GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: solano on 27 October 2020, 20:10
-
Hi everyone,
I have a quick question, as I am not from the UK.
How is the wlan/internet handled in UK cars, in order to be able to use Guide & inform? Does the car has an integrated sim card that feeds the car internet?
Thank you very much!
-
Only late mk7.5's have the integrated sim. Mine is from 2017 without an integrated sim so I use mobile 4g data on my phone.
-
The e-sim fitted to late model 7.5's is only used for SOS, security and We Connect services. To use Car Net you still need to connect a mobile to the WLAN so no different to cars without e-sim.
-
Thank you for the replies. So is live traffic from "Guide and Inform" part of We Connect, or Car Net? Also does it matter if the infotainment system is Discover Media or Media Pro?
-
No difference in connectivity between the normal and the pro one. Both the same in that feature.
-
Genuine question. Does anyone really used these WLAN and WeConnect features? I’ve never managed to get mine fully set up, so gave up trying and now just use Android Auto based services instead. Am I missing anything?
-
It's not very good tbh. The aa/acp experience is far better. About the only plus to using the vw system is that it's wireless and allows you to keep two phones connected via Bluetooth.
Both of those shortfalls are addressed in the mk8, where the new mib is improved with aa/acp.
-
Live traffic in Guide and Inform uses Car Net so data via your phone over the car WLAN. As others have said, it really doesn't offer anything as good as the info provided by Waze or Maps via AA or CarPlay.
We Connect I've found useful on occasions (geo-fencing alerts when you've used valet parking at the airport being one) but I'd consider it a nice to have rather than essential.
-
What you can do with the native system is get live traffic data shown on maps in the active info display. It's not life changing, but it is something that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay cannot do, even in the Mk8.
-
The second screen function is definitely supported in ACP on IOS13.... just not sure if VW have enabled it in their software on the Mk8.
-
Cannot recall where I read it. Apparently it is being worked on by VAG software boffins, so it may come in a software update. But for now it's not available :sad:
-
I've just read BMW have AA/ACP both on the dash display and the HUD.... with the latest Idrive update.
I guess they are rather more serious than VW (to date) about the operating system in their cars though.
VW claim that the Mk8 does OTA updates, so maybe.... I wouldn't say its anything like definite though, they have sucked in the software space so far.
-
Well I've said it many times before, as good as apple maps and Waze are (and they are very good), as Guzzle says, I tend to use the VW Nav and Car-Net mainly because I can use the live traffic updates (that shade in the road green, amber or red) based upon traffic levels or incidents, and enables you to use it in the instrument cluster as well. I've found it to be very accurate and quick (as quick and accurate as Apple maps etc).
My phone runs an app which executes a small macro when connecting to the car Bluetooth, so for me it's all totally automatic and it connects every time in around 20-25 seconds from start. Very convenient.
-
VW are well behind the curve. My July 2016 build 430d has wireless CarPlay. But tbh, I don't use CarPlay at all. I find the BMW system integrates better with the HUD etc...
-
and this is my set up to achieve the same thing - If I am honest I rarely use it but its there if need be
(https://i.postimg.cc/L62Qqm2R/IMG-2263.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
-
Thanks everyone. So in short, in my market (and in Germany, as far as i know), when you get a Golf with Nav, you also get a USB stick called "CarStick" that goes into the USB slot behind the gear shifter. It has a SIM card in it (in my market, 10GB internet a month for 3 years), so you can even create a WiFi in the car (via the WLAN menu of the car) so your mobile devices can use those 10GB of internet.
However, Golfs have only one USB port, unless you have specified the "wireless charging" option, that adds a wireless charging capabilities of the cubby behind the gear shifter. Then, you get a 2nd USB port somewhere (i think under the arm rest). So, if you do not have that option, as many do not it seems, it is impossible to both use the CarStick for the internet AND AndroidAuto/CarPlay.
So, I was wondering, if UK cars have internet without any additional sticks and whatnot, then I thought it would be possible to get the SIM card from the CarStick device and put it in the car somewhere to use the internet. But i guess this is not the case.
-
Do like the guy above did, stick a USB charger in the 12v socket in the boot and plug your WiFi stick into it... Or do the same in the 12v socket in the front. The WiFi stick thing only needs USB for power, its not using it for data.
-
Looking for help people. I've got a Samsung S7 and can I hell get it to connect to the car so the Discover Nav uses my data. It connects and pairs for Bluetooth for phone and music etc but it just won't connect for a data connection. Anyone got a full run through of instructions? I have done this years ago on my 2013 Gtd but that was on an S4. It's probably something really simple that I've missed.
-
Looking for help people. I've got a Samsung S7 and can I hell get it to connect to the car so the Discover Nav uses my data. It connects and pairs for Bluetooth for phone and music etc but it just won't connect for a data connection. Anyone got a full run through of instructions? I have done this years ago on my 2013 Gtd but that was on an S4. It's probably something really simple that I've missed.
You need to turn on the wifi hotspot on your phone...go into settings/wifi/mobile hotspot and tethering....
Then on the car its in settings WLAN I think.... let it search, look for the name of the hotspot you setup on the phone and enter the password.
Try that first, then you can get clever with MacroDroid and make it turn on and off everytime you get in and out of the car (to save battery!)
-
Can't seem to get it to connect at all. Keeps saying the password isn't right when I enter it.
-
Can't seem to get it to connect at all. Keeps saying the password isn't right when I enter it.
Exactly the same issue I have and gave up with it. Tried sitting in the car for hours, calling VW and going to a dealer, all ended with the same error message (I work in IT and would class myself as a patient techy....). Seeing as it's only for maps and traffic I stick with Android auto.
-
I'm only wanting to briefly connect to stop the stupid Car net welcome splash screen 😂
-
Can't seem to get it to connect at all. Keeps saying the password isn't right when I enter it.
Check the password on your hotspot... its case sensitive.
Try setting the password to numbers you can't get wrong like "1234"
-
Tried all entries possible Fred and still won't connect. I'll try changing the password and see what happens.
-
Tried all entries possible Fred and still won't connect. I'll try changing the password and see what happens.
There is a known bug on some Android and phone brand combinations. Oneplus suffers the same issue. I seem to recall that it's VW's problem for not keeping up with a change in Android. For security reasons, Android now changes an address for connection each time, but the VW software keeps using the same address as per older versions. Perhaps the phones that work have a compatibility mode or something.
-
Tried again and still not connecting :angry:
-
I've just tried my s10 and it connects OK.
Carnet doesn't work, but suspect my three years is up.
-
Might not be much help, but for what it's worth I have an S7 on Oreo and it works fine for me. Or at least it did last time I used it. So I don't think the issue is phone compatibility, unless VW changed something on later cars.
-
Maybe I'm not changing the settings right on my phone 🤷♂️
-
Might not be much help, but for what it's worth I have an S7 on Oreo and it works fine for me. Or at least it did last time I used it. So I don't think the issue is phone compatibility, unless VW changed something on later cars.
An S7 with Oreo is really quite old though. I said VW didn't keep up with a change in Android
-
Might not be much help, but for what it's worth I have an S7 on Oreo and it works fine for me. Or at least it did last time I used it. So I don't think the issue is phone compatibility, unless VW changed something on later cars.
An S7 with Oreo is really quite old though. I said VW didn't keep up with a change in Android
mcmaddy has an S7, same as me??
-
Might not be much help, but for what it's worth I have an S7 on Oreo and it works fine for me. Or at least it did last time I used it. So I don't think the issue is phone compatibility, unless VW changed something on later cars.
An S7 with Oreo is really quite old though. I said VW didn't keep up with a change in Android
My S7 is the same, might try and find someone with a newer phone and see if that works. My S4 way back when used to work on my 2013 Gtd :grin:
-
Genuine question. Does anyone really used these WLAN and WeConnect features? I’ve never managed to get mine fully set up, so gave up trying and now just use Android Auto based services instead. Am I missing anything?
I find the live traffic updates are a useful addition to the navigation and, although not infallible, more up to date that the limited TMS traffic data (coming from BMW's where live traffic was included) ... I also found that the option to search petrol stations nearby with prices very useful when on motorways in parts of the country I do not know... saving significant amounts over using service station just a few miles from junctions...
The rest of it is "nice to have" but not going to be missed too much if you don't have it... As the subscription is free on new cars for a certain period then it's just a decision on renewal of cost/benefit...
ps - my car has the SOS sim but the WeConnect relies upon my own data service... I can do this by hot-spotting my iPhone, but I actually have a permanent solution with a 4G wifi dongle plugged into the 12v socket in the boot that has a free data sim in it...
-
Have you made sure you are connecting over 2.4ghz wifi on your phone only Chris, as it won't work with 5ghz. If you go to mobile hotspot on the phone, then under "Band", make sure it's set to 2.4ghz (if it's set to 5ghz, it won't connect to the car as the VW only connects over 2.4ghz).
-
Just checked that Andrew and it's already set to 2.4 👍
-
Have you got another phone or device you can try connecting to your hotspot?
Just checking to see if it works at all...
-
I'll try my daughter's iPhone and see if that works.
-
So, my daughter's iPhone connected within about 5 seconds and the data connection worked perfectly. Tried immediately after with my S7 and won't connect. My phone must have some settings that are wrong or isn't capable of sharing. Keeps showing error message of "incorrect network key. Please enter a network key under WLAN settings". Strange how my S4 worked years ago.
-
Fixed, woohoo. I had to turn off the allowed devices option. Was able to connect and then changed the name of connection. Went back in and added connection to allowed list and bingo it now connects automatically without a password. What a faff on. Many thanks to all for help and assistance as ever 👍