Which WAN is doing what with SYNC4

[turbopilot]

Sync 4 has multiple internet WAN sources possible. There is the Ford ATT modem buried in Sync 4 that apparently can be set up to broadcast publicly via the vehicle hot spot if you pay for an ATT subscription. As I understand SYNC 4 that same modem is alive and activated to support various communications demands between Ford and your vehicle, such as OTA updates. So the ATT data plan subscription simply allows the owner to use the same modem for data.

Next, Sync 4 can connect to another WAN connection via Bluetooth to a Smartphone. This connection provides both voice calling and data services to SYNC 4.

And lastly there is the SYNC 4 WiFi connection to nearby WiFi SSID's that support a possible third WAN source to SYNC4. Apparently this WiFi connection to a nearby WiFi source can be used for OTA updates but it is not clear to me how it works with the on board modem. The WiFi connection to SYNC 4 for most F-150's is only operative when sitting still near an outside WiFi source, until Starlink In Motion was introduced and other WAN sources in the truck like a cellular router.

Now that I have Starlink In Motion always on in my PowerBoost (see this thread) and it is setup in the Sync 4 WiFi menu source, I now wonder how Sync 4 manages what WAN source is being used by all the internet functionality offered in Sync 4. It is really quite remarkable that SYNC 4 can manage 3 WAN sources (if it does) but if not, it offers the option at some point to build in WAN bonding into Sync 4, just like Speed Fusion Connect does for Peplink multi WAN cellular routers.

So has anyone seen a breakdown about how SYNC 4 manages and selects a WAN source presuming you have an ATT modem plan, a smartphone connected via BlueTooth and another WAN source hooked up to the SYNC 4 WiFi connection (like Starlink or a cellular modem)?

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[rugedraw]

As far as I know, if your truck is on wi-fi, that will supersede the modem. Once you disconnect , it depends on the modem for connectivity. Note that not a single OTA released up until this point for 2021-2023 trucks has required wi-fi for it to download, but people have gotten OTA's while connected to wi-fi.

I don't think Sync4 uses your paired phone's data plan directly in any way, but I can't say that with 100% confidence.

 

[turbopilot]

I don't think Sync4 uses your paired phone's data plan directly in any way, but I can't say that with 100% confidence.

This is really what I am trying to understand.

So as you are cruising down the road SYNC 4 is only using the ATT modem to update things like weather and traffic? Particularly in the Western US there are many places without ATT coverage, so when that happens does it mean no internet for SYNC4 or will it take data from other WAN sources available already connected to SYNC 4?

 

[rugedraw]

It means no internet service. People that live in rural areas with spotty cell coverage rely on wi-fi for OTA's due to this issue. Let's say you have spotty ATT coverage where you live, but your phone has Verizon (for example) and they have a tower nearby, then I guess you can use your phone as a hotspot and connect your truck to it via wi-fi to give it data for the nav or what not, but it will not pull data from your phone via bluetooth or Carplay/Android Auto. If I am wrong, then someone can please chime in and advise, but I am strongly inclined to say it does not do that.

 

[turbopilot]

.... but your phone has Verizon (for example) and they have a tower nearby, then I guess you can use your phone as a hotspot and connect your truck to it via wi-fi to give it data for the nav or what not, but it will not pull data from your phone via bluetooth or Carplay/Android Auto.

Yes, using your smartphone hotspot feature to hook to SYNC 4
WiFi would make sense as a back up, if ATT is out of range. I guess the only way to prove this is to drive the truck to a place out of range of ATT then hookup a SmartPhone using the hotspot feature using another carrier (or Starlink, or a cellular modem) and see if those internet services (other than OTA updates) in Sync 4 still work.

 

[powerboatr]

As far as I know, if your truck is on wi-fi, that will supersede the modem. Once you disconnect , it depends on the modem for connectivity. Note that not a single OTA released up until this point for 2021-2023 trucks has required wi-fi for it to download, but people have gotten OTA's while connected to wi-fi.

I don't think Sync4 uses your paired phone's data plan directly in any way, but I can't say that with 100% confidence.

my phones are with verizon, i can use them as hotspots for truck as i have done this a few times to test, but its really a waste as the verizon phone sees the same cell tower as the att modem.

I have an ATT subscription, price was to good to pass. but i will in a few months renew if same price.
I like having wifi on the road as long as truck can grab a cell tower, i dont think its dependent on seeing an ATT tower as all cell towers are required to allow any provider to use them for access.
plus having the wifi ON allows my padora app to not loose connections excpet for extreme places where there is simply no cell towers for miles and miles. I 49 south of alexandria LA there is a 10 to 12 mile area were cell drops off to zero a few times
and state hwy texas 154, 2 miles outside of quitman heading north until you get to the 6 mile spot, then BOOM its on.???
my truck has done updates 2 times now with truck OFF and to far to see WIFI or the wifi it saw were secured and i didnt have the password

so it has to be using the AAT modem to download the files even when truck is OFF
would love to know that answer as well, if it comes alive for OTAs??

also my truck has update 1 time while i was driving, it told me the files were ready, and then when i stopped to clean the windshield it started and i was stopped until it completed, about 10 minutes

 

[DcnPat]

I don't know if the Sync system uses it but HD radio often has a local traffic and weather data feed and SiriusXM also has the ability.

 

[bgalakazam]

From all I read, OTA only happen over the ATT modem. Since I am i. germany I was never able to get an update otherwise and that confirmed my reading.

 

[EricR]

From all I read, OTA only happen over the ATT modem. Since I am i. germany I was never able to get an update otherwise and that confirmed my reading.

Or, maybe the servers/infrastructure Ford is using for OTAs don't currently accept traffic from Europe?

 

[tbinmd]

Even with my sync joined to my WiFi, the truck doesn't really pull much data via WiFI. All of my OTA's have come via the Sync's LTE connection.

The truck is not going to use the built in hotspot, that is a different data path that you need to pay for. The direct Sync LTE connection is paid by Ford via your subscription.

 

[turbopilot]

Beginning to get some answers. I connected the SYNC 4 WiFi connection to my AirStream router. It identified the client source as "mdm9650-tcu". The tcu at the end most likely means it is the Telematics Control Module. With the iPhone paired to SYNC 4 if I play Amazon streaming there is no activity in the client list on the router for the TCU WiFi connection.

If I turn off the iPhone then SYNC 4 pulls internet data from the WiFi connection and supports Amazon streaming. I have not activated the ATT modem yet to see how it figures into this mix.

So getting back to the OP in this thread I am trying to understand the hierarchy of WAN selection for SYNC4 connectivity.

Anyone with the ATT modem activated can try this. I am trying to understand given the streaming capability of SYNC 4, what data plan is being used moving down the highway. In my case I would like SYNC 4 to use Starlink which is uncapped.

Here is the client list from my Airstream trailer with the TCU WiFi active and playing Amazon streaming audio on SYNC 4.

 

[turbopilot]

Upon further experimentation I can confirm that SYNC4 has only two internet WAN sources, the ATT embedded modem in SYNC 4 and the WiFi connection in SYNC4. The smartphone Bluetooth connection and/or tethered connection only passes audio from applications running on the smartphone that in turn use the smartphone's internet connection.

I did discover that when SYNC4 is connected to a WiFi source with an internet connection Ford Streaming is fully available without any additional fee. Amazon Alexa services seem to be fully provisioned. The Ford Pass App suggests you can only get Ford Streaming by paying a $10/month subscription. But so far when I hook up the SYNC4 WiFi connection to the Starlink hotspot full Amazon services are available.

Without the Sync4 WiFi connection active Alexa will answer and give you time and weather, but when you press her for things like Audible book streaming or podcasts she says you have to subscribe to Ford Streaming Connected Services. Not so when WiFi connection is hooked to the internet.

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