RV Mobile Wifi Inquiry

[Yellowboat]

I have a Verizon smart phone with an unlimited data plan. I have downloaded the apt "FoxFi". FoxFi turns my smart phone into a "hot spot". FoxFi charges $10.00 to download a unlimited version. Otherwise FoxFi will have to be started when their trial version data max's out.

When my wife changed her phone recently the Version Store said that we use a lot of data, we just go back from our winter down south, so they said we will not change the unlimited data part of your plan.

Safe Travels.

JD

[amanda_h]

Originally Posted by Yellowboat

I have a Verizon smart phone with an unlimited data plan. I have downloaded the apt "FoxFi". FoxFi turns my smart phone into a "hot spot". FoxFi charges $10.00 to download a unlimited version. Otherwise FoxFi will have to be started when their trial version data max's out.

When my wife changed her phone recently the Version Store said that we use a lot of data, we just go back from our winter down south, so they said we will not change the unlimited data part of your plan.

Safe Travels.

JD

So you're grandfathered in, right? The problem is that anybody new wanting Verizon Wireless service is not going to be able to get any kind of "unlimited" data plan now whether it be on a smartphone plan or data card / mifi plan.

[mryman007]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but you may want to look into a Wilson amplifier system as well. If you get out into fringe service areas it helps quite a bit with signal. They have many types that will work for different applications. I opted for a unit that has a outside antenna, amplifier and indoor relay antenna.

http://www.wilsonamplifiers.com/

[tladouceur58]

Hubby and I are from Canada and travel all over the USA from October to April every year. Unfortunately, I use a lot of data because I still work while on the road. We also like to boondock a lot, so are not always in areas of great reception. Here is what we found works for our situation.
1. I unlocked my phone with telus and purchased a family mobile sim card from walmart with their $45 per month unlimited plan. This is on AT&T
2. I have a Wilsons celllular booster that allows me to pick up cell service in fringe areas and I can then tether my cell phone for use as a modem.
3. In areas where AT&T is not covered, but where I can get T-Mobile, I have a stick that costs me $10 per month and gives me unlimited data. Because it works over the cellular network, my wilson booster helps with this in fringe areas as well.
4. I also have a wi-fi booster that plugs directly into my laptop and will pick up free wi-fi signals for several miles away. I have used this while boondocking outside of Quartzite and been able to pull in the free McDonalds signal from the town as well as several unlocked signals. I also have a small app on my laptop called "connectify" that allows me to turn my laptop into a hotspot so I can then connect my cell phone or kindle.
5. When in services campgrounds, my laptop itself has no problem bringing in a signal and if it is not strong, then the wi-fi booster amplifies it to my needs.

I had to go this route because even though my canadian carrier, Telus, has a USA travel package for ONLY $100 per month, it only gives me 100mb, which I can blow through in one day. My first two weeks across the border before picking up my new sim card cost me over $700!!!!!. I would have loved to just get a Verizon sim card for my phone, but sadly they do not have any packages for us snow birds. I need a USA address in order to get hooked up.

The options I have are the best I have found after trying several and getting rid of bits and pieces that just didn't work. Hopefully, as technology continues to change, coverage increases and prices decrease, I will be able to eventually get it down to just my Samsung Galaxy Note for both cell and hotspot EVERYWHERE I happen to be, but for now, at least I am online when I need to be with my collection of "gadgets" as my non-techy husband calls it.

[2Labs]

Originally Posted by amanda_h

So you're grandfathered in, right? The problem is that anybody new wanting Verizon Wireless service is not going to be able to get any kind of "unlimited" data plan now whether it be on a smartphone plan or data card / mifi plan.

Both the DW and I are grandfathered into our unlimited data plans on Verizon. I actually "forced" the DW to upgrade her from phone a "regular" phone to a smartphone a week before Verizon dropped the unlimited plan.

So sure ... users like us are grandfathered in - at least for now until they change the "rules" - *but* if we want to upgrade our phones we have to pay the full price for the phone if we want to keep the unlimited plan. We can't take advantage of any discounted upgrades. That means an average upgrade to a newer smartphone will cost about $600-$700 each! Then add in all the accessories like extra batteries, desktop charger stands, etc. It could cost in the neighborhood of $1800 to upgrade our phones.

It's a good thing that we don't feel the need to have the newest, biggest, coolest new phones when they come out.

[MSGulfCoast]

Another option is Internet to go from Walmart. Think it uses Sprint towers but not certain. I've only had it a short time but it worked at my Dad's house where AT&T basically doesn't. Costs $80 for the hardware then you add data. Think it was $25 for 1.5gb with no expiration. Just refill as needed. Probably not an option if you have high data usage but for email and FB it works. It's only 3G though.

[amanda_h]

Originally Posted by MSGulfCoast

Another option is Internet to go from Walmart. Think it uses Sprint towers but not certain. I've only had it a short time but it worked at my Dad's house where AT&T basically doesn't. Costs $80 for the hardware then you add data. Think it was $25 for 1.5gb with no expiration. Just refill as needed. Probably not an option if you have high data usage but for email and FB it works. It's only 3G though.

The only problem with that is if using Spring towers, it's not a good option for RVers as the Sprint coverage for their native data network is terrible compared to Verizon. And, it's only 3G where if you subscribe to Millenicom or go through Verizon directly (pretty expensive doing that), you get 4G LTE in areas that it is available or 3G where no 4G LTE available. 4G LTE is horrendously faster than Sprint's 3G.

But it does sound good for those who might have known destinations where there is good Sprint coverage and they only need the occasional internet connection.

[amanda_h]

Originally Posted by 2Labs

Both the DW and I are grandfathered into our unlimited data plans on Verizon. I actually "forced" the DW to upgrade her from phone a "regular" phone to a smartphone a week before Verizon dropped the unlimited plan.

So sure ... users like us are grandfathered in - at least for now until they change the "rules" - *but* if we want to upgrade our phones we have to pay the full price for the phone if we want to keep the unlimited plan. We can't take advantage of any discounted upgrades. That means an average upgrade to a newer smartphone will cost about $600-$700 each! Then add in all the accessories like extra batteries, desktop charger stands, etc. It could cost in the neighborhood of $1800 to upgrade our phones.

It's a good thing that we don't feel the need to have the newest, biggest, coolest new phones when they come out.

$1,800? Wow! ...is all I can say.

[Libero]

Originally Posted by tladouceur58

Hubby and I are from Canada and travel all over the USA from October to April every year. Unfortunately, I use a lot of data because I still work while on the road. We also like to boondock a lot, so are not always in areas of great reception. Here is what we found works for our situation.
1. I unlocked my phone with telus and purchased a family mobile sim card from walmart with their $45 per month unlimited plan. This is on AT&T
2. I have a Wilsons celllular booster that allows me to pick up cell service in fringe areas and I can then tether my cell phone for use as a modem.
3. In areas where AT&T is not covered, but where I can get T-Mobile, I have a stick that costs me $10 per month and gives me unlimited data. Because it works over the cellular network, my wilson booster helps with this in fringe areas as well.
4. I also have a wi-fi booster that plugs directly into my laptop and will pick up free wi-fi signals for several miles away. I have used this while boondocking outside of Quartzite and been able to pull in the free McDonalds signal from the town as well as several unlocked signals. I also have a small app on my laptop called "connectify" that allows me to turn my laptop into a hotspot so I can then connect my cell phone or kindle.
5. When in services campgrounds, my laptop itself has no problem bringing in a signal and if it is not strong, then the wi-fi booster amplifies it to my needs.

I had to go this route because even though my canadian carrier, Telus, has a USA travel package for ONLY $100 per month, it only gives me 100mb, which I can blow through in one day. My first two weeks across the border before picking up my new sim card cost me over $700!!!!!. I would have loved to just get a Verizon sim card for my phone, but sadly they do not have any packages for us snow birds. I need a USA address in order to get hooked up.

The options I have are the best I have found after trying several and getting rid of bits and pieces that just didn't work. Hopefully, as technology continues to change, coverage increases and prices decrease, I will be able to eventually get it down to just my Samsung Galaxy Note for both cell and hotspot EVERYWHERE I happen to be, but for now, at least I am online when I need to be with my collection of "gadgets" as my non-techy husband calls it.

Sounds like you have all the bases covered but don't expect to get a Verizon sim card unless Verizon changes its network. Verizon uses CDMA technology hence no sim card.

What is the make & model number of your WiFi booster that allows you to receive and use a WiFi signal several miles away? I presume this booster plugs into your Laptop USB port and with the use of "connectivity" you use the internal laptop WiFi as if it was wireless router. Is this correct?

I am interested in adding this capability so I might be able to cut my heavy TV and monthy communication service charges. Spend >$500 per mo now without any additional data, voice or roaming surcharges. Thinking of options to trim that down a bit or at least provide me with an alternate communication capability.

I got rid of my outdated Satphone which brought the cost down a bit. When I did a lot of global travel my Satcom bill alone was often >$2k per mon. Don't do global travel now but occasionally miss my Satphone but I am not planning to get another one. High speed data on the road is what I want now.

Thanks

[PyrateSilly]

Here's all the information I have on internet/intranet options for traveling:
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-in-touch-internet.shtml
http://www.jackdanmayer.com/communication.htm
http://www.internetanywhere.us/home.html
http://www.mobileinternetsatellite.com/Index.html?expandable=0
http://www.rv-satellite-internet.com/Choose_a_Satellite_Internet_Provider.html
http://www.highspeedsat.com/
http://www.datastormusers.com/rvsatinternet.cfm – MotoSat is now closed, but there is still information available
http://www.bigrigcentral.com/big-rig-satellite.html
http://dmbruss.com/zFullTimeLifeStyle/FTLS_StayingConnected.htm
http://www.exede.com/ - Thom called and several people on the phone said yes they are now doing RV and mobile satellite internet. Other's have emailed them and they emailed back with no so double check …....
http://www.autonetmobile.com/
http://millenicom.com/ and/or http://www.dslreports.com/forum/millenicom
http://www.groundcontrol.com/ - expensive but supposed to be the best

[2Labs]

Originally Posted by amanda_h

$1,800? Wow! ...is all I can say.

Yeah me too!

Just running some quick numbers ...

A new Samsung Galaxy S4 is $649.99 bought outright, which is what we would have to do to keep our unlimited plan. So for two new S4's we're looking at just under $1,400.

We like the convenience of a charging stand for our phones, especially as we both use them as our alarm clocks - plus I keep one on my desk. So replacing our 3 charging stands is about another $300.

Then if we want a model specific mount for the dashboard, probably another $50 - $100

So yeah, the costs do add up fast!

I don't think it's right that Verizon will force us out of our plan if we want to use the upgrade discount. We've been Verizon customers for almost 8 years on a 4 line family plan. That's a pretty significant amount of revenue that they have, and continue to receive from us - but there is really not much we can do.

[docj]

Originally Posted by 2Labs

Yeah me too!

Just running some quick numbers ...

A new Samsung Galaxy S4 is $649.99 bought outright, which is what we would have to do to keep our unlimited plan. So for two new S4's we're looking at just under $1,400.

We like the convenience of a charging stand for our phones, especially as we both use them as our alarm clocks - plus I keep one on my desk. So replacing our 3 charging stands is about another $300.

Then if we want a model specific mount for the dashboard, probably another $50 - $100

So yeah, the costs do add up fast!

I don't think it's right that Verizon will force us out of our plan if we want to use the upgrade discount. We've been Verizon customers for almost 8 years on a 4 line family plan. That's a pretty significant amount of revenue that they have, and continue to receive from us - but there is really not much we can do.

Costs are always relative to the alternatives. We're full-timers and enjoy streaming video on Netflix. We've probably used 25-30 GB in the last month alone. If we were on a fixed data plan we couldn't afford to use that much. The cost of new phones in a year or two will seem small by comparison. Everything depends on one's perspective.

BTW we used to use the phones in cradles as alarm clocks, also. That is until we got sick of middle of the night updates with their accompanying "Droid" waking us up. Now we have $5 alarm clocks which make no noise and all the phones need are USB chargers which are a heck of a lot cheaper than cradles, anyway.