Wi-Fi Card

dgriffith · March 6, 2015

has anybody installed the Wi-Fi card on a 2014 Silverado or Sierra? If so, is this a hard install to do? I bought one but it didn't come with any instructions. Dealer wants $400 labor to install. Lol.

sharper · March 6, 2015

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way at all, but why not just activate the Hotspot on your cell phone plan? You'll save a ton, esp when considering you're talking about buying hardware and paying for labor otherwise. That $400 could buy you data coverage for years with your existing equipment.

NitroDatsik · March 7, 2015

I just got a tmobile hotspot added to my line, extra $10 a month for 5gb plus roll over data.

JRaschke11 · March 22, 2015

Truck gets a lot better reception with a high powered antenna on the roof. Dwarfs phone reception and data rates in any area without perfect coverage. Also there is the fact that you might not want to wear down your phone battery or have to leave it plugged in. My phone has the charging port on the bottom center, so plugging it in means the phone has to sit upside down in a cup holder or flat somewhere, and it sucks to use while plugged in. You are tethered to a cord, or you have to keep unplugging it and plugging it in. The Wi-Fi hotspot in your phone is not that robust. When you have several devices attached (two kids) it won't run as fast as the one built in to the vehicle, and it will negatively impact your own phone usage.

I can think of a lot of reasons to use the Wi-Fi versus a hotspot or your phone. However I doubt I would pay to get it if the truck didn't already have it. Plus I currently have Verizon so I would have to pay the OnStar prices which are absolutely obnoxious. If you already have AT&T, it's a great deal to just add the truck to your mobile plan.

dgriffith · March 25, 2015

I got my wifi card installed finally. Found out that this was a pretty easy install..no cutting of any wiring or anything..its a direct hookup, i bought my wifi card off of ebay for like $60 bucks. The dealer wanted $535 for the card and $400 in labor to install it. I dont get why they want so much in labor. Anyways, I get 12 months free through GM so I'm going to use that and see how it goes. I know if you are a current cell phone customer with ATT they will let you use your data plan with your wifi card as a mobile hotspot for $10 per month. I might look into that after the 12 months expire. I do know that the speeds are super fast through this connection in my truck. Below are the steps on how to install and tools required.

1. Open driver side door and look directly to the left of the gas pedal, from there you will see a black box that opens up that houses all of the cabling for the truck. Insert the cable that comes with the wifi card in slot 1.

2. Started routing the cable under the carpet all the way to the passenger side where the bezel is located directly under the glove box. You may have to remove the bezel pieces from the center console if you have this style console. They just snap out and snap back in.

3. There are 4 7mm screws you have to remove to get the bezel to come off under the passenger glove box. The 2 screws in the back are a major PITA to remove unless you have small hands.

4. Once that panel is removed, you take the wifi card and mark you a template on the back with a marker. Drill 4 holes into the bezel and drill another hole into the bezel for a wire holder which will hold the little holder that comes with the wifi kit.

5. Install the wifi card on the bezel using the 4 christmas tree pins supplied with the kit. The kit also includes an adhesive backing if you do not want to drill into the bezel.

6. Once the wifi card is installed on the bezel, take the cable off the end of the card and slide it into the wire connector holder where you drilled the hole, this will hold the wire in place.

7. Then from the cable you just routed under the carpet, take that end and plug into the wifi card. Bingo, you are finished. Put the bezel back in place with the 4 screws.

8. From here, take a mobile device, ipad, iphone or something with wifi and try to connect. Make sure truck is running first time. Your wifi should locate a network name that says autonet.

9. From there, go to the autonet website and setup username and password. Once you have verified your account on there, it will give you the option to get 12 months for free.

10. Then you are home free to use wifi from your truck.

IF anybody has questions about any of this, please PM me. I will try my best to help you out. This might not be the best write up but its a pretty easy install.

hurricanoday · March 25, 2015

I got my wifi card installed finally. Found out that this was a pretty easy install..no cutting of any wiring or anything..its a direct hookup, i bought my wifi card off of ebay for like $60 bucks. The dealer wanted $535 for the card and $400 in labor to install it. I dont get why they want so much in labor. Anyways, I get 12 months free through GM so I'm going to use that and see how it goes. I know if you are a current cell phone customer with ATT they will let you use your data plan with your wifi card as a mobile hotspot for $10 per month. I might look into that after the 12 months expire. I do know that the speeds are super fast through this connection in my truck. Below are the steps on how to install and tools required.

9. From there, go to the autonet website and setup username and password. Once you have verified your account on there, it will give you the option to get 12 months for free.

10. Then you are home free to use wifi from your truck.

IF anybody has questions about any of this, please PM me. I will try my best to help you out. This might not be the best write up but its a pretty easy install.

12 months free of what? can you explain that a little bit more. I got wifi in my 15 denali but onstar only gives 3 months and 3gb of data (I believe, have to double check)

Mason603a · March 26, 2015

12 months free of what? can you explain that a little bit more. I got wifi in my 15 denali but onstar only gives 3 months and 3gb of data (I believe, have to double check)

I am interested in this also!

Also, does anyone know if the 2014 Sierra comes with the slot for the cabling that is described in step 1 of dgriffith's post above?

Bill_F · March 26, 2015

Wait, is this device the same that comes in the 2015 Models? Can we get their apps and use them instead of the onstar version? I wonder how we find our device serial numbers though.

fataslp · March 26, 2015

Part number on the card or link to ebay?

Chad2815 · March 26, 2015

Do you have to keep Onstar even if you have AT&T to retain the data?

JRaschke11 · March 27, 2015

Do you have to keep Onstar even if you have AT&T to retain the data?

No, you don't have to keep OnStar even if you don't have AT&T. It's just more expensive.

https://www.onstar.com/us/en/services/connections/4glte.html

Chad2815 · March 28, 2015

That clears a lot up, too bad I have a 14. Does it really do anything more than a hotspot though? I thought there would be a way that pandora and other apps that we were supposed to get would automatically talk to the wifi and you wouldn't have to tether to a cell phone. Still a good start, guess we are a few years off. That's why I am holding off on upgrading anything in my head unit because you would think there are some decent apps and upgrades coming.

NitroDatsik · March 28, 2015

Just upgrade your head unit with a tablet like I did. Specially android tablet, rooted. The things you can do are endless.

dgriffith · April 7, 2015

12 months free of what? can you explain that a little bit more. I got wifi in my 15 denali but onstar only gives 3 months and 3gb of data (I believe, have to double check)

i went to autonet and signed up and it gave me 100MB per month free for 12 months.

I am interested in this also!

Also, does anyone know if the 2014 Sierra comes with the slot for the cabling that is described in step 1 of dgriffith's post above?

yes it comes with the slot just like the silverado. i helped my buddy just wire one up.