Software updates?

[Trp3383]

Bought a 23xlt er a month ago and trying to figure out what the truck is doing with data. I got 6.2.0 on 9/5 and 6.4.0 on 9/9. I looked up the trucks wifi history on my router and noticed 6 separate data pushes in the last 24hrs. If I check for updates it still says 6.4.0 was just installed. Could those 6 events be other updates without saying anything on the screen?

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[RocketGhost]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you get notification that an update is downloading, only when an update has installed or is ready to install. I do know an exception to this is if an install failed it may tell you that it's re-downloading it.

 

[Trp3383]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you get notification that an update is downloading, only when an update has installed or is ready to install. I do know an exception to this is if an install failed it may tell you that it's re-downloading it.

Could all these downloads be behind the scenes updates?

 

[RocketGhost]

Could all these downloads be behind the scenes updates?

I don't think OTA updates are completely behind the scenes. Some require the truck to be off to install (you will be notified when you get one and it's ready), while others can download and install themselves on the fly. But in any case you'll get a notification on the screen that an update was installed, and it will show up in the FordPass app on your phone.

 

[Zprime29]

Agree with @RocketGhost, the download activity might be the truck downloading OTA data but it won't notify you until the update is ready/installed depending on if you have auto update enabled.

 

[MotoGary]

I was surprised yesterday when I received a notification while I was parked with the vehicle on that an OTA update was pending for 1 am the next morning. I wish I had taken a pic of the screen. First time I’d ever seen that. I confirmed this morning that it actually did happen.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Once, early on in my ownership of my 22 Lariat-ER, I had two updates occur on the same day in quick succession, I got notification of first one finishing, then 30 minutes later another notification came in, only the most recently processed update remained on the Sync screen and on Fordpass.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

Doesn’t the truck also update maps regularly? Could this be it?
I also graph my data, so I should take a peak if mine is doing anything. I have auto software updates disabled, but I believe I read somewhere that it will still update some other parts of the truck like maps.

 

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

I was surprised yesterday when I received a notification while I was parked with the vehicle on that an OTA update was pending for 1 am the next morning. I wish I had taken a pic of the screen. First time I’d ever seen that. I confirmed this morning that it actually did happen.

Maybe the same screen I got, posted here…
I opted for the update now option lol

 

[rugedraw]

99% of updates are downloaded via the trucks modem and not wifi. Even if you are connected to wifi, the updates download via the modem.

 

[RickLightning]

99% of updates are downloaded via the trucks modem and not wifi. Even if you are connected to wifi, the updates download via the modem.

This ^^^

 

[lakeguy55]

99% of updates are downloaded via the trucks modem and not wifi. Even if you are connected to wifi, the updates download via the modem.

I've asked before but don't recall ever getting a clear answer. I live in an area where cell signal is non-existent except for an internet powered, mini-call tower in my house. If the truck modem can't get a signal, will I be in the 1% that goes to wifi? Or will it always wait till I'm somewhere with a modem signal? If the latter, that will suck as the truck is rarely parked anywhere but home.

 

[rugedraw]

I've asked before but don't recall ever getting a clear answer. I live in an area where cell signal is non-existent except for an internet powered, mini-call tower in my house. If the truck modem can't get a signal, will I be in the 1% that goes to wifi? Or will it always wait till I'm somewhere with a modem signal? If the latter, that will suck as the truck is rarely parked anywhere but home.

There have been only two or three updates released where wifi is required, and one was to fix a connectivity issue in the modem and they other two were to make some minor config changes within a module. This is why many people report updates installing while they are driving. When an update is queued up on the server, starting the vehicle is the first thing that needs to be done to allow the OTA to proceed along the process. Once you start it, the files get verified and downloaded before they can install. If the vehicle has no cellular signal, it will not get past the verifying/download part of the process and the OTA will eventually time out and fail.

 

[lakeguy55]

There have been only two or three updates released where wifi is required, and one was to fix a connectivity issue in the modem and they other two were to make some minor config changes within a module. This is why many people report updates installing while they are driving. When an update is queued up on the server, starting the vehicle is the first thing that needs to be done to allow the OTA to proceed along the process. Once you start it, the files get verified and downloaded before they can install. If the vehicle has no cellular signal, it will not get past the verifying/download part of the process and the OTA will eventually time out and fail.

Thanks....I think. I guess that explains why I never get updates. Seems dumb not to fail over to wifi if cell is not available. I also wonder why it wouldn't use the AT&T Cell Booster I have. To the modem, the signal should look like a normal cell tower signal.

 

[rugedraw]

Thanks....I think. I guess that explains why I never get updates. Seems dumb not to fail over to wifi if cell is not available. I also wonder why it wouldn't use the AT&T Cell Booster I have. To the modem, the signal should look like a normal cell tower signal.

I have heard mentioned that the updates are downloaded via the modem and not wifi because of the process the vehicle and OTA script uses to verify the update packet. I can't say for sure that is the reason they download over cellular, but it makes sense.

Not having good cellular reception will not prevent an update from being sent to you from the server. If your VIN is up for an update, it will queue up on the server. However, if the vehicle does not have reception, it will either not ping the server back for the OTA trigger to be activated, or it will ping the server but have trouble downloading the files.

There are a few guys on the F150 forums that have to drive and park by a cell phone tower when they get an update notification because they also live in rural areas with bad reception. However, it you had two successful OTA's this month, then you should be good to go in terms of cellular reception.

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