Adding A Wi-Fi/Cellular Connection

[RoyalTeaDee]

I apologize if this has already been asked but I could not find the answer when I did a search.

I'd like to add wi-fi or a cellular connection to my truck.

I'm looking for a USB dongle/device so I don't have to worry about a battery. I'm looking to plug it in to the external battery I have installed for my dash cam.

Has anyone done this or have any recommendations?

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[RichardCranium]

I think I am confused as to what your question is. You want WiFi added to your truck so others can use the internet, or you want to connect the truck to WiFi or cellular?

 

[RoyalTeaDee]

I would like to add wifi so my dash cam has a continuous connection. As I mentioned, I have it connected to an external battery so it is recording while the truck is off. By having it connected allows me to receive notifications in real time if something were to happen while parked.

 

[Bwicka]

I would just use a cheap phone with a hot spot on a monthly pay as you go plan or add a line to your plan , have an extra phone in your glovebox then for emergencies .There was an option for onboard subscription with SIM card through ford back in 2022 , but I believe in 2023 it was dropped because no one was paying the ford subscription rates.
The only problem you may have is constantly streaming live video to an upload site will eat up data plan for some carriers and be a problem in some rural areas. May be better off looking at a large hard drive to upload to and just have the camera loop on that after so many days of stored video .

 

[ndmiller]

Starlink?

 

[Carlitos_92]

I would just use a cheap phone with a hot spot on a monthly pay as you go plan or add a line to your plan , have an extra phone in your glovebox then for emergencies.

I like the hotspot idea, but you should not even need the extra phone. The hotspot would provide a WiFi connection for the dash cam, and the hotspot's cellular radio would give it internet access as long as there is cellular signal. Like you said, the monthly cost and data caps would be concerns, though.

You would probably also want to manage it so that when parked at home, the camera shifts to the residential WiFi instead of using the hotspot. I don't know enough about configuring dashcams or hotspots to walk that through in my head.

Starlink?

That would be impractical for a daily driver, and more expensive than the alternatives.

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