Community Forums

RoadEyePie · 11-27-2018, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

I never had had AT&T service before getting this, nor did I have landline service with anyone. I did the whole thing online. You can find it on the AT&T website with no questions asked.

I couldn't find anything about Wireless Home Internet, just Wireless Internet which shows a device that says it is suppose to replace your landline of something. I'm tired of trying to figure out all this crap. In a few years all this mobile wireless junk will settle out and probably be cheaper as it seems a ton of competition is being poured into streaming technology. In the early stages of these technology shifts, devices are always high prices and rarely work well. Give it some time, and I'll check on it them. Until then, I think I'll go with Directv dish and the built in hotspot in the truck.

docj · 11-27-2018, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

I couldn't find anything about Wireless Home Internet, just Wireless Internet which shows a device that says it is suppose to replace your landline of something.

Yup, that's it! Here's a link. you have to buy the data plan separately.

https://www.att.com/cellphones/att/a...sku=sku8550279

RoadEyePie · 11-27-2018, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

Yup, that's it! Here's a link. you have to buy the data plan separately.

https://www.att.com/cellphones/att/a...sku=sku8550279

Yep, that's the page and the device I found. I didn't like the reviews I read. Thank you for your assistance, but I think this technology is in its infancy. I'll wait awhile. I don't want to mess with new devices every other year and expensive data plans. I'm not looking for a new hobby trying to make all this work. I just want to solve a problem at a reasonable price. Right now, it's not worth it.

docj · 11-28-2018, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

Yep, that's the page and the device I found. I didn't like the reviews I read. Thank you for your assistance, but I think this technology is in its infancy.

I have no idea what "technology is in its infancy." The device used is a hot-spot just like any other. All I can say is that it works absolutely fine for me. The specific hardware used changed last year, so older reviews aren't relevant to the device in use today.

You should make whatever choice is acceptable to you but I don't want others to be scared off from a perfectly good option.

Kennzz05 · 11-28-2018, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

Has anyone tried to use their cellphone as a hot spot to feed their Roku stick to stream TV?

Yup it works. Do it all the time

Kennzz05 · 11-28-2018, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

AT&T seems ridiculous. According to the folks I just spoke with, a Mobile Hotspot data plan for the RV is $50/mo. for 10 GB/mo. That seems very inadequate for streaming live HD tv to Roku. I'm beginning to think the Directv plan of $100/mo is a better deal. I can add my GMC truck as a hotspot for $20/mo. for 35GB. Makes no sense to me. And maybe the WiFi Ranger to pick up weak wifi service in the area.

Just change your cell phone plan to an unlimited plan with unlimited hotspot data problem solved

RoadEyePie · 11-28-2018, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

I have no idea what "technology is in its infancy." The device used is a hot-spot just like any other. All I can say is that it works absolutely fine for me. The specific hardware used changed last year, so older reviews aren't relevant to the device in use today.

You should make whatever choice is acceptable to you but I don't want others to be scared off from a perfectly good option.

Fair enough. What I was referring to was the streaming technology. We started with cable (coax run to your house and device), then satellite started robbing their customers with access for remote folks and better content, now we enter the streaming phenomenon. So I expect as the big companies compete for your streaming dollars, it will get both cheaper and better. That's all. Not everyone has the technical aptitude or the desire to chase this comet. Others love it and feed off it. I will certainly be a user of the new technology, just not wanting to jump in here.

docj · 11-29-2018, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

So I expect as the big companies compete for your streaming dollars, it will get both cheaper and better.

I agree that over time the cost of streaming data will change. For most people with fixed residences the cost of data via the internet is already so low that it's pretty much a non-issue. Those of us who live with cellular connections are the ones most concerned about data cost but for many of us our costs are less to day than they were a year ago.

Streaming itself is already a well-developed technology. One of my sons is a computer scientist who has been involved professionally with improving streaming technology for more than 10 years. Home use streaming devices such as Rokus, Fire Sticks, Chromecasts, etc, have dropped in price substantially since I bought my first Roku some 5+ years ago. For many people, a "smart TV" may be the only technology item they will ever need; if you go the Roku (or similar) route, adding the device is as simple as plugging something into an HDMI port on your TV.

I encourage you not to wait but to enjoy the wealth of visual and audio material already available. Some people seem to think that all that's available are "old movies"; that's far from the truth. My wife and I rarely watch movies, but we have enjoyed TV dramas from all over the planet.

Try it; it's not difficult. Lots of us on this forum can answer any questions you may have.

Joel (AKA docj)

RoadEyePie · 11-29-2018, 05:02 PM

I disconnected my satellite home service and my cable provider some years ago and have been using the Roku stick, so I'm familiar. Easy to do at home where I have fiber optic feed of internet speeds that can support a whopping lot of data. Not the same for mobile yet. Speeds just aren't there for the same price. Trust me, if I could get the same speeds for the same price, I'd be streaming and Roku'ing in the RV....which is what lead me down this path. I just think it's moving in that direction just not quite there yet.

The newer Roku sticks (and other devices) allow you to mirror something like my Surface Pro. So I can download Netflix shows to the Pro and connect / watch via the Roku stick. This might buy me some time. Won't have live events, but oh well. I'll have to decide what to do.

docj · 11-29-2018, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

Easy to do at home where I have fiber optic feed of internet speeds that can support a whopping lot of data. Not the same for mobile yet. Speeds just aren't there for the same price. Trust me, if I could get the same speeds for the same price, I'd be streaming and Roku'ing in the RV....which is what lead me down this path. I just think it's moving in that direction just not quite there yet.

I'm currently using an unlimited Verizon prepaid account for $65/mo that's been available since early November. The plan isn't throttled at 15GB or other data limits and, to my knowledge, has only been throttled a couple of times for short times due to network congestion. I back this device up with 100GB/mo of unthrottled AT&T data. Both these connections provide 5-10Mbps or greater download speed which is quite suitable for at least 720p or even 10800p video. I can't do 4k but there isn't all that much content at 4k anyway.

I'm not sure how much cheaper or better you think cellular data has to be before it's worth using for streaming. My wife and I currently use 100-200 GB/mo.

RoadEyePie · 11-29-2018, 08:16 PM

But what does 100 - 200 GB/mo cost?

docj · 11-29-2018, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadEyePie

But what does 100 - 200 GB/mo cost?

The new Verizon unlimited prepaid plan for Jetpacks is $65/mo with a discount for automatic payment. In addition I have a 100GB/mo AT&T plan which is costing us $100/mo which I will cancel once I'm sure that the Verizon plan is going to stay around and be reliable.

Kennzz05 · 11-29-2018, 11:57 PM

We use double that amount easily a month and I use my phone itself as a hotspot. I have unlimited hotspot data. We are able to stream 2 televisions of one phone simultaneously. Occasionally it's glitchy but never to the point I'm rethinking my options.yes they claim to throttle back your service once you exceed 20g a lot of that has to do with where you are located in the country and if it is deemed a high-demand market. We are 15 miles north of Knoxville in long term park. As it hasn't happened yet. Once in a blue moon the quality dips into sd quality for a minute or 2 but never stays that way.
My phone is an s8+

docj · 11-30-2018, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kennzz05

.yes they claim to throttle back your service once you exceed 20g a lot of that has to do with where you are located in the country and if it is deemed a high-demand market. We are 15 miles north of Knoxville in long term park. As it hasn't happened yet. Once in a blue moon the quality dips into sd quality for a minute or 2 but never stays that way.

I don't know what cellular carrier you're using but with our postpaid Verizon Above Unlimited phones once we reach 15GB the speed drops to <600kbps as advertised. The same thing was true of our Jetpack until we moved it to the new prepaid unlimited plan.