LovinMercedes

Had the Mercedes Benz mobile hotspot installed today. Works absolutely great but wondering how one would justify over $800 to install it when there are mobile hotspots for sale at Verizon for about $100.

This system comes with apps but really not sure any of them are applicable to me. One thing it does have is a customer service support line with very helpful people.

Wife can now be on the computer while I am driving and it is pretty fast. My cell phone is hooked up to Wi-Fi

Cool.

IDriveAnM5

Cool man, thanks for the news. Do you have any idea if this can be fitted to older models of the S-Class? Mine is a 2010, and I'd like to know.
Thanks.

LovinMercedes

I would check but I think it can. The unit comes with a wire harness that is supposed to be run from the trunk to the front of the car. When they went to do mine they found the harness was already there so the installation was a little easier. They said the one they did before me did not have the harness.

I would check with the dealer but I think you can do a 2010. You just might have to run the harness.

Good luck.

Cartronics

As a Mercedes supplier, hopefully you can answer some questions…. kind if a survey if you will. Most of our clients use their cellphone as a hotspot (iPhone, Android, Blackberry), some carriers it is free or about $10 per month surcharge for others. However, occasionally a client has asked for it, and we are curious why you chose the MB Hotspot vs using one of your cell phones (which is portable and can create a hotspot wherever you are)?

LovinMercedes

For me, it was a matter of convenience. Using the phone as a hotspot will drain the battery even more and battery life is already a problem for me. This unit is always powered and I don't have to worry about it. Secondly, I have Verizon so if my wife is on the hotspot with a computer or her phone, I am unable to use the phone as a telephone without interruption. Also, while I am not sure of the published speeds, the MB unit appears to be much faster than the telephone hotspot.

I don't know if this is true but I was also told that cell phone hot spots are not designed to be in a car as they can't switch towers seamlessly as you travel. This unit does that and is designed to do that. The unit also, although not particular to my situation, has software apps that might be useful. There is also phone support which is always helpful.

Finally, it is MB and I usually get all the options I can get and this seemed like a good one to have.

Hope this helps.

Cartronics

Good point, I forgot that Verizon can not do data and phone at the same time. Although the MB hotspot would not be any faster (as it is still a cell connection) than a connection through a good phone. So what you were told about cell phone hotspots is not true...the MB hotspot, is just a fixed use cell phone hotspot. I use an iPhone 4s as my hotspot (typically powered by the car's iPod interface, so I don't have battery issues, and playing music from it while doing so) and it works great no matter where we are. But I am on AT&T.
So it is a very good point that we can keep in mind for the many Verizon customers. It can be quite useful for you and them. Thank you for the insight and the reminder. I appreciate you helping me on this one!

IDriveAnM5

Can I ask the cost of the monthly service? Payable to MB or to a third party? Thanks.

LovinMercedes

You get 6 months free from MB and then I think it is 30-40 per month after that. You do not pay in the beginning. You pay when the 6 months are up.

dannieboiz

Sorry to say but I think this is probably one of the worst implementation/investment into a vehicle. There are cheaper options and more portable. IE: Sprint has a Mobile Hot spot device that you can just slap on the table and turn it on.

It's basically what you're using except yours is hard wired and you're now stuck sitting in the car while you need vs just grabbing the little portable unit and carry the laptop with you.

Also, what are you going to do when in a year or two 5g or what ever they may call it come out? Is this system easily upgradable to newer technology without breaking the bank?

Diesel Benz

Personally I would conclude the same but other owners might conclude differently.

A portable navigation device would often have many advantages over an integrated one but the integrated one has advantages that justify the high cost at least in my opinion and this device too gets outdated in a few years (outdated in the sense that more recent devices have a lot more features etc.).

I'd also come back to the antenna issue, on a car with strong IR shielding in windows the cellular data rates suffer significantly and the service may not be acceptable even if speech calls would work without an external antenna. Sometimes you may have problems with speech calls too with these cars.

hyperion667

let us know when you run off the road from emailing........

LovinMercedes

The unit is currently operating on the 3G network and they said it will be upgraded for free to the 4G within 6 months. The new software is downloaded automatically to the unit when they want to do this.

After that I am not really sure.

dannieboiz

Hear this, rumor's is that Sprint will be discontinuing their current 4g WiMax technology and moving to LTE, so if you're with sprint you've just lost 4g.

Ahmedito

I'm looking to do the same thing but I have couple questions:

can you tell us what product you used? where did you install it? how much are you paying monthly?

LovinMercedes

Got the unit from Mercedes Benz. The unit is by a company called Autonet. The Mercedes dealer installed it. The first 6 months are free and then it is $30-40 a month after that. If you want to be able to track your car it is another $69.00 per year. They have other apps but I chose not to sign up for them.

Probably not the cheapest solution but I wanted a Mercedes product.