Android auto (wireless) drops

[RSouthern]

Wondering if others are experiencing a problem with Android Auto wireless sudden disconnects. It will just suddenly disconnect when using navigation and playing back an MP3 from the phone's onboard storage. The Android Auto icon on the screen (Porsche) will disappear although the phone appears to retain a bluetooth connection to the car. After a few minutes the Android Auto icon on the screen reappears but is gray. I can then tap it and it'll reconnect and continue from where it left off.

I'm running Android 13 on a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. I think the Porsche is on all the latest software.

Anyone else have this issue?

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[W1NGE]

Wondering if others are experiencing a problem with Android Auto wireless sudden disconnects. It will just suddenly disconnect when using navigation and playing back an MP3 from the phone's onboard storage. The Android Auto icon on the screen (Porsche) will disappear although the phone appears to retain a bluetooth connection to the car. After a few minutes the Android Auto icon on the screen reappears but is gray. I can then tap it and it'll reconnect and continue from where it left off.

I'm running Android 13 on a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. I think the Porsche is on all the latest software.

Anyone else have this issue?

Not had this issue but also not a heavy user of AA either . I use an S9+.

You could try deleting the device phone and re-pairing.

 

[tomw00]

I used AA a lot and haven't noticed this. How are you connecting? Although wireless works I use a USB connection and disable the wireless interface on the phone. This has the advantage of keeping my phone charged. I have a Samsung Galaxy S21

 

[4424]

We use Android Auto but have not seen this issue. We are using a Galaxy fold 5 and Galaxy flip 5.

 

[RSouthern]

Well, it happened again on the way home. It just drops the AA connection to the car and starts playing whatever it was playing last (which happened to be MP3s on a thumbdrive connected in the center console). I was able to see that bluetooth stayed connected, according to the phone. One the car's screen the AA icon was gray and when I pressed it, went to a no devices available, connect a device, then in a few minutes, showing my phone but grayed out, then evenutally automatically connecting back to the phone and resuming as if there had been no interruption. I can't tell is this is a phone issue or a car issue. A bit frustrating since it's also random - it didn't happen on the drive in but did on the drive home after about 25 mins of driving.

I have to take the car back to the dealer on Friday for some other things, so I'll mention it to them then.

I appreciate the responses, sounds like maybe not a lot of folks reading this forum are using AA wirelessly (maybe more Apple folks here I guess?)

 

[PTProspect]

I have the same phone and this issue happens to me both when using AA wirelessly and when connected.

 

[tchavei]

I actually have the opposite experience ?

Joking aside

I mean that native Spotify will sometimes stop out during a trip (cell coverage? - not likely. It's too often) and switch to AA. I have to keep manually switching it back from AA back to Native like every 5 min sometimes. Lately I just accept it and hit the AA play button (because it switches but doesn't continue the song because AA and native kinda fight each other "Song is being played on another device")

I suspect in the OP case it might be some WiFi interference. Phone usually connects through Bluetooth and then negotiates a WiFi connection. It could be dropping out.

 

[RSouthern]

I suspect in the OP case it might be some WiFi interference. Phone usually connects through Bluetooth and then negotiates a WiFi connection. It could be dropping out.

I am the OP but I'm very certain that it's not wifi taking over since I haven't enabled the wifi hotspot in the P-car and separately have my phone set to not join any wifi unless I specify it. I've used the same phone (and same Android version) very successfully in my wife's 2020 BMW X7 in the last month for much longer drives, like SJ to SFO and back on multiple occasions to pick up family (including AA wireless navigation on the HUD - but don't get me started on why Porsche can't make that work). Regardless, the Note 5G Ultra phone is completely stable on the X7 so there's something that Porsche is or isn't doing that BMW isn't or is (does that cover all the options )

It's likely software if others have had the same problem and swapping out hardware will be frustrating since the problem will continue. Something is crashing in the communication stack running on the P-car's radio, probably a daemon controlling the Android Auto process, so I would assume there are stack traces somewhere in there that a Porsche dev could look through to see what process in the daemon dumped and what it was trying to do at the time. I somehow doubt a dealer is going to be able to help there though. Wish it was a bit more open so we could take a look if we were so inclined.

>>> If a Porsche Dev is reading this message, reach out to me and I'd be happy to help troubleshoot this with you - this sort of thing used to be my day job <<<

 

[Aman09]

Wondering if others are experiencing a problem with Android Auto wireless sudden disconnects. It will just suddenly disconnect when using navigation and playing back an MP3 from the phone's onboard storage. The Android Auto icon on the screen (Porsche) will disappear although the phone appears to retain a bluetooth connection to the car. After a few minutes the Android Auto icon on the screen reappears but is gray. I can then tap it and it'll reconnect and continue from where it left off.

I'm running Android 13 on a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. I think the Porsche is on all the latest software.

Anyone else have this issue?

Mate I've been having this issue !! For a long time now but recently it's been getting worse. Disconnects quite often. Have no idea why either. I have a Samsung s24 ultra. Have you done anything to the car ? I've put a subwoofer in mine some months back but I think this issue has been going on from prior to my sub going in. You had any fix to this issue ?

 

[GT_Taycan]

I've had this issue all the time.
Using a pixel 9 pro (but happened with my pixel 6 as well). I really only use Android Auto for navigation and Amazon music. Frequently disconnects and won't reconnect (phone will show it's connected to Taycan via Bluetooth but Android Auto symbol will be greyed out). Super frustrating as this will often happen as I'm traveling somewhere new and I will be without navigation. I'd say when this happen it's a 50/50 chance whether I can reconnect Android Auto from pcm's devices settings. Otherwise, it won't reconnect until I turn the car off and restart. Super frustrating.

Both my phones and my car are all up to date with software. My Taycan (2022) was just at the dealer getting caught up on all recalls and software updates, and still have this issue.

 

[kmcdonal]

Same issue here with multiple Google phones. All phones are up to date.

I have noticed that a phone reboot will sometimes help. Also, taking the phone out of my pocket and away from all my various keys also helps at the margin.

I don't have similar issues in my Kia...

 

[RSouthern]

So I think I know what's happening, but have no way to change it. Be aware,is is speculation as I haven't done any testing, just observation.

I believe that there's a 2.4Ghz directional radio beaming across the highway where I get my disconnects. This happened when I asked the original Q using my Note20 and this continued with the 24 Ulra.

Android Auto uses a wifi connection (not sure if it's 2.4 or 5Ghz) in addition to Bluetooth to send data to the screen. I think Bluetooth is the control channel and wifi is for the data but that's a guess). I suspect that the wifi in the Porsche is on 2.4Ghz and is low power, so it gets overwhelmed (i.e. high error rate) from a stronger outside source. It will recover further down the highway, but seems to take another 5 mins or so. In my situation, it will happen during rush hour so I'm sitting in the interface longer. If I drive the same location at speed, I get a few dropouts but it recovers quickly, it never disconnects.

I suspect going with a USB connection will be interference free and not have any dropouts. I haven't tested in the Porsche but that's how I connect my phone most of the time in my Jeep. It's always stable. Same drive.

in our 2020 BMW X7, the connection is much more stable, so either bettererror handling or maybe they use 5Ghz instead of 2.4Ghz ( or the other way around).

I think everyone who is getting wireless AA disconnects is facing the same type of problem. Interference. At least if you have disconnects happening at or near the same location.

 

[fika]

So I think I know what's happening, but have no way to change it. Be aware,is is speculation as I haven't done any testing, just observation.

I believe that there's a 2.4Ghz directional radio beaming across the highway where I get my disconnects. This happened when I asked the original Q using my Note20 and this continued with the 24 Ulra.

Android Auto uses a wifi connection (not sure if it's 2.4 or 5Ghz) in addition to Bluetooth to send data to the screen. I think Bluetooth is the control channel and wifi is for the data but that's a guess). I suspect that the wifi in the Porsche is on 2.4Ghz and is low power, so it gets overwhelmed (i.e. high error rate) from a stronger outside source. It will recover further down the highway, but seems to take another 5 mins or so. In my situation, it will happen during rush hour so I'm sitting in the interface longer. If I drive the same location at speed, I get a few dropouts but it recovers quickly, it never disconnects.

I suspect going with a USB connection will be interference free and not have any dropouts. I haven't tested in the Porsche but that's how I connect my phone most of the time in my Jeep. It's always stable. Same drive.

in our 2020 BMW X7, the connection is much more stable, so either bettererror handling or maybe they use 5Ghz instead of 2.4Ghz ( or the other way around).

I think everyone who is getting wireless AA disconnects is facing the same type of problem. Interference. At least if you have disconnects happening at or near the same location.

I can confirm that it happens to me in a certain spot in downtown LA coming off of the freeway and also in Las Vegas near the north side of the strip coming off the freeway.

 

[Dee]

So I think I know what's happening, but have no way to change it. Be aware,is is speculation as I haven't done any testing, just observation.

I believe that there's a 2.4Ghz directional radio beaming across the highway where I get my disconnects. This happened when I asked the original Q using my Note20 and this continued with the 24 Ulra.

Android Auto uses a wifi connection (not sure if it's 2.4 or 5Ghz) in addition to Bluetooth to send data to the screen. I think Bluetooth is the control channel and wifi is for the data but that's a guess). I suspect that the wifi in the Porsche is on 2.4Ghz and is low power, so it gets overwhelmed (i.e. high error rate) from a stronger outside source. It will recover further down the highway, but seems to take another 5 mins or so. In my situation, it will happen during rush hour so I'm sitting in the interface longer. If I drive the same location at speed, I get a few dropouts but it recovers quickly, it never disconnects.

I suspect going with a USB connection will be interference free and not have any dropouts. I haven't tested in the Porsche but that's how I connect my phone most of the time in my Jeep. It's always stable. Same drive.

in our 2020 BMW X7, the connection is much more stable, so either bettererror handling or maybe they use 5Ghz instead of 2.4Ghz ( or the other way around).

I think everyone who is getting wireless AA disconnects is facing the same type of problem. Interference. At least if you have disconnects happening at or near the same location.

What use is it if you are just guessing?
I have had the issue as well, not often though.
Could be anything.

 

[ze_shark]

It is good to be mindful of the fact that there are potent perturbators in the typical 2.4-5 GHz bands used by consumer wireless systems, and they are not always in intuitive locations.

For instance, there is a spot in a park where i walk/run regularly which reliably jams the bluetooth link between my phone and my earbuds.

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