Installing Wifi in Your Car
Installing Wifi in Your Car
Published on March 24, 2023. EST READ TIME: 4 minutes
With the amount of internet that each of us consumes currently, it can be inconceivable to imagine a life without the internet. Almost everyone uses the internet, albeit for different reasons and purposes. Be it working professionals, students, businesspersons, or even kids. And if you travel a fair bit in your car, you would want to install WiFi in car. Here is all that you need to know about it.
How can you get WiFi in a car?
Fortunately, there are more than a few ways to install WiFi in car. The simplest and most commonly used method is to turn your smartphone into a mobile hotspot. Other devices in the car can then use the hotspot and connect to the internet. However, there are quite a few other ways of setting up WiFi in your car. Depending on your usage and how important internet connectivity in the car is, you can use any of the following methods. While setting up WiFi in your car, do not forget to check your car insurance plan. The absence of one can hurt you financially in more than a few ways.
What are the different methods of setting up Wi-Fi in a car?
If you are wondering about how to install wifi in car, here are the different options available.
1. Mobile Hotspot
This is one of the easiest ways of setting up WiFi in your car. All you need is a smartphone or even a tablet that is 4G or 5G enabled. You can convert the internet connection on the smartphone or tablet to a mobile hotspot. Setting it up is quite easy, and you can use the hotspot even at other places. However, the one demerit is that it can drain the battery of your device quite rapidly.
2. ODB 2 device
ODB or On-Board Diagnostics ports have quite a few functionalities. They are majorly used for diagnosing the car. However, they can also be used for installing GPS devices and WiFi routers. You can install an ODB 2 device that offers internet at great speeds and better connectivity. These devices aren’t as portable as mobile hotspots. Also, you will need to buy these devices, which can set you back by a small amount.
3. Routers
If you want to install WiFi in car, a wireless router should be high on your list. The speed of these wireless routers is usually as good as built-in routers. And the router can help you do a lot of things, such as streaming, uploading, and downloading even heavy files. And just like a normal router, you will need to subscribe to a data plan, and it can be a bit more expensive than opting for a mobile hotspot.
4. Reuse electronics
Some of the options mentioned in the list can be a bit expensive to install in your car. If you do not want to spend a lot of money, you can reuse any of the old hardware in the house. If you have an old phone that you do not use much, or even a Wi-Fi dongle, you can use it to access the internet in your car. This will ensure that the battery of your current smartphone or tablet is not under a lot of stress due to the hotspot.
5. Build-in Router
Built-in routers for the internet are usually available on luxury cars. These devices provide a very seamless experience for the passengers of the car. Since the devices are installed efficiently in the car, they are able to receive better signal strength, which in turn means a much higher internet speed. These routers also come in handy when car manufacturers send over air updates for the car and its infotainment system.
Why do I need internet in my car?
A lot of our communication currently depends on the internet connection. And during the ongoing pandemic, the systems have become even more connected. If you are someone who travels a lot, there are quite a few reasons to get internet in your car. Following are some reasons why one should consider steps about how to install WiFi in car.
1. If you are working while travelling, you can easily access emails on your laptop and not have to rely only on your smartphone.
2. You can connect with your loved ones seamlessly and without signal drops.
3. You can stream your favourite music or podcast app and make the drive more productive.
4. It will allow you to join calls while on the road, thereby making you available even while travelling.
5. You can upload or download heavy files needed for work without any worries.
6. Fast internet access will enable you to get updates about traffic, weather, and other things at your destination or en route.
7. For people who love their social media feeds, you can post while on the go.
WiFi plans for the car:
If you want to install WiFi in car, there aren’t any dedicated plans as of now. You can use a mobile hotspot or use a WiFi dongle. Depending on your needs and usage, you can choose a data plan. Also, you can use routers for internet access. In such cases, you can choose a plan based on your needs.
Is WiFi any different from a mobile hotspot?
If you want to install WiFi in car, it is different from sharing your mobile data via hotspot in quite a few ways. Here are some of them.
1. A permanent solution will ensure a steady and fast connection to the internet.
2. If you use an OBD 2 device, you can access WiFi every time you start the car.
3. It will prevent your batteries from a lot of premature damage due to excessive heating.
4. The WiFi plan will help you converse your data plan as well.
While getting internet in your car is important, it is even more important to get a car insurance plan. For starters, it will ensure that you can legally drive your car. You will never have to worry about challans of driving without insurance. And more crucially, it will protect you and your car from unforeseen events. You can either buy comprehensive car insurance or third party car insurance for your car, depending on your requirements. While third-party insurance is more affordable, comprehensive insurance offers much better coverage for your car.
Conclusion
For tech-savvy passengers and car owners, getting WiFi in your car can be quite important. If you have been using mobile hotspots till now, you can implement some of the above methods to prevent the battery of your smartphone or tablet from deteriorating. Along with it, do not forget to get a car insurance plan. A plan with adequate coverage will protect you against accidents, natural calamities, and man-made calamities.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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