How useful is wi-fi hotspot?

[ChuckA]

I signed up for the wi-fi hotspot and I’m still in the 3 month free trial. I don’t know if it gives me anything I don’t already have. I don’t have anyone in the car using movie stream or entertainment.

What benefit is wi-fi hotspot?

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[jhalkias]

None if you have a phone that can be used as a WiFi hotspot (mine is) or if you don't have devices that are wifi only (like an iPad) that you want to have connectivity and your phone is not a hotspot. In today's world, I think it is a useless feature with the above caveats.

Also, I think there is a fairly tight data cap on the car hotspot, so even using it to entertain kids with iPads so they can watch Netflix would eat through that pretty quickly.

 

[Nklem]

I use it often. I have the MMB player and it works well with that as I stream when charging, showing off at car Shows or waiting for the Wife to shop. Ihave never reached any data cap (if there is one). So I have watched hours of content. My kids connect in the car as well. It also is only $200 per year unlimited. That's pretty cheap for unlimited cellular data for 12 months.

I have used the included entertainment from Warner. It worked great while I sat in the back for a 2 hour road trip. I have a company Phone so I try not to use tons of their data, but if you have unlimited on your phone and it's shareable, as well as your kids (My kids do not have unlimited data, only a $20/month plan) it may not have much benefit to you.

We also have lost power at the house, I am rural, and my family has connected to the in car service.

So I do not pay more than $25 per month for all of my cell service (Work is free, $20 for my Daughter, $5 for my Wife). Plus the $200/Year for the Ford. I refuse to pay a "car payment" for unlimited cell service and the newest phones on a "family plan". I have Co-workers who pay $400-$500/month for cell.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

Because everyone in my family has their own phone, all of which can be used as hotspots, the car having another hotspot seems ridiculous and redundant.

 

[RickMachE]

For the OP, it would seem to have zero benefit. Why did you start the trial?

If no one in the vehicle needs to get an internet connection from another device (i.e. they have a WiFi-only tablet, laptop, or other device), then there is no use for it.

Some sign up because it is a carrier, AT&T, that has better reception in areas where their phone carrier has poor coverage. Some may have hotspot capability on their cellphone, but that may be limited in quantity or throttle down after some level of usage.

I expect the paid conversion is very low. We didn't start the trial because we currently have no need for it. It's possible in the future we could be somewhere where Verizon has no coverage but AT&T does, and may want it.

 

[MetrowestZ]

I signed up for the wi-fi hotspot and I’m still in the 3 month free trial. I don’t know if it gives me anything I don’t already have. I don’t have anyone in the car using movie stream or entertainment.

What benefit is wi-fi hotspot?

If it is just you can you just replace your home internet and use the car? After all you will either be at home with the car or out with the car.

 

[RickMachE]

If it is just you can you just replace your home internet and use the car? After all you will either be at home with the car or out with the car.

No, you can't use the car to replace your home internet.

 

[minjaep]

I think it is just $10/mo if you are an ATT customer. I thought one usage is for a dashcam that can upload videos automatically. At first, I was trying to use it to livestream my dashcam but realized that the internet shuts off when the car is off.

 

[Logal727]

None if you have a phone that can be used as a WiFi hotspot (mine is) or if you don't have devices that are wifi only (like an iPad) that you want to have connectivity and your phone is not a hotspot. In today's world, I think it is a useless feature with the above caveats.

Also, I think there is a fairly tight data cap on the car hotspot, so even using it to entertain kids with iPads so they can watch Netflix would eat through that pretty quickly.

The plan is unlimited.

 

[Logal727]

For the OP, it would seem to have zero benefit. Why did you start the trial?

If no one in the vehicle needs to get an internet connection from another device (i.e. they have a WiFi-only tablet, laptop, or other device), then there is no use for it.

Some sign up because it is a carrier, AT&T, that has better reception in areas where their phone carrier has poor coverage. Some may have hotspot capability on their cellphone, but that may be limited in quantity or throttle down after some level of usage.

I expect the paid conversion is very low. We didn't start the trial because we currently have no need for it. It's possible in the future we could be somewhere where Verizon has no coverage but AT&T does, and may want it.

It was good to just during the trial for the kids to hook their iPads up to, but not worth to pay for it since we can use our hotspots.

 

[4sallypat]

4G or 4G LTE speed?
Anyone measure ?

 

[nhammerschmidt]

I travel through some areas where my phones dont get that great of reception. With the antenna for the modem being mounted outside the car, I find that the hotspot in the car works better in those areas than my phones. So I connect WiFi calling and utilize the better reception that the car provides. Since I use my car for work, the $200 is pretty inexpensive.

 

[nhammerschmidt]

4G or 4G LTE speed?
Anyone measure ?

LTE speeds. I get 100+ MBs in some areas

 

[ChuckA]

For the OP, it would seem to have zero benefit. Why did you start the trial?

If no one in the vehicle needs to get an internet connection from another device (i.e. they have a WiFi-only tablet, laptop, or other device), then there is no use for it.

Some sign up because it is a carrier, AT&T, that has better reception in areas where their phone carrier has poor coverage. Some may have hotspot capability on their cellphone, but that may be limited in quantity or throttle down after some level of usage.

I expect the paid conversion is very low. We didn't start the trial because we currently have no need for it. It's possible in the future we could be somewhere where Verizon has no coverage but AT&T does, and may want it.

I thought it would help for OTA’s. But I know now it won’t. I can cancel it since I’m on month to month starting 07/02/22.

 

[Av8tor]

Is there any benefit to using dashboard camera connected to the cloud for notifications? Is it something that will remain running for that type of use?

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