The network matters for any update

[crownmountain]

Based on having my Mach-E at the dealership for 2 days getting an update I asked the tech some questions. The answer on how long it took for the file download got my attention. Having designed data and voice networks for a long, long, long time I wrote this article in hopes of raising awareness of a key component that seems to me to be overlooked, the network between the software and the car. Manufactures and dealers need to get serious about network investment inside and outside the car to delight the customer.

Software Updates for Your Car – It’s the Network Stupid

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[BMT1071]

Based on having my Mach-E at the dealership for 2 days getting an update I asked the tech some questions. The answer on how long it took for the file download got my attention. Having designed data and voice networks for a long, long, long time I wrote this article in hopes of raising awareness of a key component that seems to me to be overlooked, the network between the software and the car. Manufactures and dealers need to get serious about network investment inside and outside the car to delight the customer.

Software Updates for Your Car – It’s the Network Stupid

This has been an issue for years. Especially at smaller dealers. The service department gets hand me down computers that sales is done with and they send someone to Best Buy to buy a cheap wireless router for the shop. Modern vehicle service requires higher end laptops and enterprise grade internet and WiFi. Good luck convincing dealership management/ownership.

 

[Scooby24]

Good article but your table graphic math is off.

1000 / (15x.125) = 533 seconds or 8.88 minutes, not 8 hours.

 

[crownmountain]

Good article but your table graphic math is off.

1000 / (15x.125) = 533 seconds or 8.88 minutes.

will take a look.

 

[EVready]

Based on having my Mach-E at the dealership for 2 days getting an update I asked the tech some questions. The answer on how long it took for the file download got my attention. Having designed data and voice networks for a long, long, long time I wrote this article in hopes of raising awareness of a key component that seems to me to be overlooked, the network between the software and the car. Manufactures and dealers need to get serious about network investment inside and outside the car to delight the customer.

Software Updates for Your Car – It’s the Network Stupid

Great perspective. A few thoughts:
- If all you have is wifi, perhaps a network extender close to the car may help (must check how fast modem is).
- If you have wired ethernet in you house, and the car is capable of updating through enet...that will be fast depending the modem.
- How about USB? version 3.0 is pretty fast....wired, but if its fast and in your garage, and the car can connect via USB...might work. Although would not update directly; would need an intermediary step.

In summary it really all depends on what the owner's home network capability is and the car's connectivity.

 

[crownmountain]

Good article but your table graphic math is off.

1000 / (15x.125) = 533 seconds or 8.88 minutes, not 8 hours.

Formula I used. File in Megabytes / (Download Speed In Megabits / 8) = Time In Seconds

 

[crownmountain]

Great perspective. A few thoughts:
- If all you have is wifi, perhaps a network extender close to the car may help (must check how fast modem is).
- If you have wired ethernet in you house, and the car is capable of updating through enet...that will be fast depending the modem.
- How about USB? version 3.0 is pretty fast....wired, but if its fast and in your garage, and the car can connect via USB...might work.

In summary it really all depends on what the owner's home network capability is and the car's connectivity.

Exactly right.

 

[Jimrpa]

Formula I used. File in Megabytes / (Download Speed In Megabits / 8) = Time In Seconds

Wrong formula. There’s a bunch of overhead to take into account. Also various random latencies in the end-to-end system. Ever wonder why you don’t get anywhere near 1 Gbps file transfers on your Gig FiOS? (More than 32 seconds to download your 4GB movie ?)

 

[Shayne]

One would think the cars with OTA should have a dedicated storage space for downloads that can be resumed and when downloaded are verified and installed. This is behind the scene and the owner should not care if it take 2 days and 5 resumes to download. As long as the hash check is right you are good. Most everything you update or install is downloaded first and then installed. The install taking 8 days may be inconvenient.

 

[crownmountain]

Wrong formula. There’s a bunch of overhead to take into account. Also various random latencies in the end-to-end system. Ever wonder why you don’t get anywhere near 1 Gbps file transfers on your Gig FiOS? (More than 32 seconds to download your 4GB movie ?)

The formula is about the raw bits. The "extra stuff" plus slowness in the path from any number sources or dropped packets just make slow slower.

 

[Scrannel]

At least on my Tesla, I use a wireless extender w/o issue,

 

[crownmountain]

One would think the cars with OTA should have a dedicated storage space for downloads that can be resumed and when downloaded are verified and installed. This is behind the scene and the owner should not care if it take 2 days and 5 resumes to download. As long as the hash check is right you are good. Most everything you update or install is downloaded first and then installed. The install taking 8 days may be inconvenient.

Assuming you notice it, then yes it could be a problem. If over the 8 days you can still use the car then not so much an issue. Owners should be given a little guidance on home network performance and what to expect. If you have to go to the dealer then for sure it needs to be quick, and could be. Dealers need to invest in the network.

 

[Scooby24]

Formula I used. File in Megabytes / (Download Speed In Megabits / 8) = Time In Seconds

1000 Megabytes (1 gigabyte) / 1.875 (15mbps * .125) = 533 seconds. 533 seconds / 60 = 8.88 minutes.

 

[crownmountain]

@Scooby24 yup looking to fix it. Spreadsheet formatting and failing to check it. My bad.

 

[Shayne]

Assuming you notice it, then yes it could be a problem. If over the 8 days you can still use the car then not so much an issue. Owners should be given a little guidance on home network performance and what to expect. If you have to go to the dealer then for sure it needs to be quick, and could be. Dealers need to invest in the network.

The MME is ota that was one of its selling points. It also needs to work for all. I have a 8 mbps download speed right now and downloading at 1 meg/s is a surprise. I have had no problems with updates on the MME to date (4 of them so far). I have not sat and watched it download as there is no status bar. I have auto update off and when it says there is an update I pick a time to accept it come back a couple of hours later and it is done. We will see the time frame when more substantial ones come out but all updates to date have been seamless. I see no network speed problems as it can take days to download and no one cares it will be cpu power and write speeds that will govern the install time frame.

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