On board modem
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 105
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On board modem
I have an 2018 platinum and it doesn't have the on board modem. I have WiFi settings for whatever reason but no modem that I can find. Does anyone know if it's possible to add that feature?
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2019
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Heathmc is correct, what you are seeing is to connect the truck to outside wifi (home, office, wifi hotspot on your phone) for OTA updates. What you are referring to would be adding Sync Connect w/Hot Spot. It has been done but requires a good bit of work. You need the modem which mounts behind the seats and has one antenna to run inside to the roof above the back glass and another antenna wired that ties in to the Sirius antenna on the front passenger side roof. Then a wiring harness needs to be made to tie in power/ground and the HS3-CAN network. Then some programming changes need to be made in FORscan.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2019
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I thought a Platinum (2018) came standard with Sync 3 which would mean it does have WiFi for OTA updates. Now you may not be able to have a HotSpot (which is really the function of a router rather than a modem). Can you get close enough to your house to set up a WiFi connection with your home network? The cheaper alternative for a HotSpot is to subscribe to your cell carriers hotspot service and use your phone to share the data connection.
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2019
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I thought a Platinum (2018) came standard with Sync 3 which would mean it does have WiFi for OTA updates. Now you may not be able to have a HotSpot (which is really the function of a router rather than a modem). Can you get close enough to your house to set up a WiFi connection with your home network? The cheaper alternative for a HotSpot is to subscribe to your cell carriers hotspot service and use your phone to share the data connection.
Sync 3 is completely different from the FordPass Connect system. 2017-2018 models with factory NAV can connect to a Wi-fi network for OTA updates of the Sync system but have no ability to do vehicle controls, receive vehicle info from FordPass or connect to internal hotspot. I have a 2018 Platinum which is connected to my home Wi-fi for OTA updates and it will get good signal sitting in my driveway.
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You can activate your phone hotspot through your cell carrier if that is an option for you or many companies have started releasing their own OBD2 port plug in hotspot devices. The only negative is you wont have vehicle controls available it will simply be an in vehicle hotspot.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2013
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Last edited by brandon86305; Jan 31, 2020 at 01:42 AM. Reason: adding information
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
Make sure you have the prewire on the back wall of your truck first by folding down the rear passenger seat and pulling down the rear wall carpet. It will be a 16 pin connector in a white holder if you have it. If it's not pre-wired you will need a PnP harness a guy on a F150 forum makes. The VIN is helpful when activating the hotspot with ATT but it's not necessary as you can find the wrecked trucks VIN by connecting to the hotspot and it will show it on the login screen briefly after you connect. Otherwise yes that is all you need.