NAV sync3 WIFI communication with MyFord APP?

[Akua]

Does anyone know the specifics on how the MyFord app communicates with the Car ??

It cant be Bluetooth because it works from anywhere, and the car cant be connecting to local WIFI because it still works in the middle of nowhere.
Does the Car have its own internet WIFI that is a free service? Or is the app communicating through the GPS?

I would really like to know what its capable of and what its not capable of. When I spoke to fords 1-800 number the lady on the phone didn't seem to know much...

Thanks,

 

[Pearl]

There's a wireless modem in the car that connects as it needs to. Kinda like your car having it's own cell phone built in.

 

[Akua]

Pearl,

Thanks for the reply. So it definitely does not communicate through GPS? How does ford provide an internet capable
service like this without a monthly fee? I don't understand because It has to cost THEM money to keep the internet
up and running... No?

Thanks,

 

[spirilis]

Pearl,

Thanks for the reply. So it definitely does not communicate through GPS? How does ford provide an internet capable
service like this without a monthly fee? I don't understand because It has to cost THEM money to keep the internet
up and running... No?

Thanks,

Yes it does, most likely Ford has a contract with AT&T where they get fleet-wide connectivity for what I bet is a bargain compared to what we all pay for cell service. Also it's limited in usage, and 3G (no 4G).

Btw, nobody can communicate "through" GPS, it's a network of satellites sending one-way broadcast info that anyone can use to discover their position, transmitting that info requires some sort of two-way communication system like cellphone (3G) or wifi.

 

[Heima]

Ummm, No.
GPS communication is one-way, from the satellites to anything listening. Be that your phone, your car, your garmin etrex, to whatever you own that has GPS capabilities.

No one on this board has the money to buy the equipment, let alone the security clearance, for a personal uplink to a GPS satellite.

So many people get GPS and GSM mixed up.

The car has a GSM/cellular transceiver. It does have modem capabilities for firmware updates, but primarily performs SMS messages for vehicle status and locking/unlocking doors and remote starts.
Ford would much rather you use wifi, (your dime) for those firmware updates.

There is no wifi router in the car. The car has a wifi node, and I am sure it is possible to hack it into a bridge/broadcast/access point, but you would be wasting your time for anything other than the satisfaction of knowing you did it.

Some cars do have routers and can be configured as an access point. The FFE cannot.

There is a strong possibility that there is an Ethernet switch somewhere in among the CAN buses. But don't expect an RJ-45 port to be easily accessible.