When I first got my '19 RDX Advanced, I found that whenever I played messages from my phone the Acura interface would read out an extended message header before reading the message. For instance, if I received the message "OK", the playback would be something along the lines of ."From mailbox 770-555-1212 To mailbox 770-555-1212 On Date XYZ Time XYZ message contents OK." I asked around this forum then and nobody seemed to be getting anything like that on their systems. I had a cheap Moto G7 so I assumed it was just an issue with the phone OS implementation. Now I have upgraded to a Pixel 7. Unfortunately, it still does the same thing, so I can now rule out the phone as the culprit. There is nothing obvious when I use the entertainment center's debug mode, either.

I have been away for a while from the Forum. Has this come up and been solved? If not, any ideas? I almost want to take an OBDII device and start looking a switches deep down.

Thanks in Advance

 

You didn't mention how you connect your phone to the RDX, but this is my experience.

My phones did the same when connected by Bluetooth. Like yourself, I have only owned Motorola phones, so I don't know if the problem is limited to Motorola, but I expect it occurs on all phones.

Several months ago I purchased an AA Wireless dongle to provide wireless Android Auto. Now I just get the message text read, and none of the header information. This is true for both SMS messages and WhatsApp messages.

 

Yes, I have been using Bluetooth for that, it does seem to behave better with a USB connection when I am using hardwired Android Auto services. Seems a shame that I would have to hang an extra device on the system to fix it, but I may end up giving that a try..

 

I own a 2021 Acura TLX that is doing the same thing when my phone is connected via Bluetooth. I get the whole text message header read aloud and then the actual massage. It is very very annoying! I have a Pixel 7 Pro connected via Bluetooth and connecting to USB doesn't make sense on short trips. I have not been able to figure out how to turn off the message header so it is not read aloud. Please post if you know the answer.

 

Short trips are why a wireless Android Auto connection is so useful. On longer trips you would want to use the cable to keep the phone battery charged.

The 2 most popular devices are both the same price of $89.99. I purchased the AA Wireless, and it connects very quickly and responds as smoothly as a wired connection would. I would definitely say that these devices are worth more than $89.99 in convenience (including getting rid of SMS header info).

 

I have looked into these a bit and the biggest complaint seems to be music/audio dropouts. Do you find these to still be an issue? I really immerse myself in the audio of the Advance. Dropouts would be torture.

 

I did a lot of research before purchasing my AA Wireless, and I don't recall every hearing that complaint.

These wireless devices (i.e. dongles) communicate to the phone using both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

When the dongle is first powered up, the phone connects to it via Bluetooth. At this point the phone app instructs the phone to disconnect from it's current Wi-Fi connection (if it has one) and to reconnect via Wi-Fi to the dongle.

Just like any Wi-Fi connection, the signal can be interrupted by sources of radio interference. Since the communication range is so short (2 feet from pocket to center console), it takes a lot before communication is affected. In fact there is only one spot on my city's main street, where I consistently lose the communication when traffic comes to a stop at that point.

In comparison, I lose the signal from both Sirius and FM radio stations many times each day when driving amongst high rise buildings and under bridges.

If you find the quality of music over your current Bluetooth connection is satisfactory, I don't think you will see any difference over the Wi-Fi dongle connections. Of course Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Sirius Satellite connections will never have the quality of FLAC music on a USB drive.

Some people find that these devices will drain the phone's battery quicker than normal. It's true the battery will drain quicker, but it's not necessarily the dongle causing it. If you were driving with the phone being held in a vent mount, displaying a navigation screen, while playing a podcast, the battery consumption would also be high. In fact it would probably be higher since illuminating the phone's screen consumes a large amount of power. That is why these are great for short trips, but you would still use the cable connection for longer multi hour trips.

Prior to purchasing my AA Wireless, I never used Android Auto except for long trips. Now it is operating on every trip, which lets me see current road conditions on the map, and to get notified of radar traps ahead. It also lets me speak to the Google Assistant at any time to ask for weather reports, or to take notes while I have an idea in my head. And of course, what you are looking for, the ability to only read only the message body of incoming SMS and WhatsApp messages, and allow me to reply by converting my voice to text.

 

I have been using the Motorola MA1 in my two cars for over a year, and bought the same unit for my son. I agree with @RDX-Rick, long trips will run the phones battery down if you don't plug the phone in, even if the screen is off. But I always use it around town with phone in my pocket without issue...sometimes even being away from home running errands for hours.

 

Agree either of those solutions are great. I've got both and haven't had any issues in my time with either. Ended up putting the AA Wireless in the better half's vehicle and keeping the MA1 in mine.

 

This weekend I did some experimentation and I get the message header even when plugged into the USB port with AA running. I know that in a few instances, I have not gotten the header info, but just going in through the USB port is not the entire solution.

 

So AA was running, but did you check the message through AA or did you retrieve it from the vehicle menu? For it to read properly would require it to be read from within AA.

 

Okay, so I thought you meant that USB connection vs. Bluetooth connection would get rid of the headers. Apparently, what you meant was to use a different message app, an Android based one instead of the Acura-supplied one.

Everything makes sense now. Thanks for the reply.

BTW, I just got back from the dealer and (gasp!) they were no help on the issue.

 

Which do you prefer? sometimes I keep the better item and give the other to my wife and sometimes I give her the better one. From all the comments, though, I get the feeling people like the one they have, whichever it is.

 

The MA1 for simplicity, if your want is to plug it in and go. This is what I'd recommend to most people. The AAWireless shines if you like the ability to tinker with things like the screen DPI to force AA to display in different ways on different devices. AAWireless did seem to be more finicky in my time with it while the MA1 was as simple as plug in, pair, done.

 

I want to thank NBPDC505, Smilin_Jim, JB in AZ, and RDX-Rick for posting on this topic. I am new the the Acura world and really appreciate the information. I have been using the Motorola MA1 for a couple of weeks now and I am very happy this the performance aside from the boot up time.

While, for the most part, I love my TLX. The TLX does leave me scratching my head sometimes on Acura's infotainment decisions. My 2015 Ford F-150 Platinum with the dreadedMicrosoft Auto embedded operating system that powered the early versions of Ford's SYNC could figure out how to read text messages, plus you can change the Ambient Lighting on the move. I am so puzzled that Acura let this quirky system go into production. All 2021 and up Acuras should come standard Wi-Fi enabled. The vehicles already have the capability for Wi-Fi Hotspot built-in. Adding Wireless version of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is a no brainer, plus adds value to the car. Infotainment issues aside, at least the sound quality approaches Volvo's Bowers & Wilkins and being at a fraction of the cost. I guess my vast puzzlement of the Acura infotainment systems' implementation will continue. I will just sit back, let go of the many annoyances, and be soothed by the magnificent sound produced by the 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system makes. Nirvana?... Almost....