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Are you looking for a way to add smart functionality to car and do not know where to start? If so I have a great option for those that already use Alexa home assistant. That device is the Roav Viva. Its a 2-port USB Alexa-enabled car charger.
Roav Viva – Features
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As I mentioned before, the Roav Viva is an Alexa-enabled 2 port USB car charger. Its got a ton features and can do many of the skills that the Echo Dot or the Eufy Genie can do. Its downsized to fit into a car and looks good doing it. Below are some of the features copied directly from the Roav Viva Amazon Sales Page. For more information, check out the sales page.
- Alexa Inside: ‘s voice service gives you complete voice control in your car. Just say the word to get directions, listen to audiobooks from Audible, shop online, play music, and more over Bluetooth, CarPlay, Android Auto, or an Aux in connection. What You Get: Roav VIVA, Manual, Quick Guide, Happy Card, Skills Cards, 12-month warranty and our friendly customer service. (Please note: Spotify is not supported. )
- High-Speed Charging: Dual charging ports equipped with Anker’s exclusive PowerIQ technology deliver blazing charging speeds to both driver and passenger. Qualcomm Quick Charge not supported.
- Supports Alexa Communication: Calling, Messaging, Drop In, and Announcements — all hands-free.
- Voice Isolation: 2 integrated microphones provide noise cancellation and accurate voice identification.
- Note: Please check the dimensions of the space surrounding your car’s cigarette lighter to see if VIVA will fit before purchasing. If your VIVA cannot be plugged in or has Bluetooth connection issues, return it for a full refund within 30 days of purchasing. Please check the list of unsuitable car models VIVA is incompatible with in the User Guide found in the Technical Specifications section below. If you have other issues, contact us via Live Chat in the app.
Roav Viva – The Review
I’ve been using the Roav Viva since September 2018. I received the Viva free from Anker and their power draw program. Today I would like to share with you my long term review of the Roav Viva.
First Impressions
The Roav Viva comes in the standard orange car box that has a cardboard sleeve around the box. Once removed, the box opens like a book to display the device in all its glory. The package is almost completely recyclable and easy to open. For me, this is a big deal. I hate package that is difficult to open.
Once I removed the Roav Viva from the box it found to have a large face that is large enough that it might block other outlets. Its sticks out from the outlet a little more than your average multi USB port car charger. On the side of the charger it has two quick charge USB ports. On the top surface you will find the only one push button that activates Alexa and a blue L.E.D. ring around the surface of the charger. This light gives off a different color for each status. This ring should work like the ring on the Echo Dots.
In my opinion this device is to big and takes up to much space. It may not fit some cars if their outlets tightly placed. In addition to the size the USB ports are on the side and will make it difficult for some to take advantage of the extra USB ports.
As to the build quality, its looks and feels to be built well. The status L.E.D. ring is nice and bright. Once you know what the different light colors and blinking patterns means you will find it useful.
Setup
Setup is fairly simple. You need to have the Alexa app and the Roav Viva (Google Play and iOS) installed. If you haven’t already created an account, create an Alexa account (usually your Amazon account). Once the apps are installed, go out to your car and plug in your device. Turn the car on and open the Roav Viva app. Follow the instructions. You will also need to create an account. Once you completed setup with Roav Viva app, setup may require you to do some setup in the Alexa app.
After completing setup, you should be able to ask Alexa (about 48,000 skills) to do things. You can ask it the current weather, about traffic conditions, directions, control smart devices in your house, and lot of other things.
Testing Phase
During the testing phase I tested what skills it could do, answering calls, reliability, and charging devices. Testing phase was started in November using my old LG G4 and then my Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
Charging
Honestly I really do not use the Roav Viva for charging my devices. I don’t like the placement of the outlets and depending on where its plugged in it will block other outlets or if the USB cables are plugged in they will block access to other outlets I that I’m using.
But for charging I found the outlets will quickly charge my devices. The charger doesn’t overheat during Alexa operates while my devices are charging.
Charge times are faster than your average car chargers. If I didn’t have another car charger with quick charger I would find a way to use the USB ports to charge my devices.
I found that I can charge my phones from 80% to 100% in about 30 minutes and on long road trips I can I charge an almost empty in less than 2 hours.
Alexa Operation Test
During testing I found Roav Viva’s Alexa feature to be unreliable unless you have full LTE or close to full strength. If the signal isn’t that good, I found Alexa took to long think or it would just say Alexa unavailable please try again, or sometimes no network connection.
What Works
When Alexa was working it worked great for my needs. When I said “Hey Alexa” she would answer almost a second later and I would ask it questions. For I wanted traffic updates, maps via Waze or Google Maps. I even used it to control my heating and cooling at the house since I have a smart thermostat. A few times I used Alexa to turn on lights around the house and on the inside when I came home to a dark house (normally our lights turn on at dusk, but due to a power outrage earlier, they didn’t turn on).
The Roav Viva is advertised as knowing 48,000 plus skills and learning more. So some skills you use that I haven’t tried may or may not work for you.
For my application I found that whenever the Viva is active whatever audio app is running will mute until you are finished with Alexa.
What Didn’t Work
Spotify still doesn’t work even though Roav says its coming soon. This feature has been listed since its release. I use Spotify as my only source of music so this is a draw back but manageable.
Unlike Google Assistant or Siri you can’t tell Alexa to send a text message (On some Alexa devices I’m able to send text messages).
Although your phone will pair with the Roav Viva it will not pair with your vehicle. I’ve read some reviews that some people couldn’t pair their Viva and their phone to their car Bluetooth. If you can’t get it to work you will need use an AUX cable from your phone to your car or use a FM transmitter such as the Roav Smartcharge F2. This is my current setup and it works great.
The Roav Viva and the Roav Smartcharge F2 works great together. I can use audio from phone to my car. I can use the Viva Microphone to make calls and the person on the other hears me clearly and I can hear them through the car speakers.
Making Calls and Using the Microphones
Using the speaker phone works great. For quick answers and end calls you can press the button the Roav Viva. This can even activate Alexa for commands.
Using the dual noise cancellation microphone for using Alexa works. You do have to speak up and clearly if there is a lot of road noise or your radio is loud. I never had any issues where Alexa thought I was asking her questions when I wasn’t.
Final Thoughts
Overall I like the Roav Viva, I’m just not a big fan of Alexa. I have both Alexa and Google Assistant units and use them for different things. But I find that I mostly use my Google Assistant since I use Chromecast.
I did find it annoying that can’t send text messages or control Spotify. But these issues aren’t deal breakers for me. What becomes difficult for me is the reliability issue. You should still be able operate Alexa in LTE low bars. When the rest of my web based apps work but Alexa won’t that’s difficult to understand.
At night the LED Rig is two bright. You need the option to turn the brightness down at night. I usually keep something in front of the light. Its distracting and gives me a headache over time.
I also do not like the size of the face or placement of the USB ports. It takes up to much space around the outlet and will block other outlets. This is due to components on the inside. Roav did their best to make the unit as small as possible but still operate safely and reliably. Because of the already large size of the face the Roav choose to put the USB outlets on the side of the Viva.
After checking the reviews on Amazon I really didn’t see many of the issues the reviewers mentioned. The only issues that I mentioned in the review are similar to some of the complaints made on Amazon. Some users compaired it to the Echo Dot and they gave it a negative review. Do not compare the Viva to the Echo Dot. The Echo Dot does a lot of things that that the Viva can not do. From the reviews and from experience I believe this a great basic unit.
If you have smart devices in your house and want to control them from your car, the Roav Viva is the device for you.
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