True, to get that you need one that connects directly with cell service. Most don’t like paying additional cell fees.
Yeah, I am one of them 
I could have figured that out. You use SmartThings instead of an alarm system with monthly fees. Though SmartThings is never as reliable, it is better than nothing.
Ha, nice try. The irony is that I use a professional security system, BUT I don’t pay for monitoring services, instead I pay for cellular backup.
So I was partially right.
I rarely forget the phone but more likely accidentally leave the phone off. Automatic has an audible handshake sound but I don’t always notice the failure tone.
Crash monitoring and call assist is not as robust as On-Star, but it is better than what I had before Automatic. And no monthly fees.
I wonder how much data it actually uses though. It might work with an old phone set up on one of those T-Mobile BYOD free 500mb a month data plans. Set it to upload the collective data when car is in garage/driveway on home wifi .
Glad the BAFX is working for you, but a word of caution for others considering one… I have been through 2 of them over the past several years and neither work anymore.
So how are people using this with SmartThings? I have had one of the cheap bluetooth OBD2 adapters with android Torque app for years and it has been great for diagnostics code reading. I would like to get a better tool that can read more manufacturer specific diagnostics (transmission, tire pressure?, seats?, etc) than the OBD2 basics (mainly for checking engine emissions).
I pretty much always have my phone with me so I’ll try out Dash and see if I can find anything useful with that and IFTTT.
It’s surprising that iOS still doesn’t support basic Bluetooth serial profiles that would allow these (or better GPS) to be used with iPhone. Looks like there are some cheap ($20) wifi OBD2 readers now too. If I remember correctly, the WiFi OBD2 were $350 back when I had my iPhone.
Both Automatic and Dash have IFTTT channels as well as API’s that can be leveraged. The IFTTT channels have only triggers, but the APIs will also support queries. But the available events and queryable info are limited compared to what’s actually available from the ECU with a good scan tool (hardware/software combination).
Hard to know what folks would want here. I suppose “ignition-on-event + location-home = open garage door” is one of them, but since I don’t trust SmartThings controlling my garage door at this point, it is not something I would pursue.
Just return them, their return policy is really lax.
Amazon has the Automatic’s for $69 right now.
I see the Automatic on Amazon as $106.95
If you can find the 2nd Gen at Target, they are going for $29.98.
http://brickseek.com/clearance/deals/all/?q=Car+Adapter&s%5B%5D=1%2C11
Their official website also has $69.99 with this code:
ThanksForNeverTellingMomAboutThatThingIDid
I’ve had an Automatic on my wife’s car for about a month. Yes, she knows it’s there. The problem is her iPhone 6 bluetooth only connects about half the time. According to Automatic support there are several issues with iOS 9.3.x.
Curious if anybody else is having this issue. Automatic support basically just told me to wait for a fix.
I have a iPhone 6S and have had lots of issues with my Automatic staying connected since I got the phone to the point that I don’t really even use it at all.
How has this held up?
I’m going to try this with my dongle
I use to forget that BT and location were off and missed most trips. Setting up an IFTTT rule to turn them on when my home wifi signal drops solved that problem