![]() ![]() What about when there are two devices being used with the same car? Well, it works, but it’s not particularly intuitive. Subsequent sessions have a 20-40 second connection and startup process depending on your vehicle and phone. From there, you have to set up Android Auto a single time, and then you’re good to go from that point on. Plug it into the USB port, turn on your car, and pair your phone over Bluetooth. The best part of the Motorola MA1 is its setup process. A minor inconvenience, certainly, but one that easily could have been avoided by using a removable cable. The bad news? The super-rigid cable left the storage portion of my center console a bit less useful, as the dongle couldn’t get fully out of the way. The good news there? I didn’t have to see the dongle, which is good news considering its glossy black design is a dust and scratch magnet. In my Subaru Crosstrek, the Android Auto port is located in the center console, rather than underneath the actual infotainment center. The hardware itself never caused me any issues over the past three months, but I do have some qualms. The single button on the side is used for pairing to your phone, or initiating the pairing process for a new device. ![]() ![]() The fixed cable plugs into a USB-A port to “trick” your car into thinking it’s connected to your phone, where the product itself is actually connected to your phone over a local Wi-Fi network. In terms of how that hardware works, it gets the job done. Of course, it’s important to remember that this isn’t the Motorola you’re thinking of, but rather a sub-brand known as “Motorola Sound.” This product in particular is actually produced by SGW Global, which licenses the branding. It’s a little puck with a fixed cable, a single button, and a Motorola logo plastered on top. But those short trips where you don’t want to be bothered to plug in are where the MA1 really excels.The physical look of the Motorola MA1 is pretty simple. But on longer trips, you can run the battery down quickly, so I usually just use a cable connection, which keeps the battery topped up. Most of my trips are short, less than 30 minutes or so. This is not something that can be changed, as it’s a WiFi connection, and those are power-hungry. The wireless connection really zaps your phone’s battery. A gel sticky pad is included for a more permeant installation, but that would make switching between cars or using the MA1 in a rental more difficult. In my vehicle, a 20, it works because there is a little place to stash the MA1 out of the way below the USB port. I really like the simple design, the quick installation, and the fact that it just works, and works very well most of the time. It reconnects less than a minute later, so I can only guess that something in those buildings confuses the WiFi, causing the MA1 to disconnect. The same two buildings are miles apart from each other. There are two buildings that I occasionally pass by, and when doing so, the MA1 disconnects from my phone. That said, there have been a few strange glitches that I’ve been unable to explain. The audio sounds great, and the screen is clear and very responsive to touch inputs. I’ve not seen a performance difference between the cable connection and the MA1. I get in the car, start it up, and before I make the turn out of my driveway, my phone is connected, Android Auto appears on screen, Google Maps comes up, and Youtube Music starts to play. PerformanceĪlmost all of the time, the Motorola MA1 Wireless Android Auto Car Adapter just works. This initial process takes less than 30 seconds, and once completed, your phone just appears on the screen of your car, just like if you had plugged it in. Your phone then establishes a direct-connect WiFi link with the MA1 which is how the data is ultimately sent. Then you simply unplug that cable, plug the MA1 into the car, and connect your phone via Bluetooth. You first have to connect your phone to your car via the “old-fashioned” method, with a USB cable. Initial installation and setup were quick and easy. ![]()
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