4G/LTE Hotspot question

[ControlNode]

Hotspot is useless in my opinion. What phone does not have one? Does anyone not have unlimited data anymore?

I just think the hotspot feature is dated.

Yes, there are still people without unlimited data. I was one of them until a couple months ago.

That said, I think that automakers are starting to think a little more about this after the 3g deactivation and how that affected connected features for older vehicles. That's going to happen eventually for our 4g vehicles.



I thought the improved antenna position might matter on the truck's 4g connection. But it didn't really make much difference. Reception was no better than my phone.

Well, my phone is T-Mobile/Sprint/US Cellular, there are places with no service from those 3 (2 if you consider the merger) so I do have the hotspot active in the truck for AT&T. There are plenty of places I've been on the hotspot while driving and the phone has no data.

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[Squatchranger]

Well, my phone is T-Mobile/Sprint/US Cellular, there are places with no service from those 3 (2 if you consider the merger) so I do have the hotspot active in the truck for AT&T. There are plenty of places I've been on the hotspot while driving and the phone has no data.

To be fair that is because the networks of tmobile or whatever they call themselves these days are absolute crap verizon is the best atat is good but not as good and those guys are the worst, hence the pricing difference you get what you pay for.

 

[ControlNode]

To be fair that is because the networks of tmobile or whatever they call themselves these days are absolute crap verizon is the best atat is good but not as good and those guys are the worst, hence the pricing difference you get what you pay for.

Well, with Google Fi I get a lot and pay very little, biggest plus is the unlimited phone and data while abroad. Work use to have me in EU once or twice a year. In my home area the coverage is fine. But when I'm out driving off the freeways I see there are dead areas still. I've never been a fan of Verizon in my area.

 

[Squatchranger]

Well, with Google Fi I get a lot and pay very little, biggest plus is the unlimited phone and data while abroad. Work use to have me in EU once or twice a year. In my home area the coverage is fine. But when I'm out driving off the freeways I see there are dead areas still. I've never been a fan of Verizon in my area.

Yeah in some spots at&t actually has better coverage up in vermont for example but generally verizon is gonna come out on top. For international that is huge I am generally within the continent so don't need it bar the occasional cruise or trip but then I really don't use my phone anyways

 

[Garemlin]

So activating it is not required to use the fordpass features however having it is. Ford has an agreement with at&t to allow you to use the fordpass features free without having to activate it but you do need the hotspot installed even if not "activated" to use fordpass because the signals are transmitted via cell signal and you need the receiver transmitter combo to get the commands and have confirmation pinged back. So TLDR you will not have that functionality unless ford is replacing the modem with something else that can still receive and transmit the data

Well this is great. Probably something we won't know until they start arriving at dealers.

 

[Squatchranger]

Well this is great. Probably something we won't know until they start arriving at dealers.

I'd bet that they will keep some form of transmitter in there to maintain functionality

 

[Garemlin]

I'd bet that they will keep some form of transmitter in there to maintain functionality

I would hope so. They have been pushing the free features of the Ford Pass app for a few years now. Would be a bunch of pissed off customers if they just decided to not include it.

 

[halligan1201]

So activating it is not required to use the fordpass features however having it is. Ford has an agreement with at&t to allow you to use the fordpass features free without having to activate it but you do need the hotspot installed even if not "activated" to use fordpass because the signals are transmitted via cell signal and you need the receiver transmitter combo to get the commands and have confirmation pinged back. So TLDR you will not have that functionality unless ford is replacing the modem with something else that can still receive and transmit the data

According to my dealer this morning when I called, they are replacing the hotpot capable modem with a simpler (and apparently more available) modem.

 

[Trigganometry]

I use the hotspot on my phone and have the truck connect to it. It does it automatically when I touch WiFi icon in sync now

 

[ControlNode]

I'd bet that they will keep some form of transmitter in there to maintain functionality

I wouldn't bet on it.

According to my dealer this morning when I called, they are replacing the hotpot capable modem with a simpler (and apparently more available) modem.

And your dealer had always been right?

 

[RangerTX]

Well, my phone is T-Mobile/Sprint/US Cellular, there are places with no service from those 3 (2 if you consider the merger) so I do have the hotspot active in the truck for AT&T. There are plenty of places I've been on the hotspot while driving and the phone has no data.

I stand corrected!

In my area T-Mobile is very good and their 5G is arguably better than Verizon. I dont travel like I used to so I forget not every area has the coverage that I enjoy.

 

[ControlNode]

I stand corrected!

In my area T-Mobile is very good and their 5G is arguably better than Verizon. I dont travel like I used to so I forget not every area has the coverage that I enjoy.

Yeah, the best provider depends on where the user will be using the phone most and the commonly traveled areas. When I'm towing, I avoid the freeway since the Ranger states max speed while towing is 62MPH, I don't want to be the slow car(truck) on the fast roads. When I picked up an Element in Concord my little sister bought it was back roads back to New Bern area. Our phones kept losing connection, but the truck's Wi-Fi covered my phone just fine, I ended up giving her the Wi-Fi to the truck and she was online most of the drive back too. I don't know who her provider is.

 

[Jason B]

Who knows what they are doing. Could be eliminating the 4G LTE and rolling back to plain old 4G. There is a difference, but probably not noticeable as most people won't be downloading large amounts of data in a vehicle. LTE technology offers faster data connection and lower latency. Additionally, LTE lets more phones connect to the same network at one time. And they can't go back to 3G, as that service is being eliminated, across the US at least.

 

[Squatchranger]

I wouldn't bet on it.


And your dealer had always been right?

It would be common sense but based on the blue ovals track record u got a point lol fordpass is a huge selling point and part of the way that the verify new vehicle purchases for their name match program so if they get rid of it they will be causing a whole lot of problems. I would hope and pray that they would realize this and act accordingly but idk

 

[Squatchranger]

Who knows what they are doing. Could be eliminating the 4G LTE and rolling back to plain old 4G. There is a difference, but probably not noticeable as most people won't be downloading large amounts of data in a vehicle. LTE technology offers faster data connection and lower latency. Additionally, LTE lets more phones connect to the same network at one time. And they can't go back to 3G, as that service is being eliminated, across the US at least.

I would bet they are putting in a simplified version that just does enough to transmit and receive basic data instead of a whole hotspot after all the difference between a basic command like hey start the truck vs your 11 year old watching disney channel are two different things the basic transmitter would be way easier

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