ZTE Mobley Hotspot Plugs Into Car Data Port
The new mobile hotspots
The OBD-2 port is a good use because it has power and usually isn't used for anything else and has backward compatibility to 1996. Many older cars don't have USB port built in and most only have one 12 volt outlet so using it with a LTE router means that you can't charge your devices or use it for anything else.
There have been other companies that offer similar solutions via the OBD2 port, Verizon sells a device (Delphi Connect) and T-Mobile is highlighting an Indiegogo device (Vinli) and it makes me wonder why it took so long for someone to think this up. It is easily transferred between vehicles which also makes it more useful. Now if they can only make one that handles LTE for all major carriers...
There have been other companies that offer similar solutions via the OBD2 port, Verizon sells a device (Delphi Connect) and T-Mobile is highlighting an Indiegogo device (Vinli) and it makes me wonder why it took so long for someone to think this up. It is easily transferred between vehicles which also makes it more useful. Now if they can only make one that handles LTE for all major carriers...
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I very much disagree that this is a good use for that port. All of the car's systems can be monitored through this port. This means that 3rd party data collection, which is prevalent in our society today, may be happening here. Nobody is to say that it isn't. If you only have one 12-volt port, you can easily get an adaptor that turns one of them into two, I have also seen adaptors that turn one into three. Car USB chargers are widely available that give out 2 or 3 ports as well.
I would never, ever plug something into that diagnostic port that has cellular connectivity, if for nothing other than my own privacy.
I would never, ever plug something into that diagnostic port that has cellular connectivity, if for nothing other than my own privacy.
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