Upgradable WiFi chipset hardware

[Scout_iii]

Happy to hear OTA software updates is the plan at Scout. However, please give some consideration to the hardware needed to support this…

As the saying goes it’s hard to make predictions, especially about the future, but it’s pretty certain that WiFi (assuming it’s used for OTA) specs will evolve over time (especially for security concerns). So some sort of modular design for this to support retro-fitting updated hardware to support OTA update would be nice to have.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Also enable OTA updates via whatever service is connected. If the vehicle is parked at home and connected to wifi, do the update through wifi. If it's on the road and connected via cell, do the update via cell. If I connect my laptop to the OBD2 port and run Scout's update software, do the update.

I live in an AT&T dead zone so only get updates when I travel. It's a minor annoyance, but it's there.

 

[Scout_iii]

Also enable OTA updates via whatever service is connected. If the vehicle is parked at home and connected to wifi, do the update through wifi. If it's on the road and connected via cell, do the update via cell. If I connect my laptop to the OBD2 port and run Scout's update software, do the update.

I live in an AT&T dead zone so only get updates when I travel. It's a minor annoyance, but it's there.

Agree on cellular if they go that route. My A7 came with 3G and no way to upgrade hardware. And even while 3G was still available coverage was spotty at best outside metro areas so features like Google search weren’t always available. But the Bluetooth integration with iPhone has always worked for controlling Siri so that’s what I use now.

For Scout seems like WiFi for OTA updates with Bluetooth for car systems like Apple CarPlay integration would be the most future-proofed approach. My main concern would making sure the security is solid against hacking.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Agree on cellular if they go that route. My A7 came with 3G and no way to upgrade hardware. And even while 3G was still available coverage was spotty at best outside metro areas so features like Google search weren’t always available. But the Bluetooth integration with iPhone has always worked for controlling Siri so that’s what I use now.

For Scout seems like WiFi for OTA updates with Bluetooth for car systems like Apple CarPlay integration would be the most future-proofed approach. My main concern would making sure the security is solid against hacking.

I'm not a fan of the way vehicles use cellular connections...well, it's different than that. I'm not a fan of how cellular isn't future proof. I can still power up a wifi device from 1997 and connect it to my wifi 6 router today. We cannot do anything like that with a 2G or 3G cellular phone. It's one of the ways planned obsolescence is wasting our money and resources. I hope the automotive industry gets together to demand a longer-term wireless, future-proof standard for long-distance communications.

 

[Scoutsie]

I'm not a fan of the way vehicles use cellular connections...well, it's different than that. I'm not a fan of how cellular isn't future proof. I can still power up a wifi device from 1997 and connect it to my wifi 6 router today. We cannot do anything like that with a 2G or 3G cellular phone. It's one of the ways planned obsolescence is wasting our money and resources. I hope the automotive industry gets together to demand a longer-term wireless, future-proof standard for long-distance communications.

This. Something that I hated about my most recent car purchase was the expectation(?) that I’d replace my car after two years when Toyota stopped providing updates for my car’s GPS. Seriously: replace the entire car for maps with the correct exit numbers. They can get bent. Maybe it was the guy in the service department choosing his words poorly, but if I had Carrie’s psychokinetic powers, I think I would have set a desk on fire with my mind at that moment when I still had a couple more years of payments and this dude is like oh sure, just casually replace your ENTIRE CAR because we’re not providing an update for a major change to the entire highway system. But I digress. Please don’t take customers for chumps.