using gmc truck for internet hot spot
I currently have a 2015 GMC truck to tow our fiver. We are traveling to unknown areas soon. Not sure if we will be able to get wifi in all areas. I was wondering if anyone uses the vehicle internet th...
Forum Discussion
I have and here are my comments
IF you have ATT, or any other GSM phone provider for your normal phone service and wifi, GM Wifi offers little if any advantage. If your ATT phone has marginal conection or just lost it, the GM wifi/phone MAY still give you a connection.
Now if your main phone is CDMA (verizon etc.) it can be an advantage.
So, here it is
1) your connection will be via ATT so coverage is solely dependent on ATT coverage and service in the area you are in.
2) It's as good as any ATT GSM 4GLTE hotspot
3) Since it runs slightly higher power than a std cell phone, you may get coverage when a regular cell is marginal
Are cell phones are Verizon, so we normally use our verizon jetpack. But when we can't get verizon but can get ATT coverage we use the car hotspot.
Now the gotcha's.
1) The wireless hotspot range is shorter than a normal hotspot. It's likely designed assuming you are IN the vehicle. I find it works for maybe a 40 ft radius outside the truck
2) It's designed assuming your driving the truck, so it can't be turned on w/o the truck ignition being on UNLESS you do the following
a) get in the passenger side and turn the key to position 2 and let onstar etc come on
b) remove the key, and get out of the car from the PASSENGER side. Then the onstar/wifi will run for about 10 minutes, the same amount of time the radio will run after ignition is turned off.
IF you try this from the drivers side, it will turn off the INSTANT you open the drivers door!!!
I just bought a 1 year 10GB access, and use it when we can't get CDMA (verizon etc.) access. For us, the ATT is an advantage since we do have places where verizon doesn't work but ATT does. And there are equally as many places where verizon works and ATT, INCLUDING onstar phone, internet, and wifi do NOT have signal access.
IF you have ATT, or any other GSM phone provider for your normal phone service and wifi, GM Wifi offers little if any advantage. If your ATT phone has marginal conection or just lost it, the GM wifi/phone MAY still give you a connection.
Now if your main phone is CDMA (verizon etc.) it can be an advantage.
So, here it is
1) your connection will be via ATT so coverage is solely dependent on ATT coverage and service in the area you are in.
2) It's as good as any ATT GSM 4GLTE hotspot
3) Since it runs slightly higher power than a std cell phone, you may get coverage when a regular cell is marginal
Are cell phones are Verizon, so we normally use our verizon jetpack. But when we can't get verizon but can get ATT coverage we use the car hotspot.
Now the gotcha's.
1) The wireless hotspot range is shorter than a normal hotspot. It's likely designed assuming you are IN the vehicle. I find it works for maybe a 40 ft radius outside the truck
2) It's designed assuming your driving the truck, so it can't be turned on w/o the truck ignition being on UNLESS you do the following
a) get in the passenger side and turn the key to position 2 and let onstar etc come on
b) remove the key, and get out of the car from the PASSENGER side. Then the onstar/wifi will run for about 10 minutes, the same amount of time the radio will run after ignition is turned off.
IF you try this from the drivers side, it will turn off the INSTANT you open the drivers door!!!
I just bought a 1 year 10GB access, and use it when we can't get CDMA (verizon etc.) access. For us, the ATT is an advantage since we do have places where verizon doesn't work but ATT does. And there are equally as many places where verizon works and ATT, INCLUDING onstar phone, internet, and wifi do NOT have signal access.
