Page 1 of 2

Alternative data usage

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 1:18 pm
by Franklin
Hi
Can anyone answer my query please?
The data sim supplied with the car and connect plus has ran out. Obviously we can top it up but I have loads of data to use on my phone ( I phone 7 on Vodafone)
Can I use PCM connect plus by tethering the phone or any other way, so we can use the phones data and so we can access other internet services?
If so an idiots guide would be useful!

Thanks in advance

Frankie

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:53 pm
by Retired
PCM can use your phone to acccess data.

Remove SIM card from car.

Turn on your phone's WiFi hotspot.

Select Device Manager on the PCM screen (touch bottom left corner), then Data Connection and follow the dialogue to establish a WiFi connection.

That's it.

Not an iphone user so don't know if this is true, but on Android phones the WiFi hotspot turns off after an period of inactivity (e.g. when away from the car) so you need to turn it on every time you get into the car. Not the most elegant solution.

A data only SIM widely recommended here is available from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trio-Pay-Mobil ... s=data+sim

£41.14 for 24gb total over up to 24 months.

I have one and it works well.

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:22 pm
by goron59
@Retired is correct.

On your iPhone, you turn on "Personal Hotspot" - this works over WiFi only (not USB tethered).

iOS does turn off the Personal Hotspot after a period of non-use. I don't know what that period is, but it certainly does it over night :/

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 4:48 pm
by Col Lamb
Regarding the SIM card from 3, that is what I bought for the Turbo, but the 12Gb version.

I do not stream and have Google Earth off by default but use it occasionally and after 8 months I still have 8Gb left and I have updated the maps, thats all the data usage that I know of.

I only just checked data usage today as I have been having in car IT problems and wondered if the data had run out.

Its worth checking the data coverage reports for your usual driving areas and routes prior to buying any SIM.

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:18 am
by Franklin
Thanks for the advice guys..........sorted 👍🏼
Just one more thing,do I need to keep putting the wifi password in every time? That could prove annoying ⁉️

Frankie

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:53 am
by Col Lamb
WiFi password everytime, no.

At least on the few occasions I have connected up to it with my iPad I only had to put the password in the first time.

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 12:45 pm
by Retired
Col Lamb wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:53 am WiFi password everytime, no.

At least on the few occasions I have connected up to it with my iPad I only had to put the password in the first time.

This isn't a device such as your iPad connecting to the car's WiFi.

It's the other way round. The car needs the data connection for online traffic etc to work and it gets it, in the absence of a SIM in the car, by connecting to an external WiFi hotspot on, e.g. a phone.

Nevertheless, you only have to enter the hotspot password the first time the connection is established.

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 12:46 pm
by Retired
Franklin wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:18 am Thanks for the advice guys..........sorted 👍🏼
Just one more thing,do I need to keep putting the wifi password in every time? That could prove annoying ⁉️

Frankie
No need to be annoyed. Only enter it the first time to establish the link.

Might need to turn on the phone's hotspot though if it stops working when not in use.

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 3:09 pm
by Col Lamb
Retired wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2017 12:45 pm
Col Lamb wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:53 am WiFi password everytime, no.

At least on the few occasions I have connected up to it with my iPad I only had to put the password in the first time.

This isn't a device such as your iPad connecting to the car's WiFi.

It's the other way round. The car needs the data connection for online traffic etc to work and it gets it, in the absence of a SIM in the car, by connecting to an external WiFi hotspot on, e.g. a phone.

Nevertheless, you only have to enter the hotspot password the first time the connection is established.

I do not understand your response.

Presently I am sat in my Turbo with my iPad connected to the WiFi hospot entitled Turbo, btw my mobile phone is nowhere near the car and is not showing as connected.

So you do not need a mobile phone to provide a WiFi hotspot the car does that without a mobile being necessary.

This response sent via my Macans internet hotspot.

Me, I would still use a data SIM and negotiate a lower mobile contract, I have unlimited calls and 4Gb of data for £9 a month.

Re: Alternative data usage

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 4:01 pm
by goron59
It's the other way round. The car needs the data connection for online traffic etc to work and it gets it, in the absence of a SIM in the car, by connecting to an external WiFi hotspot on, e.g. a phone.
highlighted what he was talking about.