Thank you. I have been working hard on this issue. Yes you need to make sure your hotspot is on and once connected for the first time the satnav should automatically connect in future.
This does not happen if you have an updated iPhone, and here is the response I got from Mazda: "The problem you describe is already known. Since the last iOS update, it is no longer possible to save the hotspot with an iPhone. In this case, you have to reconnect the hotspot to the Mazda Connect system each time, as you have already described. This problem has arisen due to a change on the part of Apple, so it only affects iPhones. Unfortunately, we cannot tell you when this problem will be fixed."
So I checked the iPhone hotspot issue and there is indeed a problem with making a connection with the iPhone 11 hotspot. I cannot say who is ultimately responsible for that. I had already arranged for my Mazda dealer to update the Mazda system software but this update did not help. Indeed he tried quite a number of the iPhones belonging to his colleagues and none would connect at all.
Mazda do have a compatibility checker which is at http://infotainment.mazdahandsfree.com/howto-findaphone?language=en-EU, but this simply demonstrates that if you have an iPhone 11 with iOS 13 then you are compatible. So if the iPhone is updated beyond iOS 13 then you are stuck and you should not purchase Live Services if that is the mobile you need to use for the connection.
It is suggested that you can reconnect the iPhone to the Mazda system every time you use it, but that is extremely difficult.
- On starting up the Manage Devices page on the Mazda System Settings the hotspot of my iPhone rarely just comes up. Even after waiting 5-10 minutes it is still not there.
- You can "trick" the system by switching the iPhone hotspot off and and then on again and sometimes this works.
- Even if the trick mentioned in 2 above works, when you type in the password for the hotspot the system frequently times out saying the connection failed, try again.
- Suppose you get lucky and make a connection, yes you can then access live services, but maybe only for a while. The system sometimes spontaneously disconnects, and an automatic connection can NEVER be made either when starting up from fresh, or after a spontaneous driving disconnection.
- You can try all the advice available on line about the iPhone network settings but I have found nothing to help.
- Note carefully that when using the Mazda Tool Box there is no warning whatever about the need to check the compatibility of your mobile, nor is there a link to their compatibility checker, so it is very easy to fall into the trap which I have encountered.
I think the only solution now is to seek a refund of the not inconsiderable sum paid for these services.
