WiFi hot spot

[dfconnolly]

Hi all,

Can someone please explain exactly what a WiFi hot spot on the jazz actually is?
I see a screen stating “ Use WiFi hotspot”
How does it connect up to WiFi?

Do you need to activate and subscribe to the “MyHonda+” app to connect it?

Do you have to pay any subscription to either Honda, their data provider or your own phone provider?
I’ve seen something on the info screen about a data plan?

I see an App “Aha” which appears to need WiFi and a subscription?

If anybody has been through the processes of setting up a WiFi hotspot successfully could they please exactly how to do it.?

This seems slightly enigmatic and I’m interested to learn if there’s any real advantage in setting this up??

Thanks in advance

[Kremmen]

https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/owners/my-honda-plus/in-car-wifi-subscription.html

If you already have a phone with a data plan then isn't this duplication of cost

[dfconnolly]

https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/owners/my-honda-plus/in-car-wifi-subscription.html

If you already have a phone with a data plan then isn't this duplication of cost

Thanks “Kremmen” …….AT&T ….confuses the hell out of me!

[Kremmen]

I had my car WiFi setup to my home router.

As a test I opened the headunit user manual yesterday and it updated via WiFi without issue showing me the latest update time and date.

So car to router WiFi is working for onboard manual.

I then hit System Update only to be told something like 'Please connect to Wifi' !

I've dropped the Wifi connection. I'd rather periodically check online, wait for others to report any issues, then do a USB update.

[dfconnolly]

I eventually succeeded in downloading the owners manual by WiFi but the car had to be about feet away from my domestic router otherwise I would get a drop out and the same message that Kremmen observed.
Dealer had same problems when trying to connect up with their WiFi hotspot.

Looks like there is a problem with the WiFi receiver and it’s sensitivity.

[ColinB]

Can someone please explain exactly what a WiFi hot spot on the jazz actually is?

It’s nothing to do with connecting the car to your home WiFi router.

Can’t comment specifically on the Jazz set up, but in general a WiFi hotspot establishes a WiFi network within the car which allows your passengers to connect their devices to the internet via the car’s own cell connectivity. In effect you’re using the car as a wireless router. You do, of course, need a paid-for data plan in order to get the internet connectivity which is presumably via the telematics system. Try googling “what is a WiFi hotspot in a vehicle” or similar. Eg
https://www.allcarleasing.co.uk/blog/how-does-car-wifi-work/
https://www.caranddriver.com/research/a32814112/cars-with-wifi/

If you don’t want to pay for this all the time, but occasionally do need it (eg a passenger trying to do something on a laptop) it’s probably easier to use a phone to establish the hotspot (I think that’s called tethering?) and your passengers can then connect via that.

[dfconnolly]

Tethering is the confusing part in that it seems you need MyHonda+ to get the WiFi hot spot?

[Kremmen]

That makes sense as you need telematics installed to get over the air system updates.

[ColinB]

Tethering is the confusing part in that it seems you need MyHonda+ to get the WiFi hot spot?

I used the term "tethering" in the context of bypassing the car by using a phone to set up the wi-fi hotspot. The phone connects to the internet via cell connectivity (3G/4G/5G), and is "tethered" to another device (eg a laptop without cell connectivity) via wi-fi. See this:
https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/guides/what-is-tethering/
That would be independent of the car, and doesn't require MyHonda+ or anything other than a smartphone with a data plan.

However, if you really want to pay for an additional data plan via Honda, then you can set up the hotspot using the car's systems.

[Kremmen]

I suppose, whilst my car to router works perfectly, it's only active when the car is in the garage in 'earshot' of the router.

Connecting your phone as a WiFi hotspot will give a far longer connection whilst the system is active during driving.