Community Forums

JackHD · 11-09-2019, 05:47 PM

During the recent fire-precaution power shut-off here in northern California, in our area we not only lost power, but also Comcast internet and the local (yes, there's just one) Sprint cell tower. No power, no internet, no phone service, no cell service. We do have a portable generator, so we could keep the refrigerators running and watch TV.

A couple of weeks earlier I had installed this wifi system in our Gulfstream BT Cruiser motorhome, as mentioned in an earlier post. I went out to the motorhome and activated the wifi sysrem. Fortunately the local Verizon tower was working at full power, so we had full internet capabilities. Everything operated just fine over our "low buck" wifi, both phone and internet.

I'd say this system just paid for itself, maybe a few times over. Again, many thanks to the OP.

We were very lucky, no fires here. Others were not so lucky. Very sad!

mfredm · 11-12-2019, 10:11 AM

well, im in the middle of nowhere, and the visible signal is weak to non existent. (verizon too). looks like a cell booster might be necessary in remote areas. what inexpensive booster can be recommended?

docj · 11-12-2019, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfredm

well, im in the middle of nowhere, and the visible signal is weak to non existent. (verizon too). looks like a cell booster might be necessary in remote areas. what inexpensive booster can be recommended?

A cell booster can only help if there's enough signal to amplify. You should use an app on your phone to detect the actual signal level; the number of bars at the top is meaningless. If you don't see a signal of at least -130 dBm I wouldn't even bother to try a booster.

FWIW signals get stronger with smaller negative numbers. Plus signal strength is logarithmic so a signal of -120 dBm is 10 times stronger than one at -130 dBm.

reubenray · 11-13-2019, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

A cell booster can only help if there's enough signal to amplify. You should use an app on your phone to detect the actual signal level; the number of bars at the top is meaningless. If you don't see a signal of at least -130 dBm I wouldn't even bother to try a booster.

FWIW signals get stronger with smaller negative numbers. Plus signal strength is logarithmic so a signal of -120 dBm is 10 times stronger than one at -130 dBm.

What app would you recommend?

ransil · 11-13-2019, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reubenray

What app would you recommend?

Network cell info lite

ransil · 11-13-2019, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

A cell booster can only help if there's enough signal to amplify. You should use an app on your phone to detect the actual signal level; the number of bars at the top is meaningless. If you don't see a signal of at least -130 dBm I wouldn't even bother to try a booster.

FWIW signals get stronger with smaller negative numbers. Plus signal strength is logarithmic so a signal of -120 dBm is 10 times stronger than one at -130 dBm.

I have a booster with an omni antenna at my house, wont boost a -115 signal, had it on a 20ft pipe up on the roof, omni antenna says 4 db gain, gonna buy a directional that has 8 db and try it.

ransil · 11-13-2019, 05:17 AM

This week i tried to open 2 accounts for my wife & I, was able to order her a new S9 phone but it has not showed up yet, tried to order mine and my visible account wont respond to anything i do just keeps throwing me to the login screen.

tried 3 browers and the phone app, online chat was not helpful, they escalated me to a specialists pretty sure ill never hear from anyone.

NY24 · 11-13-2019, 07:40 AM

I just placed my order yesterday. The new phone should be delivered today. I'll post back once I have some hands on experience with it.

alasalle · 11-13-2019, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsgriffin

You're very welcome. Glad it all worked as easily as I had hoped. If you are trying to stay in a budget and like to watch movies and TV, you may want to now consider getting a Roku and adding Netflix and Hulu channels. For $25/month, you get a ton of TV and movies that all stream through your new unlimited internet. Go for the no-commercials option on Hulu....worth a couple bucks more a month. Cheaper than Dish!

I'm very excited to give this a try! Any experience in using FIRE TV instead of Roku (I already have 2 of these).

One more question, I have an unlocked 6s Plus that is compatible but I know #10 says to use the R2. Is that still preferred, considering I have 6s Plus, not in use (not porting a #) ? Thanks!

John Hilley · 11-13-2019, 02:57 PM

The Fire TV also works. You can get a Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus bundle for $12.99

Disney Plus Hulu ESPN Plus Bundle

John Hilley · 11-13-2019, 03:00 PM

I signed up for Visible today. Did the swap for a new ZTE Blade A7 Prime phone.

Spk64 · 11-14-2019, 11:36 AM

This is the 2nd and Final Warning!
Additional Post were removed as they violated the Community Rules.
Any further discussions involving referral codes, Party Pay or other any Community Rules violations will result in thread closure!

Closing this thread is not what we want to do but if members continue to post outside of the Community Rules it will be closed.

Thanks to all those members posting within the rules.

Thanks for understanding
Steve as Site Staff

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spk64

Solicitation of members to join “Party Pay” is not allowed per the Community Rules.
Any further post will be removed without warning and may force us to close this thread.

Steve as site Staff

FredWH · 11-14-2019, 01:28 PM

Just ordered my new phone from Visible. Looking forward to the service. Delivery should be tomorrow. I'll also post back as I will also be waiting for the new router per post #10.

FredWH · 11-19-2019, 06:31 AM

Here is my experience with following gsgriffin's #10 post.

I ordered the "cheapest" phone from Visible. It arrived in 2 days. I didn't set it up right away as I was waiting for the modem to arrive from Amazon.

Just 2 days later my modem arrived.

First thing was to get the phone turned on. Anyone can follow these simple instructions that come with the phone. In less than a half-hour, I was connected. I surfed the web with the computer first with the phone in the Wi-Fi setting. So Slow! Did a speed test and it was doing a .60Mbps download 0Mbps upload.

I then signed into the Visible website, clicked on the "Chat" button and after an hour with the gal on the other side trying different things, she told me that she would put in a Case ticket and that the techs would be contacting me via E-Mail within 48 hours. That E-Mail came within 3 hours. It read that they found the problem and that it should be corrected. Take the sim card out of the phone, re-insert it and power the phone back on. Success! Speeds now are in the 5-7Mbps download range.

I followed gsgriffin's instruction on the steps to set up the router. That took a half-hour at the most and it was up and running.

I hooked up my Roku to the router directly and am now watching the Discovery channel plus doing this post and surfing the web from the computer. No buffering.

Hopefully, when I arrive in Florida I get the same results without having to purchase the external cell antenna.

A special shout out and "Thank You" to gsgriffin for all his advice and especially his #10 post.