RV mobile WIFI or Satellite

[Jshopes81]

First i want to say thanks for the input.

My wife loves her youtube tv. Im reluctant to part with something like dish or cable, but, well see. I guess ill give my mobile provider a talk to about their unlimited packages. I cant see it being much more than what we have now, with the only restriction being the hotspot.

Thanks again for the input

[chiefneon]

Originally Posted by TriMoot

Hmmm, I’m very interested in this...FMCA and t-mobile plan...care to expound?

We are currently with t-mobile and paying for the extra data but it’s gone at two movies. Also have the visible setup (found here on IRV2) but have no signal on it or my Verizon work phone. Really need help in figuring things out.

TIA

Howdy!

Here is the link to the FMCA Sprint data plan.

https://www.fmca.com/index.php?optio...ctv2&view=home

“Happy Trails”
Chiefneon

[Brad2018]

Just saw an article about new Verizon hotspot plans. I just confirmed that all of the plans now work with the Winegard Connect. Just last week I was looking at adding a hostpot for an upcoming trip and there was only a 20GB option. Now they have four plans and the first two have a half-off option with certain cell phone plans.

[BillJinOR]

Yes the news yesterday was Verizon coming out with as much as 150GB hotpot only plans for $110 stand-alone or some plans cheaper if you have certain phone plans with them already. Still more expensive than att or T-Mobile but nice to see
Att and T-Mobile have recently brought out 100GB data only hotspot plans for around 50 bucks . Finally , the big 3 are offering at least some reasonable pricing for “data only hotspot”usage with enough GB for average non heavy user.

[FlaRider]

Originally Posted by davo54

A couple of months ago we signed up for the FMCA hotspot. They're shipping Inseego m2000 5g hotspot and it is fast. They're still saying it's the Sprint network but it's the TMobile 5g network. Truly unlimited, we're on track to use 2000 gb of data this month and it's never been throttled. We have a Chromecast attached to each tv for streaming Netflix and YouTubetv. $50 month for wifi.

Does anyone know if there is a way to get the new FMCA hotspot. When did FMCA upgrade to the 5G? I got mine about 6 months ago and it is 4G (Mifi 8000)

[davo54]

Contact FMCA and ask about getting the new 5g hotspot. You may have to end up cancelling the service and rejoining. Their website still shows 4g hotspot so I'm assuming the change to 5g is somewhat recent.

[TriMoot]

Originally Posted by davo54

Contact FMCA and ask about getting the new 5g hotspot. You may have to end up cancelling the service and rejoining. Their website still shows 4g hotspot so I'm assuming the change to 5g is somewhat recent.

So I called both FMCA and T-Mobile as I have an account with them. Here's what I understand.

FMCA:
The new Inseego 5G MiFi M2000 is available (He thinks...Surprised he wasn't 100% sure.) and it's $39.99 one time charge 'rental fee' and then $49.99 per month. You can pause the account and only pay $13.99. (I neglected to write down how long you can pause it). I also neglected to confirm what the data cap is or what speed the data cap speed is, 3G or 4G.

T-Mobile:
They have the same device, and if you have an account there's no charge for the device (hold on..there's a catch). It's $50.00 a month plus tax. (Unlike our current deal on our phones which is a flat $30 a month, no tax or fees).
They will NOT allow you to pause the service. After two years, then you can. If you cancel before the two years, then you have to pay the rest of the balance for the year. Yes...go ahead and say what I said..WHAT?!!! There is a cap at 100GB per month, and then you get slowed to 4G speeds. (Not 3G, so that's good).

BUT..if I go with FMCA then I have the $60 a year (1st year, and $50 afterwards) that I have to pay, although I know, you get other discounts, tires, etc.

BTW: I asked about tires discounts as we'll be needing them soon.
Low end Michelin, you save $67 per tire, high end, $83 per tire...eh..I was hoping for better!

Sooooo, for us, since we have free (included in the HOA's) 5G when were in Florida for 5 months, pausing it seems like a good idea. Otherwise we're paying T-Mobile $250 for those 5 months for nothing.

I might call FMCA back and verify the data cap info. (dang too late..already closed)

Here's a review on the device: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/t-mobi...-5g-mifi-m2000

[docj]

Originally Posted by TriMoot

So I called both FMCA and T-Mobile as I have an account with them. Here's what I understand.

FMCA:
The new Inseego 5G MiFi M2000 is available (He thinks...Surprised he wasn't 100% sure.) and it's $39.99 one time charge 'rental fee' and then $49.99 per month. You can pause the account and only pay $13.99. (I neglected to write down how long you can pause it). I also neglected to confirm what the data cap is or what speed the data cap speed is, 3G or 4G.

T-Mobile:
They have the same device, and if you have an account there's no charge for the device (hold on..there's a catch). It's $50.00 a month plus tax. (Unlike our current deal on our phones which is a flat $30 a month, no tax or fees).
They will NOT allow you to pause the service. After two years, then you can. If you cancel before the two years, then you have to pay the rest of the balance for the year. Yes...go ahead and say what I said..WHAT?!!! There is a cap at 100GB per month, and then you get slowed to 4G speeds. (Not 3G, so that's good).

BUT..if I go with FMCA then I have the $60 a year (1st year, and $50 afterwards) that I have to pay, although I know, you get other discounts, tires, etc.

BTW: I asked about tires discounts as we'll be needing them soon.
Low end Michelin, you save $67 per tire, high end, $83 per tire...eh..I was hoping for better!

Sooooo, for us, since we have free (included in the HOA's) 5G when were in Florida for 5 months, pausing it seems like a good idea. Otherwise we're paying T-Mobile $250 for those 5 months for nothing.

I might call FMCA back and verify the data cap info. (dang too late..already closed)

Did you ask if the FMCA Sprint customers get the use of the same T-Mobile bands as do the T-Mobile customers? That's not something you can automatically assume. Sprint customers have the use of T-Mobile towers but it's not clear that they have full access to the network.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

I contacted FMCA regarding the new MiFi they are offering that is 5G. They advised me that since I have had my MiFi for over a year I am do a upgrade. They shipped me a new MiFi hotspot on Tuesday and I received a new Inseego 5G hotspot today. It was already setup just trun it on and was goo to go. Unknown how good it will perform as to I’m in a low signal area. As to docj question regarding T-mobile when ever I have ran a speed test on they previous FMCA Sprint hotspot it always shows connecting to T-mobile during the test.

“Happy Trails”
Chiefneon

[docj]

Originally Posted by chiefneon

As to docj question regarding T-mobile when ever I have ran a speed test on they previous FMCA Sprint hotspot it always shows connecting to T-mobile during the test.

Unfortunately, your observations don't answer my question. Of course, the Sprint hotspot would show that it was connecting to T-Mobile because Sprint, essentially, no longer exists.

My question related to whether or not the T-Mobile bands you are allowed to use are the same ones that you would use if the plan was a T-Mobile plan rather than a Sprint one.

[MemByTheMile]

Originally Posted by docj

Unfortunately, your observations don't answer my question. Of course, the Sprint hotspot would show that it was connecting to T-Mobile because Sprint, essentially, no longer exists.

My question related to whether or not the T-Mobile bands you are allowed to use are the same ones that you would use if the plan was a T-Mobile plan rather than a Sprint one.

I had the prior FMCA/Sprint MiFi 8000 hotspot and in our current location the signal strength and speeds were horrible. Had a yagi antenna attached, which helped to get a marginal signal. With the Yagi could get avg speeds of 8-10Mbps down and 2.5 Mbps up. That was on bands 25, 26 (hotspot could use band 41 but that band is not typically in the areas we like to visit and has shorter ranges).

In the past couple weeks we received the new MiFi 2000 hot spot. In the same exact location (rig hasn’t moved) the new hotspot (with NO yagi antenna) averages around 90 Mbps down and 4 Mbps up. Obviously night and day difference to the old hotspot.

Haven’t checked which bands it is using, but it is definitely picking up some closer towers that aren’t the bands 25, 26 and 41 that the old hotspot was restricted using.

Can’t recommend the FMCA plan enough. We use somewhere between 200 to 400 Gb a month on the old hotspot. On the new one, we are using it more for streaming as the speeds are sooo much better. Expect that we will be closer to 800+Gb a month.

[Camper25]

I gave up the FMCA plan and went with the cheaper Calyx Institute plan. I don't need 5G speeds, so I choose the $400 a year plan, which averages $33 a month for real 4G unlimited data. It works great for me... I'm streaming all the data I need.

[davo54]

We've had our satellite parked since receiving the FMCA 5G hotspot 2 months ago. It has been flawless for streaming. We are currently just West of Houston and I've tested speeds as fast as 271 Mbps download and 48 Mbps upload. If it works this well everywhere during our next few months of travels, I'll take the satellite off the roof and seal the holes. Just a side note, this hotspot will not connect the Microair Easy touch thermostat to the internet. Microair is aware of the problem and have some suggested settings changes to try in the MIFI but nothing has worked for me. Everything else connects to the MIFI just fine.

[TriMoot]

Well I just joined FMCA and ordered the Sprint Hot Spot. I then contacted FMCA via their chat utility to confirm that I was going to get the M2000, and the chat person said I'd be getting the 8000!!! I said NO! I don't want that. Then the chat window went dead. I waited for about 10 minutes and then asked if there was a phone number, they finally replied with it and I called.

Very nice lady answered and then IM'd the support people who came back and said the M2000's had been back ordered but he was 92% sure I'd be getting the one. Hmmm...I guess we'll see!

I wished I had ordered this sooner as I doubt I'll get it before the weekend.

We're in a spot where there is NO Verizon and my T-Mobile speeds used to be 70 Megs, now down to 5 or 8 Megs, so I'm hoping this will help.

Fingers crossed and I'll report back with what transpires.

So now to look at the other benefits from FMCA. I know I need new tires but not sure I want Michelin and they don't give discounts on Toyo's....bummer.

Stay tuned!