NW777
Much as I love my new California, the bluetooth and apps are confusing me. Please, any advice would be much appreciated. Phone is an iPhone 17 pro (“pro” ?!?) ...
Normal use …
I get in the van, start it and my phone connects. I can find my music. I can see if someone calls me and can accept or decline. I don’t use “CarPlay” as the native sat nav is decent. This functionality feels like stock bluetooth stuff - connect, use, off, endex.
Now I have 2 apps, not 1 …
Volkswagen app version 2.66.0 - in this I can see my van, if it is locked, how much range I have, where I have been etc. If I confirm my identity, I can add some features like remote locking etc. Most manufacturers have the same kind of app. This is probably working on some kind of message connection - I guess the van is sending data to the app to say how much fuel it has etc. Nothing to do with bluetooth.
Then there is the “California App”. This is where I find the user manual and some fluff about planning and travel. I can also see things like water levels, battery, if the fridge is on etc. I can also turn interior lights on and off. The control stuff is probably bluetooth and the data stuff could be bluetooth if connected or data transfer if remote. I don’t know. It would be nice to have one app, but maybe the Volkswagen app is for all their vehicles, Golfs etc.
To connect to this “California app”, I have to use the control panel by the right rear seat. Every time I stop, the “California app” or rear control panel has forgotten my phone. Then I get in a loop of re-setting bluetooth, turning on the ignition (which causes the phone to connect to the “front of the vehicle”) and “fail, try again” which isn't very helpful.
I believe that a modern phone can deal with more than one bluetooth connection at the same time, but only one audio. It seems to me that the van has two bluetooth connections - front for normal phone / audio / car play if you use it etc. and rear for “California” functions (control lights etc., no audio). Is that correct? Should I be doing some kind of disconnect when I stop to tell the “front” of the van to forget about my phone and allow the “rear” to take over?
One other query if I may please ... I have read the manual cover to cover, but cannot figure out if I can illuminate the touch buttons for heat and volume in front of the centre console display. Do they illuminate?
Thank you /N
Normal use …
I get in the van, start it and my phone connects. I can find my music. I can see if someone calls me and can accept or decline. I don’t use “CarPlay” as the native sat nav is decent. This functionality feels like stock bluetooth stuff - connect, use, off, endex.
Now I have 2 apps, not 1 …
Volkswagen app version 2.66.0 - in this I can see my van, if it is locked, how much range I have, where I have been etc. If I confirm my identity, I can add some features like remote locking etc. Most manufacturers have the same kind of app. This is probably working on some kind of message connection - I guess the van is sending data to the app to say how much fuel it has etc. Nothing to do with bluetooth.
Then there is the “California App”. This is where I find the user manual and some fluff about planning and travel. I can also see things like water levels, battery, if the fridge is on etc. I can also turn interior lights on and off. The control stuff is probably bluetooth and the data stuff could be bluetooth if connected or data transfer if remote. I don’t know. It would be nice to have one app, but maybe the Volkswagen app is for all their vehicles, Golfs etc.
To connect to this “California app”, I have to use the control panel by the right rear seat. Every time I stop, the “California app” or rear control panel has forgotten my phone. Then I get in a loop of re-setting bluetooth, turning on the ignition (which causes the phone to connect to the “front of the vehicle”) and “fail, try again” which isn't very helpful.
I believe that a modern phone can deal with more than one bluetooth connection at the same time, but only one audio. It seems to me that the van has two bluetooth connections - front for normal phone / audio / car play if you use it etc. and rear for “California” functions (control lights etc., no audio). Is that correct? Should I be doing some kind of disconnect when I stop to tell the “front” of the van to forget about my phone and allow the “rear” to take over?
One other query if I may please ... I have read the manual cover to cover, but cannot figure out if I can illuminate the touch buttons for heat and volume in front of the centre console display. Do they illuminate?
Thank you /N
