Ford Streaming vs. Hotspot vs. WiFi

[mr.Magoo]

Is it just me or is this whole setup a bit a-- backwards ?

So apparently it only works to stream music (amazon music) unless you have the Ford Stream option, or, a data connection that isn't the in-car ATT plan/hotspot, because that doesn't work either. You could use your phone as a hotspot and connect to it from the car, and in that case Amazon Music would work just fine, but if you do so you wouldn't be able to use wireless Android Auto.

I'm curious at this point - besides just being a wireless hotspot (for passengers mainly) what benefits / features does this plan give you ?
Clearly it doesn't allow you to stream music, and I don't know if any of the "online" functionality in the truck relies on a dataplan,
but the current setup where you have three features (stream, hotspot & wireless android auto) that doesn't work together and you sort of have to pick your two favorites at best doesn't seem all that well thought through to me....

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[data003]

Definitely not just you!

All of these features are obsolete. Everyone has a device in their pocket these days that can be a hotspot. These devices also stream music over CarPlay/AA.

I wonder if you use wired CarPlay, can your phone be a hotspot? I’d bet yes.

You’d have to be working out of your truck 24/7 to justify the cost of paying for the convenience of any of these.

 

[mr.Magoo]

I had ordered a full year of HotSpot before realizing I can't use it. And now the Ford Stream, sure, it's "only" $10/month but I can also just stream from my phone via Bluetooth, so is the convenience worth $120/year ?
It's not like any of the other Alexa functions stopped working (like controlling my home automation), just the music.

I find the implementation highly annoying, this could have been so simple but instead they chose the worst combination possible.
You'd be better off at this point to get a mobile hotspot and just use it in the car, bonus being you can actually take it with you when you're not in the car.

 

[RedLightning86]

I have the ATT plan, and when camping all around the country and Canada, liked that usually, where my phone's Verizon had a poor connection, or in Canada I had used my fast-roaming up, then the truck's ATT plan would work. But now that done camping for the next 6 months, will probably stop the AT&T again.

 

[GoodSam]

Like the original poster, I am confused about this stuff. Ford streaming was coming to an end on 12-11, one month after getting the truck. So on the display for hotspot, it says to find out about extending its use. Long story short, I sign up for 3mo or 3GB hotspot from AT&T free trial. AT&T offers a 2 day window to sign up for $20/mo unlimited plan, $5 less than normal.

But, I am using Android Auto for navigating as it shows traffic conditions and can re-route for avoiding problems pretty well. And Android Auto seems to set up a separate Wi-Fi link with my Android Moto G Power phone, which ignores/over-rides any Ford/ATT Hotspot that I try choosing on the smartphone. So the Hotspot from Ford ATT seems unusable.

Will making the Moto G a hotspot, work for Ford Connected Services (Alexa? Anything?), work with Android Auto at the same time?

[By the way, Is Waze better than Google Maps?]

When AA is running, the display in front of the driver shows the Pandora channel selection, even though I am using SiriusXM. That is not very good. Data usage gets high using Pandora via AA, so Ford Streaming is not providing the data. The ATT deal at $20/mo unlimited might be better than my Google Fi $10/1GB rate if the truck would use it for Android Auto.

And what is the Alexa deal and Ford Streaming at $10/month, expiring 12-11? Is that the same as, or separate from, the ATT Hotspot? Can it work in concert with Android Auto? Is the Ford streaming a separate system that is working alonge with Android Auto? Does not seem that way based on Google Fi data usage going up. Anyway, I am looking for a clear explanation of all the Cell/Wi-fi/Hotspot options and interactions.

Lots of questions. Hope someone has a link to a brilliant website that straightens my head out.

At Ford account, "connected services", I see this about Alexa, as a Ford Connected Service:
" Eligible 2022 Ford vehicles receive three years of complimentary access to Alexa Built-in and 30-days of complimentary streaming media services that begin on the new vehicle warranty start date " . So that must mean Alexa does not need the $10/mo Ford streaming? Oops, looks like Alexa answering questions is separate from "streaming media services", so maybe Alexa access to Amazon Music would not work without Ford Streaming?

And this about Ford Streaming, expiring 12-11, 30 days after getting truck, says:
"Ford Streaming is available in your vehicle and completely complimentary for thirty days (as of your warranty start date). To take advantage of this amazing feature, please ensure that Alexa Built-in is enabled in your Ford. When your trial expires, simply purchase to re-activate...
*Eligible 2022 vehicles require an Amazon account, SYNC®4 (optional on select vehicles), FordPass Connect, and complimentary Connected Service activated through the FordPass App (see FordPass Terms for details). Requires a monthly service plan available for purchase through your account at Ford.com. 30-day complimentary trial begins on the new vehicle warranty start date. Connected Service plans, features, terms, and consumption limitations subject to change. See product terms for details. Connected Service and features depend on compatible AT&T network availability. Evolving technology/cellular networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features."
Which mentions both Alexa and AT&T needed. Again, how is Ford streaming, $10/mo, related to AT&T at $20-25/mo?

 

[KennyB123]

I rented a car recently that had wireless Android Auto, and I was surprised to find out that I could still create a wireless hotspot from the phone to other devices in the car. So, at least on a Galaxy S22 Ultra, you can do both.

 

[mr.Magoo]

So the Hotspot from Ford ATT seems unusable.

Exactly, unless you have passengers in the truck who for some reason are limited (on data and/or have devices that do not have built in WiFi) and could benefit from a hotspot it is essentially useless. So in my case I'd be paying $200/year to have my Radar Detector on WiFi.

Will making the Moto G a hotspot, work for Ford Connected Services (Alexa? Anything?), work with Android Auto at the same time?

I was surprised to find out that I could still create a wireless hotspot from the phone to other devices in the car. So, at least on a Galaxy S22 Ultra, you can do both.

I am surprised as well that this actually works (at least on an S22 Ultra - which is what I'm using), can't believe I didn't try it. This kind of solves the issue for me at least. The car can connect to your phones wireless hotspot and stream using that data. What I don't know is what functions, if any, die when the included ATT plan expires.
From a convenience standpoint I'd try and use Tasker to enable the mobile hotspot once your phone is connected to Android Auto.
BTW, the monthly promotion from ATT is not all that great as the yearly plan (directly from ATT website) is $200 / year vs. $20 / month on the promotion, so it's only beneficial if you plan on using it less than 10 months of the year and in that case it's only good until you cancel it the first time, so...

 

[GoodSam]

I just discovered that turning off the "wireless projection app" and then using the USB-C connection to the Moto G allows my Moto G to use the AT&T Hotspot for data. This unlimited (?) data at $20/Mo might be cheaper than paying Google Fi at $10/GB if using Android Auto. [I have high usage of data for Google Maps (ABRP also?) and Pandora, so far.]

 

[mr.Magoo]

It does, but it also disables Wireless Android Auto, so now you have to plug your phone in via USB to make it work.

Also note that "streaming" (i.e. Amazon Music) is not using the ATT hotspot/hotspot data, it requires the Ford plan, OR, using your phone as hotspot and the car hooked up to it.

 

[TaxmanHog]

I just discovered that turning off the "wireless projection app" and then using the USB-C connection to the Moto G allows my Moto G to use the AT&T Hotspot for data. This unlimited (?) data at $20/Mo might be cheaper than paying Google Fi at $10/GB if using Android Auto.

It does, but it also disables Wireless Android Auto, so now you have to plug your phone in via USB to make it work.

Also note that "streaming" (i.e. Amazon Music) is not using the ATT hotspot/hotspot data, it requires the Ford plan, OR, using your phone as hotspot and the car hooked up to it.

Both your observations are accurate, the problem I have with wireless android auto is that several of my apps on the mobile device will not work when phone is connected to trucks projection SSID.

If I plug into the phone via USB AtoC port, then the Android Auto resumes it's functionality, charges the phone and the phone resumes taking data over it's 4g (old school S10e) data connection, I am T-mobile customer with unlimited data so it does not matter to me to go this route other than the inconvenience of plugging in.

I did not subscribe to the FORD / AT&T services, if I did ..... I wonder if that would improve my phones ability to get data (for certain apps) in addition to what is feeding the trucks core functions?

 

[mr.Magoo]

the problem I have with wireless android auto is that several of my apps on the mobile device will not work when phone is connected to trucks projection SSID.

Mind sharing which apps and what's not working ? I'm curious if it's a phone or AA issue since the S10 is a bit older and might not support the latest and greatest features.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Mind sharing which apps and what's not working ? I'm curious if it's a phone or AA issue since the S10 is a bit older and might not support the latest and greatest features.

Home security system control app "My Fortress" would not work last night, but today it did with AA on wireless mode via truck projection SSID, GroupMe chat application, might be others that I have not noticed as of yet.

 

[indubitalist]

I’m in this same boat, confused about what the heck Ford was thinking other than turning a radio into a subscription to potentially three separate services simultaneously to fully work, which is an absolute pain and I hate it.
I have a severely autistic son who is tamed by YouTube videos for toddlers, so he burns through data. We used the 3GB trial plan in an afternoon. I signed up for the $200 AT&T plan only to determine it’s seemingly been crippled on purpose to promote the Ford streaming service. How the heck does a truck with its own data plan not have the ability to stream music to itself? It’s asinine. I believe I can get around using my phone’s data for streaming music (I have a cap) by using a USB connection to Apple CarPlay and then connecting my phone to the truck’s hotspot. Think I did this successfully today. I’ll confirm it tomorrow, but really wish this didn’t have to be so complicated.

 

[GoodSam]

used the 3GB trial plan in an afternoon.

Hmm, no way to limit data rate for Ford streaming or AT&T? Is either one an unlimited plan for data?

 

[mr.Magoo]

Hmm, no way to limit data rate for Ford streaming or AT&T? Is either one an unlimited plan for data?

They have a 2GB plan for $15/month, but unless you're using no data or only using it for a month here and there, there's not much point on getting it since the unlimited is $20/month or $16.67/month billed annually ($200).
But then again, with Ford streaming being $10 and ATT being $16 you might as well just get a different plan and a separate 4g modem and leave it in the truck.
And/or just upgrade your phone plan.
It all depends on how you and your family travel and use data.
Personally I think the ATT plan would have been a no-brainer IF the truck (i.e. Ford Streaming/Amazon music) used the same data, but it's almost as if they f'd it up on purpose to make it just that bit more complicated than it has to be and hope that people just pays for it to not have to deal with all the hassle.

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