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Car-net - totally confused!

Blue Juice

Blue Juice

VIP Member
Messages
109
Location
Horsham
Vehicle
T6 Ocean 204 4Motion
Hi all,

Trawled through the forums, the VW site and spoken many times to the dealer but still confused over Car-Net. I am about to take delivery of a new T6 Beach, it was a customer cancelled order so I didn't spec it myself but it was 95% what we would have ordered so we were happy to capitalise! However, Car-Net wasn't added as an optional extra (it has the discover pro media system). We want to add CarNet so we can use Apple CarPlay, but no one seems to be able to tell us how this is done - is it just a software licence to enable or does something need to be fitted to the head unit?

Any help appreciated!

Thanks
Craig
 
Craig

I'm not surprised you are confused. I may shortly be corrected (as it is confusing) but I think it's the other way around. I believe you can only use CarNet if you have the upgraded media system. CarPlay doesn't need CarNet (I am sure I was using CarPlay from new and only got the CarNet installed by the dealer a few weeks later as a good will gesture after my rather appealing handover experience).

If you have the discover pro media system then CarPlay should work. For CarNet you will need an extra SIM card in the socket in the goole compartment. Others have bought them online but my garage gave me a VW Carstick for it (they aren't cheap if buying for yourself).

Probably confused even more now. There are some threads from a few months ago on this topic which may help. (I'm useless and don't know how to post links, sorry).

Alison
 
Thanks Alison, glad it's not just me! So, any T6 beach owners out there without the car-net option that are happily using Apple CarPlay?!
 
Not exactly sure what car-net is, but I thought min requirements for car_play were 6.33" screen and app-connect

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
I've played around with CarNet by linking it to my home Wi-Fi whist near the house. I am truly underwhelmed. You get info on such things as weather, parking and fuel stations. I will persevere to see what else it has but in my opinion, there appears that one can get much the same info on your smart phone so why the additional Sim and contract etc.?

One can also use tethering with a smart phone, that worked for me too.

My understanding is that CarPlay uses data and programs on your phone but CarNet uses data from VW or its agents.
 
Car-net - only real use is uploading POI files to your nav. It allows you to 'request' a report that is then transmitted from the Cali to your Car-net account next time you are connected. Connexion can be via built in wifi (if you have that option) or with the vw sim 3g dongle - available on amazon for about 80 quid.

App connect is the generic name for the various ways you can mirror phones onto the screen of the Cali. We do not have this (wish we did, but less so since found out it is via wired connexion only). Like you, ours was a 95% fit stock cali rather than built to order so this was one of the compromises. Talk of a retro option but only for VW cars, not Cali yet (message appears asking for dealer activation).

Car-net would be no loss if you do not have it.
 
As the manual for Car-Net is 126 pages long, and an annual fee is required after the initial free trial, I don't think many people will continue to use it. Although the "find out the weather at your location" function would save the bother of looking out of the window.
 
California Dreamin said:
Car-net - only real use is uploading POI files to your nav. It allows you to 'request' a report that is then transmitted from the Cali to your Car-net account next time you are connected. Connexion can be via built in wifi (if you have that option) or with the vw sim 3g dongle - available on amazon for about 80 quid.

App connect is the generic name for the various ways you can mirror phones onto the screen of the Cali. We do not have this (wish we did, but less so since found out it is via wired connexion only). Like you, ours was a 95% fit stock cali rather than built to order so this was one of the compromises. Talk of a retro option but only for VW cars, not Cali yet (message appears asking for dealer activation).

Car-net would be no loss if you do not have it.
Click to expand...
Thanks all - I am confused still on App Connect - the dealer tells me there isn't actually anything to fit to retro install app connect? TBH I don't want car net I just want to be able to plug my iPhone into the USB and use car play on the display and was led to believe by activating car net that will sort it
 
Agree with everything so far posted. Set up account and activated on Discover Media but pretty underwhelmed by what it does. Good to have the connectivity there and worth setting up as I believe when I was registering it your given 90 days. Free for three years and you never know they might have something useful by then. Pleased to get it all up and running but that's about it.
Don't know about anyone else but getting nothing on services due etc.

Edit:- Using Carnet App have sent addresses from my contacts to the vehicle, I believe, will check later.


Mike
 
Last edited:
I've looked at this too. I just couldn't bear the idea of having a bit of tech that I hadn't explored. However, like everyone else, it doesn't seem to be very useful. I reckon it would be something that commercial users of VW vehicles might use but that's about all. Maybe I've missed something.
App connect works very well and so does the Bluetooth connection.
My only issues with the App Connect bit is that:
1. The VW navigation doesn't seem able to read from the contacts list on my phone.
2. The list of allowed apps does not include Google Maps.
 
Loz said:
3. Or TomTom :(
Click to expand...

Not yet, but if you watch the recent announcements from Google, vids on Youtube, they are doing more work on Android Auto and opening up the API. Waze will more than likely be first.
 
Today whilst having lunch in a cafe where I could get 3G on my phone I was able to identify a site for the night and add it to my contacts. Using car-net app on my iPhone I was then easily able to send it to the Cali.
So far this is about all I've used it for. I used to always use the addresses in my contacts and that would fire up apple maps. Now I send them to the Cali and open them in car-net which activates the Satnav . Sounds complicated typing it but it's not.
Hopefully the APP and web site will improve over time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
T6 CFO said:
Today whilst having lunch in a cafe where I could get 3G on my phone I was able to identify a site for the night and add it to my contacts. Using car-net app on my iPhone I was then easily able to send it to the Cali.
So far this is about all I've used it for. I used to always use the addresses in my contacts and that would fire up apple maps. Now I send them to the Cali and open them in car-net which activates the Satnav . Sounds complicated typing it but it's not.
Hopefully the APP and web site will improve over time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

Aha. A useful post. Thanks. I just logged on with iPhone. It picks up my contacts list, I can choose a contact as a destination and can send it to my vehicle. I've sent a destination just to test. So far, so good.
So, when I go to my vehicle next, will it be there on my nav or do I have to somehow connect my vehicle to 3G (e.g. by tethering)?
This is where my knowledge breaks down. Some guidance/blatant instructions would be helpful here.

If this works, I will change my opinion on Car Net and rate it as very useful.
 
I've gone belt and braces so to speak. For ease I've bought a Carstick and stuck in a data sim with 12gb of data. Should last for ages. You could though use your phone but don't bother myself.
For anyone who does do it when you switch to car-net it invites you to update it and your uploads appear at the bottom of a list and you just scroll to it.
In a field in Devon but on return home will do screen shots if anyone wants them.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Okay, I've changed my opinion. Car net now allows me to pick up contacts & destinations from my phone and home computer and send them to our VW. Very useful.
I have a feeling it will also pick up traffic data through internet 3G connection and relay to nav. Still need to explore that.
 
Old Sid said:
Okay, I've changed my opinion. Car net now allows me to pick up contacts & destinations from my phone and home computer and send them to our VW. Very useful.
I have a feeling it will also pick up traffic data through internet 3G connection and relay to nav. Still need to explore that.
Click to expand...
Yep I believe it does give the traffic data. I'm getting traffic warnings on mine and so far it's 3 for 3 correct. There is no other feed as it's just got the STD card as it's data. Possibilities with POI as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Old Sid said:
Okay, I've changed my opinion. Car net now allows me to pick up contacts & destinations from my phone and home computer and send them to our VW. Very useful.
I have a feeling it will also pick up traffic data through internet 3G connection and relay to nav. Still need to explore that.
Click to expand...
Yep I believe it does give the traffic data. I'm getting traffic warnings on mine and so far it's 3 for 3 correct. There is no other feed as it's just got the STD card as it's data. Possibilities with POI as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
El Greco said:
I've played around with CarNet by linking it to my home Wi-Fi whist near the house. I am truly underwhelmed. You get info on such things as weather, parking and fuel stations. I will persevere to see what else it has but in my opinion, there appears that one can get much the same info on your smart phone so why the additional Sim and contract etc.?
Click to expand...
CarNet was kind of useless for us. Used it only for fuel prices search. It guesses right like in 10% cases ;)
Search is awful. It doesn't take into an account the direction you are going and keeps suggesting the pumps way back or way out of your route just due to a miserable price difference. You make a huge detour just to find out the price is wrong :)
 
To be fair, Car-net doesnt interest me, I just want Apple CarPlay, unforunately it wasn't part of the original order and doesnt seem its available as a retro-fit (although I am sure its just a software update..)
 
T6 CFO said:
Yep I believe it does give the traffic data. I'm getting traffic warnings on mine and so far it's 3 for 3 correct. There is no other feed as it's just got the STD card as it's data. Possibilities with POI as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

Aha, yes. Sounds likely, I got a message saying it had recalculated my route owing to a 6-mile queue on the M25. Okay, I'm liking CarNet even more now.
 
T6 CFO said:
Yep I believe it does give the traffic data. I'm getting traffic warnings on mine and so far it's 3 for 3 correct. There is no other feed as it's just got the STD card as it's data. Possibilities with POI as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
I have an earlier stereo that doesn't have carnet and I get full traffic information, I believe it is standardised across the industry and transmitted via FM/DAB rather than data. They may have changed it for the newer ones but would need checking.
 
Well some progress with car-net but I am yet to try it out.
I have joined www.wildcamping.co.uk and as a result you get a download of files in various formats for importing POI into satnavs, google earth and it's own app. As an experiment I have added these files choosing the ones in .gpx format to my points of interest and uploaded them to car-net. I have eventually found the right menu in the Satnav and they now show on the screen. I have used four so far, locations of wild camping locations, taps, toilets and pubs. I will do a test soonish. So far so good.
In relation to the wildcamping locations these are better explained in the app where it distinguishes between rural, urban and if they are a lay bye or car park. Hopefully by using the app or google earth I will be able to choose a location and then navigate to it with the Satnav. By default wildcamping app uses google maps and not apple so can't just use app connect.

NB: Interesting in that I now have 5 loaded in the Satnav and it tells me I I can have 45 more.

Mike
 
Last edited:
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