woropallo

I am looking for help on how to setup the message reading feature on the RLX. My iPhone 4s worked on my other car before I traded it but I got a message the other day and the RLX did not read it. I read the manual and made sure the feature was turned on? I have OS 8.1 on my iphone. Any help would be appreciated.

TampaRLX-SH

It may depend on your OS. iPhone 4s with OS5 is not compatible for reading texts but it is for OS6.

You should check your phone, carrier and OS version to determine. The variables can be staggering as no one phone works will all features.

HandsFreeLink | Acura.com

Colin

Text message reading does not work on any Acura model with any iPhone. However, if you are on the BT Audio input, you can activate Siri on the phone [home button] and speak to her through the HFL system.

miner

Colin,
It works with my iPhone 5.

George Knighton

My iPhone 5S with 7.0.2 worked perfectly well but my iPhone 6 with 8.1 does not work.

I haven't even tried to sort it because, to be honest, it is more or less a blessing in disguise.

I don't think you're going to be able to get it to work until the next Acura firmware. Eight times out of ten, a manufacturer used a shortcut in the code that does not strictly conform to iOS programming recommendations. That means that an iOS version change might very well break the functionality, and I will suggest that is what we have seen here n

George Knighton

The "Hey SIRI!" Functions work very well, I was glad to discover.

Colin

Just to confirm, are you saying you can get the built-in RLX firmware to read the messages aloud and reply from the 6 pre-defined answers? Some people are able to get it to read, but cannot reply.

woropallo

What the "hey SIRI" function?

woropallo

I just got my iPhone 4s to read a message today, but it could not do the reply phrases. My iOS is 8.1

George Knighton

As long as the iPhone is plugged in (this is 8.1 with an iPhone 6), you can just say "Hey SIRI" and the Bluetooth will show signs when it has heard you.

SIRI comes on and waits for a command.

So you can say, "Hey SIRI" and wait a moment, then say, "Send a message to John Smith" or "Call John Smith."

For me this is turning out to maybe be a little easier than the RLX's voice commands, but it could just be my weird accent.

I don't know if other iPhones will do this, but it works with the 6 and 8.1.

woropallo

George
Would you mind telling us how to operate the "hey SIRI" function with the RLX. How do you go to that function versus the car's voice command function?

Colin

As far as I know, this is as much as the iphone will do (till Miner replies). This is why I've told clients not to expect it to work through the Acura system. If you want to use the "hey Siri" function, or the 'press the home button' method, you can achieve much of the same functionality (if not more) but 'technically' the Acura Text Message feature is not compatible with iPhones.

George Knighton

You literally just say Hey SIRI out loud.

You'll notice your Bluetooth screen activate and you might hear the car say "Hang up" because that is where the highlight lands.

George Knighton

It might not be turned on by default.

Settings/General/Siri/Turn on "Hey Siri"

If the setting isn't there then they decided not to take the processor time with the 4S.

But it works fine with the iPhone 6 and the 5S.

woropallo

I have it in my Siri area, it comes with iPhones that can be upgraded to iOS 8.1 which is any iPhone of 4s and above.

George Knighton

Try it, then.

The iPhone has to be able to hear you, of course, so it might not work if you keep your iPhone inside the bin on the shelf.

But, plug it in, turn down the stereo and say, "Hey SIRI!"

:-)

Colin

The iPhone also has to be plugged in to work. Too much battery drain if not.

woropallo

It works, bur seem to go back and forth with the voice command of the car. Should it not turn off the car voice commands?

George Knighton

It's going to read you the highlighted item on the upper screen. It's probably "Hang Up." You might've noticed that this also happens when you answer a call. You and your caller get used to waiting for the car to finish saying "Hang Up" before you proceed with the call.

I take advantage of it by using it as a signal to proceed. I say, "Hey SIRI" and when the car says "Hang Up" then I know I can proceed with "Send a message to John Smith" and then it's SIRI you hear over the car speakers saying "What do you want to say to John Smith?"

My biggest problem with all of this is that I'd prefer to keep my iPhone in the centre bin's tray where it is safe. This means I go through this silly procedure of opening the bin before I say "Hey SIRI."

But it works. :-)

George Knighton

By the way, the new TLX has SIRI Hands Free on the Advance Package. That solves all the problems.

woropallo

Interesting they put it in the 2015 TLX Advance but not the 2015 RLX Advance???

Colin

^^This is actually pretty normal. Once put into production they rarely make running changes to things like radios until they're ready for a midcycle refresh. As newer cars are introduced, they have more advanced technology then a higher line model. A case in point might be the upcoming refresh of the ILX and RDX, it's probable that they will get newer technology than the existing MDX and possibly TLX.