I set up my v3 unit the other night. I'm a new user but had no problems setting it up, despite some documentation lacunae.
I went the wifi route despite being aware of the USB serial console. I configured it as a WiFi AP+Client so it would sit on my home WiFi when in the garage but I would have the option of connecting directly to the unit while away from home. Once it was configured I did a firmware update via the web.
The app was a little weird. Honestly, the Demo car kind of just gets in the way, it would be better if it just started out blank. It was a little confusing that I didn't enter my server username; just the car's ID, my server password, and my OVMS password. I guess the car IDs are unique across the whole OVMS server? I wasn't sure if I should put
www.openvehicles.com or api.openvehicles.com as the server until I realized that both of those names refer to the same Network Box node. Also, I didn't find the console shell access that the documentation said the app provides.
After testing signal strength with the antenna in various places around the front and rear glass, I ended up placing the antenna on that plastic trim piece above the passenger seat belt upper anchor point. That placement seemed to yield the strongest signal (although I realize that may be true only when parked in my garage) and offered a relatively easy cable routing under the door sill trim (which, as most of you probably know is simply velcro'd on). I tucked the box unsecured into a void above the passenger footwell. Partly because I haven't decided for sure where I'm going to mount it and partly because it takes a bit of yoga to get my head and hands under there. I have some velcro in the glove compartment so I can secure it whenever inspiration strikes.
Overall I'm very happy with the unit. It gives the Roadster all the telemetry and remote access a modern EV has and then some --the value add to the car is enormous, even more so if you consider the value add on a per-cost basis. If this was a couple thousand dollar option on the car when new, I bet most buyers would have selected it.
Note: if you are a Google Project Fi subscriber, they provide data-only SIM cards for free. There is no cost for the SIM card, and no monthly fee. You pay only for data used, and at the same price for data as on your primary SIM card --just $0.01 per megabyte. Quite a lot cheaper than Hologram, and you don't have to set up an account with yet another vendor.
P.S. I clicked the "Donate $20" button but when I got to PayPal Checkout, it was only $10. Not sure why there's a discrepancy there.
