USB Internet stick so My Ford Touch creates WiFi Hotspot

[Former Expedition owner]

As I've posted previously, I have a Novatel USB727 internet stick that uses Verizon Wireless to provide internet service. I simply plug the USB stick in my laptop and I've got internet service wherever Verizon Wireless has service available.

 

 

I'd like to be able to plug this USB stick into my HyTi and use the USB Mobile Broadband option to create a WiFi hotspot inside the vehicle.

 

 

Not so easy, it turns out.

 

The HyTi would not recognize the Novatel USB727 internet stick.

 

 

 

So, I asked Rebecca at Ford on Facebook if there instructions on how to pair the USB stick with MFT. She told me to follow the instructions posted here, but these instructions were for connecting a phone to tether, not a USB stick.

 

I waited a month and asked if they had any success with USB sticks. Her is her reply:

 

 

Sorry for the delay! Here are the ones that we've tested internally and worked:

Mercury > USBConnect Mercury > GSM > AT&T
Sierra Wireless > Aircard 250 U > CDMA > Sprint - *SYNC supports CDMA only on this device.
Sierra Wireless > USB 598 > CDMA > Sprint
Sierra Wireless > USB 308 > GSM > No Provider Specified

If Verizon has any of these, they may work. Unfortunately, we don't have an official list of compatible USB modems.

 

Has anyone been able to get a USB stick to create a WIFi hotspot?

 

If yes, what is teh make, model, and wireless carrier of the USB Stick?

 

[Former Expedition owner]

Here is some online information posted on the Ford Media site:

 

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/sync_wifi.pdf

[Former Expedition owner]

Rebecca at Ford provided this after I asked if the USB ports in the Fusion are 2.0 or 3.0:

 

Rebecca At Ford

 

The USBs are v2.0. Also, I found this information:

Tested Aircards:

Sprint 4G Overdrive does not work via USB, although it can access the Wifi network created by the Overdrive.

Verizon PANTech UM175VW does not work.

ATT USBConnect Mercury/Sierra Wireless Compass 885 - Fully functional.

Hope this helps!

Edited May 10, 2013 by Former Expedition owner

[acdii]

oh SURE, it works with the crappy AT&T network, but not with the stuff through Verizon! grrrr.

[acdii]

Does anyone know if the

UML295

and

 

551L

sticks work?

[Former Expedition owner]

Does anyone know if the

 

UML295

and

 

 

551L

sticks work?

 

I had the 3G Novatel USB727 stick that didn't work.

 

I upgraded to the 4G 551L stick yesterday.

 

 

Plugged it into my HyTi's USB port and received this message:

 

Edited May 22, 2013 by Former Expedition owner

[acdii]

OK that answers that question! Guess I will have to wait then. I might consider getting the 4GLTE router and just use that instead.

[boojew]

I dont have a Hybrid (Lincoln MKX), but I was looking for similar info. I just tried a Sierra Wireless Aircard 330 (Rogers) and it doesn't detect the device. :( Oh well

[acdii]

OK that answers that question! Guess I will have to wait then. I might consider getting the 4GLTE router and just use that instead.

OK, Me=Dumbass(Walter). Why would I use the wifi hotspot in the car, if I already have a 4GLTE wireless router? DOH! Sometimes when a thought occurs, it seems so good at first, then go back days later and read what your thought was and your like, What?

[Guardian_Bob]

OK, Me=Dumbass(Walter). Why would I use the wifi hotspot in the car, if I already have a 4GLTE wireless router? DOH! Sometimes when a thought occurs, it seems so good at first, then go back days later and read what your thought was and your like, What?

 

Because most devices are limited to 5 connections. If you use one of those to connect to your car, you expand it to 9 connections in total. (4 from the router with 1 to the car, and 5 from the car.)

 

Depends on the number of phones/tablets/etc.

 

1 connection per person may not make sense.

[acdii]

 

Because most devices are limited to 5 connections. If you use one of those to connect to your car, you expand it to 9 connections in total. (4 from the router with 1 to the car, and 5 from the car.)

 

Depends on the number of phones/tablets/etc.

 

1 connection per person may not make sense.

Shoot I dont have that many in my house! LOL All together I have 5 devices using wireless, yet I have monster Cisco AP's, so I have great coverage!

[Guardian_Bob]

Shoot I dont have that many in my house! LOL All together I have 5 devices using wireless, yet I have monster Cisco AP's, so I have great coverage!

 

I have 5 WiFi devices in reach:

Laptop

Tablet

Phone

iPod Touch

Smart Pen (LiveScribe Sky)

 

Add in my wife's tablet, and smart phone, well I think you can see where I'm going. Granted I wouldn't use them all at the same time while trying to drive.

[Former Expedition owner]

I installed the Sync 3.6 update yesterday, hoping it would add to the supported USB devices. After the update was complete, I plugged my 4G USB551L modem into the USB port and received the same, "Device Not Supported" message. :rant2: