Community Forums

mbutts · 03-21-2025, 12:41 PM

I just saw a brief blurb for Connectten on Youtube and looked up their website. It looks really good:
No cost for 4G router
Monthly commitment
Unlimited full priority plan for $120/mo (several other lower cost plans available)
Easily switches between Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and US Cellular

We have used a Verizon Jetpack for 8 years with a 30 GB plan. We're going full time in a few months & need an unlimited plan. I have never been a Musk fan so I'm not getting Starlink. I just tried the FMCA/FRVA's best T-Mobile plan and it's meh at best (2-40 Mbps, never gets a 5G connection).

Does anyone have experience with Connecten?

groveln · 03-21-2025, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbutts

I just saw a brief blurb for Connectten on Youtube and looked up their website. It looks really good:
No cost for 4G router
Monthly commitment
Unlimited full priority plan for $120/mo (several other lower cost plans available)
Easily switches between Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and US Cellular

We have used a Verizon Jetpack for 8 years with a 30 GB plan. We're going full time in a few months & need an unlimited plan. I have never been a Musk fan so I'm not getting Starlink. I just tried the FMCA/FRVA's best T-Mobile plan and it's meh at best (2-40 Mbps, never gets a 5G connection).

Does anyone have experience with Connecten?

No $$ for me for Starlink!! I looked into them but they have too many rules...You Can't buy their unit...you lease it & pay $180 deposit upfront for it & check out the "Return" policy Rules...it better not have a mark on it!!....if you put it on hold you still have to pay a charge to have the router...you can't pause the data plan without jumping thru hoops...I thought I needed a lawyer after looking at all the RuLes & Regs...Yikes!!
Instead I went with TravlFi XTR...way simpler & cut & dry...you can OWN your unit (I bought mine off Ebay for a lot less than their site & then just call them..give them the info on the unit they needed then buy your data pkg. & your up & running...pause your plan & pick it up without any issues!

bentjm · 03-22-2025, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groveln

No $$ for me for Starlink!! I looked into them but they have too many rules...You Can't buy their unit...you lease it & pay $180 deposit upfront for it & check out the "Return" policy Rules...it better not have a mark on it!!....if you put it on hold you still have to pay a charge to have the router...you can't pause the data plan without jumping thru hoops...I thought I needed a lawyer after looking at all the RuLes & Regs...Yikes!!
Instead I went with TravlFi XTR...way simpler & cut & dry...you can OWN your unit (I bought mine off Ebay for a lot less than their site & then just call them..give them the info on the unit they needed then buy your data pkg. & your up & running...pause your plan & pick it up without any issues!

So many incorrect statements in this post.

I own my Gen 3 dishy and router.

I set it up and had it running in about 20 minutes.

I suspended it after using it for a month. I used the app. There is no charge. Easy peasy.

I use it as a backup to my Tmobile plan through Caylx.

92LandYacht · 03-22-2025, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bentjm

So many incorrect statements in this post.

I own my Gen 3 dishy and router.

I set it up and had it running in about 20 minutes.

I suspended it after using it for a month. I used the app. There is no charge. Easy peasy.

I use it as a backup to my Tmobile plan through Caylx.

I think his first sentence was just a political statement. The rest was related to ConnectTen service. Not a great service for the price IMHO.

I do agree with you on the usefulness of Starlink as a backup. Will be picking up a Gen 3 as a backup for my T-Mobile hotspot.

bentjm · 03-22-2025, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92LandYacht

I think his first sentence was just a political statement. The rest was related to ConnectTen service. Not a great service for the price IMHO.

I do agree with you on the usefulness of Starlink as a backup. Will be picking up a Gen 3 as a backup for my T-Mobile hotspot.

OK. If I read it wrong, I apologize.

groveln · 03-22-2025, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bentjm

OK. If I read it wrong, I apologize.

To be Clear...all statements made after my "personal" choice about Starlink were directed towards Connecten...I had many back & forth conversations with Connecten in my decision making on what WIFI System is best for Me with all my needed applications & costs it wasn't them.

tetranz · 03-22-2025, 10:24 AM

For what it's worth, this guy tried it and made several videos on the experience. I think this is the last video where he reports his conclusions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80wvJr8dRts

It worked okay for him except that it didn't switch smoothly between providers. He had to call their support and generally mess around to get it to switch to get it to switch to the best provider for the location.

That was 8 months ago so I guess it could be improved by now.

MikeCh · 03-23-2025, 05:50 AM

I have now been using ConnecTen for a few years now. The only issue has been the router may not always find the best connection. The positive side is when this happens, it is a quick message to support via their website and they make the change to the service remotely. Their customer service is 24x7 and has been great.

CWSWine · 03-23-2025, 09:57 AM

I’m concerned about companies like the ones above or Starlink because you don’t control my router settings. Someone from the company can log onto your network and see my devices, potentially logging onto them. I want to control my router’s firewall and security settings. I learned years ago that hacking one can hack them all.

These days, hackers connect to hide their activities on the network and make it look like their illegal activities are from your network and not so much your info on your network except your Internet ID. Their illegal activities are from your network.

mbutts · 03-24-2025, 08:51 AM

Wow, a lot of interesting replies.

Thanks, MikeCH for the actual end user report.

I'm reluctant to invest a ton upfront for TravlFi or Insty or Pepwave-based service since we're just starting out our fulltime journey.

ConnecTen's current offer of $0.00 for the 4G router and priority (no throttling after X GB per month) for $120 is really compelling.

CWSWine · 03-24-2025, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbutts

Wow, a lot of interesting replies.

Thanks, MikeCH for the actual end user report.

I'm reluctant to invest a ton upfront for TravlFi or Insty or Pepwave-based service since we're just starting out our fulltime journey.

ConnecTen's current offer of $0.00 for the 4G router and priority (no throttling after X GB per month) for $120 is really compelling.

I have Cakyx 5G hotspot for $ 500 per year (42,00 per month), and in the last three years, there have been three locations where it couldn't get a signal, and AT&T phones also didn't have a signal for streaming. Those rare occasions didn’t have a good enough signal, so I have a paused Starlink I can activate. The last year with 7 months of RV travel it was one campsite in Quartzite so my year cost was 500.00 plus one month of Starlink at 175.00.

You speeds of 2 to 40 is typical of 4G but on 5G I get from 40 to 600 Mbps.

mbutts · 03-25-2025, 12:56 PM

CWSWine, I've had the FMCA T-Mobile plan for 3 months with the same device as Calyx uses. It's allegedly 4G/5G but never connects at 5G. I've used it in FL, SC, NC, GA, TN, OH, KY, and MI, all in areas that T-Mobile's coverage map shows 5G. I've called T-Mobile & they only suggest that I restart the device.

Are you using your Calyx service east of the Mississippi or are you out west?

bentjm · 03-25-2025, 01:32 PM

I have used my Inseego Mifi hotspot from Mobile Citizen by way of Calyx from Florida to Idaho without any connection or overall speed issues.

The only issue is that Tmobile routinely throttles Utube going to Mobile Citizen devices.

CWSWine · 03-25-2025, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbutts

CWSWine, I've had the FMCA T-Mobile plan for 3 months with the same device as Calyx uses. It's allegedly 4G/5G but never connects at 5G. I've used it in FL, SC, NC, GA, TN, OH, KY, and MI, all in areas that T-Mobile's coverage map shows 5G. I've called T-Mobile & they only suggest that I restart the device.

Are you using your Calyx service east of the Mississippi or are you out west?

I have used it in FLA, TN, GA, OH, and all throughout the Southwest and Northwest without any problems. Maybe some of the other FMCA users will chime in.The 5 to 40 that was qouted above is 4G service and what you can expect most of time.