Mobile Hotspot antenna and range

[Davexxxx]

I will say that the trucks hotspot is mostly only useful inside the truck; its strength fades quickly outside the truck.. don't expect to sit at your campfire and use the hotspot unless you are parked very close by, or have just the right angle / position.

ATT say its good for 50'. Not true?

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[Samson16]

I also use T-mobile, via Google Fi (unlimited), but I pay for the in-built ATT hotspot, as the coverage in some remote areas is better. I will say that the trucks hotspot is mostly only useful inside the truck; its strength fades quickly outside the truck.. don't expect to sit at your campfire and use the hotspot unless you are parked very close by, or have just the right angle / position.

Gotcha, but while we're traveling it works pretty well

 

[travisN000]

ATT say its good for 50'. Not true?

I would say it depends... I've had times where I can be that far from the truck and it works well; at other times I have to be sitting in the truck, or very near by. I don't know exactly where the Wifi hotspot antenna is, but my guess is that its inside the vehicle and the metal body panels block some of the signal (pretty sure the fins on the roof are only for the cell and satellite radio signals).

You will definitely find dead spots inside of a 50 ft radius, but I think it depends on what there is for the wifi to bounce off of as it exits the glass panels; pretty sure it doesn't penetrate aluminum body panels well.

 

[ColoradoHunter]

I use the hotspot with my laptop when I'm camping. Truck parked 10" or so away and using the laptop inside my camper. It works fine. Range could also be limited by what you are using, laptop or cell phone.

 

[gregs150xlt]

Thanks! I'm wondering if on trips the Ford supplied onboard cellular hotspot setup is worth the monthly charge. I don't need to pay for myaccess features like remote start etc., and I am considering adding a cell booster to the vehicle but I do not want to drill holes in the cabin. Magnet mount antennas don't work for f150's either, so the service charge payment to avoid drilling and mounting things is worth at least checking out imo.

the "hotspot" is only $20 a month for unlimited data. It runs off AT&T. I have had absolutely no issues with reception, but you would need good AT&T coverage.

 

[gregs150xlt]

Just call ATT car services and tell them you want your unlimited plan back. They'll then ask you what plan it was and you tell them it was the $15/mo unlimited. You had to replace your lost card and it just canceled the service. They don't keep records and they'll put you on unlimited for $15/mo w/ auto billing. It's cheaper than yearly and if you do cancel your card, it will remain on for 2 months before being shut down.

there has NEVER been a $15 plan (that I've seen).

the plan is normally $25, but if you wanted to extend the trial, you could get it for $20 within a two day period. (This applies for a 22 or 23 Model year).

 

[DcnPat]

there has NEVER been a $15 plan (that I've seen).

the plan is normally $25, but if you wanted to extend the trial, you could get it for $20 within a two day period. (This applies for a 22 or 23 Model year).

If you pay a full year up front $200 / 12 = $16.67/month

 

[Samson16]

If you pay a full year up front $200 / 12 = $16.67/month

There you go. I like that.

 

[HammaMan]

there has NEVER been a $15 plan (that I've seen).

the plan is normally $25, but if you wanted to extend the trial, you could get it for $20 within a two day period. (This applies for a 22 or 23 Model year).

Yeah, you're right....

Or you could do what I said

 

[Snakebitten]

Or $200 annual = $16.66 (a bit creepy, I admit)

 

[gregs150xlt]

Yeah, you're right....

Or you could do what I said

HMMM, $15, eh? I've certainly never seen that (well with Nissan or Ram that is)that certainly must have changed with a 2023 Model Year. How long have you had the $15 plan?

Well, its $25 now, unless you accepted the $20 at signup. . . . . . Seems new model year subscriptions get screwed on almost everything.

 

[gregs150xlt]

Or $200 annual = $16.66 (a bit creepy, I admit)

Well, if you don't sign up on the Annual plan, its normally $25 (unless you accepted the $20 a month offer when you signed up).

So, the annual plan is cheaper, on a 2023 model year anyway.

 

[HammaMan]

HMMM, $15, eh? I've certainly never seen that (well with Nissan or Ram that is)that certainly must have changed with a 2023 Model Year. How long have you had the $15 plan?

Well, its $25 now, unless you accepted the $20 at signup. . . . . . Seems new model year subscriptions get screwed on almost everything.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/mobile-hotspot-antenna-and-range.18268/#post-357674

 

[Steyreo]

Somebody should point out to the op in case they didn’t know that you can’t have CarPlay and use the truck Wi-Fi on the same device. @Samson16

 

[Samson16]

Somebody should point out to the op in case they didn’t know that you can’t have CarPlay and use the truck Wi-Fi on the same device. @Samson16

I'm aware. Since my device is busy with CarPlay, I want the wifi for our laptop or ipad air. She's using her phone right now but she wants to use the laptop without bothering to use her phone as a personal hotspot. I want her to be happy while we travel together

This also diversifies our coverage since we both have the same Tmobile plan.

I've spent way more than $250 on actual useless stuff before. This isn't even close to a bad purchase for me lol.

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