Tesla to Add WiFi Garage Door Support in Upcoming Holiday Update

Tesla will add support for WiFi garage door openers

Tesla

Christmas is almost here, so Tesla’s holiday update will soon be here. While many are still guessing what may be under the tree in this update, we now have word that Tesla will include support for MyQ accessories.

MyQ lets you control supported garage doors, gates and lights over WiFi. Until now, users could only control MyQ devices from their smartphones, but Tesla is adding support for it to their vehicles.

Tesla Rumors Start Small

The information was shared with us through an anonymous source, but it was also leaked on Twitter. Twitter user @DirtyTesla, who is also the President and Founder of the Tesla Owners Club of Michigan, posted: Looks like MyQ support is coming to Tesla vehicles with software update 2022.44.25 :) I don't have any more detail than that.

If MyQ is indeed included in the holiday update, it will not only allow users to open or close their garage from the screen in the Tesla. MyQ also tells users if the garage is left open, it can control lights, access cameras, lock and unlock doors and use home intercoms. MyQ can also be scheduled to automatically close the garage every night at a certain time. The MyQ system is much more than a garage door opener.

MyQ is Considered the Best Garage Door Control

So why would this be better than HomeLink? That was a question repeated several times. MyQ is WiFi based so you can check in on it anywhere. There is also no need for the antenna. HomeLink is included with the Model S and Model X, but it's a $350 USD add-on for the Model 3 and Y.

Add MyQ Support to Existing Garage Doors

If you have an older garage door opener but still want to get in on MyQ, there is a MyQ device that, according to the company, makes any garage door opener a smart garage door opener. These are available at various retailers including Amazon, for roughly $20.

Elon Musk confirmed WiFi garage door support was coming back in 2020.

Integration

Tesla's integration of HomeLink into their vehicles is beautifully executed. You can have the vehicle automatically open or close your garage as you approach, never needing to touch a button. The vehicle uses your garage door's location and the vehicle's current position to determine when to open or close your garage door.

It's not clear whether Tesla will similarly integrate MyQ devices, but it certainly would make sense to have the ability to automatically trigger specific devices based on the vehicle's location. It could potentially open your garage door and turn on your hallway lights as you begin driving down your driveway.

Advantages Over HomeLink

MyQ support could have several advantages over HomeLink, besides being included for free. HomeLink currently requires proximity to the device to send the wireless signal, while MyQ could theoretically be executed anywhere in the world that has an internet connection.

HomeLink is also limited to a maximum of three devices, while the limit for MyQ will likely be much higher. However, the last improvement is actually the biggest deal. HomeLink is somewhat of a 'dumb' system, meaning it will send a signal to open/close your garage door, but it doesn't actually know the state of the garage door.

This can sometimes cause issues. For example, if you're arriving home and your garage door is already open, then your vehicle will still send the command to "open" the garage door, which in turn causes it to close.

Connection

Since MyQ requires an internet connection, we're not sure whether it'll only work on WiFi or over cellular. In all likelihood, it'll send the signal over cellular if it needs to, but it's not clear whether Tesla will require subscribing to their Premium Connectivity package in order to use it.

Update: Additional details have been discovered about Tesla's MyQ garage door support. Check out the latest information related to its integration, cost and supported vehicles.

Tesla Is Now Offering Cybertruck Test Drives [List of Locations]

@brandonhd

Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.

Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.

It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.

Advisor-led Demo

This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.

Once FSD V12.5 comes to the Cybertruck, we’re sure they’ll be demoing its capabilities FSD capabilities as well.

Locations

The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.

• Manhasset, New York

• West Covina, California

• Los Angeles, California

• Houston, Texas

• Orlando, Florida

• Westmont, Illinois

• Tucson, Arizona

• Phoenix, Arizona

• Delaware

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Musk Confirms 'Actually Smart Summon' is Coming in a Revision of FSD V12.5

Not a Tesla App

Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.

Vision-based Improvements

ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.

Just recently, Tesla returned the Model X’s self-presenting doors, using Tesla Vision. Vision has seen some fantastic improvements, and many people are waiting for ASS to bring forth these improvements to Smart Summon.

Smart Summon Today

Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.

I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.

Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.

Actually Smart Summon

ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.

We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.

Park Seek and Banish Autopark

When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10^th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.

A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.

While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.

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