Community Forums

docj · 08-20-2018, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creativepart

Joel, can you use the SIM in another device or does it have to be that home internet device?

I haven't tried to use the SIM in a different device; the ZTE device has MIMO antennas and seems to work quite well. We have Verizon phones and a MiFi so there was no need to put the AT&T SIM into a different device.

JimmyB2 · 08-20-2018, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creativepart

Something not mentioned enough in these posts.

With standard "Unlimited data" plans from a cell phone carrier - all cell carriers at this time - the term "unlimited" applies to access to data, not access to high speed data. High speed data that is fast enough to stream tv or movies is limited to 22 gigs on your phone and only applies to your phone. Should you have a hotspot and or Mifi the high speed data is limited to between 10 gigs and 15 gifs depending on the carrier.

After you reach your limit of high speed data the speed drops instantly. In some cases the speed drop is to 3g speeds which are fairly usable and could stream at low resolutions. On some carriers it drops to 2g speeds which are not suitable for ANY video streaming at all. Verizon drops to 2g speeds.

As to how much TV you can watch with 15 gig of high speed data? Depending on what you watch and how much you watch a typical amount would be approx 3-days. So, if you're full-timing or even going on a 1-week vacation you're in for a huge surprise if you plan to stream your TV on your Verizon, ATT, Tmobile or Sprint "unlimited" data plan. If you have a reselller like Cricket, etc it will generally be even less.

The above comment applies to all current cell phone carrier's standard Unlimited plans as of Aug 2018. This stuff changes all the time, but not usually for the better - as in more high speed data, it's usually less.

Some folks have found ways of getting non-standard data plans that truly are unlimited high speed data. Don't confuse those with standard plans available from your cell phone carrier. I'm not saying that there is no way to get unlimited high speed data but you'll have to jump through some hoops to get it and it will not be something you can get at your cell phone store or online store.

Some carriers have specials to allow video from Netflix, or DircTV Now, or Hulu not count against your High Speed data limit. BUT... those are restricted to watching on your phone only not on your TV. There some ways around this, but you'll need to do more "jumping through hoops" to figure out and implement this.

Currently some carriers will allow you to stream unlimited data to a Tablet device such as an iPad for a small addon charge monthly. But of course you have to have an iPad that has built in cellular features. If you don't you can't take advantage of this feature. And, if you do have such an iPad in many cases you might be able to run a cable from your iPad to your TV to watch on a TV. But this is not always a workable option.

In short, getting unlimited high speed data for TV streaming in your RV is fairly difficult to get and not something you can just stroll into your local Verizon/ATT/Tmobile/Sprint/Cricket/Etc store and purchase.

We have Verizon 20GB unlimited and AT&T 20GB unlimited. The BIG difference between the two is that Verizon will throttle down after the cap is reached, while AT&T uses deprioritization. The other big advantage with our AT&T is that since I am bundled with Directv and home internet, we get HBO free and we get to stream the Directv DATA FREE.

Last time out we used 60GB of data with NO reduction in speeds and no additional charges.

This has been working out great and made me change my mind on buying a Directv dish for travel.

burleybob · 08-20-2018, 04:26 PM

Get description, I'm interested in a similar setup and this looks like the hot ticket. How did you mount the antennas? A picture would be great.

jpainter01 · 08-21-2018, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creativepart

With standard "Unlimited data" plans from a cell phone carrier - all cell carriers at this time - the term "unlimited" applies to access to data, not access to high speed data. High speed data that is fast enough to stream tv or movies is limited to 22 gigs on your phone and only applies to your phone. Should you have a hotspot and or Mifi the high speed data is limited to between 10 gigs and 15 gifs depending on the carrier.

Fortunately there are three exceptions where true unlimited data still exists. Verizon's "Holy Grail" gUDP (grandfathered Unlimited Data Plan) has truly unlimited LTE with no throttling or network management.

Hotspots on ATT's grandfathered "Unlimited Plus" and Mobleys on the "Connected Car' plan are also unlimited, subject only to network management (not throttling) after 22GB of usage.

We have both of these and so far have never experienced network management on either of the AT&T plans.

Sadly, neither of these are available from the carriers now.

jpainter01 · 08-21-2018, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyB2

The other big advantage with our AT&T is that since I am bundled with Directv and home internet, we get HBO free and we get to stream the Directv DATA FREE.

Are you able to stream DirecTV data free just on a mobile device, or have you figured out a way to currently get it to a TV?

We used to be able to connect our iPad to the TV via an HDMI adapter and use the DirecTV free app, but recently we get an error message telling us that HDMI in no longer supported.

creativepart · 08-21-2018, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpainter01

Are you able to stream DirecTV data free just on a mobile device, or have you figured out a way to currently get it to a TV?

We used to be able to connect our iPad to the TV via an HDMI adapter and use the DirecTV free app, but recently we get an error message telling us that HDMI in no longer supported.

I believe that was a bug and that it’s now been fixed in the newer version of DTVN. I have not tried it. But that’s what I heard.

manowell · 08-21-2018, 09:09 AM

Good posts, good information. So many options....

OnNTwo · 08-21-2018, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W0GEN

We pay $71.23 per month for Dish. Have the basic with local channel access. With this setup I have:
Hopper 3 at my home
Wally with a hard drive to record on my coach
We also added an OTA dish adapter to inject the local channels into the guide as well.

For our second home we have no frills DirectTV with "select" programming plus
local channels
$66.84 per month
We shut this subscription down in November through April every year as this is a vacation home.
Yes we use Direct as we do not have a South view of the Dish Network satellites! We have massive limestone bluffs behind the house which is located on the main channel of the Mississippi river. We don't even get OTA at this location!

We though about adopting Direct TV on our main home and RV however we got to know a local guy who is our installer / tech and I guess our loyalty is with him.

Regarding TV we are happy, we do stream a lot at home via Netflix and our Mediacom high speed internet (I hate Mediacom but we don't have other alternatives for 100mb download). We use a lot of bandwidth for security cameras...

Whew... Personal entertainment sure is getting complex, I should just pull the plug and use an antenna... LOL

Just reading your post makes my head swim. How do you even keep up with all of the remotes much less the instructions?

BTW what is... "Wally with a hard drive to record on my coach"?

creativepart · 08-21-2018, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnNTwo

what is... "Wally with a hard drive to record on my coach"?

Wally is the name of a smaller Dish Network Receiver that works well in an an RV. It doesn't have a DVR function built in. But you can add an external USB Hard Drive to "record in [your] coach."

JimmyB2 · 08-21-2018, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpainter01

Are you able to stream DirecTV data free just on a mobile device, or have you figured out a way to currently get it to a TV?

We used to be able to connect our iPad to the TV via an HDMI adapter and use the DirecTV free app, but recently we get an error message telling us that HDMI in no longer supported.

I have a Chromecast plugged into one of the TV HDMI ports, which connects to our AT&T mobile hotspot (united with the SIM from Mobley installed). Then just cast from phone to TV through the Chromecast,

BillJinOR · 08-21-2018, 10:06 AM

The Wally tuner actually works well with a hard drive added to it as a DVR. A one time 40$ charge on the account ( not per tuner ) for all Wally and 211 receivers gets “ free “ DVR. If the Wally is connected to a full 3 lnb array dish it can record and or watch two channels at time. Record two , watch one and record another, record two and watch a prerecorded program etc.
The DVR functions are normal as in record this program everyday and search for this program and record etc

If direct would come out with a set top box that incorporated a truly unlimited cell chip just for their programming instead of a satellite dish and worked like the box recording and guides etc. that would make me consider a change. Even better if it could use WiFi if available , be it from a Verizon hotspot or substantial park WiFi .

creativepart · 08-21-2018, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyB2

I have a Chromecast plugged into one of the TV HDMI ports, which connects to our AT&T mobile hotspot (united with the SIM from Mobley installed). Then just cast from phone to TV through the Chromecast,

I assume you do the "cast from phone" step mostly for DirecTV Now??

Have you considered another device other than the Chromecast? They are all so inexpensive now. The Roku stick is just $39 and the Fire Stick is even cheaper. With either of these you could skip the whole phone part of the equation.

We used to use our Connected Car SIM in our Unite Mifi, but there were fears that ATT was tracking usage outside of the Mobely. So, we've put the SIM back in the Mobley and use that connected via USB cable to the Wifi Ranger Router. It works well most of the time. It's not quite as fast as in the Unite Mifi, but we're so lucky to have $20 unlimited unrestricted internet that I don't want to do anything to rock the boat.

Jxfire · 08-21-2018, 02:11 PM

I have a similar plan with just AT&T with 50 Gb of cellular data. I also have rollover data. So if I don’t travel for a month, I will have 100 Gb for the next month. Although, of course, I would rather be traveling and just get my 50 Gb! I haven’t tried to connect up an HDMI cable to my rv tv from my Ipad, so I can’t say whether it will work or not. I will try it in the next couple of days to test it. Also, my AT&T store told me that as long as I have Directv, I can stream either live tv or HDR programs in the rv, there are supposedly 30 channels that this works with. This uses no data per the AT&T store. Also, haven’t tried this either. Could be none of this will work and something that sounds too good might, in fact, be just that! We’ll see soon.

jpainter01 · 08-22-2018, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyB2

I have a Chromecast plugged into one of the TV HDMI ports, which connects to our AT&T mobile hotspot (united with the SIM from Mobley installed). Then just cast from phone to TV through the Chromecast,

Thank you for this info. Is this is using the free DirecTV app or the paid "DirecTV Now" app?