Fordpass location finder - cellular or satellite?

[Potterz]

Does the Fordpass app "find" your location via cellular or satellite? (Thinking about remote offroad)

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[RangerBill]

Does the Fordpass app "find" your location via cellular or satellite? (Thinking about remote offroad)

It would use the built-in GPS and report location via cellular.

 

[Frenchy]

It would use the built-in GPS and report location via cellular.

You might be correct on that. That said I do feel it uses a cellular signal in a way. Telematics is pretty common to use cell signal for connectivity.

 

[RangerBill]

You might be correct on that. That said I do feel it uses a cellular signal in a way. Telematics is pretty common to use cell signal for connectivity.

Kinda what I said.

 

[Potterz]

So... if the truck is out beyond any cell coverage, can I see its location on fordpass at home?

 

[Frenchy]

So... if the truck is out beyond any cell coverage, can I see its location on fordpass at home?

If you are lucky, then yes. Unfortunately Ford decided that AT&T was the best option for Telemetry on their vehicles

 

[RangerBill]

So... if the truck is out beyond any cell coverage, can I see its location on fordpass at home?

It uses cellular to report your location via FordPass. It gets your truck's location from GPS, so no to your question. It would only show your truck's last known position when it had cellular coverage.

 

[Grandaccess]

So... if the truck is out beyond any cell coverage, can I see its location on fordpass at home?

It may use the last location it seen it...

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

I found the answer within the FordPass Privacy Policy. This is the legal disclaimer where they disclose how they collect information.

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/fordpass/manage-my-fordpass-account/fordpass-privacy-policy/

It looks like the answer is based on how your vehicle is equipped. If not equipped with GPS; it uses a combination of the in-vehicle modem and the location data of the smart phone that you've connected the FordPass app to. If your vehicle is equipped with GPS it is able to use the onboard sensor as well.

This line was interesting: "Vehicle Location may also be derived from IP address." I'm presuming this means the IP address of the onboard modem.

 

[RangerBill]

I found the answer within the FordPass Privacy Policy. This is the legal disclaimer where they disclose how they collect information.

https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/fordpass/manage-my-fordpass-account/fordpass-privacy-policy/

It looks like the answer is based on how your vehicle is equipped. If not equipped with GPS; it uses a combination of the in-vehicle modem and the location data of the smart phone that you've connected the FordPass app to. If your vehicle is equipped with GPS it is able to use the onboard sensor as well.

This line was interesting: "Vehicle Location may also be derived from IP address." I'm presuming this means the IP address of the onboard modem.

The OP has a Lariat, does that model always have a built-in Navigation or is it optional? I don't know the answer, but if true, it would have the GPS for location. In any case, he would need a cellular connection in the truck for the Ford Pass location to be updated.

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

I'm pretty sure all Lariats are equipped with GPS...

 

[Frenchy]

I'm pretty sure all Lariats are equipped with GPS...

Just because you have a GPS/Navigation does not mean it is what shares the location. I had an XLT that did not have Navigation. It still has the Telematics that shared location

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

@Frenchy - yeah I was just replying to Ranger Bill's comment. If you see my comment right before that one, you'll see the location services on the XLT's are primarily coming from the onboard modem and data from the device paired to FordPass app.

 

[Frenchy]

@Frenchy - yeah I was just replying to Ranger Bill's comment. If you see my comment right before that one, you'll see the location services on the XLT's are primarily coming from the onboard modem and data from the device paired to FordPass app.

Yeah the same thing applies for any vehicle(Ford wise at least) that has the good old Telematics. I know this much since I deal with it on Forklifts. To say the least it is interesting stuff.

 

[RangerBill]

Just because you have a GPS/Navigation does not mean it is what shares the location. I had an XLT that did not have Navigation. It still has the Telematics that shared location

To the OP's question, if he has no cellular service via the Telematics module, Ford Pass won't have the truck's current location. It will display the truck's last known position before the cellular connection was lost.

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