I installed the non-streaming version about two weeks ago; install was pretty easy, no issues with losing settings with the battery disconnect, worked perfectly on startup. However, I have had some issues that Hamilton has been doing a good job of helping me work through. Here's what I've learned, what has happened to me, and what I would advise:
- On install, make sure you route the USB dongle somewhere convenient; you'll need it later. I wanted mine hidden but easily accessible so I put it behind the passeger side kick panel/knee pad on the center stack (which you remove for install).
- On setup, do NOT follow their adamant instructions to connect via Aux. When you make your first call via CarPlay, the person on the other end will have a massive echo. The only fix is to change the connection to bluetooth. Per the tech, they are in the process of changing their instructions to advise people to default to a BT connection vice aux. I have since done that and it solves the echo problem but adds the minor inconvenience of having to ensure that the volume is up on your phone (with a BT connection, phone output volume will impact the truck's volume). Otherwise, no issues with BT so far.
- After a few starts, I start having a problem on pretty much every other trip. On start, it would default to the Hamilton OS screen (rather than CarPlay) and a window would pop up saying "Unauthorized Product." For me, this would not resolve itself until I restarted the truck. Had this happen in downtown DC in an unfamiliar area; CarPlay came up on start then switched to "Unauthorized Product" before I got to the first red light. Had to restart at the light to get CarPlay maps back.
- Hamilton emailed me the files for a software update - they also give you a thumb drive in the box just for this purpose - and I was able to get it updated pretty easily.
- Restarted to CarPlay no problem in the driveway. However, on the first drive to dinner, it started up in CarPlay on both legs only to revert the Hamilton home screen within about a minute. I pressed the CarPlay icon to return to CarPlay, only to have it take me to the CarPlay setup screen (essentially the default setup screen where it asks if you want to setup as wired or wireless) where it sat for about 5-10 seconds before getting itself back to the CarPlay OS.
- I reached out to the techs for a fix to this today, waiting to hear back. I'm hoping a simple disconnect/reconnect will fix this.
Overall, I have nothing to compare it to in the 200. I ran a Sony XAV-4000 in my FJ62 that had pretty much flawless Apple CarPlay connectivity, and a Pioneer unit in my 100 (that I did a pretty extensive write-up on here) that never gave me any problems. I think if we want to have "native" CarPlay in the 200 we're going to have to accept some of these imperfections in units like the Hamilton and help them work through fixes. I suppose it's still better than not having it at all, but at the same time I can't have maps or calls dropping off when I really need them.
Also, when deciding between the streaming and non-streaming version (I got non-streaming), it would've been nice to better understand that the streaming version has a better chip/processor as someone else here mentioned; I probably would've opted for it just for that reason.
Hope this helps someone; I'll update here after working through the post-software update issues.
