Need confirmation of 3rd party internet connectivity

[McLovin]

I am not a luddite. I work in IT, specifically in security, and that is exactly why this matters to me, and it should matter to everyone. In nearly every other serious security context, people who understand security recognize that zero trust is the correct direction. Buying a product should not permanently tie you to the manufacturer’s infrastructure forever.

Oh, this guy again…

Apparently I forgot to block him the first time. Better late than never…

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[Yellow Buddy]

Can anyone with a Rivian please do some testing for me to confirm something? I need to know if Rivian is punitively blocking streaming or any other add on service if you don't use connect+. Their stated reason for connect+ is that their default bandwidth allotment for the free version is not sufficient for high bandwidth services like streaming and satellite maps view. But here is how the test would have to be performed. Connect the vehicle to a 3rd party wifi, but it would need to be a fully open wifi, not typical public wifi to fully test this. Most public wifi sets a feature that hides all the wifi clients from each other, this is typically called client isolation. We need a home user wifi or at least a user controlled wifi hotspot, most phone hotspots also have client isolation turned on by default, so those will also not work for this test.

Needed to test:
1) wifi hotspot confirmed to not have client isolation turned on
2) somewhere where there is zero signal to the cars built in cellular connectivity
3) Vehicle that does not have connect+ enabled

Once those criteria are met if anyone can do it, can someone test streaming and other features to see what Rivian has artificially crippled just to force people to buy connect+ and keep the data going through them?

Edit: to explain more, the streaming feature relies on casting meaning that the devices have to see each other. So even if it would otherwise work, casting cannot work on any wifi network that has client isolation on it.
Also, any other connectivity testing you can do in this mode would be greatly appreciated. It would be good to find out what features Rivian punitively disables just to force that data through their hands and to create a forever and ever amen revenue stream by that punitive lockdown. Most EV's have something similar but some are much less punitive on it than others and the findings from this will help me with my decision as well as help others.

Also as a note for any fanboys who get irritated with this request. People who are open and honest look at pros and cons of vehicles. Every vehicle has both. Even if this shines bad on Rivian once we know results, what does that hurt other than giving information to help people decide or POSSIBLY even would put pressure on Rivian to make it better? So please, hold snarky comments because someone is even remotely probing at a potential con of owning a Rivian.

My ADHD is preventing me from following the super long post..

But the features are behind a paywall. Putting the car on WiFi - without isolation, does not enable it.

 

[ndmiller]

For work I connect to my Rivian via VPN and do everything I can at home on my work computer including streaming anything work appropriate. Never been an issue.

If you want me to test anything else, you'll need to venmo some $.

Not fanboy annoyed at your request, just stunned that someone can be looking to acquiring a $80-$120K vehicle and wants strangers to spend their free time to check if it can be an Apple TV for free without paying the insignificant compare to the vehicle price subscription to Rivian. Go rent one and figure it out yourself.

Someone in IT should know all the features of Connect + are based on IT work potentially done by workers like you. This isn't free.

 

[iansriv]

Companies produce products in a certain way that may or may not appeal to everyone. We are free to make that purchase or not. I agree with other posts-Rivian is not for you.

 

[R1TCntrlMaIzzy]

I want as much connectivity as possible that does not have to pass through the manufacturer’s hands.

Good for you. And again, your choice, and go rent a Rivian, then do your own testing.

I still think a Riv is not for you. You do you.

 

[VSG]

I need to know if Rivian is punitively blocking streaming or any other add on service if you don't use connect+.

They are not.

Signed,

A non-Connect+ Rivian owner.

 

[getut]

They are not.

Signed,

A non-Connect+ Rivian owner.

So you are saying you are able to use almost all features over wifi?

 

[getut]

t

For work I connect to my Rivian via VPN and do everything I can at home on my work computer including streaming anything work appropriate. Never been an issue.

If you want me to test anything else, you'll need to venmo some $.

Not fanboy annoyed at your request, just stunned that someone can be looking to acquiring a $80-$120K vehicle and wants strangers to spend their free time to check if it can be an Apple TV for free without paying the insignificant compare to the vehicle price subscription to Rivian. Go rent one and figure it out yourself.

Someone in IT should know all the features of Connect + are based on IT work potentially done by workers like you. This isn't free.

Have thought about the rental option, but living on the east coast there are very limited places where I can find no signal at all unlike people living further west. And this is very much not just about streaming, but trying to identify any or all things that are broken if you dont have signal and funnel it through a different wifi. In my case, if I do end up with a Rivian, I will be putting a resistor on the built in cellular connection and only running the system through a cellular modem plus firewall that I fully control and can open or close to allow Rivian access to the truck for updates or things like that. Basically I'm trying to figure out what works when there is no communication at all back to Rivian. I am doing the same comparison on GM, but I already know that because we have an Equinox EV already which has the same infotainment system as the Silverado that is the main comparison for me against Rivian. The Rivian is a more capable truck and more efficient, but may have MUCH less features if I block it the same way that I would on a Silverado EV, again, because I'm already doing it on an Equinox. I have LOTS of time to figure this out, because I am in the middle of a long drawn out lemon law claim for the truck that I have now. It may be up to another full year before that completes and I have the ability to move on the EV truck front. But regardless of the vehicle I get, truck, car, anything, I will have to be in control of the communications because I care about security and privacy and refuse to compromise on that with ANY vehicle manufacturer unlike the majority of people on here.

 

[godfodder0901]

So you are saying you are able to use almost all features over wifi?

The only things that don't work over Wi-Fi, without Connect+, are the things that cost Rivian to provide or require a high amount of mobile data: Google Maps extended info and satellite view, and casting/video apps. Everything else works over hotspot.

 

[getut]

The only things that don't work over Wi-Fi, without Connect+, are the things that cost Rivian to provide or require a high amount of mobile data: Google Maps extended info and satellite view, and casting/video apps. Everything else works over hotspot.

Yeah, that response is kind of why I call shenanigans on them. I can ABSOLUTELY agree with them charging a fee for connect+ from the data amount angle. But the fact that they punitively cripple those from running via any other connectivity option that doesn't cost them money is just that. Punitive. They could absolutely block it over the base connectivity option and say that we do not allow enough data for those things to run, you need to pay for additional service. I am 100% OK with it if that were actually the case. But they seem to be blocking this even if you try to funnel over 3rd party wifi where cost does not impact. This isn't a cost issue for them, it is a punitive crippling issue so they can monetize getting that back as well as forcing data to go through an interface completely under their control so that they have access to everything you see and do.

 

[SwaziCAR]

Jesus; now we're back to "punitive." Drink!

 

[godfodder0901]

Yeah, that response is kind of why I call shenanigans on them. I can ABSOLUTELY agree with them charging a fee for connect+ from the data amount angle. But the fact that they punitively cripple those from running via any other connectivity option that doesn't cost them money is just that. Punitive. They could absolutely block it over the base connectivity option and say that we do not allow enough data for those things to run, you need to pay for additional service. I am 100% OK with it if that were actually the case. But they seem to be blocking this even if you try to funnel over 3rd party wifi where cost does not impact. This isn't a cost issue for them, it is a punitive crippling issue so they can monetize getting that back as well as forcing data to go through an interface completely under their control so that they have access to everything you see and do.

What services that I mentioned are behind the Connect+ paywall and don't cost them money to provide?

 

[VSG]

So you are saying you are able to use almost all features over wifi?

Yes.

 

[getut]

What services that I mentioned are behind the Connect+ paywall and don't cost them money to provide?

Their official response is that the FREE connectivity option does not have enough bandwidth allocated to it. They charge more for connect+ to get more bandwidth to open those things up, at least that is what they say. But when you funnel those high bandwidth features over over an alternate network source, it costs them NOTHING, not even the base connectivity costs. So their stated reason does not pan out. It is artificially crippled purely to enable monetization of that connect+ feature even though could simply allow it route over alternate wifi connectivity. Understand now?

 

[forestwalker]

This dude definitely has electrical tape over the camera on his laptop.

It always amazes me how "certain people" latch on to this notion that anything they're doing is worth hiding from, I suppose in this case, a vehicle manufacturer?!?

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