My car has Skoda connect-Remote services

 

The word "care" is missing.

 

Doesn't facilitate locking and unlocking the car etc. but does let you check it's locked and lights are off, see where it is parked. Charge level.

 

Valid until 2026

Edited 4 December, 20241 yr by Stonekeeper

For the second time in two days my car has lost internet connection. I wonder if this is related. The first time I pulled the fuses to reconnect. I’ve not done anything yet today but it has meant my car has fully charged, potentially at a higher rate of electricity since the OVO app couldn’t stop charging.

And as if by magic it has reconnected. 

@Phil Lee if you're charging the car at home and the OVO app needs the car to be Internet connected, could you put the car on your home WiFi?

33 minutes ago, SteveTheElder said:

@Phil Lee if you're charging the car at home and the OVO app needs the car to be Internet connected, could you put the car on your home WiFi?

 

You probably could if you have an external WiFi antenna and it is parked near enough to the house. But there are security considerations to deal with.

My car picks up the wifi from my house parked on the drive.

2 hours ago, TheWanderer said:

 

You probably could if you have an external WiFi antenna and it is parked near enough to the house. But there are security considerations to deal with.

Good point about the security considerations. Because of that, I have two WiFi networks, one of which is effectively a 'Guest' network on which I put some internet connected smart appliances (and guests); and where I would put the car if need be.

I had a browse through the Skoda Storyboard website and found this article which is specific to the Octavia:

 

Quote

State-of-the-art connectivity
With a choice of four infotainment systems from the latest-generation Modular Infotainment Matrix and a permanent online connection via an integrated eSIM, the all-new OCTAVIA provides advanced connectivity features. The central touchscreen display measures 8.25 to 10 inches on the diagonal, and some functions can be controlled via gestures or the Laura digital voice assistant. In another first, the top infotainment system Columbus can display navigation maps in a different zoom resolution than the enhanced 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit. The LTE connection through the eSIM ensures permanent access to the latest ŠKODA Connect Mobile Online Services, such as eCall (compulsory in EU countries), online-based infotainment applications and comprehensive remote vehicle access functions. In addition to the Phone Box for inductive smartphone charging there are up to five USB-C ports on board, including an optional one in the roof console above the rear-view mirror.

 

Here's a link to the article:

Link to Skoda Storyboard

 

So it does look like our cars are OK... however, I still wouldn't rule out Skoda doing something stupid and withdrawing the service due to their own data potentially being wrong.

 

5 hours ago, SteveTheElder said:

@Phil Lee if you're charging the car at home and the OVO app needs the car to be Internet connected, could you put the car on your home WiFi?

How do you do that? I can create a second WiFi for IOD devices for it. 

4 minutes ago, Phil Lee said:

How do you do that? I can create a second WiFi for IOD devices for it. 

 

I've not done it but I guess it would be in a similar manner to connecting the car to a mobile device hotspot...

 

My downloaded PDF** 2022 iV manual (I have a 2023 car) states, in the sections about Smart Link with regard to both Bolero and Columbus:

 

Quote

Mobile devices can be connected via a USB cable or WiFi.

 

SmartLink supports the following connection types:
▶ Android Auto
▶ Apple CarPlay
▶ MirrorLink

 

 

** - I can't be bothered to trawl through the multiple web pages of the one on the car and the one on the Skoda site.

16 hours ago, DamageLimitation said:

My downloaded PDF** 2022 iV manual (I have a 2023 car) states, in the sections about Smart Link with regard to both Bolero and Columbus:

 

 

 

** - I can't be bothered to trawl through the multiple web pages of the one on the car and the one on the Skoda site.

Would you mind telling me where you found a PDF version? On the Skoda site, I can only find the online version and like you, I would prefer a document.

16 hours ago, beneix said:

Would you mind telling me where you found a PDF version?

 

Sorry, but I can't:

1. I can't remember. I downloaded the PDF in early May 2022 and didn't note from where on the Skoda site (or even which Skoda site) I got it.
2. When I bought my car (November 2023) I went looking to see if there was a newer version; I found neither a newer one nor the original.

The car did come with a paper version of the manual but, obviously, searching for something in that is nowhere near as easy as it with the PDF version (although the index isn't that bad) and in any case, I keep the paper version in the car.

 

So that's my car, not sure about others. If you have the app enabled already it could be worth checking out for yourself

Edited 9 December, 20241 yr by scotthugh3s

On 05/12/2024 at 13:27, JamesK said:

I had a browse through the Skoda Storyboard website and found this article which is specific to the Octavia:

 

 

Here's a link to the article:

Link to Skoda Storyboard

 

So it does look like our cars are OK... however, I still wouldn't rule out Skoda doing something stupid and withdrawing the service due to their own data potentially being wrong.

 

 

See my post above, I have an early Mk4 Octavia yet through the app it informs me I won't be able to continue receiving connect services 

51 minutes ago, scotthugh3s said:

 

See my post above, I have an early Mk4 Octavia yet through the app it informs me I won't be able to continue receiving connect services 

Mine is a 2023 and I get the same message even though all mk4 have atleast 2 LTE antennas 

On 04/12/2024 at 09:18, JamesK said:

This is a bit of a concern, and somewhat shortsighted of Skoda if this is the case. I've just checked the portal, and for Care Connect it shows the same warning as you are receiving. Yet for Infotainment Online it does not, and I'd think that if one cannot work, then the other cannot either.

 

 

 

Just seen these warnings have now dissapeared from both the app and online shop...

I suspect that this 1985 may well contain an eSIM update so that it works properly with the app and software. 

I did a bit of digging when i first got my January 22 built car earlier this year..... The data provider that Skoda use are called Cubic Telecom..... When i dug into which UK mobile network Cubic use it comes back that they use the Vodafone network. Now according to numerous articles online Vodafone switched off their 3G network earlier this year in the summer so to me that says that my car, and i'm assuming all the mk4 Octys, have a 4G sim installed as i'm still getting auto map updates (October was the last one i got).

 

I've also noticed the warning about the Care Connect package not being available after 2024 have gone and there is no mention of it now..... Was the notice put out in error for the mk4 Octy I wonder?

Edited 15 December, 20241 yr by WaveyDavey

15 minutes ago, WaveyDavey said:

I did a bit of digging when i first got my January 22 built car earlier this year..... The data provider that Skoda use are called Cubic Telecom..... When i dug into which UK mobile network Cubic use it comes back that they use the Vodafone network. Now according to numerous articles online Vodafone switched off their 3G network earlier this year in the summer so to me that says that my car, and i'm assuming all the mk4 Octys, have a 4G sim installed as i'm still getting auto map updates (October was the last one i got).

 

I've also noticed the warning about the Care Connect package not being available after 2024 have gone and there is no mention of it now..... Was the notice put out in error for the mk4 Octy I wonder?

 

My guess is that Skoda had put up the notice in error as the Mk4 Octavia’s are relatively modern and should be equipped with the necessary Telematics hardware for 4G and LTE.   Think this notice was intended for earlier vehicles.

Stumbled across this, I've an Irish Mk IV and when I check online to renew my Care Connect I don't get the message other people are getting about it ending, whatever carrier it uses in Ireland may not be switching off their 3G as soon as what's happening in the UK. 

4 minutes ago, Jip said:

Stumbled across this, I've an Irish Mk IV and when I check online to renew my Care Connect I don't get the message other people are getting about it ending, whatever carrier it uses in Ireland may not be switching off their 3G as soon as what's happening in the UK. 

I think the message may have been put up in error and has subsequently been removed by Skoda.

On 07/12/2024 at 06:55, beneix said:

Would you mind telling me where you found a PDF version?

 

I can't tell if it's the same manual as I have -- although the cover** looks the same, and it has the same number of pages -- but I've just noticed that there is one at Manualslib that can be downloaded.

 

I hope this helps. 😊

 

 

** - The page to which I've linked shows the first few pages as thumbnails, with an expanded version of the first one (and you can click in the others to see them).

Eventually, I have received an email reply from Škoda Auto about the eSIM in the Mk4. It is reassuring...

 

"We contacted our responsible department about your issue and received an information, that they would like to assure you that your Škoda Octavia Mk4, equipped with a 4G LTE eSIM module, should remain fully compatible with the Škoda Connect services. The 2G/3G network shutdown in Great Britain is not expected to occur before 2030, and 4G LTE is not impacted by this change."

 

... and relax 😎

6 hours ago, SteveTheElder said:

Eventually, I have received an email reply from Škoda Auto about the eSIM in the Mk4. It is reassuring...

 

"We contacted our responsible department about your issue and received an information, that they would like to assure you that your Škoda Octavia Mk4, equipped with a 4G LTE eSIM module, should remain fully compatible with the Škoda Connect services. The 2G/3G network shutdown in Great Britain is not expected to occur before 2030, and 4G LTE is not impacted by this change."

 

... and relax 😎

 

Not an issue for us mk4 owners but what they say about the 2G/3G is only partially correct. The UK networks as a whole will all turn off their 2G/3G networks by 2030 but the network that Skoda (Probably the whole VAG range) use in the UK are Vodafone........ And they turned their 2G/3G networks off last summer in the UK.