Need some advice - I have AT&T

[DogwoodLynx]

Happy Saturday everyone!

I need some advice as I'm not entirely sure what I am looking for just yet. I am newly full-time in my RV.

I have AT&T for cell service and use my phone as a hotspot because the internet at the RV park isn't great (and I don't see any reason to try their "upgraded" option).

I have unlimited phone data with 5GB of hotspot data. This will be the first full month of using my phone only for WIFI.

I am considering getting another hotspot to keep in the RV so I can run my dog temp sensor and (eventually) a TV. I will be staying in this RV park until January of next year (due to work).

Any recommendations or things to watch out for?

Thanks!

[High Road Travelers]

You will probably get some good responses from people who know a good bit about this subject. I am not one of the real technical people, but can relay my experience.
I got in on a special deal with T-Mobile for their "Home Internet" system and use it at home in east Texas and on the road. At home it is not as good as cable internet, but it works well enough for us working on a laptop, iPad, two phones and streaming on TV. I recently took it on a month long tour of Arkansas and it worked at each of the 6 stops we made. However, that is my only experience with it, so I don't know how well it works in the rest of the country. The special deal I received was a locked in price of $25 per month; normally it is $50 per month.
T-Mobile also makes a Mi-Fi Hotspot traveling device that I believe is $50 per month and I tried it also and it worked very well. I assume that Verizon and AT&T also have these traveling hotspot devices, but am not sure.
If you depend on having good Wi-Fi for remote work purposes, I do not believe these devices would work well enough for you.
Thanks,

[lllkrob]

First of all 5gb of hot spot data won't last very long if you do any streaming or WIFI data usage. As suggested check into a T-Mobile Home Internet plan for your area. It's inexpensive, usually fast, and unlimited.

[CWSWine]

I would say to check out the T-Mobile home internet and the Terms of Service says you can use mobile as you travel but currently they are not enforcing it. In my opinion, two sources for truly UNLIMITED internet that are worth looking into one is the FMCA AT@T and the Calyx Institute T-Mobile. FMCA is 65.00 a month and Calyx is 750 for the first year and 500 after that for 5G service.e

Then there is Starlink at 150 a month and 599 for equipment.

[Rob Hentges]

I’d vote for starlink. Yes, more expensive but I have found it to be fast and reliable. It just simply works.

[appsol]

My first though is that you said you didn't see any reason to try the RV park upgrade, yet you didn't give any specifications about that they offer and how much per month. I would recommend you look into that first, since you are going to be there for some time and it would give you time to research other options once you move on.

We spend half the year at an RV park with free guest wifi that is fine for a short stay, but varies from 2-5mbs depending on how full the park is, and "Premium wifi". Premium costs $45 a month after a $150 equipment purchase or $55 a month renting the equipment. The speeds on that premium network are 60+ mbs down, 40+ mbs up most of the time, sometimes 50/30 at peak times. (The park has a direct fiber connection and has made a significant investment in the internal wifi network to support those speeds.)

We have 5G service with Visible (part of Verizon) that has unlimited data and tethering at 5mbs speed, with no limit for $35 a month (subject to prioritization at peak demand times) and that serves as our main connection when traveling, either through our router or direct tether. We also have a TMobile 4G hot spot that we can use if in an area with poor Verizon service, and I can change the data plan when needed.

I keep doing the numbers on Starlink, but can't justify it when we have half the year at good speeds for $45 a month. Several other seasonal residents here have Starlink and everyone I have talked with said it is great. If we were traveling all the time and had to have fast service then Starlink would be my choice.

[deckape]

We have AT&T also . Unlimited phone and data . We have used the phone for our hot stop for 4 years now . If I have one bar it may buffer . We have a app that allows us to get our cable provider thru the phone . If I can not get over the air tv , I'll setup thru the app . Have a dongell to tv and no problems so far .

[pasdad1]

Have you checked out this thread? I have been using it for several years now.

$25/month unlimited internet....interested?

https://www.irv2.com/forums/f53/25-month-unlimited-internet-interested-442091.html

[ArtJoyce]

Unless you know what service is available, I would wait until you get there. Talk to your neighbors and find what the service is like for the big 3?

[DogwoodLynx]

Originally Posted by High Road Travelers

You will probably get some good responses from people who know a good bit about this subject. I am not one of the real technical people, but can relay my experience.
I got in on a special deal with T-Mobile for their "Home Internet" system and use it at home in east Texas and on the road. At home it is not as good as cable internet, but it works well enough for us working on a laptop, iPad, two phones and streaming on TV. I recently took it on a month long tour of Arkansas and it worked at each of the 6 stops we made. However, that is my only experience with it, so I don't know how well it works in the rest of the country. The special deal I received was a locked in price of $25 per month; normally it is $50 per month.
T-Mobile also makes a Mi-Fi Hotspot traveling device that I believe is $50 per month and I tried it also and it worked very well. I assume that Verizon and AT&T also have these traveling hotspot devices, but am not sure.
If you depend on having good Wi-Fi for remote work purposes, I do not believe these devices would work well enough for you.
Thanks,

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am open to trying almost anything as long as it doesn't cost a fortune!

[DogwoodLynx]

Originally Posted by lllkrob

First of all 5gb of hot spot data won't last very long if you do any streaming or WIFI data usage. As suggested check into a T-Mobile Home Internet plan for your area. It's inexpensive, usually fast, and unlimited.

Thanks. I will check it out.

[DogwoodLynx]

Originally Posted by Rob Hentges

I’d vote for starlink. Yes, more expensive but I have found it to be fast and reliable. It just simply works.

Thanks. I will definitely check it out. I know very little about WIFI options, and even less about StarLink other than people say it works great.

[DogwoodLynx]

Originally Posted by appsol

My first though is that you said you didn't see any reason to try the RV park upgrade, yet you didn't give any specifications about that they offer and how much per month. I would recommend you look into that first, since you are going to be there for some time and it would give you time to research other options once you move on.

We spend half the year at an RV park with free guest wifi that is fine for a short stay, but varies from 2-5mbs depending on how full the park is, and "Premium wifi". Premium costs $45 a month after a $150 equipment purchase or $55 a month renting the equipment. The speeds on that premium network are 60+ mbs down, 40+ mbs up most of the time, sometimes 50/30 at peak times. (The park has a direct fiber connection and has made a significant investment in the internal wifi network to support those speeds.)

We have 5G service with Visible (part of Verizon) that has unlimited data and tethering at 5mbs speed, with no limit for $35 a month (subject to prioritization at peak demand times) and that serves as our main connection when traveling, either through our router or direct tether. We also have a TMobile 4G hot spot that we can use if in an area with poor Verizon service, and I can change the data plan when needed.

I keep doing the numbers on Starlink, but can't justify it when we have half the year at good speeds for $45 a month. Several other seasonal residents here have Starlink and everyone I have talked with said it is great. If we were traveling all the time and had to have fast service then Starlink would be my choice.

Thanks for the reply. I will ask some of the long-term folks I have met to see if they use the park wifi. Anecdotally, there seems to be A LOT of personal WIFI connections in the park.

As for the park WIFI, the free one barely loads Outlook Email (at least for me?). I will set up the paid park WIFI and see if it works any better. It's not super expensive ($40 ish/month?) and I don't have to buy any equipment (that I am aware of).

I will try to post the numbers for the park WIFI for yall tomorrow.

Edit to add: I run a business from home that requires the ability to use Zoom.

Thanks for the help!

[DogwoodLynx]

Originally Posted by deckape

We have AT&T also . Unlimited phone and data . We have used the phone for our hot stop for 4 years now . If I have one bar it may buffer . We have a app that allows us to get our cable provider thru the phone . If I can not get over the air tv , I'll setup thru the app . Have a dongell to tv and no problems so far .

How much do you pay for just using AT&T (phone as hotspot) and how many GB do you use monthly?