Ford Premium Connectivity Trial

[Jerrytball]

I don’t know if it’s pure coincidence or not but since my trial ran out, I stopped getting over the updates. I live with an AT&T tower in my backyard and good Wi-Fi.

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[RickMachE]

I don’t know if it’s pure coincidence or not but since my trial ran out, I stopped getting over the updates. I live with an AT&T tower in my backyard and good Wi-Fi.

It has ZERO to do with it.

Also, WiFi has zero to do with it.

 

[Mike G]

I don’t know if it’s pure coincidence or not but since my trial ran out, I stopped getting over the updates. I live with an AT&T tower in my backyard and good Wi-Fi.

Pure coincidence.

 

[Jerrytball]

It has ZERO to do with it.

Also, WiFi has zero to do with it.

I knew that because you’ve schooled me so well on this I’m just saying it was so funny how when I said no to that renewal I stopped getting updates lol

 

[Mike G]

We are starting to spiral now....

 

[rreddy3]

Your understanding is incorrect. Neither Hotspot nor Premium Connectivity are needed for Alexa.

https://www.ford.ie/support/how-tos...-alexa-built-in-and-ford-premium-connectivity

I will look later for myself, but I'll ask if you know off hand if the Ford NAM websites have the same or substantially similar wording as the Irish website in the link?

Again, I understand there is no real substitute for digging around and finding these things out on one's own .... but you seem to have an in-depth knowledge RickMachE of the inner workings of the MMEs. So, I'll ask for your views, if I may.

Is it your understanding that to enable voice activated features for everyday things like navigation and climate control settings, Alexa is the only 'utility' or way a user can access voice activated features on the MME? Unlike, for example, other cars without Alexa that allow voice activation through, I think, whatever the manufacturer bakes into their systems. I do see a reference on the US website to 'available enhanced voice recognition' that appears to be discussed separately from Alexa which may suggest Ford has a voice activation system that stands alone from Alexa.

Also, is it correct that Premium Connectivity is a 'subset' of what I think is just called 'Connect', or are either or both of them just subsets of 'Synch'? Is 'Synch' just the name for the whole system including hardware, software, apps, etc etc? From the two paragraphs in the Irish website I'd infer that Premium Connect and FordPass Connect are two different features.

Even though Alexa evidently doesn't need hotspot or Premium Connectivity, does the latter require hotspot in order to have full functionality like streaming, or can Premium Connectivity work simply through the user's cell phone roaming? I'm not sure that's even possible, but then again, my knowledge of tech is rudimentary on a good day. I don't even know what I don't know when it comes to this stuff.

If you have time to respond at some point, I appreciate your thoughts and clarifications RickMachE,

best regards

 

[Jerrytball]

We are starting to spiral now....

Actually, what I did notice the other day after the trial ended I had to go inside the pharmacy so I left the car running with the Wife in it and I let her watch her favorite stuff on YouTube, but that would not come up unless I had a Wi-Fi connection or if I had connectivity. So now I know what I lost that I only ever used You Tube anyways since I had the car, but my question is if I turn on my hotspot on my phone, should I be able to get that You Tube? I haven’t tested it but I’m guessing maybe that’ll work?

 

[rreddy3]

I really was just joking and don’t mean anything malicious so sorry about that. I vastly prefer your positive attitude over some others who are overly negative on this forum tbh.

And I probably over reacted ... sorry ....

 

[rreddy3]

Actually, what I did notice the other day after the trial ended I had to go inside the pharmacy so I left the car running with the Wife in it and I let her watch her favorite stuff on YouTube, but that would not come up unless I had a Wi-Fi connection or if I had connectivity. So now I know what I lost that I only ever used You Tube anyways since I had the car, but my question is if I turn on my hotspot on my phone, should I be able to get that You Tube? I haven’t tested it but I’m guessing maybe that’ll work?

I think your question about the hotspot feature of the phone may be similar to but better articulated than the question I had on whether the Premium Connected features could be exploited with the phone instead of the car's AT&T hotspot.

 

[Jerrytball]

I think your question about the hotspot feature of the phone may be similar to but better articulated than the question I had on whether the Premium Connected features could be exploited with the phone instead of the car's AT&T hotspot.

I never use my hotspot on my phone, and I’ve never used the hotspot on the car. I’m curious when you enable the hotspot on the car is it pulling it through your telephone or is it part of the Ford connect connectivity package? That’s kind of my question.

 

[RickMachE]

I will look later for myself, but I'll ask if you know off hand if the Ford NAM websites have the same or substantially similar wording as the Irish website in the link?

Again, I understand there is no real substitute for digging around and finding these things out on one's own .... but you seem to have an in-depth knowledge RickMachE of the inner workings of the MMEs. So, I'll ask for your views, if I may.

Is it your understanding that to enable voice activated features for everyday things like navigation and climate control settings, Alexa is the only 'utility' or way a user can access voice activated features on the MME? Unlike, for example, other cars without Alexa that allow voice activation through, I think, whatever the manufacturer bakes into their systems. I do see a reference on the US website to 'available enhanced voice recognition' that appears to be discussed separately from Alexa which may suggest Ford has a voice activation system that stands alone from Alexa.

Also, is it correct that Premium Connectivity is a 'subset' of what I think is just called 'Connect', or are either or both of them just subsets of 'Synch'? Is 'Synch' just the name for the whole system including hardware, software, apps, etc etc? From the two paragraphs in the Irish website I'd infer that Premium Connect and FordPass Connect are two different features.

Even though Alexa evidently doesn't need hotspot or Premium Connectivity, does the latter require hotspot in order to have full functionality like streaming, or can Premium Connectivity work simply through the user's cell phone roaming? I'm not sure that's even possible, but then again, my knowledge of tech is rudimentary on a good day. I don't even know what I don't know when it comes to this stuff.

If you have time to respond at some point, I appreciate your thoughts and clarifications RickMachE,

best regards

Here is the US link https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...d-services/what-is-ford-premium-connectivity/

Ford has their own voice feature, you don't need to ever use Alexa.

Sync, not Synch, is the name for the in-car software that runs the vehicle. FordPass Connect is basically the modem. This enables basic features like Remote Start.

No, you do not need to pay for the hotspot if you are paying for Premium Connectivity. Hotspot is simply a way for your devices to connect, via the car's modem, to the internet. Most people find their phone's hotspot works great for that. However, apparently you can't use Apple CarPlay and the phone's hotspot at the same time (I have Android).

You can use Alexa, on your phone, just fine without paying a dime for anything else.

 

[DoogleMac]

Thanks for this thread. I got notice that my connectivity was expiring and hadn't even tried it. I think Apple car play fills all my needs. I could see it if A passenger needed to do work on the road.

 

[Jerrytball]

Thanks for this thread. I got notice that my connectivity was expiring and hadn't even tried it. I think Apple car play fills all my needs. I could see it if A passenger needed to do work on the road.

That’s exactly my thoughts, what you’re thinking, but like I said the first thing I did notice was if I had to leave the Wife in the car while the car was running in the parking lot, she enjoys watching YouTube and I lost that feature after the trial and I was thinking next time I’m away from a Wi-Fi Spot I’m gonna try that hotspot and see what happens on my phone not the hotspot in car.

 

[DoogleMac]

Thanks for this thread. I got notice that my connectivity was expiring and hadn't even tried it. I think Apple car play fills all my needs. I could see it if A passenger needed to do work on the road.

My bad!
I guess it’s the hotspot that would be needed for a passenger to work

 

[rreddy3]

I never use my hotspot on my phone, and I’ve never used the hotspot on the car. I’m curious when you enable the hotspot on the car is it pulling it through your telephone or is it part of the Ford connect connectivity package? That’s kind of my question.

My understanding is that it is through the car, not the phone.

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