Does anyone ACTUAL buy a data plan for their trucks WiFi? **8/23 Update**

[WuNgUn]

Never quite understood this...unless maybe you have a wi-fi only tablet? I do!
I'm wondering, being from Canada, if I could buy a temporary data plan on a supported US carrier for when I'm traveling in the US? Would have to be a way cheaper option than roaming.
I literally know nothing about Ford WiFi of data plans/carriers/costs.

Update... So I managed to register my WiFi on the Escape using a made-up US address, using US carrier (ATT?)
It works domestically, with no apparent issues.... But the main reason for me doing this is for US travel, as mentioned... This could potetionally save hundreds in additional cell/text/data rates for travel plans with my carrier!

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[BennyBronco69]

I have it on my 21 Blazer RS.

Like XM I just call in and bitch about price and they lower it every time.

I like it bc if I go somewhere in the cut I have wifi. I also use it for my Alexa app that's integrated in the car.

Unlimited data for $14 a month.

 

[HBTFD]

I do for my wife’s expedition. $23 a month thru AT&T. My 3 kids can use it while in the car without swamping my phone hotspot. It’s an alternative carrier than our phone carrier (Verizon) and helps if the power goes out at our house which happens way to much (thank Georgia Power).

 

[pan-y-cerveza]

Thanks for this thread. I've never understood wifi in vehicles.

I guess with the cost of our Canadian data plans it just doesn't make sense.

Getting it to travel in the US could make sense. I'm with Bell and the US travel data plans are ok but I'd be better off with an actual US carrier if I could get it in the truck.

 

[xcxv]

ACTUAL no one buys

 

[WuNgUn]

I do for my wife’s expedition. $23 a month thru AT&T. My 3 kids can use it while in the car without swamping my phone hotspot. It’s an alternative carrier than our phone carrier (Verizon) and helps if the power goes out at our house which happens way to much (thank Georgia Power).

So question... What Devices do your kids use that require WiFi? Cell phone without a data plan (just WiFi). I guess that and home WiFi would keep them engaged and make sense.

 

[De Brus]

I have it on my 21 Blazer RS.

Like XM I just call in and bitch about price and they lower it every time.

I like it bc if I go somewhere in the cut I have wifi. I also use it for my Alexa app that's integrated in the car.

Unlimited data for $14 a month.

But if your car gets service in the cut, wouldn't your phone as well?

 

[Stroopaloop]

So question... What Devices do your kids use that require WiFi? Cell phone without a data plan (just WiFi). I guess that and home WiFi would keep them engaged and make sense.

Ipads, Nintendo switch

 

[HBTFD]

So question... What Devices do your kids use that require WiFi? Cell phone without a data plan (just WiFi). I guess that and home WiFi would keep them engaged and make sense.

I pads or their school issued chrome books

 

[johndeerefarmer]

We were camping in OK and couldn't get cell service so my GF could work. I turned on the wifi in the truck and she connected to that. The only problem was the truck would shut off every 15 or 20 min and I would have to put it back in Accessory mode.

 

[88to21bronco]

We were camping in OK and couldn't get cell service so my GF could work. I turned on the wifi in the truck and she connected to that. The only problem was the truck would shut off every 15 or 20 min and I would have to put it back in Accessory mode.

What tech differences allow the truck to get service when the phone doesn't? Different carrier?

 

[Raptor911]

On the raptor it is $20 per month through AT&T. 1st 3 months is free or 3gigs whatever comes 1st so you can test it out. If you work out of your car then it is a good deal.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

What tech differences allow the truck to get service when the phone doesn't? Different carrier?

The antenna on the truck has more gain than that on the phone.

 

[jsharpe]

Ipads, Nintendo switch

But is there ever a time when there isn't someone in the car with a cell phone that can serve as the wifi hotspot? Since your phones can do everything the car can I still don[t see the need for an "extra" data plan. It used to be that phone plans supporting wifi tethering cost extra, but I though all those gradually faded away and it's included in most plans now.

 

[TRMFAM]

On the raptor it is $20 per month through AT&T. 1st 3 months is free or 3gigs whatever comes 1st so you can test it out. If you work out of your car then it is a good deal.

It could be region specific but we got them down to $14 / month. I have mine turned on and my wife works a lot on her laptop while we are going places...we can typically leave a day earlier and she works from the truck. We have Verizon mobile phones and the connectivity for data is not even close the truck works everywhere and rarely drops and the phone is completely the opposite and hot spotting the phones the speed does not seem close either. We have the unlimited Verizon plan but still feels like they throttle is when hot spotted.

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