- First Name
- Nelson
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2022
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- 16
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- 33
- Location
- California
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Ford Bronco Sport
- Thread starter
- #1
Here is a simple tutorial to get Alexa Hands Free with Carplay AI Box
A lot of people might notice that there is an App called Ford + Alexa and it works pretty well. But it is not very convenient to get into the car and start the app and then use it.
I did some digging and found some stuff that can make the Alexa Hands Free work plus you will have an Android system in the car for you to watch YouTube when traveling or camping.
This is a very simple "Mod" you do not need any electrical work or take apart anything. It is all about how to set it up.
Here is what you need to make this work. I will include Amazon Links for all the stuff, so I assume the price won't be that different from place to place
Carlinkit Carplay AI Box - $299.99 ($195.99 with coupon)
https://www.amazon.com/CarlinKit-Snapdragon-Wireless-Performance-Increase/dp/B0BSQQPYXQ?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1
I think a lot of you guys know about this product, it will act like a phone and use the Carplay/Android Auto on Sync 3 to display an Android System on your screen. I am using the Android 12 version but the price is a bit steep. If you got the Android 8 version it will work fine. I tested both so I am pretty confident. I would recommend the Carlinkit brand AI Box because I have a great experience with customer support and their product is pretty stable
Echo Auto 2nd Gen - $39.99
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Echo-Auto-release-Alexa/dp/B09X27YPS1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HVQH2IQ59WZZ&keywords=alexa+auto&qid=1683515542&sprefix=alexa+auto,aps,198&sr=8-1
Sim Card or Ford onboard WiFi
You need to give internet access to the Ai Box to make it work. You can either choose to get a sim card to plug into the Ai Box or get the Ford onboard WiFi subscription. Personally, I am using the onboard WiFi that I am pretty happy with. I will explain the detail of the limitations later in the post
The Echo Auto act as the microphone for the Alexa Hand Free. It gives you the ability to use Alexa hands-free in the vehicle.
I will explain the difference between the Echo Auto and Ford + Alexa later in this post.
Before you start, note that by doing this, you can play Android games and watch Video in the car, please please please do it while in Park. Drive safe!
Let's get started.
First I want to explain this method and the Ford + Alexa.
The Echo Auto and Ford + Alexa are both using the device microphone to listen for the Alexa word. The microphone above the driving seat is not in use.
The difference between those two is that Ford + Alexa app requires you to turn on the app when you use it, and while using the app, you will not be able to use Carplay or Android Auto. This method will allow you to connect your phone to the AI Box, and you can still use your phone to get calls and do other stuff.
The Carplay AI box can accept a SIM Card but it can also connect to a WiFi. For the SIM card, it will give you the ability to call and text directly from the head unit. Using onboard WiFi or a hotspot from your phone will not give you the ability to call and text.
Here are the setup steps:
1. Plug in the Carlinkit Ai Box to the dash side USB C port, you need to wait for a while and it will take over the screen and display the Android interface.
2. Use the Chrome browser in the Android System to search for an older version of the Amazon Alexa App. The reason you need an older version of the Amazon Alexa App is because as of right now, the latest version of the Amazon Alexa App cannot connect the Echo Auto to the AI Box with Android 12. For people who bought the Android 8 version of the Carplay AI box, you can go directly to Google Play Store to download the Amazon Alexa App. It will work fine.
3. Log in and get through the initial steps in the Amazon Alexa App.
4. Go to device > + sign at the top right corner > Add Device >Amazon Echo > Echo Auto
5. Plug in the Echo Auto to the second USB port at the bottom, you can place it anywhere you want. I put it on the right edge of the gauge cluster.
6. The Amazon Alexa App will start looking for the Echo Auto, and pair to it. If the pairing is not successful, you can try again and then immediately go to the setting page in the Android System and pair the Echo Auto there.
7. Once you got everything paired up, the Alexa App will ask you to choose what method you connect the Echo Auto to your BS, you need to choose Android Auto (Wired). This is the best one because it has the lowest latency.
8. Go through the setup process in the app, and then Echo Auto will say it is connected.
9. Good to go!
One thing I want to point out is that if you choose to use onboard WiFi or a mobile hotspot like what I do, calling and texting will not work because it does not have a SIM card. If you need to do call and Text, get a data plan and plug in a SIM card to the Ai Box. All the calls and texts will go through the number of the SIM card on your Ai Box, not your phone.
Here are some questions/problems/solutions
When starting a Navigation on Google Maps, music sounds bad.
Reason:
This is because when you start using Google Maps, the Google Assistant in the Map will be in action, that means it will turn on the microphone and wait for you to say OK Google. This will let the audio switch to a telephony protocol (I won't get to the technical details of this...), so the sound will be bad.
Solution:
For Android 12 Ai Box users, turn off everything with Google Assistant in the Google Maps, and after you start Navigation, and click on a different app, the Google Maps will become a Picture in Picture floating window. Wait a minute and click the floating window, your audio will be fine.
For Android 8 Ai Box users, use Waze Map instead of Google Maps, and turn off everything for Google Assistant in the Waze App.
How to connect my phone to the car?
In this case, your phone is not directly connected to the car, it is connecting to the Ai Box and Ai Box will route your call to your car audio and microphone. There is a Blue Icon app with a phone logo in the Android System, click that and pair your phone to the Ai Box, and your phone will recognize something like "AutoKit - Tbox"
Whenever you want to listen to music from your phone, just click the blue icon on the screen and your audio will switch to your phone
Calling
If you go for the SIM card in Ai Box, all your calling will use the Echo Auto microphone. If you connect your phone to the Ai Box via Bluetooth, it will use the vehicle microphone.
Will the Voice Assistant button on my steering wheel still work?
Yes, it will work but you need some extra setting. If you press the Voice Assistant button on your steering wheel it will call out the Google Assistant, you can change the assistant in the Android setting to Amazon Alexa, but when you click it, it will call out the Amazon Alexa App. At this point, you already have Hands-Free Alexa... Maybe you can keep Google Assistant so you have both.
I'll leave everyone to explore, I understand it is not for everybody, but if you like to tinker and don't want to do some heavy modification. This is a good thing to try out. Plus you can watch youtube when you are waiting in the car.
And please let me know if you have any questions!
A lot of people might notice that there is an App called Ford + Alexa and it works pretty well. But it is not very convenient to get into the car and start the app and then use it.
I did some digging and found some stuff that can make the Alexa Hands Free work plus you will have an Android system in the car for you to watch YouTube when traveling or camping.
This is a very simple "Mod" you do not need any electrical work or take apart anything. It is all about how to set it up.
Here is what you need to make this work. I will include Amazon Links for all the stuff, so I assume the price won't be that different from place to place
Carlinkit Carplay AI Box - $299.99 ($195.99 with coupon)
https://www.amazon.com/CarlinKit-Snapdragon-Wireless-Performance-Increase/dp/B0BSQQPYXQ?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1
I think a lot of you guys know about this product, it will act like a phone and use the Carplay/Android Auto on Sync 3 to display an Android System on your screen. I am using the Android 12 version but the price is a bit steep. If you got the Android 8 version it will work fine. I tested both so I am pretty confident. I would recommend the Carlinkit brand AI Box because I have a great experience with customer support and their product is pretty stable
Echo Auto 2nd Gen - $39.99
https://www.amazon.com/All-New-Echo-Auto-release-Alexa/dp/B09X27YPS1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HVQH2IQ59WZZ&keywords=alexa+auto&qid=1683515542&sprefix=alexa+auto,aps,198&sr=8-1
Sim Card or Ford onboard WiFi
You need to give internet access to the Ai Box to make it work. You can either choose to get a sim card to plug into the Ai Box or get the Ford onboard WiFi subscription. Personally, I am using the onboard WiFi that I am pretty happy with. I will explain the detail of the limitations later in the post
The Echo Auto act as the microphone for the Alexa Hand Free. It gives you the ability to use Alexa hands-free in the vehicle.
I will explain the difference between the Echo Auto and Ford + Alexa later in this post.
Before you start, note that by doing this, you can play Android games and watch Video in the car, please please please do it while in Park. Drive safe!
Let's get started.
First I want to explain this method and the Ford + Alexa.
The Echo Auto and Ford + Alexa are both using the device microphone to listen for the Alexa word. The microphone above the driving seat is not in use.
The difference between those two is that Ford + Alexa app requires you to turn on the app when you use it, and while using the app, you will not be able to use Carplay or Android Auto. This method will allow you to connect your phone to the AI Box, and you can still use your phone to get calls and do other stuff.
The Carplay AI box can accept a SIM Card but it can also connect to a WiFi. For the SIM card, it will give you the ability to call and text directly from the head unit. Using onboard WiFi or a hotspot from your phone will not give you the ability to call and text.
Here are the setup steps:
1. Plug in the Carlinkit Ai Box to the dash side USB C port, you need to wait for a while and it will take over the screen and display the Android interface.
2. Use the Chrome browser in the Android System to search for an older version of the Amazon Alexa App. The reason you need an older version of the Amazon Alexa App is because as of right now, the latest version of the Amazon Alexa App cannot connect the Echo Auto to the AI Box with Android 12. For people who bought the Android 8 version of the Carplay AI box, you can go directly to Google Play Store to download the Amazon Alexa App. It will work fine.
3. Log in and get through the initial steps in the Amazon Alexa App.
4. Go to device > + sign at the top right corner > Add Device >Amazon Echo > Echo Auto
5. Plug in the Echo Auto to the second USB port at the bottom, you can place it anywhere you want. I put it on the right edge of the gauge cluster.
6. The Amazon Alexa App will start looking for the Echo Auto, and pair to it. If the pairing is not successful, you can try again and then immediately go to the setting page in the Android System and pair the Echo Auto there.
7. Once you got everything paired up, the Alexa App will ask you to choose what method you connect the Echo Auto to your BS, you need to choose Android Auto (Wired). This is the best one because it has the lowest latency.
8. Go through the setup process in the app, and then Echo Auto will say it is connected.
9. Good to go!
One thing I want to point out is that if you choose to use onboard WiFi or a mobile hotspot like what I do, calling and texting will not work because it does not have a SIM card. If you need to do call and Text, get a data plan and plug in a SIM card to the Ai Box. All the calls and texts will go through the number of the SIM card on your Ai Box, not your phone.
Here are some questions/problems/solutions
When starting a Navigation on Google Maps, music sounds bad.
Reason:
This is because when you start using Google Maps, the Google Assistant in the Map will be in action, that means it will turn on the microphone and wait for you to say OK Google. This will let the audio switch to a telephony protocol (I won't get to the technical details of this...), so the sound will be bad.
Solution:
For Android 12 Ai Box users, turn off everything with Google Assistant in the Google Maps, and after you start Navigation, and click on a different app, the Google Maps will become a Picture in Picture floating window. Wait a minute and click the floating window, your audio will be fine.
For Android 8 Ai Box users, use Waze Map instead of Google Maps, and turn off everything for Google Assistant in the Waze App.
How to connect my phone to the car?
In this case, your phone is not directly connected to the car, it is connecting to the Ai Box and Ai Box will route your call to your car audio and microphone. There is a Blue Icon app with a phone logo in the Android System, click that and pair your phone to the Ai Box, and your phone will recognize something like "AutoKit - Tbox"
Whenever you want to listen to music from your phone, just click the blue icon on the screen and your audio will switch to your phone
Calling
If you go for the SIM card in Ai Box, all your calling will use the Echo Auto microphone. If you connect your phone to the Ai Box via Bluetooth, it will use the vehicle microphone.
Will the Voice Assistant button on my steering wheel still work?
Yes, it will work but you need some extra setting. If you press the Voice Assistant button on your steering wheel it will call out the Google Assistant, you can change the assistant in the Android setting to Amazon Alexa, but when you click it, it will call out the Amazon Alexa App. At this point, you already have Hands-Free Alexa... Maybe you can keep Google Assistant so you have both.
I'll leave everyone to explore, I understand it is not for everybody, but if you like to tinker and don't want to do some heavy modification. This is a good thing to try out. Plus you can watch youtube when you are waiting in the car.
And please let me know if you have any questions!
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