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11-09-2019, 05:47 PM
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#533
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 23
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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!
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11-12-2019, 10:11 AM
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#534
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 479
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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?
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2011 Bay Star 2902
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11-12-2019, 09:42 PM
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#535
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Senior Member
Official iRV2 Sponsor
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 8,305
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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?
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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.
__________________
Joel (AKA docj)--
RV Technology Specialist
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11-13-2019, 03:31 AM
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#536
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Bella Vista, Arkansas
Posts: 5,389
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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.
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What app would you recommend?
__________________
Raymond, Dee Dee and Sophie (Yorkie)
2023 Chevrolet 2500HD LT 4X4
2024 Grand Design Reflection 296RDTS
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11-13-2019, 05:10 AM
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#537
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,230
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reubenray
What app would you recommend?
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Network cell info lite
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11-13-2019, 05:12 AM
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#538
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,230
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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.
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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.
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11-13-2019, 05:17 AM
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#539
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,230
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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.
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11-13-2019, 07:40 AM
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#540
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Senior Member
Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Full timer; somewhere new every month!
Posts: 211
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Visible plan
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.
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11-13-2019, 02:50 PM
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#541
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
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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!
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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!
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11-13-2019, 02:57 PM
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#542
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 3,940
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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
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C F53V10 Handicap Equipped
1999 Jeep Cherokee, 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
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11-13-2019, 03:00 PM
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#543
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 3,940
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I signed up for Visible today. Did the swap for a new ZTE Blade A7 Prime phone.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C F53V10 Handicap Equipped
1999 Jeep Cherokee, 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
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11-14-2019, 11:36 AM
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#544
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Moderator Emeritus
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 19,417
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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
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__________________
Steve
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire 4095
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11-14-2019, 01:28 PM
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#545
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 12
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Visible Phone Plan
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.
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11-19-2019, 06:31 AM
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#546
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 12
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So Far So Good!
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.
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