Testing the WI-FI WLAN client of the Amundsen  8 "/ Columbus  8" / Navigation module (on SKODA).

 

Recent SKODA vehicles include a navigation module AMUNDSEN with a 8 " screen or (but more expensive) a navigation module  COLUMBUS 8 " screen, now expanded to 9.2 "from June 2017/with 64 GB of internal RAM.

The Columbus is completed with options allowing integrated Internet access with  Bluetooth Premium type, rSAP (Remote Sim Access profile), integrated SIM card ... (it’s expensive and not necessary).

In real life, just have a good smartphone - for me the Samsung S7 - to do without any problems.

These 2 navigation systems have an integrated WLAN WIFI client that generates a 2.4 GHZ WIFI signal.

To have an access to the INTERNET in the vehicle , it will be sufficient to connect this WLAN client to an EXTERNAL WIFI Hotspot, for example to the WIFI access point generated by your smartphone, let's just say a WIFI access point created in Setting the WIFI of the smartphone on : Connections / Mobile Access Points and Modem / Mobile Access Point (Samsung S7).

The smartphone picks up the 3G / 4G / 4G + signal and generates a WIFI signal picked up by the Amundsen / Columbus which will capture this signal and broadcast it.

This generated WIFI signal is called basically  (under Android) APANDROID (you can change its name) and it has an associated password (note it).

It’s essential that the smartphone picks up the 3G / 4G / 4G + signal under the best possible conditions ... so do not hide it under a seat, but position it for example against the windscreen of the vehicle, as if it were a GPS.

Once the Amundsen / Columbus WLAN client module is connected to the smartphone, you now have access to the INTERNET (and one will therefore debit DATA on our mobile plan ...).

It should be noted that on the external HotSpot WiFi smartphone, the WIFI must be disabled because it then now acts as a modem and so we will not connect anything else on it ... (it will warm a little less).

On the Amundsen / Colombus, to see the active WLAN client, simply search for a network in MENU / SETTINGS / WIFI and once it has been captured, the name APANDROID will be displayed with the corresponding security settings.

To type the password, it is simpler to go through the WPS mode on both devices ....

We have now access to the Internet, and we can connect to the Hotspot WLAN client of the Amundsen / Columbus, up to 8 WIFI devices, say tablets, game consoles, or watches ...

Indeed, the WLAN client of the vehicle's navigation system generates a WI-FI signal (bridged for Internet access to that of your HotSpot Smartphone) on which you must connect all yours devices.

The generated signal is called SKODA-WLAN (SSID) and corresponds on the vehicle with the use of an HOTSPOT in MENU / SETTINGS / WIFI  with a network key looking like  : GOVq ........ PIq.

With the advantage that the signal will use the circuit of the antenna of the vehicle … i.e stronger and more stable ... at least for the Columbus.

On the displayed SSID (Skoda_Wlan) a number near  this name indicates the number of connected devices (1-8).

Now liife will be better on board for all ... and especially for children!

As we have disabled WiFi on the external smartphone WIFI HotSpot, nobody will be able to connect to it (Samsung S7) in order to avoid excessive heating.

I repeat again : all yours devices must be connected to the SSID SKODA_WLAN !!!

What's the value of this WLAN client built into the SKODA navigation system?

It seemed to me very stable and the signal generated constant, even with 3 consoles plugged in permanently.

A network analysis shows that this WLAN client (WIFI 2.4 GHZ) has network addresses (as seen by us on an Amundsen 8 " which does not have a NETWORK option internally  (such as the Colombus) for custom settings, with these values :

Internal IP: 192.168.2.25X

IP broadcast: 192.168.2.25X

Gateway: 192.168.2.1 (against 192.168.1.1 for an Orange LiveBox)

Dns 1: 8.8.8.8 (this is the one from Google)

Dns 2: 8.8.4.4 (also known as Google)

Server address: 192.168.2.1

But no DHCP ... adjustable!

As for the tablets connected on them, they had an IP network:

Tablet 1: 192.168.2.253 wlan0

Tablet 2: 192.168.2.254 wlan0

Tablet 3: 192.168.2.255 wlan0

 

Good luck and report on this subject.

Hi there,

 

I am about take delivery of a kodiaq.  I am looking into having mobile internet in the car.  My car doesn't have a SIM card slot, so i need to source the internet connection from a mobile device, such as a phone or a 4G mobile hotspot/modem.

 

From your description above, it seems that you are sharing your Samsung phone's 3G/4G internet connection with your car, then the car shares that with other devices (3 tablets).  Is this correct?

 

Your comment on the "It should be noted that on the external HotSpot WiFi smartphone, the WIFI must be disabled... " is confusing me.

 

How are you connecting the phone to the car?  Are you connecting via USB, or via a bluetooth hotspot, or via a WIFI hotspot?  You wrote that you set up a WIFI hotspot on your phone that the car picks up on, but you also mention that you have WIFI disabled on your phone.  Can you have a WIFI hotspot active on your phone while WIFI is disabled? 

 

i don't understand.  If the car can connect to the phone via WIFI, won't the WIFI signal from the phone be available so that other devices might (though not preferred) be able to connect directly to the phone via WIFI also?

Hi sclyde2

 

Yes all that's correct and in use with my Kodiaq business since a long ago...

 

You have to :

 

- switch off your WiFi on your Smartphone (it's better to avoid excessive heating, but not MANDATORY)

Note : Your Smartphone will remain available for future use...

 

- Put your smartphone acting as a modem and being proceeded as an External Hotspot (acces point created)

( No need to use an usb cable  !)

 

Your smartphone receive the 3G/4G/4G+ signal from the air and generates a WiFi signal.

Using a Samsung S7 this signal has a SSID named APANDROID and an associated pwd.

 

This WiFi signal is received by the Wlan client of your Navigation unit (Colombus or Amundsen) and is broadcasted. 

 

And now u can have an Internet Connection with your navigation unit and u are able to be in touch on it with all

your Skoda Services subscribed ...(infotainement, remote services,...).

 

- Thus the Wlan client broadcasts a bridged new WiFI signal called SSID : SKODA-WLAN (with a password) and you MUST connect

all yours personal devices (with No Sim) on that signal (maxi: 8 devices) to benefit  from Android apps linked with your

SKODA vehicle and to be downloaded by u on the Android Play store : 4 more importants are

SKODA CONNECT, SKODA ONE APP, MYSKODA, MEDIA COMMAND...

 

Have fun with Kodiaq...

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 14 July, 20178 yr by athon34

... or just buy a SIM card from Three for £40 that has 12Gb of data included that lasts for 12mth and put it in the SIM card slot .......

1 hour ago, andyvee said:

... or just buy a SIM card from Three for £40 that has 12Gb of data included that lasts for 12mth and put it in the SIM card slot .......

 

Only available on COLOMBUS ... AMUNDSEN does'nt have a SIM card slot !

 

but you can buy the car stick and put the SIM in that

1 hour ago, andyvee said:

but you can buy the car stick and put the SIM in that

 

How do you connect the "car stick" to the car?  Usb?  Does your car have more than one usb slot?  I am pretty sure that my car (that I am taking delivery of today) has only one usb slot, and I need that slot for when I want to use apple car play or Android auto. 

1 hour ago, andyvee said:

but you can buy the car stick and put the SIM in that

The stick card in only a 3G one !!! Avoid it !

 

You put the stick car in the usb port (usb 1) with a Sim card inside (with a data plan).

Then wait for a minute untill the light turns green and select the good Network seetings

+ SIM card PIN code

 

 

 

Edited 14 July, 20178 yr by athon34

Yes, they only have 1 usb slot, unless you manage to spec the rear usb somehow. Also, the CarStick only supports up to 3G, it doesn't support 4G/LTE from what I can see.

 

Way too much faffing about though for me to share the phones GSM connection with the head unit to then use the head unit as a wireless hot spot.

 

If your phone supports rSAP though there are other ways of doing it, just connect the phone via BT and share the connection.

 

For me, just putting a data SIM in the Columbus is a no brainer though and get an instant 4G hotspot

7 minutes ago, athon34 said:

The stick card in only a 3G one !!! Avoid it !

 

 

But the wireless in the car is only 2.4Ghz so what 802.11 standard is is running at - is it a wireless n or g? If it is g then you may as well be on 3g data anyway.

37 minutes ago, andyvee said:

Yes, they only have 1 usb slot, unless you manage to spec the rear usb somehow. Also, the CarStick only supports up to 3G, it doesn't support 4G/LTE from what I can see.

 

Way too much faffing about though for me to share the phones GSM connection with the head unit to then use the head unit as a wireless hot spot.

 

If your phone supports rSAP though there are other ways of doing it, just connect the phone via BT and share the connection.

 

For me, just putting a data SIM in the Columbus is a no brainer though and get an instant 4G hotspot

Sure ... but rSAP (remote Sim Access Profile) is an expensive option only available on Colombus unit ...

31 minutes ago, andyvee said:

But the wireless in the car is only 2.4Ghz so what 802.11 standard is is running at - is it a wireless n or g? If it is g then you may as well be on 3g data anyway.

 

It seems to me that the Wlan client on Colombus/Amundsen 's unit is a wireless N running at 150 mbits max. 

Currently my speed is at about 72 Mbits using an external hotspot WiFi (4G LTE from my samsung S7 mobile access point acting as a

modem) bridged with this Wlan client.

But it's necessary to confirm that and verify the presence of 2 antennas (2 *  75 Mbips flows )

 

Cool, in that case 4G is a must. What device are you connecting to your Amundsens wireless that is achieving 72Mb/s?

 

Be wary of Vodafone and their '4G' and '4G+' services - '4G+' is actually 4G and their '4G' service is actually a variant of 3G (3.9G). Confusing or what! 

Thanks for this, it's a really useful thread. I've been trying to work out from the options if there's a way to have in-car WiFi without paying skoda for the service, and it seems there are two! Either share my phone's data or buy a sim (if I have columbus) 

Have to agree with those sentiments. Thank you athon34!

I've verified the  WIFI (SSID : SKODA_WLAN) Amundsen connexion with a lot of tools, and I dare say :

 

(My Amundsen unit was linked to an external WIFI Hostspot accepting ONLY N connection with channel width : Auto 20/40 Mhz) 

 

1. It's a WIFI N 72 Mbits speed maxi  (not a G one) with a 22 Mhz (not 20) channel width

2. One can connect a WIFI device on this SSID, which is very stable and strong

3. As for me, the maximun speed I reached with my tablet (NO Sim) located into my Kodiaq

was 72 Mbits (that's the maximum possible due to a 20 Mhz channel width - and not a 40 Mhz channel width necessary to

obtain the maximum speed of 150 Mbits (full standard WIFI N)

4. Si I suspect that this (Skoda_Wlan) is not linked to a dual MIMO antena (only one flow  present)

5. OEM Maker id.  is not present

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Redline Greenline ii said:

Thanks for this, it's a really useful thread. I've been trying to work out from the options if there's a way to have in-car WiFi without paying skoda for the service, and it seems there are two! Either share my phone's data or buy a sim (if I have columbus) 

 

You can also buy a Volkswagen 3G Stick Car with an Amundsen !

 

Or better than the Volkswagen 3G Stickcar, a Huawei wingle WiFi router 4G LTE 150/50 Mbits, model E8372-B(black) which is perfect to do the

job.

To be plugged on the usb1 port of your car or into an usb adaptor car charger.

Depending of its plugging mode, it can acts as an usb modem or as an usb modem + hotspot wifi...

To see here.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B0179R5X30/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewpnt_rgt/259-8129395-9966534?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=recent&filterByStar=critical&pageNumber=1

 

 

It all sounds marvellous, if you like this sort of thing. Personally, I like a car to drive from A to B. with few distractions except for Radio 2. And if I'm stuck in traffic and feel the need to check my emails, WhatsApp, Facebook or (god forbid) Briskoda .. it's all on my phone !

Admittedly, I don't have kids in the back demanding wi-fi .. I'll get my coat then !

 

As u like ...but with a new Skoda Kodiaq it will be a pity not tu use such goods Internet devices !

 

On 14/07/2017 at 22:37, athon34 said:

Hi sclyde2

 

Yes all that's correct and in use with my Kodiaq business since a long ago...

 

You have to :

 

- switch off your WiFi on your Smartphone (it's better to avoid excessive heating, but not MANDATORY)

Note : Your Smartphone will remain available for future use...

 

- Put your smartphone acting as a modem and being proceeded as an External Hotspot (acces point created)

( No need to use an usb cable  !)

 

Your smartphone receive the 3G/4G/4G+ signal from the air and generates a WiFi signal.

Using a Samsung S7 this signal has a SSID named APANDROID and an associated pwd.

 

This WiFi signal is received by the Wlan client of your Navigation unit (Colombus or Amundsen) and is broadcasted. 

 

And now u can have an Internet Connection with your navigation unit and u are able to be in touch on it with all

your Skoda Services subscribed ...(infotainement, remote services,...).

 

- Thus the Wlan client broadcasts a bridged new WiFI signal called SSID : SKODA-WLAN (with a password) and you MUST connect

all yours personal devices (with No Sim) on that signal (maxi: 8 devices) to benefit  from Android apps linked with your

SKODA vehicle and to be downloaded by u on the Android Play store : 4 more importants are

SKODA CONNECT, SKODA ONE APP, MYSKODA, MEDIA COMMAND...

 

Have fun with Kodiaq...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, thanks for posting this detailed analysis.

 

I have just bought my second Skoda Ocatavia RS in Australia and this new version has the Columbus system with a wifi slot. I have the SIM set up as data only as I want to set it up as a hotspot for the kids, it appears to be on connecting to the internet as I am able to see some data usage.  I was not asked for a PIN code when installing, and I accepted the automatic setup options.

 

My problem is that the option “System - WLAN” as detailed in the manual does not exist, have I done something wrong?

 

Why would I be showing data traffic in any case? Could I put be because I activated the option for data transfer for Skoda apps? This would be ok if they are the apps within CarPlay that already use my phone data, but not otherwise. I activated the option for data transfer as I assumed it related to the phone app that I was going to install and have a play with later.

 

(Update: I turned this option off and there is still data traffic).

 

I know that Australia does not get the same options (we don’t have traffic for example) but it seems odd that we would not get the hotspot setup option.

 

My dealer does not know the answer, he is looking into it but I was hoping to set it up before we go on holidays. 

Still, unless you have the SIM slot to use and share the internet connection, I don't see the point of using the car WLAN sharing service when I can connect all devices to my phone directly

Agree with @zamitaka

The other valid scenario would be if Amundsen was to support USB tethering from smartphones... Didn't try yet.

Well did someone measure the 4G speed with a inserted SIM card in a Columbus?

I have the following setup: Columbus with an inserted 4G SIM card - display shows 4G - so signal and GSM seems to be working flawlessly... my point is if I compare the speedtest just plain 4G WIFI turned of on my Iphone - I got stationary on the same spot several times very high transfer rates eg. 218up/53down Mbps   or 172up/67,4down Mbps   - on the very same spot - connected to the SKODA WLAN - with the 4G signal - I had speeds 6,81up/19,3down   7,45up/15,2down Mbps....   I tested it several times on different spots... but dont really understand how the phone can have such a huge speed difference just plain holding it in the car (should have a worse signal than the 4G internal module with some hype antennas in the car)....   OK there can be a bottleneck - that the 4G LTE module of the car is fast... but than the SKODA WIFI is slower... but according to the discussions above the wifi is on 2,4G N standard 150 Mbit/s.......    I would assume and that was the dealers also argument - buy a SIM with a DATA PLAN and it should cover all the passengers better than tethered signal by a phone...    reality shows it is the other way around....  does anybody else have the possibility to compare the speeds?   Thanks

Quite interesting.

All 4G:

just phone: 150 down, 50 up.

Phone via car`s wifi (SIM installed) 7 down and 15 up.