Weird. Never seen a Lexus logo.
EC Offroad CarPlay Solutions For 2016+ 200 Series LC (NEW SEPT 2020 MODEL) (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter greynolds
- Start date
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I am considering the EC Offroad and have a quick question. How well does the unit handle the reverse camera and the low speed surround cameras? My Naviplus unit has worked fine except for the surround camera. It doesn’t return to CarPlay after they shut off.
greynolds
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- Thread starter
- #204
For the low speed surround cameras, I'm assuming you mean the mode where the display automatically switches to the camera when you get below about 10mph - I don't use that mode as while it was handy for parking, I found it really annoying in any sort of stop and go type situation. IIRC, I did try it and I'm pretty sure it switched in and out of camera mode properly, but don't base a purchasing decision on this.
I can say that the EC unit handles the reverse camera without any issues - it automatically switches to the camera when you go into R and back to the EC unit when you switch out of R. Hopefully this helps.
I just went to EC offroad and removed the naviplus. That annoyed me with naviplus as well. EC offroad still opens those cameras when you slow down, so far seems to flip back to the screen I had it on within EC Offroad no problem.
greynolds
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- Thread starter
- #206
I gave this a try today. Unfortunately, unless there’s a setting that we have set differently, this trick doesn’t work on my 2020. I went on a mini road trip today. When I got to my first destination, I set the audio source to SAT, and left the system on the factory SAT page. When I got back in, the audio remained on the SAT source, but the EC unit took control of the screen after everything booted up. Same thing after several other stops. Based on what the EC guys had told me, this is how it’s supposed to work.
Thanks to all the very helpful information in this thread - with a particular nod to greynolds - I did this install over the weekend and have a few days under my belt now...
I really only wanted the CarPlay features for navigation, text messaging, and occasional music. So far, so good on those points.
Regarding the auto boot into the EC system, I'm noticing that having standard issue terrestrial radio as the source when you turn off the truck appears to keep the system in factory mode. So far, this has held every time. So much so that I'm switching it over to CarPlay more often than not. I didn't fidget much with the settings out of the box and YMMV but for me, regular radio bypasses the EC unit entirely.
Now for a couple of questions so far: 1) any one else noticing a decided inaccuracy in the factory GPS after install? Not that I need the factory GPS now with CarPlay, but its crazy how far off it is - like 15-20 miles off. Perhaps I missed a plug in? Perhaps just interference?
2) Since I nearly always use satellite or FM, incoming calls seem very hit and miss in whether the person can hear. Seems to be that the EC unit tries moves the audio to CarPlay, but its wonky and intermittent. Outgoing calls appear fine. Any settings or tips you folks are using to make this a bit more seamless? I do get this is an aftermarket unit trying to play nice with the factory system. Maybe it is just use aux for calls and don't answer the incoming (not hard these days!), but any thoughts from folks having more time with the system would be appreciated!
I really only wanted the CarPlay features for navigation, text messaging, and occasional music. So far, so good on those points.
Regarding the auto boot into the EC system, I'm noticing that having standard issue terrestrial radio as the source when you turn off the truck appears to keep the system in factory mode. So far, this has held every time. So much so that I'm switching it over to CarPlay more often than not. I didn't fidget much with the settings out of the box and YMMV but for me, regular radio bypasses the EC unit entirely.
Now for a couple of questions so far: 1) any one else noticing a decided inaccuracy in the factory GPS after install? Not that I need the factory GPS now with CarPlay, but its crazy how far off it is - like 15-20 miles off. Perhaps I missed a plug in? Perhaps just interference?
2) Since I nearly always use satellite or FM, incoming calls seem very hit and miss in whether the person can hear. Seems to be that the EC unit tries moves the audio to CarPlay, but its wonky and intermittent. Outgoing calls appear fine. Any settings or tips you folks are using to make this a bit more seamless? I do get this is an aftermarket unit trying to play nice with the factory system. Maybe it is just use aux for calls and don't answer the incoming (not hard these days!), but any thoughts from folks having more time with the system would be appreciated!
I don't think anyone here has experienced factory GPS being off by 15-20 miles, or someone would have mentioned it. My guess would be you have a loose connector or a loose wire.
Regarding using the phone. I don't have the exact same use case as you, but I found that some minor issues I had went away when I allow my phone to connect to the factory Bluetooth even when the input source is set to something else (it was a bit of a quirky trial and error process).
People using Naviplus have reported GPS off by a good bit. Naviplus mentioned needing to wrap the unit in foil and separating from OEM unit as far as possible.
greynolds
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- Thread starter
- #210
I experimented with this a bit more today and got it to work with both FM and SAT as the source. The key appears to be that you need to stay on the source page in addition to selecting the source. I was selecting the audio source and then going to the factory Nav page yesterday.
sadovnik
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That little bit of information should come in handy tomorrow when I drop the car off for service at the Toyota dealership . Thanks!
greynolds
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- Thread starter
- #212
Unfortunately, I found that this trick doesn't seem to work all the time. After not going anywhere on Thursday, when I went off to run an errand this morning, it started up on the factory SAT source and screen and then switched over to AUX and the EC video after the EC unit finished booting.
Ok EC Off-road users and abusers… I have a strange audio issue. When using wired or wireless CarPlay and playing any CarPlay based music source the sound will lessen when I start a navigation app like Waze, Google Maps etc. volume “number” does not drop, just an immediate dip in music volume.
I’m stumped. Anyone else have this and figure out the root cause? Thanks
I’m stumped. Anyone else have this and figure out the root cause? Thanks
sadovnik
SILVER Star
BTW, I had to drop the car off at the dealer twice now and it worked both times. Great tip!!
sadovnik
SILVER Star
It should dip and then go back up to what it was before. Is it not going back? That is a CarPlay feature BTW.
Thank you. It does not go back up. Stays muffled
sadovnik
SILVER Star
Hmmm. I would start by restarting the phone by powering it off altogether. Next step would be to connect a different phone and see if it exhibits the same behavior. Also, disable "Sound Check" just in case.
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My other iPhone running 14.8.1 does not have this same issue. The phone with the issue is running 15.1 so I will try the update to 15.2 and report back.
I’m running 15.2 and it’s an intermittent issue. I usually have voice guidance and alerts silenced and that helps but the normal MO is music volume lowers during voice guidance. Waze and Google Maps for me.
Occasionally the music volume stays low and won’t increase. This happens on the EC Box in CarPlay as well as my wife’s 2021 Highlander with OEM CarPlay.
Occasionally the music volume stays low and won’t increase. This happens on the EC Box in CarPlay as well as my wife’s 2021 Highlander with OEM CarPlay.
Well, 15.2 solved it. I’ll expect it to be intermittent though.
