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Old 06-24-2021, 08:31 AM   #1
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Hot Spot Devices

What am I missing? From FMCA, TMobil, Verizon, etc. a Mobil hotspot is $50/month unending for 4G. With an unlimited data plan you can buy a 5G phone for less than $40/month and $0 when paid off. If there’s two of you have two plans w/different carriers for more coverage. Why do I need a separate hot spot device? Thank You

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Old 06-24-2021, 08:47 AM   #2
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"Unlimited data plan" usually only means unlimited for apps on the phone itself, not devices tethering to it. Look at the plan details. Tethering is usually high speed for 30 GB or maybe up to 100 GB depending on the plan but after that it's throttled to a crawl or completely stops. Visible is an exception to that. See the long $25 thread.

If your phones provide enough tethering data for your needs then that may well be all you need.
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Old 06-24-2021, 09:16 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by GDGorsuch View Post
What am I missing? From FMCA, TMobil, Verizon, etc. a Mobil hotspot is $50/month unending for 4G. With an unlimited data plan you can buy a 5G phone for less than $40/month and $0 when paid off. If there’s two of you have two plans w/different carriers for more coverage. Why do I need a separate hot spot device? Thank You

Dwight
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I use my iPhone7 as a hot spot. Even in many outlying places weak signal provides for surfing for two and streaming. I am not sure how many devices the 7 can handle efficiently.

The iPhone is a little flaky when first connecting to it. It tends to turn the WiFi "off" when not in use. Waking the WiFi up requires opening the settings app.

A hotspot would be overkill for me. It may provide better local connectivity for multiple devices.

A 4 antenna MIMO on the roof with a built in WiFi Router is faster, less tricky and has better range. It would require its own SIM card and account.

For me, Consumer Cellular covers as well as ATT and cost half as much. I don't want to pay for a second account. I can read magazines if we camp in a remote location.

I wish you good luck and happy trails ahead!
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Old 06-24-2021, 12:14 PM   #4
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I’m using a NetGear LB1121 hotspot on an AT&T tablet SIM card - suppose to be $20/mth for 400GB of 4G unlimited data (have not fully tested that out yet).

NetGear is then connected to an ASUS RT-N12 router that allows all my devices to connect simultaneously and independently for any use.
I was going to set the ASUS up as a repeater to pick off a campgrounds WiFi using an externally mounted antenna on my coach but decided that with some sites not wanting you to stream, or many COE sites not even having WiFi (but do have cell service), that going the cellular route would provide adequate services to meet my needs.
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Old 06-25-2021, 07:14 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by tetranz View Post
"Unlimited data plan" usually only means unlimited for apps on the phone itself, not devices tethering to it. Look at the plan details. Tethering is usually high speed for 30 GB or maybe up to 100 GB depending on the plan but after that it's throttled to a crawl or completely stops. Visible is an exception to that. See the long $25 thread.
.
Agreed I don't think any of the three major cellular carriers offer unlimited phone plans that provide for unlimited data used through a hotspot or tether.

I have hotspots with all three carriers two of which are truly unlimited and one which provides 200GB/mo. When all are working we have more than enough data to stream all our video. But when we travel not all will be working adequately, hence we have redundancy.
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Old 06-28-2021, 11:29 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GDGorsuch View Post
What am I missing? From FMCA, TMobil, Verizon, etc. a Mobil hotspot is $50/month unending for 4G. With an unlimited data plan you can buy a 5G phone for less than $40/month and $0 when paid off. If there’s two of you have two plans w/different carriers for more coverage. Why do I need a separate hot spot device? Thank You

Dwight
07 Monaco Diplomat ISL 400 w/Jeep in Tow
It depends on your needs. If your data requirements are within the limits of those plans and you don’t have a lot of devices to connect to WiFi, you don’t necessarily need a hotspot.

You can of course connect several devices to the phone’s WiFi hotspot but that can be a pain when that phone owner goes out for a walk.
You could also do the same using the WiFi hotspot on a tablet that stays in the RV.
If you could provide more info on how many devices you have and your data requirements, that would be helpful.
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