USB cable keeps dropping connection - recommendations?

[Ian Key]

Is there any way to tell, by looking at them, or by the specs, or some technical designation?

That I don't know but if you search Amazon for USB Data Transfer cable it should narrow the odds

 

[siteguru]

All I know for certain is that the cable I linked earlier works perfectly for me in my MG4 SE SR.

 

[Sloucher]

the shortest one works, 30 cm / 1ft, anything longer and you have to coil them up

Where did you find the 30cm one? I can only see 1M and 2M?

 

[siteguru]

I think someone even linked it in an earlier reply. (Well, for iPhone anyway).

Amazon product ASIN B0B9GP59NT
USB C options: Amazon.co.uk : USB C Cable Short 1FT/30CM

 

[Sloucher]

ok, found one . Took a bit of digging.
I had hoped to find one with the magnetic ends, but they're all 1M and up unfortunately.
I don't want cables lying around all over the place. Brings back too many memories of getting the 12v accessory plugged lead for my old Garmin sat draped over the speedo and all tangled up with the nav gear lever and handbrake!

 

[siteguru]

I'll try and remember to take a photo of my setup (with a 1m magnetic cable) - it's not intrusive. And the coil under the tray could also be velcroed to the underside of the shelf (which I've not done).

 

[siteguru]

Photos as promised.

Shelf without phone on it (as the driver would see it) - Underneath of shelf - Shelf with phone on it

Obviously the coil under the shelf could be further tidied and clipped to the underside of the shelf.

HTH

 

[siteguru]

And my phone (in a gel case) stays secure in that location, with that magnetic connection.

 

[Driver 13]

So after extensive testing with different phones and I even against my judgement bought exactly the cable listed here managed to get things working. I now understand why, but for iPhone users who see the dissconnect issue:
Your firmware will not be ether R13 or R30... They will not see this issue as far as I understand.
1). Enable Siri on your phone (dont ask).
2). Remove any cars in your CarPlay (Settings > General > CarPlay) SAIC 1.0+
3). Delete your bluetooth connection with the car and obviously do the same on the car.
4). Roll your eyes and say wtf?
5). Switch off your moble fully.
6). And then back on, just like we used to do on Windows Xp boxes.
7). Re-connect the bluetooth... and say yes when prompted on both.
8). And then cross your fingers plug the usb in and QUICKLY when you get the pop up obviously click ok/yes. (if you dont catch it in time just unplug and try again.
9). As crazy as it seems switch off your phone (fully) then back on.
10). When plugging it back in now the bluetooth will dissable and it should fingers crossed work... BUT.
11). If you do any of the following it will fail again: call anyone, change the apps that will aprear on the CarPlay on your car display.
Ultimately its an infosystem issue, I'm going to go back to the dealership and get an update to the OS of the unit. As soon as I have any further info I'll update you.
Live long an prosper..... its still a flipping great car! (I'll just celotape my mobile to the infosystem if this fails and I need to use google maps lol!!)

 

[Tig170]

..... I'll read the above carefully, as am finding that pairing the MG4 & iphone via carplay is a complete pain (as its just so random if it works! or not)

 

[siteguru]

+1 for Android?

 

[Driver 13]

After another day testing and trying to get to the bottom of this I've come to the ulimate conclusion that the MG's CarPlay does not like the newer versions if iOS... I have an old iPhone 6s iOS 14.4.2 and it has no problems what so ever. My new iPhone needs to be disconnected twice before it works but drops bluetooth and you can only have one or the other conected for it to work. So thats me done messing around with this, I'll just get a dual sim and have my old iPhone for the car until MG ports its OS to be compatable with the newer phone OS's.

 

[Deleted member 9692]

After another day testing and trying to get to the bottom of this I've come to the ulimate conclusion that the MG's CarPlay does not like the newer versions if iOS... I have an old iPhone 6s iOS 14.4.2 and it has no problems what so ever. My new iPhone needs to be disconnected twice before it works but drops bluetooth and you can only have one or the other conected for it to work. So thats me done messing around with this, I'll just get a dual sim and have my old iPhone for the car until MG ports its OS to be compatable with the newer phone OS's.

No issues for me with iPhone 13 Pro Max running 16.1.2 and I’ve used several different third party and MFi cables, works without issue. I think you either have an issue with your newer phone or with software on your car. Have you cleaned the lightning port on your phone?

 

[siteguru]

Ditto here with Android Auto - no issues so far, and has been rock solid.

 

[SayHiToKyle]

A random question but on the subject of connections. Does CarPlay only work through the USB A slot on MGs or does the USB C slot work too? Just working out which cable I need.

 

[AndyM]

A random question but on the subject of connections. Does CarPlay only work through the USB A slot on MGs or does the USB C slot work too? Just working out which cable I need.

USB A only

 

[SayHiToKyle]

USB A only

Thank you!

 

[siteguru]

The USB A port has a symbol next to it that looks like 2 screens .. to me that tells me that it is the port for screen mirroring (i.e. Android Auto/Carplay)

 

[Tig170]

Im one of the newer iphone users who is still having issues with this (connects for 1-2 seconds, then disconects - sometimes (mostly)) - to me its to do with the cable chip (its not debris in the phone 12 as just had mine serviced /cleaned out by an apple repair shop), as the genuine ones which come with the phone (standard lightening at the phone end), are usb-C, where as the MG4 uses USB-A, hence you have to use a non-genuine (or older apple) cable with a USB A end - I've no proof on this yet, but have just bought a short non-genuine cable as shown above (awaiting delivery though). It always charges when connected to the car (so is to do with the data / handshaking / checking etc. - and no it doesn't work using the MG4 USB-C port / genuine cable , but does charge the phone)

 

[SomewhereOverTheRainbow]

I have consistent issues when using my phone. It constantly keeps disconnecting, but it doesn't happen when my folks use either of their phones with the same cable. Worth noting that my phone stays connected just fine on other cars.