Actual intel on 2019 Entune 3.0

Does anyone actually have any real data on whether MY2019 will include Entune 3.0 on Tacoma?

Asking seriously. Both wife and I work remotely and having a full power wifi connection in truck while overlanding is a big advantage for us.

 

Unfortunately, no clue on the Entune 3.0 but since you're excited about the wifi connection, I'm curious to how/why this would be any better than just using a hotspot on a phone? From what I've read it seems they would still rely on cell towers such as Verizon and while I'm a huge fan of Verizon's coverage area in many remote areas, it seems that if you were absolutely off the grid the Entune 3.0 wouldn't do any more than a mobile hotspot, right?

Really honestly just curious as lots of folks love the onboard Wifi and I'd love to understand the benefit aside from hotspots (assuming you have unlimited data, etc.,)?

 

That's a really great question. Portable handsets (phones, portable hotspots, etc.) have a FCC mandated max transmission power of 500mW or 0.5 Watts [so you don't cook your brain with a phone up to your ear, or interfere with other devices nearby]. Installed systems like Entune 3.0 have a max of 4 watts at cell tower frequencies.

Software regulates the transmission power as needed. In short, you'll get usable signals in places where you would barely get a text on a mobile device because you'll have 8x the power to work with.

It's no different than a portable VHF walkie-talkie with max of 15w vs an installed unit that can push 100w. I use a 100w system in my 2016 taco for paraglider operations for that exact reason.

 

Learn something new every day - I literally have always been puzzled around the hype for onboard wifi in vehicles but in terms of overlanding if you can get more power and more usable signal it totally makes sense with the known (and thankfully) FCC restrictions to somewhat save our brains.

 

Anyone have an update on Entune 3.0 on 2019 model year?

 

I don't expect the Tacoma to get the new entune 3 until maybe after the mid cycle refresh which should be in about 2-3 years. trucks are usually the last to get tech changes.

the new entune 3 integrates with the ecu a lot more than it currently does since they added a lot more hvac status/remote start ability within entune 3.

 

Sorry buy buyer beware - marketing hype is great for in-car WiFi but it’s total BS. Chevy shows their trucks out on the edge of the world then the voice says “Now with 4GLTE WiFi!” So everyone thinks oh it must work off satellites or have a stronger signal than my phone - nope!

This was true back in the 1G/Analog days - back then handheld phones put out .06 watts and installed car phones and bag phones put out 3 Watts (since they were not transmitting next to your head). Since the launch of 2G, and currently 3G, 4G and LTE all devices transmit at ~.06 Watts, including the cellular connection used to supply the in-car WiFi systems. The reason they don’t allow some phones to transmit at 3 Watts anymore is because the cell density is too high now. in order to have enough capacity for all of us they have to put probably 5 cells where 1 cell would have been back in the Analog days. So in most areas and a 3 watt device would bleed over into other cells today and cause interference.

In-Car WiFi is the same hardware as your everyday MiFi/WiFi HotSpot (hockey puck thing) you would buy from Verizon, T-Mo or any other service provider (probably made by Sierra wireless) The only difference is the one pre-installed in your car has an antenna on the roof of your vehicle to connect to the cellular provider’s network. ...that’s it, no increased wattage or extended range for out in the bush. Essentially all in-car WiFi gives you is the equivalent of holding your phone out the window (outside the vehicle) which may result in one more bar...and if you are camping or whatever then you are outside the vehicle anyways so your device will have the same signal the in-car WiFi would have...

In fact, using the in-car WiFi might actually result in slower speeds as you would be sharing a single cellular connection with multiple WiFi users, where if each device is just running off cellular then they all will have a fast and direct connection from the cellular tower.

I have in-car WiFi on our Chevy and the price is ridiculous... like $30 a GB or some B.S.... I have unlimited data on my phone why would I pay that crazy price for potentially 1/2 to 1 extra bar of reception.

BTW - I am mobile core network engineer with over a 20 years experience in wireless.

Sorry rant over - I can’t stand to see see the car company’s market this crap just to fleece people throug buzz words like WiFi and 4GLTE.

 

Great info, thanks for sharing. My alternative was to wire a 4G-X booster directly to a wifi hotspot and cradle for a cell phone. My assumption was that an installed system would have the same power gains, would love to see actual specs on rx/tx on in-car systems.
https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/1886759/_web/_weboost/Products/SpecSheet/Drive_4G-X_Specsheet.pdf

 

Sometimes you just have to read the next post to get the truth. Thanks!

 

Case and point....Just saw this ad last night on TV

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/d2nl/ford-summer-sales-event-trout-song-by-american-authors

Oh good thing we have in-car WiFi since we are camping out in the bush....Mom can watch her Netflix while drinking Chardonnay and smoking Newports in our Ford Explorer while the rest of us actually go camping...in our fly Airstream that cost 5x what our Explorer cost!

a few problems I see with this advertisement...
1 - why don't you use your phones included WiFi hotspot with the UNLIMITED plan you already pay for?
2 - Why doesn't the wifi have enough range to cover near our camp area?...kinda weak you have to sit in the car to use it...oh wait...see #1
3 - why don't you just connect your tablet to your family plan so it's got it's own cellular data connection (assuming your iPad supports this).
4 - why don't you just use your phone?

 

Talked to the dealer about this yesterday. I was told only the Rav4 and Camry are getting it this year. No set date for Tacoma or 4Runner yet. They had just had Entune 3.0 training a week ago and this is what they were told from the corporate trainer.

 

5. Why don't you leave your @$^$@$ device turned off in your glove box if you are camping?

Really people? You can't stop Facebooking for a couple of days?

P.S. my wife's Camry has Entune 3.0. It's not all that. Be careful what you wish for.

 

1. Tacoma prob wont get a new entune until the mid cycle refresh (but since they moved the gen cycle out to 10 yrs, prob fall of 2020 release to dealers)
2. 4runner is due for a new gen in fall of 2019 (model year 2020) expecting a sneak peek during jan-2019 car show.

 

Just to put this out there.

I changed wireless carriers this year. Prior to that change I did NOT have unlimited because the carrier I DID have it with discontinued it for all customers when they upgraded equipment. No choice, according to what I was told. So a few years ago I went from unlimited to 2 or 3 gigs for a savings of $.01. I argued to no avail.

Had I stayed with that carrier I would be paying more a month than I am now, almost 2x, and still not have unlimited. To get unlimited with that carrier I would have had to pay more OR be a NEW subscriber. Nice loyalty bonus that!!

Now, I have changed carriers and have unlimited again. However, my wife and I have discovered that our new carrier's unlimited is via only phone OR data at a particular time. Meaning, I can talk on the phone OR look up that new restaurant/store/item/address but I can not do both at once.

So, why doesn't a person just use their unlimited data plan??
Answer: Not EVERYONE has unlimited data.

This in no way makes in car wifi better or worse than previously reported. just pointing out there are more sides to the "story"

 

No Entune 3.0 for MY19 Tacoma. Unchanged for 2019

 

Toyota does need to get in the game when it comes to technology. Pathetic that we don't even have remote start in our vehicles.

 

I work in bum fuc no where North Dakota. 4G Wilson cell booster and a Verizon hot spot works great around here. Some companies have very large boosters that are 120v powered and they work good when antenna is mounted hi up, like on top of a light tower.

 

You are making my point...my point wasn’t that everyone has an unlimited plan, my point was use the data/plan you are already paying for instead of adding another bill for twice the price you pay on your phone plan.