bitmanEV
Member
I hate those Powerline Ethernet Adapters as a Radio Amateur; they wipe out the HF spectrum as do those cheap LED lights, switched phone chargers etc
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
TM3 Weak WiFi Signal
- Thread starter Medved_77
- Start date
MrBadger
Badger out
Its quite possible that your car has been disconnected due to old firmware. This, pre covid 19 times, was promised for early may. It may explain your issues. First case I have seen if it is that. Once you get on more up to date firmware, hopefully your connectivity issues will resolve themselves. Hopefully you can follow up on here with any progress.
As for being awkward dealing with Tesla due to lease. It can be a bit like that irrespective of lease or not
Sometimes you get a good-un, like I had today, sometimes a bad-un, like I had Friday.
Rustybkts
Member
More news:
I called Tesla Service and explained the issue. A few hours later, I received a text saying that they had forced an update and that I had to install it asap.
I am downloading the update right now, connected to my 1-bar wifi...but it actually IS downloading! Version 2020.20.17 (the frozen one was 2020.20.12)
They also said this should resolve the 3G/LTE issue, I will check that tomorrow as I have some driving to do.
Well, I’m happy it is updating finally. Let’s see if it improves the connectivity issues overall.
I called Tesla Service and explained the issue. A few hours later, I received a text saying that they had forced an update and that I had to install it asap.
I am downloading the update right now, connected to my 1-bar wifi...but it actually IS downloading! Version 2020.20.17 (the frozen one was 2020.20.12)
They also said this should resolve the 3G/LTE issue, I will check that tomorrow as I have some driving to do.
Well, I’m happy it is updating finally. Let’s see if it improves the connectivity issues overall.
Attachments
I have found a soloution for the weak signal in an M3
Someone else posted a similar soloution so this is not my idea and is using a similar product listed here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/GL-iNet-GL...p/B073TSK26W/ref=psdc_430579031_t2_B00TACCPUW
This product is also at a similar price does the same/similar and about the same size (might be smaller).
I have purchased a small TP-Link TL-WR802N (£21 + P&P) and is very easy to setup. It is powered by USB and connects really well to my home wifi even when parked across the road.
TP-Link TL-WR802N - 300Mbps Wireless Nano Router | Ebuyer.com
Setup:
1. Plug in via USB
2. Connect phone/Laptop/Tablet to the TP-Link via wifi.
3. go to 192.168.0.1 using a web browser.
4. Enter Username & Password ("admin" for both to start with).
5. Setup using the WISP Mode settings.
6. Scan for Wifi connection and connect to the one you want.
7. Enter the PW details for your home/office WiFi
8. Create your own SSID and Password settings.
9. Reboots on Save
10. Connect Tesla to new wifi in car.
Thats it, everytime you pull up in your car and select park. This then connects to your WiFi.
Trying to find an alternative Firmware for it so i can have multiple Connections (ie Office/Home/Other)
Someone else posted a similar soloution so this is not my idea and is using a similar product listed here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/GL-iNet-GL...p/B073TSK26W/ref=psdc_430579031_t2_B00TACCPUW
This product is also at a similar price does the same/similar and about the same size (might be smaller).
I have purchased a small TP-Link TL-WR802N (£21 + P&P) and is very easy to setup. It is powered by USB and connects really well to my home wifi even when parked across the road.
TP-Link TL-WR802N - 300Mbps Wireless Nano Router | Ebuyer.com
Setup:
1. Plug in via USB
2. Connect phone/Laptop/Tablet to the TP-Link via wifi.
3. go to 192.168.0.1 using a web browser.
4. Enter Username & Password ("admin" for both to start with).
5. Setup using the WISP Mode settings.
6. Scan for Wifi connection and connect to the one you want.
7. Enter the PW details for your home/office WiFi
8. Create your own SSID and Password settings.
9. Reboots on Save
10. Connect Tesla to new wifi in car.
Thats it, everytime you pull up in your car and select park. This then connects to your WiFi.
Trying to find an alternative Firmware for it so i can have multiple Connections (ie Office/Home/Other)
Last edited:
Anfieldgaz
Member
Having issues with this all of a sudden. Car right now is parked 2.5 mtrs away from the router only glass between. Car only on 1 bar but that keeps dropping. Soft (scroll wheel) reset and restarted the router but no change. Odd as its only started about a week ago.
MrBadger
Badger out
Check your wifi channel. If its at either end of the channel numbers, chose one in the middle. Worth trying a different channel anyway if you have near by neighbours. Wireless Access Points seem to be getting stronger and stronger so you may be seeing the effects of spillage from a neighbour.
My new 2022 M3 is 1 week old. I have 5GHz WIFI only after Tesla reboot the car.
Now I have the same problem as you: any cellphone inside the car show full signal 2.4GHz and 5GHz but the car barely show a few tiny notches. My routers are 5 meters away.
I think there is no connection from WIFI radio module out to antenna (that is most likely feed on windshield heater together with the AM-FM radio). It could be some unconnected connector toward some kind of combiner to share same antenna.
WIFI standard covers all bands. WIFI chip standard scan all bands for clean channel and lock on. But it seems if the channel become noisy it does not move on. 2.4HHz band are popular, longer range, but noisy. 5GHz band has much shorter range but clean even when weak.
It is in the door mirror and is a dedicated antenna. Try parking the other way around in case the door motor/glass/car body is blocking the signal.
The antenna is poor quality and the coax used between it and the Wi-Fi module attenuates the signal quite a bit so you will never see a great signal level.
I have exactly this and can only pick up WiFi from my phone hotspot inside the car.. makes nav updates very difficult as they're so big, but maintain WiFi in drive means I can download other updates fine. Irritating though and it doesn't feel as if there's any antenna at all
Drew57
Active ember
In my case, the car picks up a feeble signal my home router a couple of metres away on less than 50% of occasions but at least I could look through the window once the car was awake if I needed wifi for a pending update. Usually I just unplug, go through the rigmarole of driving off the drive, turning round and driving back facing the window so the router on the windowsill is as close as possible to the wing mirror (2 or 3 bars rather than none or 1).
This probably explains why LFT/WiFi no longer appears on the top bar as we were previously reminded just how weak or non existent the signal is on every occasion we entered the car on the driveway etc. Tesla must realise its shortcomings so hide the evidence away rather than resolve the issue - "out of sight out of mind" is the easiest way to do this.
Now I will need to physically enter the car and tap the screen a couple of times to see if wifi is connected prior to a potential about-face. Annoying & unnecessary when there is no other reason to hide this.
(...by the way I have used all three of the recommended 2.4 gHz bands on my router - 1, 6 & 11 as well as couple of others. It makes no difference except that the router often crashes within a few days when I force a channel other than 'auto'. Also, is there evidence that the car can even use 5gHz?)
This probably explains why LFT/WiFi no longer appears on the top bar as we were previously reminded just how weak or non existent the signal is on every occasion we entered the car on the driveway etc. Tesla must realise its shortcomings so hide the evidence away rather than resolve the issue - "out of sight out of mind" is the easiest way to do this.
Now I will need to physically enter the car and tap the screen a couple of times to see if wifi is connected prior to a potential about-face. Annoying & unnecessary when there is no other reason to hide this.
(...by the way I have used all three of the recommended 2.4 gHz bands on my router - 1, 6 & 11 as well as couple of others. It makes no difference except that the router often crashes within a few days when I force a channel other than 'auto'. Also, is there evidence that the car can even use 5gHz?)
Yes it does but given that the 5 GHz signal gets attenuated more than 2.4 GHz through objects (walls etc.) then the 2.4 signal will almost always be stronger and therefore preferred, if the 5 GHz signal is even strong enough picked up by the poor antenna in the vehicle.
You need to have your router/AP very close to the vehicle for 5 GHz to work.
Tesla 3 WiFi/Bluetooth antenna is on driver's side for US/Canada cars. LTE antenna on passenger's side. Tesla S WiFi is passenger's side. I don't know for UK.
So many threads with bad information, Tesla service must be fell up of all the people telling them my router is next to passenger's mirror. Exactly what I did just earlier after complaining and trying to do troubleshoot with them over "chat".
M3 has diverse LTE antennas, one in each mirror. Wi-Fi is only on RHS mirror (when sitting in vehicle) so driver’s side in the UK. The position doesn’t change whether the vehicle is LHD or RHD.
OMG!! How many times does this come up. Please check the facts before posting ‘facts’.
Go and look at the EPC parts catalogue and check the UK part numbers. Passenger mirror has 3 connectors. Drivers side has 2. Wonder why? Parts on eBay - look at the smaller outer antenna.
WiFi in the UK M3 is on the *passenger side*.
Yes I suggest you do. Look at the wiring diagrams which show the RHD vehicle has a cable length 6x as long as LHD because the computer it plugs into is on the other side but the antenna location is the same.
Looking at the wiring diagrams it seems they have changed the position with the late 2020 facelift onwards. After the Wi-Fi is rhs and the antenna is still there on the left mirror but used for bluetooth and not Wi-Fi.
Similar threads
