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Ford Galaxy with wifi hotspot |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,206
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Ford Galaxy with wifi hotspot
I think I know the answer to this, but I have just bought a new Ford Galaxy which has as a feature the ability to create an in-car wifi hotspot from a phone. Now I assume that this won't circumvent the tethering restriction on many phone plans, but if that is the case what on earth is the point of the feature - why not just cut out the middleman and use the phone itself as a hotspot ?
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
I think I know the answer to this, but I have just bought a new Ford Galaxy which has as a feature the ability to create an in-car wifi hotspot from a phone. Now I assume that this won't circumvent the tethering restriction on many phone plans, but if that is the case what on earth is the point of the feature - why not just cut out the middleman and use the phone itself as a hotspot ?
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#3 |
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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Ford's website says a USB modem is required. http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/All-New-Galaxy/Features Quote:
Wi-Fi connectivity is available via hotspots, with a USB modem.
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#4 |
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 283
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May be for US models but this page explains how to run the car wifi from your phone
https://owner.ford.com/how-tos/sync-...i-hotspot.html |
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#5 |
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As I said, I don't really see the point, can't imagine I will use it.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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I'm guessing it's for the kids to use their tablets on on long journeys?
I setup my phone with a Three SIM as a wireless hotspot for my kids tablets sometimes on long journeys and of course for my wife who is on Tesco (O2) for when we are outside of built up areas.
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#7 |
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Quote:
I'm guessing it's for the kids to use their tablets on on long journeys?
I setup my phone with a Three SIM as a wireless hotspot for my kids tablets sometimes on long journeys and of course for my wife who is on Tesco (O2) for when we are outside of built up areas. ![]() |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Yes, but my whole point is why is this any different to using a phone as the hotspot ?
Buy a 6GB EE sim for £15 and kiddies can watch [insert name of latest children's TV show] to their hearts content on an iPad in the back. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
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Quote:
Yes, but my whole point is why is this any different to using a phone as the hotspot ?
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#10 |
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Quote:
Battery life, convenience and many people only have 250MB-500MB allowances.
Buy a 6GB EE sim for £15 and kiddies can watch [insert name of latest children's TV show] to their hearts content on an iPad in the back. |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Battery life isn't an issue as my phone is always on charge in the car. Also seems more cost effective just to put more data on my phone plan - £15 extra per month would get me more than 6GB. Also, not sure what you mean about convenience. My phone hotspot is always on anyway.
It isn't just about you and your phone, probably 80% of phone users don't always charge their phone in their car, most people don't find it more cost effective to have a larger data allowance for the few times a year they might use it. Convenience is a simple thing, Daddy gets in and starts the car, kiddies have a wifi network, no messing about in the phone settings or tying to fiddle with activating the hotspot while driving in the fast last of the M6 because you forgot to activate and Tarquin now wants to watch Peppa Pig. It might not make sense to you as a tech savvy individual with a large allowance who never forgets to plug in the charger and activate the hotspot before setting off, it does to the thousands of Joe Bloggs who aren't. |
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#12 |
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Location: Totnes, Devon
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Quote:
Convenience is a simple thing, Daddy gets in and starts the car, kiddies have a wifi network
Kids would then choose to replace Daddy with a more sensible one. |
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#13 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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Quote:
It isn't just about you and your phone, probably 80% of phone users don't always charge their phone in their car, most people don't find it more cost effective to have a larger data allowance for the few times a year they might use it.
Convenience is a simple thing, Daddy gets in and starts the car, kiddies have a wifi network, no messing about in the phone settings or tying to fiddle with activating the hotspot . Rummage around in the various compartments to find the Mifi. Discover the battery is flat Rummage for the charging cable Plug it in Possibly discover the data has run out Navigate to the Ford Sync wifi setting which is 3 levels deep in the menu and enable it Have various attempts at working out the password since it is infrequently used So, the above is more convenient than just enabling the personal hotspot setting which is on the front page of settings - sure it is ! And in "my" case there is actually zero to do because the hotspot is always on - and yes I am interested in whether it has any benefits for "me" as surprise surprise that is why I posted the question. Most of us are interested in how things relate to our particular situation. So I conclude as I suspected, no benefit, it's a gimmick However, I have noticed one feature that might just be a benefit, and that is the ability to rebroadcast a wifi hotspot. One could park up in range of something you have a subscription to and enable it for the rest of the family. But again, in "my" case, I rarely ever use public wifi as it's more trouble than it's worth having to sign in. I generally switch off my wifi when in a public place as I get sick and tired of my phone connecting itself to a hotspot and then not having an internet connection because it requires a sign in process. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
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Quote:
Unless Daddy chose O2 and is driving anywhere remotely rural.
Kids would then choose to replace Daddy with a more sensible one. lol I missed that one .Quote:
So, you are saying it would only be used a few times a year. In which case the process while potentially driving is -
Rummage around in the various compartments to find the Mifi. Discover the battery is flat Rummage for the charging cable Plug it in Possibly discover the data has run out Navigate to the Ford Sync wifi setting which is 3 levels deep in the menu and enable it Have various attempts at working out the password since it is infrequently used So, the above is more convenient than just enabling the personal hotspot setting which is on the front page of settings - sure it is ! And in "my" case there is actually zero to do because the hotspot is always on - and yes I am interested in whether it has any benefits for "me" as surprise surprise that is why I posted the question. Most of us are interested in how things relate to our particular situation. So I conclude as I suspected, no benefit, it's a gimmick However, I have noticed one feature that might just be a benefit, and that is the ability to rebroadcast a wifi hotspot. One could park up in range of something you have a subscription to and enable it for the rest of the family. But again, in "my" case, I rarely ever use public wifi as it's more trouble than it's worth having to sign in. I generally switch off my wifi when in a public place as I get sick and tired of my phone connecting itself to a hotspot and then not having an internet connection because it requires a sign in process. |
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