Compatible 3G/4G Modems

[Ibn Najd]

Am I missing something? Why would you need to plug in a mobile hotspot device ( not phone tethering) if its already working?

I mean, just pair it with the devices in the car, plug it into the usb if you need power for it.
Plugging it into the Car for connectivity is silly, itys just a dumb, non intelligent hub

so what we are talking about is not a hotspot, but a USB modem... like the ones that you plug into your computer for wireless internet.

The idea behind this is that someone like me (who has a 3g/4g clear modem) can just leave it plugged into one of the usb plug in my explorer and each time i start the car, the explorer will use that as a data connection and automatically broadcast wifi...

This would make the wifi in the explorer similar to wifi at your house (always on, when the car is on) which eliminates the need to bring your personal hotspot into the car each time or initiate tethering from your phone each time. its a convenience factor really.

I just wish MFT would support more modems... or at least my modem! lol my model is supported for Sprint but not Clear, which is frustrating because it is the same modem, just different carrier settings!

Yes, that would be coooool.

Also, tethering is not always a good option when you use the phone for voice calls. Another important point for me is cost.. data plans on USB modems are very cheap compared to data plan on phones.

So it is an intelligent hub for me

 

[FordIVTteam]

I know I updated a different thread with this info, but I'll post it here too. Here are the ones that we've tested here and worked:

Mercury > USBConnect Mercury > GSM > AT&T
Sierra Wireless > Aircard 250 U > CDMA > Sprint > SYNC supports CDMA only on this device.
Sierra Wireless > USB 598 > CDMA > Sprint
Sierra Wireless > USB 308 > GSM > None Specified

Rebecca

 

[TripFoeYa]

so what we are talking about is not a hotspot, but a USB modem... like the ones that you plug into your computer for wireless internet.

The idea behind this is that someone like me (who has a 3g/4g clear modem) can just leave it plugged into one of the usb plug in my explorer and each time i start the car, the explorer will use that as a data connection and automatically broadcast wifi...

This would make the wifi in the explorer similar to wifi at your house (always on, when the car is on) which eliminates the need to bring your personal hotspot into the car each time or initiate tethering from your phone each time. its a convenience factor really.

I just wish MFT would support more modems... or at least my modem! lol my model is supported for Sprint but not Clear, which is frustrating because it is the same modem, just different carrier settings!

nitzer51, what is that status of you using your USB stick in your vehicle? FreemdomPop, a company who is offering 500MB of free Internet each month went public beta today. I was hoping to get their USB stick and keep it plugged in inside the car. And like you said, whenever the vehicle is running it would broadcast that signal. My guess is their stick is not compatible with MFT.

 

[nitzer51]

Still no dice. Even w the update. It's annoying bc my same modem with sprint is supposedly supported on 3G...

 

[jpclick]

Still no compatible USB Modems on Verizon?

 

[briandoc]

Here's an older one that works for me

Sierra Wireless > USB 595U > CDMA > Sprint

Worked on Sync VersionGen2 - V3.2.2

 

[mjwittig1]

Still modems that work.

I just spoke with Ford and there are NO current modems that work with MFT. Another weak piece of engineering from FORD. There is about as much workable technology in my 1976 Ford Pinto as there is in the 2013 Explorer. At least the Ford rep was "very sorry" for the problems we are having with a feature that they still advertise with the MFT.

I'm tired of Ford's excuses. So far they have had to replace the USB ports twice and the SD card reader once. Had problems with the rear control arm being loose from the factory, which almost send us flying off the highway into a ditch.

Ford needs to get it act together. I will never buy another Ford and will not recommend Ford. Customer Service is horrible. I will be selling before the warranty is up.

 

[GregV8]

I no longer have an Explorer so I can't verify but some of the newer MFT's support Bluetooth PAN. So basically instead of a USB modem, it will use your phone's bluetooth connection to connect to the internet, and then share that connection through its own Wifi.

 

[mjwittig1]

USB modems not compatible

Greg, PAN does work with bluetooth. Problem is I have to use USB modem for security purposes for work. Plus, the unlimited data is paid for. I don't want to use my verizon data.

Ford promised a USB mobile hotspot feature and they have failed to deliver. NO support is being offered. I want to use the feature promised without a workaround. Unless Ford wants to pay my data fees, I feel the Service level is below standard.

Thanks for your input.

 

[FordIVTteam]

Greg, PAN does work with bluetooth. Problem is I have to use USB modem for security purposes for work. Plus, the unlimited data is paid for. I don't want to use my verizon data.

Ford promised a USB mobile hotspot feature and they have failed to deliver. NO support is being offered. I want to use the feature promised without a workaround. Unless Ford wants to pay my data fees, I feel the Service level is below standard.

Thanks for your input.

Have you tried any of these, mjwittig1?

Mercury > USBConnect Mercury > GSM > AT&T
Sierra Wireless > Aircard 250 U > CDMA > Sprint > SYNC supports CDMA only on this device.
Sierra Wireless > USB 598 > CDMA > Sprint
Sierra Wireless > USB 308 > GSM > None Specified
Sierra Wireless > USB 595U > CDMA > Sprint

Rebecca

 

[mjwittig1]

USB modems not compatible

Rebecca, I have not tried these listed. Mainly due to the fact that I subscribe to Verizon. They have the best coverage by far. Secondly, Only 1 of those you list (Sierra Wireless > Aircard 250 U) is still available to currently purchase. The others are all out dated and not no longer available.

Ford should be able to support at least one device from each of the major carriers. Otherwise, they should stop advertising the hotspot as a feature of MFT.

Thanks for your help. Have a good day.

 

[La Bestia]

I do have a 2011 Explorer that I bought in Mexico (VIN number for sale outside the US) and upgraded the MFT to 3.5.1.
To have the wireless working once and for all I bought (and delivered all the way to Mexico by FedEx) from amazon an unlocked ATT Sierra Wireless 308 (Shockwave) air card.
I ran the ATT communication Manager into my PC to set up the air card with the local carrier.
My original air card was a ZTE-MF180 and never detected by MFT.

To make the SW 308 air card to work with my local carrier I just copied and paste the APN settings listed in the ZTE original communication manager software into the ATT communication manager software settings section and the modem was activated (it is the server name I think). Tested to work in the PC and It was OK.

After that I just plugged the air card into the USB port and now, my kids are watching Netflix and there is peace LOL.

So MFT works very well with 3.5.1. and that particular air card and with a non-us mobile carrier with GSM chip.

it does not work with ZTE-MF180

Oh the load of the APN settings into the air card via the ATT software had to be with Windows XP, no luck with windows 7 or 8....

Total cost? less than 45 bucks (modem was only $19)

Have you tried any of these, mjwittig1?

Mercury > USBConnect Mercury > GSM > AT&T
Sierra Wireless > Aircard 250 U > CDMA > Sprint > SYNC supports CDMA only on this device.
Sierra Wireless > USB 598 > CDMA > Sprint
Sierra Wireless > USB 308 > GSM > None Specified
Sierra Wireless > USB 595U > CDMA > Sprint

Rebecca

 

[xM]

I'm just finished а test of my new modem AT&T USBConnect Shockwave 4G (aka SierraWireless USB 308, aka SierraWireless 310U in Europe) with latest MyFord Touch Sync 3.7 with success. So you may use listed models as well.