VIN eligibility problems for mobile hotspot / WiFi plan for 2018 model?

I'm a new member here, and this is my first post.

I purchased a 2018 Ram 1500 Quad Cab about 2 years ago from CarMax. When I got it, obviously, none of the following were subscribed:

* AT&T mobile hotspot (4G/LTE)
* SiriusXM Guardian service

I'd like to get the mobile hotspot working to be able to have folks burn through that data plan rather than tethering on my Verizon smartphone.

However, when I tried to check the VIN this past week on the AT&T vehicle hotspot plan website, it said the VIN was ineligible. This is weird, because I checked this out when I first got the truck, and it was eligible (unless I'm misremembering).

* Would the 3G retirement for certain carriers (including AT&T) somehow have impacted my vehicle's eligibility?
* Is the radio too old to support current AT&T 4G/LTE bands?
* Is the radio's UConnect version too old to support an AT&T hotspot plan?
* Is the SiriusXM Guardian subscription required to for AT&T hotspot plan eligibility?

I used this website (or another) to pull up the dealer information on the radio, and the relevant bits are:

Radio Part

* Hardware part number - CVRC27N0GL
* BootMicro version - 17.35.00 (this is the UConnect version, right?)
* Application version - NN-IR-19.9.0-20171026-I07G


Connectivity

* Device - Panasonic
* Modem SW Version - 773
* Modem HW Version - AR7552

Hoping to get some information about this from the group. Thank you in advance. On a side note, I love this truck. I wish I could afford one of the newer ones with the crew cab.

nthdegreeburns said:

I'm a new member here, and this is my first post.

I purchased a 2018 Ram 1500 Quad Cab about 2 years ago from CarMax. When I got it, obviously, none of the following were subscribed:

* AT&T mobile hotspot (4G/LTE)
* SiriusXM Guardian service

I'd like to get the mobile hotspot working to be able to have folks burn through that data plan rather than tethering on my Verizon smartphone.

However, when I tried to check the VIN this past week on the AT&T vehicle hotspot plan website, it said the VIN was ineligible. This is weird, because I checked this out when I first got the truck, and it was eligible (unless I'm misremembering).

* Would the 3G retirement for certain carriers (including AT&T) somehow have impacted my vehicle's eligibility?
* Is the radio too old to support current AT&T 4G/LTE bands?
* Is the radio's UConnect version too old to support an AT&T hotspot plan?
* Is the SiriusXM Guardian subscription required to for AT&T hotspot plan eligibility?

I used this website (or another) to pull up the dealer information on the radio, and the relevant bits are:

Radio Part

* Hardware part number - CVRC27N0GL
* BootMicro version - 17.35.00 (this is the UConnect version, right?)


Connectivity

* Device - Panasonic
* Modem SW Version - 773
* Modem HW Version - AR7552

Hoping to get some information about this from the group. Thank you in advance. On a side note, I love this truck. I wish I could afford one of the newer ones with the crew cab.

Click to expand...

AT&T shut down the bands that support this radio (I believe original service was provided by Sprint). UConnect/FCA offers a T-Mobile OBDII hotspot to keep the functionality, but I don't hear good things about them.

SitKneelBend said:

AT&T shut down the bands that support this radio (I believe original service was provided by Sprint). UConnect/FCA offers a T-Mobile OBDII hotspot to keep the functionality, but I don't hear good things about them.

Click to expand...

Well -- that sucks. More reason for these types of units to be modular in the future. We're not getting any less connected.

Thank you, @SitKneelBend! I figured it was a simple answer.

One other question -- is the software current at the current 17.XX.XX version that's listed, or is it stuck permanently out of date? I tested the VIN to updated it as well, and there were none available from the website.

SitKneelBend said:

AT&T shut down the bands that support this radio (I believe original service was provided by Sprint). UConnect/FCA offers a T-Mobile OBDII hotspot to keep the functionality, but I don't hear good things about them.

Click to expand...

Second question -- does FCA offer an upgraded radio part to support newer band selection? Just curious.

nthdegreeburns said:

Second question -- does FCA offer an upgraded radio part to support newer band selection? Just curious.

Click to expand...

Does the radio have Android Auto and Apple Carplay? It should for 2018 but if you are at 17.x.x firmware you are way out of date.

You need to look for the application version.aren't 18 up radios 4 g?

SitKneelBend said:

Does the radio have Android Auto and Apple Carplay? It should for 2018 but if you are at 17.x.x firmware you are way out of date.

Click to expand...

I have Android Auto and CarPlay, yes. When I enter the VIN to trigger the download on the UConnect website, it says that I don't have another upgrade available. I read through a few posts about this, and this sounds like a common problem...?

18harvest said:

You need to look for the application version.aren't 18 up radios 4 g?

Click to expand...

I'll take a look and see if I captured an app version, thanks!

18harvest said:

You need to look for the application version.aren't 18 up radios 4 g?

Click to expand...

@18harvest and @SitKneelBend

I found that Application ID that you were referring to...

Radio Part

* Hardware part number - CVRC27N0GL
* BootMicro version - 17.35.00 (this is the UConnect version, right?)
* Application version - NN-IR-19.9.0-20171026-I07G

Does this still put the firmware out of date?

I did some more reading. Looks like 19.9.0 is considered the best for audio (https://www.ramforum.com/threads/firmware-update-for-my-uas-radio.178671/).

I think this also means that I have the UAS (no navigation) radio.

I found the UAS update and related TSB elsewhere (https://www.ramforum.com/threads/in...-ra3-vp3-na-ra4-vp4-na-uax.73871/post-1125879) and would like to try and go to 22.6 to resolve some issues I've had with the radio since I got it, including...

* CarPlay audio getting stuck at a set volume
* Backup camera getting stuck in blank mode
* CarPlay connectivity issues
* Frozen screen

Thoughts / feedback welcome. Thanks again!

SitKneelBend said:

AT&T shut down the bands that support this radio (I believe original service was provided by Sprint). UConnect/FCA offers a T-Mobile OBDII hotspot to keep the functionality, but I don't hear good things about them.

Click to expand...

@SitKneelBend I called AT&T about this yesterday, and they routed me around until a ticket was created. Waiting on getting an answer back. Do you have a link to a thread here that covers the loss of radio band support? The menus in the car all pointed to AT&T, and I know that some of Sprint's LTE network was shut down early this year, but I didn't think it would affect an AT&T eSIM / SIM setup.

Thanks!

Interesting. I found some evidence that WiFi hotspots from AT&T are all busted in Stellantis vehicles?

* https://forums.att.com/conversation...42ed03b66d?commentId=620c21cc82cb5242ed03c8b7

* https://www.pacificaforums.com/threads/uconnect-problems.51292/

Never used mine but checked and it says 4g so its not related to 3g going away.if you are having issues go ahead and update. 22.6 audio isn't terrible and is the latest official update for 4th gen rams

Documenting for my own reference later...

* TSB rev F -- https://www.tsbsearch.com/RAM/08-016-19-REV-F

nthdegreeburns said:

@SitKneelBend I called AT&T about this yesterday, and they routed me around until a ticket was created. Waiting on getting an answer back. Do you have a link to a thread here that covers the loss of radio band support? The menus in the car all pointed to AT&T, and I know that some of Sprint's LTE network was shut down early this year, but I didn't think it would affect an AT&T eSIM / SIM setup.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

This is what I'm referencing.


Even if the devices support other bands AT&T decided to blacklist a slew of IMEIs that support certain bands (my phone was one of them). Nothing anyone will do to fix it either, if their compatibility checker says no then the device is likely on the blacklist.

This is not to say that the device wouldn't work on their network, they just don't want it to anymore to reuse the bands for newer technology.

This thread discusses the issues of the T-Mobile replacement Uconnect device.

18harvest said:

Never used mine but checked and it says 4g so its not related to 3g going away.if you are having issues go ahead and update. 22.6 audio isn't terrible and is the latest official update for 4th gen rams

Click to expand...

It's true, but they are banning devices that support 3G even if it also supports 4G.

Radio Update

======================
why doesn't a communications company have a OBD2 device that allows a vehicle owner to have a Hot Spot & more
Or would it some how mess up the OBD2 port ?

It depends on there year. If yours came with Sprint then you can get the OBD2 dongle that uses TMobile. If you have the newer guardian version then those run on AT&T and I don’t know if they had issues. I have a 14.

18harvest said:

Never used mine but checked and it says 4g so its not related to 3g going away.if you are having issues go ahead and update. 22.6 audio isn't terrible and is the latest official update for 4th gen rams

Click to expand...

I managed to get this update from 19.9 to 22.6 last night. Followed the TSB and the guide here on the forums.

I'm going to reach out to AT&T and see if they can check the IMEI and allow it to be activated for the $200/year annual service. It would really come in handy while doing Greyhound events and running volunteer kiosks for our club store.

Keep us updated.

nthdegreeburns said:

I managed to get this update from 19.9 to 22.6 last night. Followed the TSB and the guide here on the forums.

I'm going to reach out to AT&T and see if they can check the IMEI and allow it to be activated for the $200/year annual service. It would really come in handy while doing Greyhound events and running volunteer kiosks for our club store.

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure AT&T will say no. They turned off my phone even though it was still compatible with there network because they want to clear that band completely for newer tech. I too am interested in hearing what they say though...