Tesla style head unit for the S550?

[PatrickHenninger]

I'm trying to decide if I want to pick up a 4G USB Dongle to plug into it, and have data for $10/month, or get a Wifi hotspot from my cell provider, and be able to take it from car to car.

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[Smarz1018]

I'm trying to decide if I want to pick up a 4G USB Dongle to plug into it, and have data for $10/month, or get a Wifi hotspot from my cell provider, and be able to take it from car to car.

Are either of those required to run certain apps? I'm an iphone user and hope this unit pairs with my phone via bluetooth just like my tomtop does

 

[PatrickHenninger]

Are either of those required to run certain apps? I'm an iphone user and hope this unit pairs with my phone via bluetooth just like my tomtop does

Certain apps will require Data, if run directly from the unit. Example:

Run Pandora/Spotify on unit - It needs data to stream music, so you either have to use your phone (or other device) as a hotspot, or use a USB dongle.

Run Pandora/Spotify on Phone, and use Bluetooth audio through unit (or screen mirroring) - Uses phone data

Google Maps/navigation- Only needs Data for traffic updates, but you can download maps of your area for offline mode.

Anything that you run on your phone normally that uses data will still need data to run it on the head unit. How you provide that connection is up to you.

 

[Jknapp]

looking for a good t mobile LTE hotspot that I can just leave in my car any recommendations?

 

[PatrickHenninger]

looking for a good t mobile LTE hotspot that I can just leave in my car any recommendations?

They have the SYNCUP Drive that plugs in to the OBDII port, but that will interfere with using anything like the Torque Pro app. Does your phone not do hotspot?

https://explore.t-mobile.com/t-mobile-sync-up-drive

 

[Jknapp]

It does, I have a new One plus 3T but I don't feel like activating it every time I get in the car. I was thinking about adding a 10 dollar a month tablet plan just for the radio.

 

[PatrickHenninger]

It does, I have a new One plus 3T but I don't feel like activating it every time I get in the car. I was thinking about adding a 10 dollar a month tablet plan just for the radio.

Yeah, then I'd look into the SUD I posted the link to. It's technically free, if you keep it for 24 months.

 

[Jknapp]

I was thinking something more like this could stay in my glove box/console area.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011YM0OXU?psc=1&smid=A36T3T5BV7ETC0

 

[Smarz1018]

Im thinking i may end up going with the usb dongle for $10 a month, where can I find one for that price??

 

[Jknapp]

Im thinking i may end up going with the usb dongle for $10 a month, where can I find one for that price??

The data plan will depend on your service provider. The usb dongle will take a sim card from your wireless provider to give you service.

 

[Pablotheartist]

I personally just hotspot and leave the phone plugged in,

 

[PatrickHenninger]

I was thinking something more like this could stay in my glove box/console area.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011YM0OXU?psc=1&smid=A36T3T5BV7ETC0

if you do that, you'll get no support from T-Mobile if it doesn't work on their network. I know where I live, T-Mo uses PC1900 for 4GLTE, and that Huawei hotspot would only pickup 3G here with TMO.

Im thinking i may end up going with the usb dongle for $10 a month, where can I find one for that price??

You'd have to make sure you pick one compatible with the unit itself that supports a SIM from your carrier.

 

[Jknapp]

if you do that, you'll get no support from T-Mobile if it doesn't work on their network. I know where I live, T-Mo uses PC1900 for 4GLTE, and that Huawei hotspot would only pickup 3G here with TMO.

Yeah, id double check the LTE bands before purchase. I just hate having a wart permanently sticking out of my odbII port. I may just try using my phone as a hotspot at first.

 

[PatrickHenninger]

Yeah, id double check the LTE bands before purchase. I just hate having a wart permanently sticking out of my odbII port. I may just try using my phone as a hotspot at first.

You could always buy a cheap smartphone from Craigslist, get the $10 data plan from TMO, throw the sim in there, and have the phone plugged in to a USB port charging, and hide it in the glovebox, constantly in hotspot mode.

 

[natepcbfl]

Anybody know if the backup sensors work with this as well? Maybe someone can add a sticky with the questions and answers so far?

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