my Smartphone will connect to Viofo app.

Welcome to the Forum!

I do the same thing when I need to connect my dash cam to my smartphone.

 

[tenderloins_strigilator]

Can confirm disabling bluetooth helps.
in Android Auto world car and phone negotiate a wifi connection over bluetooth.

Another option is to disable wireless android auto in a car and/or phone.

 

[KrisKat]

What about making the Viofo app an Android Auto app?

 

[brabus84]

My solution to this in my car (Citroen C3 Aircross) ist simply turn off bluetooth before ignition on. The car is using bluetooth to establish the WiFi-Conncection for Android Auto. With Viofo's bluetooth switch I turn on WiFi-Connection und my Smartphone will connect to Viofo app.

I do the same with my Seat Leon and a Vantrue dashcam, turning off BT is the way.

 

[DJ70]

Can confirm disabling bluetooth helps.
in Android Auto world car and phone negotiate a wifi connection over bluetooth.

Another option is to disable wireless android auto in a car and/or phone.

By trial & error I found that disconnecting Android Auto on the phone after it initially connected is the way to go.
BT isn't touched.

 

[lufa6977]

BT can be a real PITA at times. I discovered that my iPad's Apple Pencil Bluetooth was overriding Bluetooth for other devices and preventing me from connecting. I have to 'forget' the BT pencil and move it out of the room to make some device connections using the iPad.

 

[tenderloins_strigilator]

By trial & error I found that disconnecting Android Auto on the phone after it initially connected is the way to go.
BT isn't touched.

That is the goal - get Android Auto disconnected.

On my phone (and on many others) if BT stays on then it keeps forcing Android Auto to reconnect.
Therefore people say keep BT off.

 

[DJ70]

That is the goal - get Android Auto disconnected.

On my phone (and on many others) if BT stays on then it keeps forcing Android Auto to reconnect.
Therefore people say keep BT off.

Maybe it depends on the phone itself to some extent. With mine (Pixel) I don't need to touch BT.
Google do produce the "cleanest" version of Android, so it could be that other manufacturers using that OS have added something (as they usually do) which affects the issue.

Going back a while, I can't recall just where or when, but someone said turn BT off, but when I did the app kept requiring BT to be on. This must have been a previous version but from then I've left BT on & it just works.