Does anyone else use their phone for data connectivity vs. using the onboard SIM? I started when my AT&T trial expired and it seems to work well. The benefits being no separate data plan, a CDMA/Verizon (much better in the mountains), and 4G speeds vs. the Discovery's 3G (MY17). I don't need a lot of connection, but I've been able to do things like get weather, traffic, even download an update (minor) etc. with this set-up.

Outside of entering a password (vs. automatic connection), I'm curious if there are any other downsides. The only thing I can think is that It might be nice to have a different signal (read: GSM) for the pockets where CDMA isn't great.

 

Following...

 

Do you use your phone as a hotspot for the D5 to connect to?

For some reason our 2019 doesn't always connect to the home Wifi. Seem to require me to tell it to connect to the wifi, so not sure how the phone hotspot would work for everyday use.

In our case we have AT&T, so I just added the D5 to our data plan when the trail runs out. Don't use that much data on the D5 so it was cheaper $10/month to add to our data plan vs $20/month for unlimited data on the D5.

 

Yep, I use the phone as a hotspot. It connects automatically, so you might try toggling off 'Mobile Data' in case it's prioritizing that over the wi-fi option.

I'm in the same boat where I don't use a lot of data, so the hotspot thing is perfect. Seeing I don't have AT&T it would be a min. of $20/mo. to do a separate data plan.

 

I cancelled my $20/mo plan because I don't really need too much data in the car, mostly I just used data to sync the route planner to the nav system. Now when I need I sync via the phone hotspot, but I've found that I always need to go into connections and select the phone because it won't join automatically. That's a drag, but I only sync when I'm adding a new destination.

 

Is the 'Mobile Data' (aka car SIM) setting turned off? I'm not sure, but that may be why your phone's not connecting automatically.

 

Mobile data is turned off. I tried forgetting all the wifi networks except the one broadcasting from the phone, but the Disco won't automatically connect.

 

Does running the hot spot on the phone suck the phone battery down?

 

Yes if not plugged into a charger

 

Sometimes the car connects to the iphone hotspot automatically (not quickly though...usually takes 5 minutes / several miles of driving), but just as often I need to intervene (toggling the hotspot button off/on on the iphone).
For what it's worth, I never went in for the "2nd delivery" experience where the LR product specialist sits down with you for a couple hours (however long you need) to explain all of the options and features. I believe this is when they are supposed to setup "Live" and the LR phone apps, and enable the SIM card, etc...correct? Is this worth the visit...should I schedule this?
I've had the car for a month and a half now, but never enabled the SIM...is enabling it worthwhile?
What will enabling the SIM do for me that tethering the car to my iphone's hotspot won't do?

Separately, when connected to my iphone hotspot, I get news updates from CNN and Reuters, but they are all EU headlines.
Is there a setting that I can chance to receive U.S. news?