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Comment by arkadiyt | Hacker News Reader

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arkadiyt

I bought a 2024 RAV4 Hybrid and

1) physically removed the modem (the "DCM") and

2) disconnected the GPS antenna from the head unit

Took a little research but was still an approachable project

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What still functions and what broke?

When I removed the DCM the in-car microphone stopped working, but I bought one of these to get it working again: https://www.autoharnesshouse.com/store/AHH-DCM77.

Also even with no modem, if you use CarPlay on your phone _via Bluetooth_ then the car will just use your phone's internet connection, so I only use CarPlay via a wired USB connection.

Aside from that the car works great, everything is 100% functional. I suppose I don't get OTA updates, which I'm fine with.

Wow, that is evil that they steal your data to send telemetry back via carplay. I always assumed that was possible so I have never actually hooked my phone up to a car but it really saddens me that it actually happens. There is 0 requirement for my phone to pass along raw internet access to the car in my opinion.

I have a Skoda and the GPS module was broken and that messed up a lot of the systems in the car, I couldn't use the adaptive cruise control, no traffic signs recognition and no SOS module. And apparently CarPlay sometimes uses the car's GPS module, so navigation was also a pain. I'd have to start the navigation from outside the car, otherwise it wouldn't use the phone's GPS.

> so I only use CarPlay via a wired USB connection.

Wouldn't that also share your phones internet connection with the car?

Did the car have a built-in navigation feature? I presume after you removed the GPS connection it broke, and you instead use CarPlay for navigation?

Is there anything special in the harness? Or is it just a wiring setup to make it easy to plug in with the bypass?

Cool so my USB wireless car play dongle still has some life left in it. Good to know.

Given that some countries already move on legislation for government remote control of cars, I wonder how long this method will be actually legal.

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