Community Forums

WFretz · 09-23-2020, 12:38 PM

Has anyone tried using a Roku from a cellular hotspot?

**Spdracr39** · 09-23-2020, 12:50 PM

Works fine if you have a decent connection and plenty of data.

ClassAboater · 09-23-2020, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spdracr39

Works fine if you have a decent connection and plenty of data.

I agree. It works great. But, it is a data HOG that will eat up your monthly cellular data allotment with just a handful of steamed movies.

Since we use our cell hotspot data for work, it is mostly a no go for us to stream anything to the TV until close to the end of the billing cycle if we have a few MB still available.

docj · 09-23-2020, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClassAboater

I agree. It works great. But, it is a data HOG that will eat up your monthly cellular data allotment with just a handful of steamed movies.

Since we use our cell hotspot data for work, it is mostly a no go for us to stream anything to the TV until close to the end of the billing cycle if we have a few MB still available.

You're making an unjustified assumption that everyone has a cellular hotspot with a limited data allowance. Even a connection as inexpensive as Visible is unlimited, although it is network managed.

Camper25 · 09-23-2020, 02:49 PM

My unlimited Visible and Roku is all I need.

sibe · 09-23-2020, 03:02 PM

I havea 32 tcl with roku in RV, and visible on recommended on this site, router..

I have had stuff like tubi, netflix running all day while i remodels the inside or just go in to tinker.. I used it a few weeks ago from a wednesday morning till sunday.. i reset useage and had gone thru about 13gig .. had great signal, it buffered around 7-9 friday nite a bit,, then is was fine..

setting here at my house 5pm est visible, speed test 85dl/28up.. I then tethered usb to my router. connected with laptop. 68dl / 23 up.... close enough for me..

egwilly · 09-23-2020, 03:24 PM

From Visible website:

*In times of traffic, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffic.
**WiFi calling available on select devices.
+Mobile hotspot speeds capped at 5 Mbps and limited to one tethered device at a time.

Is 5 Mbps enough for good streaming? How do you get around the one device issue??

Full disclosure: we don't use our hotspot since we have satellite. Curious about this though.

Phil G. · 09-23-2020, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camper25

My unlimited Visible and Roku is all I need.

It may be "unlimited" with respect to AMOUNT of data - but where is the limit before Visible throttles the SPEED down such that movies buffer all the time so as to be just about unviewable?

Those unlimited plans are very misleading, IMHO. What's needed is great download speeds combined with huge data limits so one can stream movies clearly and smoothly, hour after hour, day after day - just like our home Internet access allows. And ... those plans have to be affordable by mere mortals ... just like our home Internet plan is.

Camper25 · 09-23-2020, 04:06 PM

My Visible works fine... I don't need any better.

A positive attitude helps....

WFretz · 09-23-2020, 04:06 PM

I'm not interested in using the Roku all the time, as my traveling at the moment is limited to transporting the parents to and from Florida. So I'd only be using it for a couple hours for like 3 nights max....

Interesting... I have two of these units laying around that we bought for the house and never used, so will give it a run! Thanks for the input all!

docj · 09-23-2020, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WFretz

Interesting... I have two of these units laying around that we bought for the house and never used, so will give it a run! Thanks for the input all!

If your Rokus are a couple of years old, I would strongly suggest getting a newer one. They're inexpensive and the technology has improved over the past several years.

crb478 · 09-23-2020, 06:30 PM

I have 2 Roku TV's and use a visible hotspot with the recommended router on this site and have streamed both TV's and run a laptop with no problems. As long as I have a decent signal it works fine. It has buffered before but not often. Getting a decent signal is the only real problem. Otherwise it works as advertised.

sibe · 09-25-2020, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crb478

I have 2 Roku TV's and use a visible hotspot with the recommended router on this site and have streamed both TV's and run a laptop with no problems. As long as I have a decent signal it works fine. It has buffered before but not often. Getting a decent signal is the only real problem. Otherwise it works as advertised.

here here...

I have the Visible, usb tethered to the ALR router as mentioned in the long visible post..
I have no issue with any speed caps.. if you use the phone as the hotspot the connected device will be limted to 5..

I am curently testing a mikrotik LTE/AP/router with visible sim.. so far it is great in town but not in rural since the unit i got does not support band13 that verizon uses in area.. BUT I have another carrier that fills my needs in other spots when rural..

Roku works fine as a firestick and M8s boxes

**Spdracr39** · 09-25-2020, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil G.

It may be "unlimited" with respect to AMOUNT of data - but where is the limit before Visible throttles the SPEED down such that movies buffer all the time so as to be just about unviewable?

Those unlimited plans are very misleading, IMHO. What's needed is great download speeds combined with huge data limits so one can stream movies clearly and smoothly, hour after hour, day after day - just like our home Internet access allows. And ... those plans have to be affordable by mere mortals ... just like our home Internet plan is.

The visible plan is unlimited as to the amount of data you consume and the speed is NOT throttled based on that amount. The throttle that is advertised is for hot spot use as you are supposed to be throttled to 5 mbps but I have yet to find that to be the case. The real issue is the network management that can kick in in congested times. I occasionally experience this but maybe only once or twice a week for a couple of hours. 5Mbps is plenty to stream on the Roku but I wouldn't try to play Call of Duty at the same time. Visible is one of the few current plans offering truly unlimited service and while it isn't ideal by any means it is the best value out there right now IMO but like all carriers it's all about location.