Any way to get full time WiFi?

[Cobra Jet]

I’ve heard future Fords may get full time WiFi - is there any way to hack the SYNC3 into getting full time WiFi (hotspot), without using ones phone as a hotspot (excessive data useage)?

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[PoppinJ]

Prob not. Ford makes a sync version that supports wifi. I think its called Sync Connect. It has additional modules to work as a wifi hotspot.

 

[michail71]

I've been confused about this topic. I have a WiFI Hotspot option on mine but it wants me to sign up for a free trial.

Sync Connect shows up in the smartphone app but it says I have to purchase a module from the dealer. But when I look at what the Sync Connect offers it seems like the system already does all those things (remote start, check fuel, location and WiFi hotspot).

Also, if the car has a 4G connection why is WiFi and BT required for system updates and apps?

 

[5pointOh]

The built in wifi thats coming in future Fords is not free and not unlimited. You can either get a obd2 dongle from your wireless carrier(T-Mobile has one that I use) or buy a prepaid hotspot and leave it in your car. Its probably possible to do but its not worth the likely cost for both the hardware and service vs one of the options above.

 

[michail71]

Is this something different than the WiFi hotspot option that is in the current Sync Connect? I have a message in there that I can get 3 GB of trial data.

 

[michail71]

I just registered my car with AT&T to give this a try. But I'm more interested in having the Sync 3 system take advantage of the 4G connection than I am having a hotspot. But I think that is what it already does for remote starts, fuel, messages, etc.

I don't know if there would be any advantage for me to have this service.

 

[ODucksFan]

I just registered my car with AT&T to give this a try. But I'm more interested in having the Sync 3 system take advantage of the 4G connection than I am having a hotspot. But I think that is what it already does for remote starts, fuel, messages, etc.

I don't know if there would be any advantage for me to have this service.

I'm currently on the trial, but I plan on subscribing once my trial ends. I'm going to use it as a supplement to my current cell phone plan. It's only $20 a month for unlimited data. When I'm driving, I'm going to use it to stream Spotify, SiriusXM, Apple Music, etc. I'll use the plan for third party navigation like Google Maps and Waze. The reason I prefer streaming Sirius versus the car radio is it sounds 1,000 times better.

 

[michail71]

Yes, the Sirius satellite signal is horribly compressed.

What happens when we use our phones connected to the WiFi hotspot and then a Sync 3 app like Pandora. Does it pass from car's 4G to the phone through WiFi and then from BT from the phone to the car?

I'd rather be able to take the load off my phone.

 

[HizliBullet]

https://www.verizonwireless.com/internet-devices/verizon-jetpack-mifi-7730l/

 

[ODucksFan]

Yes, the Sirius satellite signal is horribly compressed.

What happens when we use our phones connected to the WiFi hotspot and then a Sync 3 app like Pandora. Does it pass from car's 4G to the phone through WiFi and then from BT from the phone to the car?

I'd rather be able to take the load off my phone.

If you are using Pandora for example, I'm not sure if it's actually passing via BT or through the USB connection. Either way, if your phone is connected to the WiFi hotspot in the car, all the data being used is going through the WiFi from AT&T. You can see your data usage on the FordPass app.

 

[wireeater]

So I have a 2018 Premium with NAV but I don't see anywhere on the unit to enable the Sync Connect? Is that not a default addition to the SYNC 3 units or is it something that is custom ordered with SYNC 3? Mine was a dealer spec with smart and safety/NAV but I didn't see anything else on the sticker about Sync Connect.

 

[control4userguy]

^How long have you owned your vehicle? First three months are complimentary. Do you have FordPass installed on your phone and have you selected your vehicle? If all this checks out, you should have seen a message "Activate SYNC Connect".

 

[ODucksFan]

So I have a 2018 Premium with NAV but I don't see anywhere on the unit to enable the Sync Connect? Is that not a default addition to the SYNC 3 units or is it something that is custom ordered with SYNC 3? Mine was a dealer spec with smart and safety/NAV but I didn't see anything else on the sticker about Sync Connect.

There actually aren't any Sync Connect settings on Sync 3. Go into your settings and select Wifi & Hotspot. Under the vehicle hotspot settings, does your car have it's own SSID?

Alternatively, you can try signing up for the free AT&T in vehicle Wifi trial. You have to enter your VIN, so if your vehicle doesn't have the LTE modem, it will tell you here:

https://myvehicle.att.com/lpportal-2/#/ford/learn

 

[wireeater]

There actually aren't any Sync Connect settings on Sync 3. Go into your settings and select Wifi & Hotspot. Under the vehicle hotspot settings, does your car have it's own SSID?

Alternatively, you can try signing up for the free AT&T in vehicle Wifi trial. You have to enter your VIN, so if your vehicle doesn't have the LTE modem, it will tell you here:

https://myvehicle.att.com/lpportal-2/#/ford/learn

That's the part that confuses me. I don't have a wifi and hotspot option. I do have an option for turning on WiFi which I do have it connect through my phones hotspot. I updated the unit to 3.0 the other day. The car was a November build. I did a master reset earlier today just to make sure I didn't click no on some sort of agreement. And of course I'm getting an error when I put my VIN in on that ATT link lol ;)

 

[wireeater]

** Looking on Ford it says standard with 401a. I have 400a package. So maybe that's why.

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