LTE Connection and Wifi Hotspot

[LightningCanuckNB]

I have a bunch of questions about the LTE connection and wifi hotspot built into the lightning. Some of these I might run some experiments on and report back, but am curious if anyone here already knows the answers.

- What is the data cap, if any, on this connection? Speed cap?

- The truck has a wifi hotspot for this connection. But it also has ability to connect to the phone wifi for data (via wireless Android Auto or Carplay). If you are using wireless Android Auto, is the wifi hotspot sharing your phones data connection, or the trucks?

- Finally - what is the subscription that enables this? It is unclear to me. All I know is I have it, but I don't fully understand for how long. There is nothing about a LTE subscription in the FordPass app... there is BlueOval charging, "Connected Navigation", BlueCruise, Alexa, and "Ford Streaming" which says it is only for Alexa. As an aside, *none* of these have expiry dates for me.

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[TaxmanHog]

As far as the cross connection of AA/CP and the trucks integrated telematics connections, [they are not integrated], it's simply a facility for other passengers, which in my opinion is redundant to most folks data plans that come with their phones. The one function that might make it worth having is if I were still working, then I could connect my work laptop while on the road to access tax account and case processing data when making field calls and business visits, thankfully I am retired, so in my case not much value, but you might find it useful

Log onto your Ford account on the web or via Fordpass, look for Wi-Fi Hotspot, this link routes to a page that overviews the details of the trial and a link to AT&T to initiate the trial.

Because of the limited functionality, and the fact that I don't need the hot spot, I am letting my trial expire, but I will continue the "Streaming Service" which continues to bring me the YouTube content.

 

[LightningCanuckNB]

OK so to answer my own questions

- The Hotspot always uses the LTE. It won't share any existing wifi

- When you connect to the hotspot, it goes to a Wifi gateway where you can activate the trial

- Did not try the speed because I want to "save" my trial, but the connection is powered by AT&T or Rogers in Canada.

- Does not seem very useful. Instead I will keep using my existing automation on my phone that turns on the phones Wifi hotspot as soon as Bluetooth is connected. I have tested it with the truck and I can use wireless AA as well as provide a hotspot at the same time.

 

[CRAIGC540]

Thanks Good info. I am using a Verizon ipad that has Hotspot and trying to get the truck to connect automatically when the truck is started.

 

[RickLightning]

OK so to answer my own questions

- The Hotspot always uses the LTE. It won't share any existing wifi

- When you connect to the hotspot, it goes to a Wifi gateway where you can activate the trial

- Did not try the speed because I want to "save" my trial, but the connection is powered by AT&T or Rogers in Canada.

- Does not seem very useful. Instead I will keep using my existing automation on my phone that turns on the phones Wifi hotspot as soon as Bluetooth is connected. I have tested it with the truck and I can use wireless AA as well as provide a hotspot at the same time.

Your conclusion is what most people come to.

 

[brewski]

Hotspot in a vehicle is very 20teen-ish.

 

[mattskr]

I use the hotspot in the truck daily but I'm also grandfathered into a $15/mo plan for unlimited data and if I didn't have it I would eat through my Verizon 50gb tether limit easily on my phone. I remember I used up the I think 2gb or 3gb trial faster than I could get the emails that said "Welcome to the trial", lol.

For me the hotspot is a must. I wish it was 5G as it can be slow but sometimes I've found it faster than my Verizon phone (which is 5G) just depends on where I'm parked. Can be useful especially in extremely rural areas of Texas where AT&T owns everything.

 

[CRAIGC540]

I use my iPad Hotspot for a Android box that connects via apple carplay. I wish the truck would connect to the iPad Hotspot automatically.

 

[LifeAsDane]

I use the hotspot in the truck daily but I'm also grandfathered into a $15/mo plan for unlimited data and if I didn't have it I would eat through my Verizon 50gb tether limit easily on my phone. I remember I used up the I think 2gb or 3gb trial faster than I could get the emails that said "Welcome to the trial", lol.

For me the hotspot is a must. I wish it was 5G as it can be slow but sometimes I've found it faster than my Verizon phone (which is 5G) just depends on where I'm parked. Can be useful especially in extremely rural areas of Texas where AT&T owns everything.

Interesting. I have a $10/mo unlimited plan with AT&T for my cellular ipad. When I went to AT&T again for the unlimited plan with the F150 it was still that price... Although it is it's own account and has it's own login I do have AT&T for my cell phone as well but didn't think that's what got me the $10

As far as the cross connection of AA/CP and the trucks integrated telematics connections, [they are not integrated], it's simply a facility for other passengers, which in my opinion is redundant to most folks data plans that come with their phones. The one function that might make it worth having is if I were still working, then I could connect my work laptop while on the road to access tax account and case processing data when making field calls and business visits, thankfully I am retired, so in my case not much value, but you might find it useful

Log onto your Ford account on the web or via Fordpass, look for Wi-Fi Hotspot, this link routes to a page that overviews the details of the trial and a link to AT&T to initiate the trial.

Because of the limited functionality, and the fact that I don't need the hot spot, I am letting my trial expire, but I will continue the "Streaming Service" which continues to bring me the YouTube content.

Reviving this out of frustration and seeing your comment pretty much explains the technical part but doesn't answer WHY Ford won't let the streaming run off the LTE hotspot built-in!

I pay AT&T for the truck to have/offer a hotspot inside the vehicle, so why can't that same hotspot be used to connect to the streaming service for watching YouTube?
My truck is finally at the update that has the streaming options available! The excite quickly went away when I see Ford trying to squeeze $10/mo out of me or to use my own Wifi Connection! Isn't that what my truck is broadcasting? C'mon now.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Reviving this out of frustration and seeing your comment pretty much explains the technical part but doesn't answer WHY Ford won't let the streaming run off the LTE hotspot built-in!

No one from @Ford Motor Company has explained the logic of this limitation.

 

[mr.Magoo]

No one from @Ford Motor Company has explained the logic of this limitation.

My guess is that it's an agreement with ATT to try and limit data usage, there's no technical reason that makes any sense.

That said, a "travel router" solves the issue, costs around 30-40 depending on features but they all do what you want it to do.

You can also set up your phone (android, using tasker) to hotspot automatically once in the truck, so you have car hotspot >> phone >> truck wifi.
It's not elegant but it works.

I'm using the travel router as it's cleaner and I need fixed IPs for my black box.

 

[LightningCanuckNB]

No one from @Ford Motor Company has explained the logic of this limitation.

The reality is the reason for all of these limitations are the same - money grabs.

Ford is not even coy about it. If you listen to Jim Farley's remarks, Ford plans to make 50% or more of its revenue from add-on services over time. This revenue is very juicy for car companies because it is a recurring revenue stream. As such, they *do not want* you to use your phone's hotspot, and *they do not want* you to use your phone to watch YouTube etc. They want to make it *just painful enough* that you will pay Ford $10, $15, or whatever per month.

But honestly - why anyone in their right mind would pay $10 or more a month for "Ford Streaming" is totally beyond me. If you can't be bothered to figure out how to make YouTube and Netflix work over Android Auto (hint: https://github.com/shmykelsa/AAAD), then just buy a Android tablet from Walmart for $50 and keep in in the glove box.

 

[TaxmanHog]

If you can't be bothered to figure out how to make YouTube and Netflix work over Android Auto

I'm not an idiot, figured it out yet performance via my S10 hotspot SUCKS BIG time.

 

[LightningCanuckNB]

I'm not an idiot, figured it out yet performance via my S10 hotspot SUCKS BIG time.

It works great with AA for me. No lag at all. Watched Disney+ for an hour straight while charging this past weekend over AA on the big screen. Although I will say, the screen in the Lightning is not that good for watching streaming anyway because of the aspect ratio. I wish they designed it to rotate like Fisker has.

 

[mtg]

Your conclusion is what most people come to.

I had this same question, and thank you for the above info.

I did come across one other reason to pay for the truck’s 4g plan: it has better service coverage than our phones.

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