Binize AI box connection question

Or CarLinkit or whatever...
I've seen a couple of videos on how to use the box, but what I'm missing is what wireless connection is used for it?

Toyota Tundra has built in wifi. Does the box connect to THAT for streaming, or do you have to hotspot your phone and hope for the best there?

 

I thought the Binize was a wired connection to the truck via USB. Then your phone connects to the Binize via Bluetooth.

 

I dont pay for the onboard wifi. I simply turn on my phones hotspot and connect there. Not sure what you mean by hope for the best, I'm on Verizon and it's plenty strong where I live

 

On board wifi is just your phone connected to the truck via bluetooth and the truck using your phones data plan for its internal wifi system

 

I used the truck's wifi to connect the binize box when I had the free 30 day trial period, ran through the free 3GB in no time. So no, you're incorrect.

 

Carlinkit to phone wifi for me.

 

WRONG.....if your phone is bluetoothed to the JBL system, and you give it permission to use your phone data plan for the wifi network you name and PW....thats the trucks wifi. At least thats how I set mine up. if you use the trucks 3GB, thats on you. I have 100GB / month on my phone.

I wouldnt even dick around with that 3 GB

 

Technically, he's right. AT&T who provides the 3GB (or whatever data plan you select if you subscribe) has assigned a phone number to each truck. If you don't pay for it, the truck doesn't have its own Wifi. Your method is wifi tethering via your phone's wifi to your truck via BT and is not "on board" Wifi.

 

There are currently 5 methods to provide Wifi to a wireless carplay/ android auto box w/ streaming:

1) Subscribe through AT&T for your truck's onboard Wifi.
2) Tether your phone to your truck via BT to use its Wifi.
3) Use a stand alone Wifi hotspot and tether it to your truck via BT to use its Wifi
4) Start a new line with your cell provider to get a SIM card and insert it directly to the wireless carplay/ android auto box
5) Use an OBD2 plug Wifi enabled device such as Verizon's Hum X or AT&T's HARMAN Spark

Only option 1 is considered onboard Wifi. Option 4 is only providing Wifi to the wireless carplay/ android auto box. The other 3 are Wifi tethering (using another device's data to provide Wifi) devices/ methods.

Hope that helps.

 

Amen brother. I've wondered this for years.

 

Lol

 

Perhaps in some remote areas the trucks wifi may work and your phones wifi may not.

I’ve seen it in our work trucks, I’ll be off in some remote location and my cell phone’s WiFi does not work but my work truck has full strength wifi.

 

https://youtu.be/j2R4vL7GWeQ

 

Your truck doesn't need WIFI. You just need a hot spot that the box can connect to, it can be your phones hot spot or a stand alone hot spot.

 

I posted a YouTube video on it.

Essentially makes the screen an Android tablet. That then allows you to use apps like YouTube, Netflix, Plex, etc to watch videos.

 

Thanks for posting the video. That should answer the OP's question on how its used.

When I agreed with Eurodriver on the question of why our trucks even need wifi, i was referring to the fact that for the most part these days our phones have wifi hotspot capability so why pay extra for the vehicle to have it too. I'm sure there are use cases out there where its handy to have the extra wifi but overall it seems like a waste of money for most.

 

I hear ya.

I have a personal hotspot, but it would be more convenient to not have to remember to bring it with me at all times when my daughter wants to use her tablet in the truck. It's a first-world problem for sure. I bring the hotspot with me on trips but for running around town I usually don't have it with me.

 

So since this thread has sorta been hijacked by the wifi discussion, I'll add another side question for you. Do you know if the Binize box will support the Car Scanner app? I use that in conjunction with the Carista OBD dongle so I can see different data points from the truck on my S22. It would be nice if I could get that info displayed on the big screen. I've looked a little on line and have found apps that supposedly do screen mirroring from phone to vehicle but so far the apps only seem to be available on GitHub and they appear to be sketchy at best as far a reliability and who knows what the security risks are with an unknown app. Thanks.

 

That's a good question. I don't think the box will connect to a bluetooth signal from an obd2 port device.

 

My binize connects to my jb4 via bluetooth. Don't see why it wouldn't work with an obd2 reader

 

EXACTLY

 

I might have to buy one and find out. I can always return it if it doesn't work.

 

Has anyone been able to connect binize via Bluetooth carplay and still be able to watch YouTube or Netflix?

 

Thanks for all the info provided. Still have one weird thing I need figuring out:
Currently when I hop in my truck and start it's tied to my phone: truck starts, bluetooth connects my phone, and voila - all my settings etc. (I guess?) are in my profile.
If I get one of these boxes, all I've seen thus far is plug it in, connect phone to it and I'm off and running. To do this, do I need to break the connection my phone already has w the truck? IOW, is there some setup piece I'm missing other than unbox, connect cable, connect phone, watch netflix...?

 

Yes. You'll want your phone connection to go through the Binize box (or whatever box you get) vice the truck's infotainment system. You'll have to sign into all of your APP accounts (Youtube, Netflix, Disney+, etc) I recommend buying a 90 deg USB adapter so the box's connector is pointed down along with the cable and some double-sided tape to mount the box unless you just intend for it to sit in the little tray/cubby where the OEM wireless charger is (if you have one). The following are the adapters I got. Make sure you get USB adapters that are similar. The first ones I got had the 90 deg facing up. I returned those and got the correct ones.

AAOTOKK Right Angle USB 3.0 A to USB C Adapter 90 Degree USB 3.0 A Male to USB Type C Female Converter (OTG) for PC,Laptops,Power Banks, Chargers More USB and Type-C Devices (2 Pack-Black/Up)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B094983CVP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

 

I hope you're not watching Netflix while in motion...

I installed mine almost a year ago, hopefully I can help shed some light on some of your questions and concerns. If you go to my media, you can see that I ran my carlinkit box to my glovebox and connected it with a form fitting USB cable.

$8 UGREEN USB to USB C Cable 90 Degree USB C Fast Charging Cord Compatible with iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Pro/16 Pro Max/15/Samsung Galaxy S10/S10+/Pixel 7/6a/LG G8/G7/Pixel/Switch, etc, 1.6FT

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PFHB3R4?ie=UTF8&th=1

Mine is always plugged in and I hop back and forth between wireless CarPlay and the android unit if I'm at a job site and trying to kill some time with YouTube, Plex, Netflix, etc. The phone also connected to the Carlinkit unit and you can use its' wireless CarPlay platform as well, so realistically you don't have to hop back and forth, I just find it that I like the stock CarPlay version better.

The only annoyance I have personally is when I start my truck, wireless CarPlay will connect first, then the carlinkit device will power on and will take over the connection since it's hardwired.

I love the carlinkit box though. I also purchased a bluetooth keyboard with a touchpad that I use to reply to emails, which can be folded up and tucked away in the center console.

$53 iClever Foldable Keyboard, BK08 Bluetooth Keyboard with Sensitive Touchpad (Sync Up to 3 Devices), Tri-Folding Pocket-Sized for Windows Mac Android iOS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTVC775?ie=UTF8&th=1

Connection is a breeze, if you want to switch between devices, just go into headunit's settings and switch between the two connections. But as mentioned previously, the phone is also paired with the android box for its CarPlay functionality, which you can use CarPlay directly from there.

If you have any questions, let me know.

 

I have used the Torque app on screen. What sux is you can connect your truck to your wifi but the OEM nav still won't work. So it's BS that you lose OEM nav if you don't want to pay for the "connected" services.

 

@MaiToyTunCap

Hoa, which carlinkit do you have? I saw your post in another thread that you were looking at cpc200 but I struggle to find that. Since it's been a year since you bought it maybe it's not made anymore? Thanks.

 

With the box, are you able to download and install any apk app? If I wanted to use my IPTV service or Stremio, can I install any apk I want or am I limited to what the box has on it already?

 

I have this Carlink unit. Things changed, I no longer need. Brand NEW just took out of the box for pictures. I’m selling for $125.00+shipping.

CPC200-Tbox Plus Android 13.0 Internet AI Box-Wireless Apple Carplay&Android Auto × 1Android 13.0 (8+128G)