Having WiFi in your car is not just for new models, even if your vehicle is a few years old. You should be aware of all your alternatives for adding Internet access so you can choose the most appealing. Children will enjoy it if you have some.
Many automakers now claim that their vehicles will have Internet access, and they do it by including WiFi as an option or service.
If you’re traveling alone, you won’t care, but if you have small children or are traveling over large distances, WiFi in the car is convenient.
And it’s not just something for brand-new automobiles; we can use the Internet in many different ways and any car.
We can use the solutions provided by telecommunications providers, create our WiFi hotspot at home, or use the brands’ official keys.
The latter, however, are accessible only with specific models. Learn about all the options, then pick the one that best meets your needs to have WiFi in your car.
Create your WiFi network in your vehicle for the best value and performance
The ideal choice is to set up your WiFi network in your car if you want more megabytes, the most terrific deal, and, in general, the best WiFi network available.
It’s straightforward, and we’ll begin by assuming that you’ll need a mobile router that supports 4G networks and that will, of course, function with a SIM card similar to your smartphone.
Your WiFi connection can be carried about with you everywhere you go.
These routers are simple to locate. Products from manufacturers like Huawei or TP-Link are available in retailers like Amazon for roughly 40 to 65 euros.
Most of them have an inbuilt battery, can connect to 10 devices at once, and use a SIM card, microSIM, or nanoSIM to connect to 34/4G networks and allow us to download data at a pace of up to 150 Mbps.
You will also want a mobile line for this kind of gadget. It can be a replica of your contract, a separate SIM, or a SIM that uses the gigabytes from your tariff.
You can use a mobile tariff that you sign with any provider with these devices. Therefore, you decide on your monthly data usage, spending limits, and operator coverage.
Additionally, prepaid choices are available to you if you sometimes use this gadget and this line, such as when traveling.
Car WiFi through a mobile provider
As we previously noted, certain telecom companies provide WiFi in cars at discounted rates and provide the necessary hardware, i.e., the gadget that will give wireless connectivity.
This is the case with the mobile service provider Telefónica’s Movistar Car, which costs 3 euros per month, has no long-term commitment, and is an ODB socket device that will add WiFi to the vehicle.
The Movistar package offers 3 GB of monthly data and WiFi for up to five devices simultaneously. A 20 euro registration fee must be paid in addition to all of this.
There used to be an Orange substitute that was very comparable, but the service was dropped. And while Vodafone does offer a remote help service for cars, it does not currently provide WiFi access like Movistar or Orange did in the past.
WiFi in the “official” vehicle, built-in connectivity from the manufacturer
A built-in eSIM can be found in many modern car models.
This is what? This embedded chip functions just like a regular SIM card but is significantly smaller and not affiliated with any one operator. For instance, iPads and other devices contain it.
All cell phones and tablets in the car can be WiFi-connected to the Internet.
With this, the car can be or is always linked via 4G. It allows us to use services like real-time traffic or weather forecast, as well as allowing manufacturers to provide OTA software upgrades. The additional service automakers are selling is the key to this.
The manufacturer above collaborates with an operator to provide this service. Vodafone, for instance, has a partnership with Audi.
Thus, Audi customers can purchase in-car WiFi through an exclusive price negotiated between Audi and Vodafone -using the same example- with a more comprehensive package that includes other services. But are we keen on this possibility?
The benefit of this so-called in-car WiFi is that there is no additional installation, equipment, or cell fee to manage.
The required hardware is built into the car, and our vehicle company directly manages the tariff as a service.
Although it is more practical, it frequently has fewer features or costs more per gigabyte. It is a matter of weighing our options, comparing them, and determining which options we prefer for WiFi in the automobile.
