Mavericks have a Modem to stay connected to Ford, Who's paying for the Network connection ?

[DavidB367]

The Telematics unit has two radios. Cell and wifi. Ford uses the Cell radio to transmit telemetry data if Ford Pass is not setup. If Ford Pass is installed and paired to the car, it will use it to transmit data if allowed to. Hotspot uses the telematics Wifi radio If you pay Ford's telematic bill each month for $20.00. Why? Unlimited phone data plans are getting more reasonable these days. The head unit also has a wifi radio and can pull down service updates that can be connected to either the hotspot or your home wifi.

Puling fuse 11 is your friend in many ways.

edited based on Terry's comment below

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[NJBob]

It won't be long before Ford will ask you to subscribe to Ford Pass. I know my wife's Subie has a subscription service.

 

[HeyBales]

History has proven time and time again that our data will eventually be sold somewhere we dislike, used for things against our best interest, and options to opt out will disappear. Sad but true.

Our very personal data (DOB, SSN, CC #'s, usernames/passwords) has already been sold somewhere we dislike, to be used against our best interest, and never an option to opt out.

We've all had some data of varying amounts stolen by hackers from compromised accounts somewhere (I'd be shocked that someone could have avoided it). Our knowledge of how much and when may be a tad more informed, if the business gets around to informing us they had their database of info broken in to.
Apple & Google already have database of WiFi networks and location - so even with GPS disabled - your locations are tracked per your device.

Helping my mom tonight figure out what needs to be done after she was informed over a year past the theft from a medical billing company. She does nothing with online accounts, but for grins & giggles I entered her info in my monitoring account (free from Experian because of their problem) and indeed it has several bits out there.

 

[Tiger Dude]

I can't find a clear answer to this one, Yes I know when I'm driving I have Blue tooth connected on my dime for Phone, Carplay, Android Auto etc.

There is a Modem with a Sim card (removable or embedded Not sure) mounted in our Mavericks that connects to the AT&T network for connection to the Ford Computers for Updates, Telematics etc.

So my question is, Is this connection on Ford's Dime or am I getting dinged by my network carrier for usage ? I do not have a unlimited plan for Cellular and don't want to get caught in the unknown.

The insurance companies and data collectors they sell the information to pay for this.

 

[Tbone289]

The Telematics unit has two radios. Cell and wifi.

False. The telematics unit is only has a cell radio only. You can pull fuse 11 to disable the telematics unit and Wifi still operates. This has already been covered in this conversation.

Edit: see my post below for further explanation.

 

[Tbone289]

The Telematics unit has two radios. Cell and wifi. Ford uses the Cell radio to transmit telemetry data if Ford Pass is not setup. If Ford Pass is installed and paired to the car, it will use it to transmit data if allowed to. Hotspot uses the telematics Wifi radio If you pay Ford's telematic bill each month for $20.00. Why? Unlimited phone data plans are getting more reasonable these days. The head unit also has a wifi radio and can pull down service updates that can be connected to either the hotspot or your home wifi.

Puling fuse 11 is your friend in many ways.

I said false above, but it is true that telematics includes a wifi hotspot. It does not, however provide a radio for the vehicle to connect to a wifi network. So, actually what you've said above is true. My mistake due to not reading carefully enough before responding.

I pulled fuse 11 for a while, but decided to re-enable it and just opt out of location tracking and insurance data. That is enough for me.

 

[DavidB367]

I said false above, but it is true that telematics includes a wifi hotspot. It does not, however provide a radio for the vehicle to connect to a wifi network. So, actually what you've said above is true. My mistake due to not reading carefully enough before responding.

I pulled fuse 11 for a while, but decided to re-enable it and just opt out of location tracking and insurance data. That is enough for me.

No problem. I've been a software network engineer for many years and I've seen some crazy things companies do to try to collect data. For me personally, I'm obsessive about controlling my personal data. If they don't have it, they can't misuse it or change their minds in the future.

 

[Tbone289]

No problem. I've been a software network engineer for many years and I've seen some crazy things companies do to try to collect data. For me personally, I'm obsessive about controlling my personal data. If they don't have it, they can't misuse it or change their minds down in the future.

I've worked in IT on the software side for 24 years as well, and was an electronics engineer prior to that. With insurance and location data turned off, I don't believe it's gathering much more information than my phone already is. It's best practice though to pull the fuse if there's any concern. Telematics doesn't provide anything that useful to the owner.

 

[Jman79]

Our very personal data (DOB, SSN, CC #'s, usernames/passwords) has already been sold somewhere we dislike, to be used against our best interest, and never an option to opt out.

We've all had some data of varying amounts stolen by hackers from compromised accounts somewhere (I'd be shocked that someone could have avoided it). Our knowledge of how much and when may be a tad more informed, if the business gets around to informing us they had their database of info broken in to.
Apple & Google already have database of WiFi networks and location - so even with GPS disabled - your locations are tracked per your device.

Helping my mom tonight figure out what needs to be done after she was informed over a year past the theft from a medical billing company. She does nothing with online accounts, but for grins & giggles I entered her info in my monitoring account (free from Experian because of their problem) and indeed it has several bits out there.

I'm not sure if you're just venting and reinforcing the point or saying forget it and don't try?

Consumers can and do have an eventual impact if they act in large enough groups. If they seek out the companies that have the best practices and apps etc. then avoid ones that don't.

Eg. Android still lets you turn off location accuracy. Avoid apps that's for you to turn it on. Don't grant apps to use your location when not running the app, etc. We have to at least attempt to stop enshitification.

As for your mom. I came to the realization about 15 years ago a person should always just have some sort of monitoring and alerts. Because breaches are way too common and companies don't practice good data hygiene.

 

[Cherokee]

Ford is paying. You are not.

And they are doing you a service but there is revenue for them when you come in at their urging.

 

[DanielP]

What I was thinking but just wanted confirmation.

I did a 10 vacation last year and parked my 2024 Lariat at an airport parking lot. By the time I returned my battery was fully drained. Solution: turn off your Auto Firmware Update!

 

[ripperAZ]

I can't find a clear answer to this one, Yes I know when I'm driving I have Blue tooth connected on my dime for Phone, Carplay, Android Auto etc.

There is a Modem with a Sim card (removable or embedded Not sure) mounted in our Mavericks that connects to the AT&T network for connection to the Ford Computers for Updates, Telematics etc.

So my question is, Is this connection on Ford's Dime or am I getting dinged by my network carrier for usage ? I do not have a unlimited plan for Cellular and don't want to get caught in the unknown.

2023 model year they deleted all the modems cause they couldn’t get the parts and gave everybody a $20 credit. Oh yay but I’m fine with it because I get to control access through my phone and they only get information when I wanna give it to them or when I wanna get an update just by using the hotspot feature I’d actually turn it off if you could

 

[HeyBales]

I did a 10 vacation last year and parked my 2024 Lariat at an airport parking lot. By the time I returned my battery was fully drained. Solution: turn off your Auto Firmware Update!

Just FYI.
If it was not connected to some airport WiFi network - there was nothing happening that having that setting enabled could possibly do.
The System logs when you are connected to a wifi network, and if you are then it seems to connect once a day or less frequently to see if an infotainment center update exists.
At this point I'm doubting the Lariat has many updates either, so it would be less than a 1 minute and just bytes of data to check.

Because that's the only firmware that option deals with, and the only way to use it.
But I'm betting you weren't connected to WiFi anyway - so a moot point.

Was more likely the TCU referenced many times in this thread.
If you used Fordpass you should have received notice a notice it was being disabled by the Deep sleep message.
If you never got one then you probably had the issue of the infrequent battery drain that wiped it out faster before it could report it was going to Deep sleep.
Or the ATT network was about useless in it's location and no data got out - but perhaps the attempt to use it caused the drain.

 

[SLINGSHOT]

Hot spot modem was deleted in my 2023 Lariat with the $20 credit.
G O O D !!
I always ask out of town visitors to please turn their phones OFF. If I am dragging your ass around the countryside, I expect you pay attention to the scenery. You do not need 24/7 FaceCrap or Nit Twitter poured into your head. If they ignore my request the first day, I announce that the tourist service is suspended. They might as well sit on my couch and stare mindlessly at their phones. Saves me wear and tear and gas.
Yes, I am old and set in my ways. Don't like it, leave. Go visit somebody else.

 

[HeyBales]

2023 model year they deleted all the modems cause they couldn’t get the parts and gave everybody a $20 credit. Oh yay but I’m fine with it because I get to control access through my phone and they only get information when I wanna give it to them or when I wanna get an update just by using the hotspot feature I’d actually turn it off if you could

I highly doubt that they didn't install modems.

It's been reported before they deleted the option for you to purchase the ability for the truck to provide a WiFi hotspot for your personal use for other devices to connect to.
So at most an antenna receiver was left off - but I'm doubting even that.
They most likely just disabled the option.

I'd bet the screen with the modem ESN still exist on yours.
Probably even have the options for selecting what data is shared or connectivity allowed.

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