The SyncUp Drive is T-Mobile's Connected Car widget that plugs directly into a vehicle's OBD-II Port, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot within the vehicle powered by T-Mobile's network whenever the ignition is turned on. It also provide telematic features for tracking and vehicle diagnostics.
In January 2019 an updated version of the SyncUp Drive was released that supports band 71. It's called the SyncUp Drive 2.
A rebranded version called "SMART-ride" is available from T-Mobile's prepaid subsidiary, Metro by T-Mobile (formerly known as MetroPCS).
ZTE in the News: ZTE was in the news a lot in 2018 thanks to the sanctions the company was negotiating with the US government. At one point, it seemed as if ZTE would be forced out of business.
In mid-July 2018 it looked like the dust had settled and ZTE would be able to continue releasing new products and supporting older devices, so we dropped our previous warning.
In late 2018, the Trump administration again considered a ban on ZTE and Huawei via Executive Order.
In July 2020, the U.S. government banned companies that use ZTE from receiving federal contracts.
Members, get our further analysis and follow our ongoing tracking of this story in our Special Announcements forum:
ALERT: Future of ZTE In Doubt - Mobley, Warp, Velocity 2, other devices impacted
A T-Mobile data plan must be attached to this device in order to use data - the standard data plan is 2GB for $10/month, but more data options are available at different levels up to 22GB for $85/month. Once the high-speed data bucket is used up, the plans still offer unlimited 2G for the rest of the month. The Metro by T-Mobile plans for the SMART Ride are very similar.
Specifications
- Model Number: SyncUp Drive 2
- # of Connected Devices: 5 Wi-Fi
- Control Panel and Default Password:
Control Panel: http://192.168.0.1
Default Password: "admin" - USB Tethering Support: None
- Supported Networks and Bands:
LTE Bands: 2/4/5/12/ (SyncUp Drive 2 adds Band 71)
4G: HSPA+ Bands: 1/2/4 - LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: No
- MIMO Support: Unknown
- LTE Performance Category: Category 3
(Max Theoretical Speed: 100Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up) - Cellular Antenna Ports: None
- Other Ports: OBD-II
- Wi-Fi Technology / Frequencies: 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz)
- Claimed Battery Life: N/A - No battery
- Can Be Powered Without a Battery: Yes
- Dimensions: 2.9" x 2.1" x 1" / 2.8 oz
- SIM Card Type: 3FF / Micro SIM
- Retail Price: $72
Review & Testing Status
We do not currently plan to test this product. Data plans are pricey and limited. It's of limited appeal to our core audience seeking home internet replacement solutions in RVs and boats.
Potential Alternatives to Consider:
For other popular mobile hotspots on the market - here are our featured options:
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