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Is anyone else experiencing issues with the NTG 5.5 Comand Online, especially the connectivity side of things?? Or is it just me?
A week ago I traded my CLA for a new E class coupe (2018), with Comand Online, Premium Plus, twin screens, and all the tech extras. I am enjoying the car but not having a lot of luck with the Comand Online.
Everything is setup on Mercedes Me, I was made to register with the "Internet in the Car" service to make use of the online extras. But have since found the service to be reminiscent of dial-up in the 90s. All the "online" are slow to load, if they load at all, as many error. Such as Mercedes-Benz Browser, Apps, Link, Internet Radio, POI, etc. I noticed Comand Online is only using a 3G UMTS connection, which is more than 10 times slower than 4G. But to make matters worse, when I did mange to connect the browser, I ran Speed Test, and it said I was connecting to a server in Frankfurt ... over 3G! I have also noticed that because of the onboard modem, the option to tether to my phone and use the phones internet has been removed. Making the whole "online" side of things dead in the water.
There are lots of other niggles. MirrorLink is disabled, it can be enabled, but only if I can access Engineering Mode (secret menu). Holding down the centre jog wheel doesn't work for me. Also, no-ones at MB knows what "Mercedes-Benz Link" does under the "Connect" menu. It doesn't launch and just errors.
I have posted a video hear in case it helps anyone work out what is wrong with this ....
I am in the UK. I can already see that it is a 3G UMTS connection, it shows it under "System > Connectivity" menu. But whether it is 3G or 4G, it doesn't explain the lack of connectivity - or the issues I am having.
Does anyone else have the NTG 5.5 in the vehicle, with the Comand Online with built in modem/wifi? If so, have you found a way to allow you to tether your phone to use its data, instead of the 3G provided by the car??
I'm in the US. Command 5.5 is a standard feature in the US. My car connects using 4G over Verizon. I have no trouble with connectivity though the system is slow compared to my T-Mobile cellular speed of 16+ mbps. I keep a page from my home web server queued most of the time. Here a wi-fi hotspot capability requires a paid subscription ($199 per year plus $18 per month). I can use my T-Mobile phone w/unlimited data as a hotspot at zero cost.
Thanks for confirming that tethering to a phone, and using its internet is possible (rather than the vehicle's). How is this done on the Comand unit, I cannot find any settings under any menu. I would have thought it would be under "System > Connectivity" or "System > Bluetooth Devices". Please can you let me know where the setting is to enabled phone tethering on the Comand 5.5? Many thanks.
Yes, I have that too ... but that only creates a Mercedes Benz wifi hotspot using the data plan via Mercedes Me. As shown below.
I want to my vehicle to use my phones data plan, not Mercedes own data plan. That way, I can use my own 4G connection, my 40GB monthly data allowance and my 60Mbps connection (instead of the 1Mbps offered by Mercedes Me, and connecting to a server in Frankfurt, Germany).
Weekend: 2010 SL 350 r230 Weekdays: 2018 E220d Coupe
Originally Posted by clinkadink
Yes, I have that too ... but that only creates a Mercedes Benz wifi hotspot using the data plan via Mercedes Me. As shown below.
I want to my vehicle to use my phones data plan, not Mercedes own data plan. That way, I can use my own 4G connection, my 40GB monthly data allowance and my 60Mbps connection (instead of the 1Mbps offered by Mercedes Me, and connecting to a server in Frankfurt, Germany).
Thanks.
I’m afraid you are restricted to Mercedes’ crappy 3G here in the U.K. As you have confirmed, they have crippled the ability to use your own phone’s connection. Presumably they want to know what users are doing as I can’t think of any practical reason why they’d cripple this simple functionality.
On the plus side, we can update software and maps either directly to the car or via a separate download to a memory stick. In the USA, they can have to wait for a dealer to do that.
In my E63S wagon it can connect through the phone as long as the phone supports rSAP.
Then the car will share a hotspot that the phone can connect to the internet through.
Mercedes E220d AMG Line Estate (S213) and Mercedes E220d AMG Line Cabriolet (A238)
Can I just ask a question here. My cars are UK models and have Comand Online. This will be my first car with online services. Am I correct in assuming that when I collect the car the traffic live etc will be working or do I need to link this to my Merc Me app account first. Also I do not have a mobile data plan, I just have a simple PAYG smartphone which I connect to WiFi at home or wherever when I wish to go online. Again I assume the car will use its own built in functionality to connect to the web to get it's traffic data etc?
I understand the technology but not what the actual car has and how it works.
@arnsbrae - I feared this would be the case. What a complete waste of time and money. £2,500 of "online" extras and no connection. The 3G connection/signal doesn't work for me, as shown in my video at the top of this thread. Whatever will Mercedes do next, fit all AMG spec'd cars with remoulds instead of run flats? Pah.
@78degrees - that's good info on RSAP. Thanks. I will check out what phones support this bluetooth protocol. So far have found this link.
@Bfgslkman - as far as I understand, the paid 3G data plan via Mercedes Me lets you use the Browser, Apps, Internet Radio, Weather, POIs, Calendar, etc. I think the live traffic is free for the first 2 or 3 years. But check this first before you commit.
"Comand Online" ... how ironic. I'll be visiting the dealer this weekend.
In the US the dealer creates and configures mbrace and Mercedes Me with your info when you collect the car. I didn't have to do a thing. The features worked. I have not found a way for the car to use my phone for actual internet connectivity. The car only uses cellular capabilities on my phone (Samsung Galaxy 9S) such as text messaging and voice. The texting is a very nice feature as it will read a text message aloud and allow you to dictate and send a response.
@clinkadink Most Samsung phones supports rSAP, but not dual sim phones..
@ua549 Is your phone a single sim or dual sim version? Single sim versions should support rSAP (in this case the car hijacks the sim-card while the phone connects to internet through wifi hotspot in the car)
I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S9+ dual sim so I can't use rSAP.. I'm considering to buy a new phone or load mine with some custom software with rSAP-support.
My S9 is a single sim unit that supports rSAP. As far as I can tell the car does not connect to the internet via the hotspot. Perhaps it is a T-Mobile configuration issue or a restriction on US models that use Verizon.
Does the car set up a hotspot, and does your phone get disconnected from the mobile network? If not you are not connected with rSAP.
Of course there might be differendt equipment in different markets, it might be that you need the business telephone-option to use rSAP but I'm not sure..
I have a dual-sim phone, its the new OnePlus 6, but because of dual-sim, no RSAP. There are ways to add it, but it involves rooting and custom roms.
I read on another forum, the UK vehicles have a 3G Telematics Services Communication Module. Elsewhere I have also read that the UK eSim only supports 3G UMTS and not 4G LTE. Either way, in the UK we only receive 3G UMTS (as shown below, photo of my Comand).
Which is why I am really disappointed in MB. As I have better connectivity in my fridge, compared to my Comand "Online".
Most cars in Norway also were delivered with 3G, I asked for 4G and demanded to have it as I knew that 3G will be discontinued in Norway from around year 2020 and I don't want a car with 2G (Edge) only..
Mercedes E220d AMG Line Estate (S213) and Mercedes E220d AMG Line Cabriolet (A238)
When my car changed from an MY18 (808) to an MY19 (809) car [build date was originally May 18 but this got delayed to June 18 and all cars going down the line after 01 June are 18/01 809 cars] my build sheet change from saying "360 - Communications module (UMTS) for the use of Mercedes connect me services" to "362 - Communications module (LTE) for the use of Mercedes connect me services". This ties in with the press blurb from MB that with the switch to NTG 5.5 (SD Card Nav or Comand OnLine online and no more Garmin) cars were now fitted with LTE module?
Mercedes E220d AMG Line Estate (S213) and Mercedes E220d AMG Line Cabriolet (A238)
If you look on the current MB UK configurator for either S213 or A238 models then it says this:
"The communications module (LTE) provides you with a definite advantage in terms of convenience and safety. It provides your vehicle with a permanent connection to the internet, allowing you to make use of helpful services such as Live Traffic Information from Mercedes me connect. Two mobile phone antennas and an LTE-compatible SIM card ensure a fast connection".
My dealer has just come back with a very ambiguous reply that states ‘it depends on location and region and will switch between 3G and 4G depending on country and location’
Mercedes E220d AMG Line Estate (S213) and Mercedes E220d AMG Line Cabriolet (A238)
Sounds like utter sloblocks to me! If it depends on which country it is then there must be a list or similar, where are UK or EU cars on that list? Lazy reply from a dealer who can't be bothered?
06-25-2018, 04:44 PM
