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iPhone OBD II and WiFi--- 3G LTE woes

teameurox

teameurox

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 26, 2010
186
20
My current situation is the following ---
I have a wifi model and a Bluetooth model of the iCar2 OBD II readers. I use this to connect to DashCommander which is running on my iPhone 5s hooked up to a Pioneer AppRadio.

The issue with the wifi model is that it creates a wireless communication network, thus blocking all data on 3g/LTE and providing no data, thus I can't use Pandora, or any other apps other than DashCommander.

The Bluetooth model eliminated these problems but with the update to RoqyBT7 I now can not connect the Bluetooth iCar2 to the device, I've sent request in to the developer with no response.

I remember reading iOS 7 brought in TCP IP mapping or something of the sort? Something that would allow siri etc to fall back onto another connection if it failed to retrieve data.

In light of this update, has any one created an app that will allow its user to select apps to default and pull only 3g/LTE data even when connected to a wireless network?

I'm trying to be able to use Pandora etc. while utilizing the iCar2 wifi unit and DashCommander
 
3gunrestrictor doesnt solve the problems i'm facing. I'm looking for a tweak that will enable and grant 3g access to an app even when the iphone is connected to a wifi network that doesnt offer internet capabilities
 
Ble4.0

WIFI OBD reader may confuse background music streaming App due to the WiFi connection.

Bluetooth low energy OBD reader does not have this problem. But only iPhone 4s and later version supports this technology.

I have Engine Link app on my iPhone 4s, use a bluetooth obd reader called LELink. Can use Pandora simultaneously. You might want to try it. You can find it by searching LELink on ebay.
 
i was afraid of this OP...
i am installing a iPad mini as my vehicles primary AV system. i purchased a OBDLink MX WiFi, to link with the OBD Fusion App... i wanted to go with bluetooth to keep wifi open but our bluetooth OBD options under iOS are totally neutered. The issue you just brought up is something i didnt think of before ordering the dongle :(
 
chimt said:
WIFI OBD reader may confuse background music streaming App due to the WiFi connection.



Bluetooth low energy OBD reader does not have this problem. But only iPhone 4s and later version supports this technology.



I have Engine Link app on my iPhone 4s, use a bluetooth obd reader called LELink. Can use Pandora simultaneously. You might want to try it. You can find it by searching LELink on ebay.
Click to expand...


On the LElink how can you configure the Bluetooth in dashcommand to work? I bought Engine Link but it's not nearly as developed and polished as Dashcommand as well as it doesn't support Pioneers AppRadio
 
I ordered the LElink dongle and it does in fact work in enginelink---- but engine link is inferior to Dashcommand I feel. It's on eBay Amazon
 
Yes that is correct the LElink is new with low energy support. I'm hoping its developer or Palmer will figure out a way or update to make it all play nice because the dongle is seen within enginelink and it's the standard elm327 protocol so hardware wise and iOS apple wise it works, it's just software on Palmers side now
 
I'm not sure I just got it in the mail yesterday and did a brief test
 
I have the GoPointBT1 its working with DashCommand on my ipad mini over bluetooth.

what i dont like about the unit is it doesnt not state that it has an auto-off, so im afraid to leave it plugged into my OBD port while im away at work for 3 or 4 days at a time.
 
teameurox said:
My current situation is the following ---
I have a wifi model and a Bluetooth model of the iCar2 OBD II readers. I use this to connect to DashCommander which is running on my iPhone 5s hooked up to a Pioneer AppRadio.

The issue with the wifi model is that it creates a wireless communication network, thus blocking all data on 3g/LTE and providing no data, thus I can't use Pandora, or any other apps other than DashCommander.

The Bluetooth model eliminated these problems but with the update to RoqyBT7 I now can not connect the Bluetooth iCar2 to the device, I've sent request in to the developer with no response.

I remember reading iOS 7 brought in TCP IP mapping or something of the sort? Something that would allow siri etc to fall back onto another connection if it failed to retrieve data.

In light of this update, has any one created an app that will allow its user to select apps to default and pull only 3g/LTE data even when connected to a wireless network?

I'm trying to be able to use Pandora etc. while utilizing the iCar2 wifi unit and DashCommander
Click to expand...

What version of iOS?
On iPhone 5, iOS 6, I couldn't use wifi and cellular connections simultaneously, but in iOS 8 on iPhone 6 now I can! (I skipped iOS 7)
Now I can stream pandora via LTE and send the audio to my stereo over my internet-less local wifi network with AirPlay. Seems like your scenario would work as well.
 
tys said:
What version of iOS?
On iPhone 5, iOS 6, I couldn't use wifi and cellular connections simultaneously, but in iOS 8 on iPhone 6 now I can! (I skipped iOS 7)
Now I can stream pandora via LTE and send the audio to my stereo over my internet-less local wifi network with AirPlay. Seems like your scenario would work as well.
Click to expand...

Humm I have the wifi dongle for obd fusion, I never even attempted to try it after reading this thread. But I'll give it a shot.
 
it works!

i read the OPs post and never bothered to take my OBDLink MX out of its packaging because his issue made perfect sense that this set up would conflict with data connectivity while on the road. but it most certainly does work!

i paired my iOS 8.1.2 ipad mini to the OBDLink MX via Wifi. the Mini was able to surf the internet, listen to pandora and pull its internet connectivity from its LTE cellular connection while the OBD Dongle communicated with the OBD app over wifi.

even though it was connected via wifi the ipad did not show a wifi connection in the menu bar, only a confirmed connection in the settings app.

I tested this with OBD Fusion app, didnt check it with dash command yet, but should work with dashcommand cause Palmer is listed as a vendor.

what i like about the OBDLink MX is that it has an auto off feature, so you can just leave it in the vehicle and forget it.

this is the place i ordered mine. wasnt a 'big name' vendor so i was a little sketchy on it but it was delivered quickly, uneventful transaction.
https://www.obdsoftware.net/scantools/obdlinkmxwifi
 
Last edited:
How are you finding this with DashCommand? I just bought DashCommand and ordered a WiFi OBD II reader off Amazon. If it doesn't work I will order the one you mentioned. I figured for 1/5th the price, the Amazon one was worth a shot.

So far with the app I'm having a hard time figuring out how to customize things. Hopefully once I hook it up to my car this stuff will start making sense. I have a 2012 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost (Basically a Taurus SHO)

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Edit: Just found in the Q&A on Amazon that this one doesn't work with DashCommand so I cancelled the order...
 
OBDLink MX works with both dash command and Fusion.

i can also confirm the OBDLink MX has a functioning auto off because i left my truck parked for 5 days with it plugged into the OBD port and there was no battery drain.
 
B737 said:
does LElink have an auto-off feature if left plugged in?
Click to expand...

I am not sure. I just know that LELink uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology, so i plugged it into my car since i got it last year and have been keeping it there. Never had any problem. It is a great tool and like it a lot, you might want to try it too.
 
I bought the LeLink adapter before hearing about Dash Command and the GoPoint BT1. Does anyone know whether DashCommand will read data from the LeLink, or am I stuck with Engine-Link?
 
Here is your FIX with the Wifi + Cellular and guess what...

No Jailbreak App Required!

Use the WiFi OBD II and still use your CELLULAR data.
Goto the WiFi settings in Settings
Copy from DHCP the IP Address and Subnet Mask to Static.
Leave EVERYTHING ELSE BLANK...
Now you can use your Cellular Data, and still be connected to your WiFi OBD II.

This also works on your home network to connect onto your AppleTV, using your cellular data to get the data, and streams across fine to your AppleTV.

If that's genius enough for you, make sure you hit Thanks!
 
OBD Fusion

Also I use OBD Fusion, not tried DashCommander - but the above works. All internet functionality works because it defaults back to Cellular, including the OBD Fusion links to the internet code lookup areas.

This info really needs to be added by the OBD Apps on the Appstore, in a help tab or something. Perhaps I will contact them.
 
The LeLink and GoPoint BT1 are Low Energy Bluetooth 4.0 dongles that apparently are a much better way to connect to OBDII than wifi, as they do not require pairing, connecting etc., and perhaps they transmit data faster. They also free up the wifi connection and don't interfere with cellular. Also, I understand that they can be left connected to the car's OBDII port since they use much less battery power, although they are always powered on when connected.

In my mind they should be interchangeable with OBDII apps that use BT, but I am worried that the apps use some kind of proprietary link codes that only recognize a specific dongle.

I am just wondering if anyone has tried connecting the LeLink dongle with the DashCommand OBDII app on an iPhone.

Cheers!
 
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