What Should Download Speed Be On Verizon Hum

Enough of new vehicles are connected to the cloud to send and receive data for emergency and convenience purposes, as well as to keep tabs on machine maintenance, mileage, and other functioning aspects. But you don't have to spend $20,000 or more on a new motorcar to get these features, since any vehicle made after 1996 has an Onboard Diagnostic (ODB-II) port that can supply some of the very aforementioned data. You'll need to purchase one of several ODB-Ii dongles at present on the marketplace, and typically pay a fee to continue data flowing from the dongle to the cloud. One new service, Verizon's Hum, doesn't offering the convenience features of a more comprehensive, concierge-similar service like OnStar, but it's a useful maintenance and service tool.

Pricing, Design, and Features
Verizon Hum consists of an ODB-II dongle, a Bluetooth-enabled speaker/control unit that clips to your motorcar's dominicus visor, a USB charging cable for the speaker with a cigarette lighter adapter, and a companion Android and iOS smartphone app. Hum costs $14.99 per calendar month, and if you sign up for a 2-twelvemonth subscription you get the first month free. The equipment comes at no extra cost with the service, and boosted vehicles cost $12.99 each per month.

You Tin can Trust Our Reviews

For this monthly fee you become roadside aid upward to iv times a year by pressing a button on the control unit of measurement labeled with an operator symbol (or via the smartphone app). You can also printing some other button with a cross symbol to get emergency assistance via a 911 call. The organisation automatically detects when a crash has occurred and an airbag has deployed, and volition immediately telephone call the driver to assess the situation. If the driver doesn't respond, Hum will call 911 for emergency help, relay your location, and stay on the line until assist arrives. If your car is stolen, Hum tin can send its location to local law enforcement once you file a police written report

Nextcar Bug art If you're not in need of immediate assistance, Hum offers other features, mainly through the smartphone app, just also via a Spider web portal. Using data nerveless from your car through the ODB-II port, the app keeps tabs on fuel economy, bombardment charge level, manual coolant temperature, and engine diagnostic error codes, and will notify you lot of whatever issues. If your automobile generates an error code, the app explains what information technology ways, recommend repairs, and fifty-fifty provide an estimate for what it will toll.

Verizon Hum

If your car has a problem, a hotline tin connect yous to a mechanic who will help to diagnose it. Hum tin can also remind you where you lot parked your motorcar, when the meter's set to expire, and offers discounts on auto parts and service, rental cars, and hotels. Finally, the Bluetooth speakerphone unit can be used to make hands-free calls.

Road Testing Hum
Nosotros plugged the Hum OBD-Two device into a 2008 Honda CR-Five and drove around for a bit, per the instructions. When the device is first activated, an operator comes on the speakerphone to walk you through any setup bug and reply your questions, which is helpful. Downloading the app and registering for the service is besides straightforward.

Fortunately, during our fourth dimension testing Hum, we never had to employ of any of the emergency services, merely it was skillful to know that they were available. One caveat: Many services require a cellular signal and/or GPS service, which means they aren't available if you're out of Verizon's coverage area. For example, nosotros tried to phone call for roadside assistance while nosotros were out of a cellular coverage area, but couldn't get through.

Verizon Hum

The app provides a wealth of info about your car's mechanical status and other data, and does so in an like shooting fish in a barrel and intuitive manner. The master screen has tabs that allow y'all to set maintenance reminders, call for roadside assistance, check bachelor discounts, and, when parking, have a picture and write a note about the spot and ready a meter timer. A submenu lets you ready notifications via the app, email, or text for everything from vehicle recalls to a low battery, equally well as tabs for stolen vehicle assistance, a quick start guide, support, and more than. The Web interface is similarly easy to navigate.

Conclusions
We like that Hum is straightforward and like shooting fish in a barrel to use, and it'due south adept for drivers to have a backup other than their mobile phone. But nosotros question paying about $180 a year for it. While it's difficult to put a toll on the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can get firsthand help after an accident, in an emergency, or when your machine breaks down, there are other services that offering similar features via a smartphone app, similar Honk(Opens in a new window) and Urgent.ly(Opens in a new window), at a low or no cost. And in that location are many machine maintenance apps that provide the same info equally Hum, admitting not quite as intuitively. There are also plenty of other connected pay-to-play OBD-Ii dongles to choose from, such every bit Automatic(Opens in a new window) and Zubie(Opens in a new window), which both cost $99 per year and offer additional features.

The Bottom Line

Verizon's Hum service is a good option for adding connectivity to an older car, although you should consider your needs against the cost of the service.

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