F-150 AT&T modem vis my Verizon iPhone modem??

[GuitarmanFL]

Hey Folks:

My F-150 comes with an AT&T cellular modem. Apparently it has a greater ability to pull in a cell signal (If I subscribe to it) than my iPhone's tiny antenna.

Question: Would, assuming I use my trucks modem vrs my iPhone modem, it pull in more signal if I subscribe to the AT&T service and my trucks big antenna, big battery (it's an AGM battery), would I see an improvement over my iPhone in remote areas?

Thanks for any thoughts!

[DKB_SATX]

Properly done, an external antenna sized appropriately for the band is going to outperform the internal antenna optimized for packaging within the device, and the built-in one will have the potential to have a little higher output, but it's not like the old days of big-wattage analog transmitters in the built-in systems. Do you have the option of a "30-day trial" like setting up new service for a handheld device?

I doubt the built-in system does any better than one of the amp-and-antenna systems that use your regular phone and service and just amplify the RF side of things, but it may be simpler to set up.

[wulfraat]

I have AT&T LTE WIFI in my 2017 truck and also LTE data / hotspot / etc.. on my iPhone. In the real world signal strength doesn't go up with the truck. Rarely if ever have I seen the truck get a signal when my iPhone itself could not. Yes, the truck has an external antenna BUT it is not boosted / powered to improve signal strength, it's simply an antenna.

Nonetheless there would be 2 reasons for you to get the service in vehicle:

1. If your truck has AT&T and your iPhone is Verizon - you can likely get coverage with one network you may have it with the other.

2. With the AT&T service for vehicle hotspots (at least with GM) your data is truly uncapped from a usage and speed perspective. If you use a lot of data this comes in handy. My AT&T account shows X Gigs used of 999 Gigs available each month and speed is never throttled after X gigs of data usage as with traditional line service

Good luck.