How does the app work (over 5000 miles from car)

[sceptic]

My understanding of bluetooth (from research on the web) is that it works over short distance. Yet when I am halfway round the world I can wake my Tesla and see all data. This requires that I have bluetooth enabled - can't figure out how this works - anyone who can explain?

 

[widodh]

Through the internet connection of the car.

Bluetooth is only used for unlocking

 

[RB88]

Your car is connected to the internet and your phone app talks to it over the internet (via Tesla’s servers).

Bluetooth is only used at short range for things like unlocking.

 

[sceptic]

So when I'm in Europe if I didn't have wifi or cellular data I wouldn't be able to see anything about status?
.
I have a standard 3 so I only have wifi in my garage - would the limited lte of this car also give me access if it was without access to wifi - guess so since I can remotely turn on ac when I'm quite a distance from the car?
Just did an experiment and I DON'T have to have bluetooth enabled to use the app from my living room for all the functions I've tried (honk, lock) so it's only unlocking the car that needs bt I guess.
This is making a lot more sense - I figured it had to be internet but the notice to turn on bt threw me. I guess it should have been obvious that wifi was involved when so many got locked out when Tesla's servers went down So even though bt works over short distance it still requires verification of the "key" via the servers?

 

[CharleyBC]

So when I'm in Europe if I didn't have wifi or cellular data I wouldn't be able to see anything about status?

True. If your phone can't get an Internet connection, it can't reach Tesla or your car. Same story if for some reason the car was where it couldn't get a connection--again, either cellular or Wi-Fi.

 

[JasonR67]

And to clarify. Bluetooth for passive unlock, and driving.

 

[disapr]

Authentication...

 

[sceptic]

Thanks everyone, I don't know why I was so confused by the notice that I had to turn bt on (and ignored the fact that it said "to use as a key")

 

[CharleyBC]

Also, Bluetooth is used when your phone is your source for music and podcasts and such.