Should Pixel 8, Android Auto and Android 16 Work?

[Tim Watson]

Hey all,

So nine months ago I gave up on MRA Next and my Chigee as MRA would drain the battery too much, and the Chigee would loose connection to the phone.

I've just come back expecting great things with lots of releases from both companies, but it's a massive step backwards for me.

I'm finding the the app works fine on the phone, but the Chigee via Android Auto simply freezes. It never navigates or updates at all. Months ago it would navigate if the destination was chosen on the Chigee, and with the phone it would work if you stop and click Navigate again on the phone. Now, nothing. I set a destination via the app or on screen, ride away and ... nothing. No updates, just a static map, sometimes with the arrow and sometimes just a map. I pulled over multiple times and used the phone and the Chigee but it would never update the location.

I have location permission set to Always on the phone.

Is there some part of my system that is a known issue at present? I was expecting great things but I can't get it to work at all.

[Adrian Avram]

@Tim-Watson ever thought that your phone could be the issue ? I use Chigee AIO-5 Play with Samsung S24 Ultra, in 5500 km since I have used it, it never disconnected from the phone ...
My advice ... try another phone !

[Tim Watson]

@Adrian-Avram Absolutely, that's why I'm checking if the combination of Google phones and the new Android 16 release is a known issue. I can try to source another phone at some point but not before my trip in a couple of days. Luckily my Sygic subscription is still current.

I was an early adopter of the AIO-5 and in the early months, there was a recognised issue of phones randomly disconnecting from the Chigee. It was thought it was due to electrical noise and particularly prevalant with BMW GSes. Luckily this seems to have been fixed completely in recent updates. It wasn't an MRA issue.

[ginogino]

I have a Pixel 7 updated to Android 16, and I haven't had any problems with offline navigation on day trips. With online navigation and Android 15, battery consumption was excessive. Now I'm curious to try the new version of the app, even though I prefer to continue using offline navigation.

[M. Schrijver]

I suspect your Pixel 8 is not a dedicated Navi-Phone. So my suggestion will probably not work for you.

But.....
Clean/reset your bluetooth en wifi settings on your phone and try again.
Wireless is nice but it can be troublesome for not that obvious reasons.

[Marinus van Deudekom]

I’m starting to believe that the combination of Pixel phones and Android Auto is not a great one. Since Chigee is basicly Android Auto. That might be the problem. I see a lot of troubles regardant Pixel phones and AA

[Con Hennekens]

@Marinus-van-Deudekom, U have a P8P and use it in combination with AA in my car. Relatively trouble free I think. But scenic routes I don't do in my car though...

[M. Schrijver]

Pixel Phone offers the most clean interface. Because of this you might think it is the best solution for AA.
In my case a Pixel 6 serie (6 Pro and 6a) perform beter compared to the Galaxy S21.

The best solution for AA and ACP is a simple USB cable. But sadly most of the aftermarket AA/ACP devices offer only a wireless connection.

My opnion. It is not just the phone or just the AA/ACP device. It is the combination of phone, AA/ACP device, software on the phone, saved bluetooth and wifi connections and your surrounds were you ride. There are to many variables to point at.

I've read more than once a Iphone is more stable for Carplay compared to Android. Because of this bought a Iphone and tested it on my bike. Wired and Wireless. Wired no a problem at all. Wireless the same amount of problems as AA. So I send the phone and got my money back.