Being able to connect our portable devices to the car or being able to access Internet services from the car dashboard is usually the prerogative of newer cars or more equipped cars, which offer Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi or LTE module as standard. If we own a less new or less equipped car, we do not necessarily have to replace it in order to enjoy advanced multimedia: in this guide we will in fact show you how to add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on each car, so you can listen to music from services in most famous streaming, having the on-board navigator with automatic download of new maps and new points of interest and constant Internet connection (using our smartphone's data offer or providing the car itself with a module for access to Internet). The only recommendation is to use all the devices and to configure Internet services when the car is stationary, so as never to risk a car accident.
How to add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on each car
According to our multimedia needs, we can only add Bluetooth or create a real on-board computer with a Wi-Fi connection (to be made with the phone) and a dedicated Internet connection (with LTE data module).How to add Bluetooth in the car
In order to listen to Spotify music or other online streaming services from the speakers of our car, without having to change the standard car radio, simply check that there is an AUX audio input on the dashboard of the car or in the vicinity of the car radio, so that you can connect the adapter to it Mpow Bluetooth 5.0 A2DP receiver (€ 14).
Once the adapter is connected to the car's AUX input, just turn it on, take your smartphone and pair it via Bluetooth to the adapter, so you can transfer all the sounds produced by the phone's multimedia apps to the car stereo system. The adapter chosen works wirelessly for 10 hours, but can be kept under constant charge with a dedicated USB cable (if our car has a USB charging port) or with a USB charger inserted in the cigarette lighter. If we have difficulty connecting the adapter to the AUX socket (perhaps because it is positioned in an impractical point to reach), we can always use a 3.5mm jack extension, so that we can always connect the adapter.
If our car is not equipped with an AUX port, we can use a Bluetooth adapter via FM such as the Bovon Bluetooth FM Transmitter (€ 16).
With this device, connected to the cigarette lighter of the car, we can establish a Bluetooth connection with our phone and transmit the sounds on a free FM radio frequency, choosing it directly from the display on the adapter; in this way it will be sufficient to tune the car radio to the FM frequency chosen to be able to listen to the music and sounds of the phone. Given the extreme proximity of the FM source, the sound quality will be perfect, as if we had a real Bluetooth stereo system in the car. In addition to Bluetooth devices we can use the adapter as a USB charging point or we can use it to read MP3 music saved on USB sticks or external disks or on microSD.
If our car allows you to change your car radio, we recommend adding support for Bluetooth by focusing on a new car radio with support for wireless technology, such as the Sony DSX-A416BT (€ 92).
By mounting this car radio in our car we can quickly associate new smartphones via Bluetooth using NFC technology (but we can also connect them in the old way, by associating the right device), we can connect up to two Bluetooth smartphones at a time, we will have voice control available Siri and Google, we will be able to answer any call directly from the car radio and we will also have a USB port and an AUX input to connect other sources of music or sounds at any time. Obviously we can use it as a normal car radio, to listen to FM radio stations picked up by the car's antenna.
The peculiarity of the new car stereo systems is the absence of a CD player, which has now fallen into disuse: if we want to listen to our CDs also on this car radio, we recommend that you convert the music of the CD into MP3 files and upload all the tracks to a USB stick or point to an external CD player with AUX cable taken separately.
How to add Wi-Fi in the car
To be able to add Wi-Fi in the car, so that we can connect to the Internet, we will have to spend much more and we will have to replace the old car radio with a latest generation on-board computer, such as the ATOTO A6 Universal 2 (179 €).
With this device, to be connected in the car radio compartment (if there is enough space), we can connect to the Internet using the Wi-Fi hotspot available on all types of smartphones, so that you can use the updated maps, connect to the services music streaming and surfing the Internet (possibly at a standstill) without having to pick up your mobile phone every time. This computer has an Android operating system, offers an ultra-sensitive touchscreen monitor and allows you to also add the steering wheel controls, using a small control device applicable to any steering wheel. In addition to simple Wi-Fi, it allows you to connect up to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously, so you can manage calls separately and answer without keeping your eyes away from the steering wheel or the road.
Other systems with on-board computer with advanced connectivity (Bluetooth and / or Wi-Fi tethering) can be viewed below:
- Android Autoradio GPS Navi 2 (99 €)
- 2 din car radio with Bluetooth Navigator, Amkle (129 €)
- JVC KW-X830BT (€ 127)
- Panlelo PA1011 Plus 2 Din Android (176 €)
- Pioneer SPH-DA120 Car radio, AppRadio, CarPLay, Double DIN (€ 394)
Conclusions
To bring Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in your car, just use one of the devices proposed in this guide, so as to bring a breath of news into your car without having to change it necessarily. For some of the devices we can act alone (those that connect via AUX or to the cigarette lighter socket), for the car radio and for on-board computers we recommend you contact an electrician, who will certainly know how to connect all the wires correctly.If we are about to buy a new vehicle, do we recommend reading our in-depth analysis Better Apple Carplay or Android Auto? differences and functions, so you can understand which type of integrated entertainment technology to focus on (also based on the type of smartphone we have).
If instead we wanted to use Android Auto directly from our smartphone, without connecting any system or any additional screen, just use the right app, as indicated in the guide Using Android Auto on your smartphone in each car and car radio .
