3.5.3.3 // Sync *does not* allow you to connect to vehicle hotspot for YouTube etc.

[OON7]

In case any of the other handful of people out there like me who pay $20/month for the connected vehicle hotspot were curious... you cannot connect the Sync unit to your vehicle's hotspot. It does not list it as an available network. I tried adding it as if it was a hidden network and no dice as well.

Ford is expecting you to pay for the Ford Streaming subscription even if you have the paid vehicle hotspot service.

Obviously, you can still use your phone's hotspot if that's an option. I made a workaround by connecting my phone to the car Wi-Fi and then connecting the car to my phone's hotspot which at least on Android will pass through the Wi-Fi data.

I feel like anything that would work with a Wi-Fi or data connection should be able to be used with the vehicle hotspot. I'm pretty disappointed with Ford on this one.

Edit: Grammar

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[Accord07]

Yes, it's weird. The fact that Ford allows the head unit to tether to your phone makes me think it is more likely an oversight rather than greed (to resell data Ford purchased in wholesale from AT&T). But either way it's not a good look because other legacy automakers seem to get it right. Maybe it will be addressed in 2028, after the frunk button finally appears for owners of Job 1 vehicles and a few dozen games have been added.

By the way, 3.5.4 replaced the password I had set on the Wi-Fi hotspot without asking.

 

[ProximusAl]

I've bought a WiFi Extender/Repeater, which can be powered by Micro-USB to sit in my arm rest, which effectively rebroadcasts the mobile hotspot SSID to a different SSID, that way SYNC will see it. It's a bit backwards in coming forwards, but it will work.
TL-WR902AC
Next time, I just won't renew the hotspot (I pay yearly in UK), and put my own hotspot in, again powered by USB, using my Netgear MR1100.

 

[OON7]

I've bought a WiFi Extender/Repeater, which can be powered by Micro-USB to sit in my arm rest, which effectively rebroadcasts the mobile hotspot SSID to a different SSID, that way SYNC will see it. It's a bit backwards in coming forwards, but it will work.
TL-WR902AC
Next time, I just won't renew the hotspot (I pay yearly in UK), and put my own hotspot in, again powered by USB, using my Netgear MR1100.

I really like that idea, since your repeater will turn on/off with the car that's an easy solution! Funny enough I tried setting my phone hotspot to be exactly the same as my car hotspot SSID and password and it connected like that. What I didn't try was then turning off my phone hotspot to see if it would grab the car network again. I'm assuming it won't but I'll test tomorrow.

 

[NewGuy]

What’s the point of spending $20 per month for the connected vehicle hot spot?

 

[ProximusAl]

What’s the point of spending $20 per month for the connected vehicle hot spot?

Children.....

 

[ProximusAl]

I really like that idea, since your repeater will turn on/off with the car that's an easy solution! Funny enough I tried setting my phone hotspot to be exactly the same as my car hotspot SSID and password and it connected like that. What I didn't try was then turning off my phone hotspot to see if it would grab the car network again. I'm assuming it won't but I'll test tomorrow.

I think because it knows its own hotspot mac address, its being excluded.

 

[NewGuy]

Children.....

I have a couple of them. I still don’t see the need to pay extra for a hotpot that can only be used in the car, when my phone is already a hotspot that can be used anywhere for no additional cost.

 

[Logal727]

Just use your phone hotspot? I'm confused, you're still doing the same thing with your workaround.

 

[OON7]

Just use your phone hotspot? I'm confused, you're still doing the same thing with your workaround.

On Android, if you are connected to a Wi-Fi network when you turn on your mobile hotspot, the hotspot will pass through the Wi-Fi data vs. using your mobile data plan. The vehicle hotspot is unlimited but my mobile hotspot is not.

I have a weird use case with work equipment I want to keep connected while in the car and not hit my phone's personal hotspot allotment during the month.

 

[OON7]

What’s the point of spending $20 per month for the connected vehicle hot spot?

I have work equipment I want to keep connected while on the road, and my personal hotspot is not unlimited. Also, I was hoping the vehicle hotspot was going to be more useful for these features that required a data connection, it seems like Ford is the exception here not allowing the head unit to connect.

 

[Vulnox]

I only signed up for the vehicle hotspot because while my phone has hotspot, using it means no wireless CarPlay. This is the case for most phones, Android or Apple, although there are supposedly a couple models that can do Wireless AA and act as a hotspot, it's pretty rare. So if you like wireless AA/CarPlay on trips, you lose hotspot.

In the end I got a dedicated hotspot from Verizon. Since they give you 50% off Hotspots/tablets/watches with many of their plans, it's only $15/month for the dedicated hotspot, which we can take on trips, or use if we lose power/internet at home, or when we go on some road trips the destination doesn't have high speed internet so if we plan to work remotely or whatever it's a good backup.

Especially if Ford won't allow you to use the car hotspot for streaming, it has another positive use. I never thought I would buy a dedicated hotspot, but it's been a huge help over the last couple years I have had it. My in-laws lost power for a week and I let them use our generator, but since power was out to the cable junction box as well for their neighborhood, no internet. They borrowed the hotspot and could at least watch TV or use their iPad or whatever while they were home.

Now, if Ford introduced a portable hotspot in the car that was removable, like how Rivian has their flashlight and portable speaker that you can remove from the vehicle. I would be a fan for life, that would be a sweet feature. Spot in the car to put the hotspot that keeps it charged and works with the head unit still, but when you need to use it at a destination you can pull it out of its connection spot and use it.

Get on it, Ford!

 

[OON7]

I only signed up for the vehicle hotspot because while my phone has hotspot, using it means no wireless CarPlay. This is the case for most phones, Android or Apple, although there are supposedly a couple models that can do Wireless AA and act as a hotspot, it's pretty rare. So if you like wireless AA/CarPlay on trips, you lose hotspot...

I didn't even think about that for Android Auto, that would be a deal breaker for me as well. Good points on the actual mobile hotspot too, I don't have Verizon but going to look at my carrier to see how price compares.

 

[ProximusAl]

Just use your phone hotspot? I'm confused, you're still doing the same thing with your workaround.

There are a number of reasons I am doing what I do.

First of all, I have limited data on my phone (Company contract) and where I am network coverage isn’t great. The car hotspot is on a different network, also uses the antenna on the roof, rather than trying to get a signal from my pocket.

Also, using phone hotspot uses considerable battery.

I have also already paid £100 for an annual 100Gb on the hotspot, so I *want* to use that. My TPLink repeater works well, and Sync can now use the data from that hotspot.

Everyone is different and people should just accept that. I am well aware I *could* use my phone, but don’t want my children gobbling up data from my company contract when I need it for work.

Edit: And of course, I want to use Wireless CarPlay.

 

[JamieGeek]

You could always throw a Starlink antenna on the roof...

no?

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