PaaK seems to require cellular service

milepost1

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One less device to carry plus you're more likely to have your phone available.
I will give you one less device. But for me more likely have fob than phone. Fob always in pocket. So usually if I have pants on have fob. Although 5 min without phone feels like I have no pants on.
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I don't know why, but PAAK has worked perfectly for me from Day 1. The biggest issue I have with PAAK is sometimes a 5 second delay from when I walk to the car to the door opening, which comes close to giving me a heart attack. But I have not been using my FOB at all (maybe I should be).

Now, I have not driven to sparse cell areas yet so if that is the culprit, that's a little scary. Why wouldn't they enable bluetooth as the trigger? Security?

Walk away lock 100% for me. Annoyingly so.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, Android 11
 

efisher

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I hope there is a workaround planned for this in the future. I can think of many times when it will be more than just inconvenient to have the PAAK not work without cellular. Thanks for the find.
You can use the code on the door.
 

DBC

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Remember that being in airplane mode and having no signal are completely different. When in airplane mode, the phone knows not to attempt to find a signal and apps may realize this as well. When you just have no signal, the phone and apps continue to connect to whatever networks they normally connect to.
Yes Airplane mode is not the same as not having a signal. One is about the phone transmitting and the other the network transmitting. However, unless the phone is transmitting you don't have a connection, and what you're really talking about when you say it needs a mobile signal is that it needs a mobile connection. And in Airplane mode you don't have a connection. Or are you saying you think it just needs to confirm the existence of RF of a certain wavelength and the connection doesn't matter?

Now if FordPass thinks there is a connection and there isn't, or if it is attempting but failing to connect, then putting the phone in Airplane mode should disabuse it of this misimpression and result in PAAK working.
 

smartino

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I am thinking that to Lock or Unlock the car and to start Remotely that you need cell service since that is clearly how these services work since you can be miles away and invoke these.

But for Windows Down and Up, Horns and Light and to open the Trunk you need to be connected via Bluetooth. I am surprised that you need cell service for PAAK since that should work via Bluetooth so that is definitely confusing.
 


DBC

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I will give you one less device. But for me more likely have fob than phone. Fob always in pocket. So usually if I have pants on have fob. Although 5 min without phone feels like I have no pants on.
The last part about your pants! I only have the fob when I plan on driving. The phone is usually with me. Sometimes I find myself in the garage and want to get something from the car. If I don't have the fob I need to go back into the house and fetch it. Or I go to an sports event, carry the equipment to the field, realize I forgot some piece of equipment, and go back to the car, only realizing once I've gotten there that I put the fob away in the field bag. Or when my wife has a fob and I think I do because the car starts right up, but realize after dropping her off that I probably shouldn't stop the car until I get home.

Not saying these things happen all the time .... :)
 

Kamuelaflyer

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You can use the code on the door.
If and only if you were first able to successfully set up PAAK, then did the startup codes. We have forum members who haven’t been able to set up PAAK. Or have the default codes memorized.
 

ARK

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Agreed!
When they handed me the fob I was like....."Why did Ford make such a brick?". Then I turned if over and saw the pony logo and that explained it. Same Fruedian reason why the Mustang's exhaust pipes are oversized at the exits.

Side by side comparison: MME and FFE fobs:

20210225_072321.jpg


20210225_072334.jpg
Since we are whipping out our key fobs, here is a pic of my 2006 Mustang’s original key fob on the left, an aftermarket key fob I’ve used for it since the day I got it in the center, and the Mach-E’s on the right.

Ford Mustang Mach-E PaaK seems to require cellular service C05956D7-B7DF-4499-B2ED-D9EB6B0579D5


Seemingly all key fobs across all brands have gotten a lot bigger over the last 10 or so years, not sure why. That’s one reason why I like PaaK, the Mach-E’s key fob is like other modern key fobs - too bulky.
 
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Trede

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Anybody noticed a difference in Android versions 10 vs 11? My hub's pixel is on 11 and he's had zero issues setting up and adding PaaK. My Duo's still on Android 10 and has had very lackluster results even establishing PaaK. I got a cute keychain for the fob. I'll be taking it with me. :)
Somewhere in some document somewhere, it says Android 11 is required for wireless android auto and PaaK. I'll try to dig that up. Regardless, my OnePlus 6T on Android 10 REFUSED to become PaaK or connect to Android auto, wired or not. Picked up a Samsung S21 and within 5 minutes everything worked fine.

Separately, I'm going to turn off cellular on my phone and only leave BT and WiFi on, see if PaaK works. (I believe that same documentation mentioned a 5GHz requirement, but that might have just been for AndroidAuto...)

EDIT/UPDATE: With WiFi on and not connected to any networks, cellular off, bluetooth on - PaaK worked just fine. (had to wait a sec after I got next to the car for the fordpass app to change from Bluetooth Disconnected to Bluetooth connected, but it worked just fine)
 

sambastang

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Somewhere in some document somewhere, it says Android 11 is required for wireless android auto and PaaK. I'll try to dig that up. Regardless, my OnePlus 6T on Android 10 REFUSED to become PaaK or connect to Android auto, wired or not. Picked up a Samsung S21 and within 5 minutes everything worked fine.

Separately, I'm going to turn off cellular on my phone and only leave BT and WiFi on, see if PaaK works. (I believe that same documentation mentioned a 5GHz requirement, but that might have just been for AndroidAuto...)

EDIT/UPDATE: With WiFi on and not connected to any networks, cellular off, bluetooth on - PaaK worked just fine. (had to wait a sec after I got next to the car for the fordpass app to change from Bluetooth Disconnected to Bluetooth connected, but it worked just fine)
I love a theory proven! Thanks for the research!
 

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Yes Airplane mode is not the same as not having a signal. One is about the phone transmitting and the other the network transmitting. However, unless the phone is transmitting you don't have a connection, and what you're really talking about when you say it needs a mobile signal is that it needs a mobile connection. And in Airplane mode you don't have a connection. Or are you saying you think it just needs to confirm the existence of RF of a certain wavelength and the connection doesn't matter?

Now if FordPass thinks there is a connection and there isn't, or if it is attempting but failing to connect, then putting the phone in Airplane mode should disabuse it of this misimpression and result in PAAK working.
Putting your phone in airplane mode does not stop the car's cellular modem from connecting. Perhaps the car needs the cellular connection, not the phone?
 

GoGoGadgetMachE

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Since we are whipping out our key fobs, here is a pic of my 2006 Mustang’s original key fob on the left, an aftermarket key fob I’ve used for it since the day I got it in the center, and the Mach-E’s on the right.

Ford Mustang Mach-E PaaK seems to require cellular service C05956D7-B7DF-4499-B2ED-D9EB6B0579D5


Seemingly all key fobs across all brands have gotten a lot bigger over the last 10 or so years, not sure why. That’s one reason why I like PaaK, the Mach-E’s key fob is like other modern key fobs - too bulky.
I see you and raise you ;) https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...one-as-key-paak-and-door-code.2956/post-94191
 
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DBC

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Putting your phone in airplane mode does not stop the car's cellular modem from connecting. Perhaps the car needs the cellular connection, not the phone?
Interesting idea. It's possible but the car needing a mobile connection makes even less sense than the phone needing a mobile connection.
 

AllenXS

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A bit slow at times but the PAAK has been working great and getting better.
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