Is the WiFi on the Model 3 really this weak or is it just mine?

[SylvainG]

So at home. I had to put a repeater in the garage because my Tesla (parked in front of that garage) couldn't see my WiFi. Even then, it only got a 'dot and one bar'. I assumed the garage metal door was interfering with the signal.

Tonight, I'm at the cottage and my WiFi reaches the lake front, which is about 70 feet from the cottage. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz reaches. I can even do Teams/Zoom meetings from the dock. My Tesla is parked near the cottage (about 5 feet) and I still only get a 'dot and one bar' of signal! And it's just the 2.4 GHz band. I don't see the 5 GHz band.

Is this normal for the WiFi to be this weak?

 

[jkeyser14]

No. Sounds like the antenna may not be plugged into the board or it got broken.

 

[SylvainG]

No. Sounds like the antenna may not be plugged into the board or it got broken.

Ok, I'll schedule a service call.

 

[Ecoli]

So at home. I had to put a repeater in the garage because my Tesla (parked in front of that garage) couldn't see my WiFi. Even then, it only got a 'dot and one bar'. I assumed the garage metal door was interfering with the signal.

Tonight, I'm at the cottage and my WiFi reaches the lake front, which is about 70 feet from the cottage. Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz reaches. I can even do Teams/Zoom meetings from the dock. My Tesla is parked near the cottage (about 5 feet) and I still only get a 'dot and one bar' of signal! And it's just the 2.4 GHz band. I don't see the 5 GHz band.

Is this normal for the WiFi to be this weak?

if you stand near the car in the most obstructed/worst position, what signal strength do you get

 

[Macb00kemdanno]

Wi-Fi antenna is in the drivers side mirror housing IIRC. If I park front first into my garage, my mirror is on the opposite side of where my Orbi mesh Wi-Fi satellite is downstairs in the den. It‘s almost directly below the primary Orbi router in the bonus room (above the garage). I get like one bar in this position, and WiFi barely works (it only attempts to connect to 5GHz).

If I back in, so that my drivers side mirror is facing the direction of downstair Orbi satellite, I get two bars and Wi-Fi works.

I don’t prefer to back in, so I ordered a second used Orbi satellite from Amazon Warehouse Deals to add in the garage. That should help with coverage and the dedicated back haul Wi-Fi channel should maintain my internet speeds.

 

[SylvainG]

If you mean on my cell, at the cottage, I get 4 bars when standing by the car, with it between me and the router, If I crouch, I lose the signal. I turned the car around (ie, windshield facing the cottage) and the car can't see the Wifi signal then.

 

[SylvainG]

Wi-Fi antenna is in the drivers side mirror housing IIRC. If I park front first into my garage, my mirror is on the opposite side of where my Orbi mesh Wi-Fi satellite is downstairs in the den. It‘s almost directly below the primary Orbi router in the bonus room (above the garage). I get like one bar in this position, and WiFi barely works (it only attempts to connect to 5GHz).

If I back in, so that my drivers side mirror is facing the direction of downstair Orbi satellite, I get two bars and Wi-Fi works.

I don’t prefer to back in, so I ordered a second used Orbi satellite from Amazon Warehouse Deals to add in the garage. That should help with coverage and the dedicated back haul Wi-Fi channel should maintain my internet speeds.

The car is parked rear toward the house and the driver side mirror has an unobstructed view of the house. That's its best position for signal strength.

 

[RayK]

WiFi antenna is located in the right side (passenger, for LHD vehicles) mirror housing.

WI FI and Wireless Antenna Location on Model 3

Has anyone discovered the location of either the WI FI Antenna or Wireless Antenna physical location on the Model 3? I'm having problems connection to my home wireless Network and intermitant problems with the wireless service. Since I keep my Model 3 in a basement garage. I suspect I need to...

teslamotorsclub.com

 

[SylvainG]

Odd, I get no signal when parking the passenger mirror toward the house.

 

[RayK]

I'd say place the front of the mirror housing toward the WiFi access point. I believe that the antenna is behind the mirror so if the mirror side is facing the access point, the mirror itself is blocking the signal. Since mirrors have a metallic film, you're effectively blocking the signal.

 

[Ecoli]

I presume there is no network connection in the garage
You could try powerline adaptors providing there is power in the garage and the electical outlets are on the same phase at each end
in essence that would create a cabled network connection between the house to the garage, or between wherever they are located
over the electrical wiring

You could then mount a wireless AP with cabled network connection in the garage closer to your car.
Connect it to the powerline adaptor with a network cable and connect the other powerline adapter to your router. Reducing the possibility of the garage obstructing wifi signal

Powerline adapters usually come in pairs ready to go out of the box, you can also add additional units if required

The Best Powerline Networking Adapter

When Wi-Fi just isn’t practical for your midsize home, powerline networking may be your best solution. These are the options we recommend.

www.nytimes.com

 

[SylvainG]

Here are the signal strength with a router (spare Linksys EA2700) moved around the car to see how strong the signal was at those location:

In front of the car

Near passenger front fender

Near passenger front door

Near driver's front fender

Near driver door

On the center console

So, the strongest signal is with the router INSIDE the car?!? If the antenna is disconnected, that might explain why that's where the best signal is since that's probably where the antenna connects to.

The thing is, my daughter's Model 3 also sees the same signal strength when parked beside mine at home so unless both have their antenna's disconnected, it's odd that they've put the antenna INSIDE the car.

 

[SylvainG]

Hmmm, from this teardown article :

For instance, did you know the Wi-Fi antenna is hidden in the beam that runs between the B pillars?

Would explain why it's stronger inside since there is no metal blocking the signal but also a weird place to put an antenna that is meant to connect to a WiFi OUTSIDE the car.