Using your phone's HOTSPOT for internet use

[Pepper2]

We are getting ready to travel full time. I have been looking at Mobley devices (if you can find one) for a daily internet connection. I will probably only use it for an hour a day to pay bills and banking. Cost is inexpensive even if you choose not to sign a 2 year contract. But wouldn't using your HOTSPOT on your phone do the same?
A little guidance from you Guru's on this would be appreciated.

[BFlinn181]

Using your phone as a hot spot is fine unless you have a limited amount of data in your plan. If you have unlimited data, go for it!

[twinboat]

I have been using my hotspot for internet use for about 6 years.

It's all we have.

[docj]

Phone hotspots do work fine but some cellular companies (Verizon for one) have established hard limits for hotspot data usage. Many people would have difficulty living with a 10GB monthly data limit for hotspots even with a so-called unlimited plan.

The use of a Mobley avoids any hotspot limit, even though it is still subject to a 22GB soft limit in case of congestion on your local tower. But, in most cases this isn't a problem.

[les.warden]

Yep. If you stay within your phone data limits, same thing. We use(d) our Verizon iPhones that very way....when we could get Verizon cell coverage. Have a Mobley now so will use that mainly and when no ATT signal, will revert to Verizon. But yea, you can save $20/mo and stick with the phones.

[Pepper2]

Our plan is 5 GB. Still doable using it an hour a day? While wintering in the RGV this winter we will look into local internet service.

[MSHappyCampers]

I think you will find that using your phone as a hotspot will be far more expensive, unless you use a lot less data than most of us!

[Podivin]

How LONG you use it each day doesn't matter at all (within reason, of course).
What matters is what you're doing in that hour.
Streaming movies, you'll blow though your 5GB plan long before the month is out.
Doing some banking and checking email, and maybe some IRV2 - you should be fine, but you'll still need to watch your data usage throught the month.
Verizon has an app (it's probably already on your phone) where you can see how much data you've used 'this month'.
Using an ad blocker in your browser will help keep the data usage down, some of those ads really suck up bandwidth.

[THenman]

One additional problem with phone as hot spot for us was wife could not use if I was away from coach. (Only my phone has hot spot from ATT hers is not activated.)

Tom

[redcolorado]

We have the Verizon 12 gig shared plan with rollover. When home in the S&B we use very little data. When we leave for a trip we usually have 20+ gigs available. Works for us so far but I am looking for a Mobley for a 2 month trip next year. When I get the Mobley I will cut Verizon to 2 gigs shared, that will save $20 a month. And with the Mobley, if it works out, I can get rid of the internet connection in the S&B, that will save $90 a month.

[MisterT]

we have 4 phones and switched to the new ATT Unlimited Plus plan before heading to Alaska the first of June - it was VERY nice not being the least concerned about our data - we have two teens and we used 350gb in June and just as much in July... with a majority of that thru our phone hotspots to our computers(2 desktops, a Laptop, and a tablet), including email, websites, uTube, and streaming movies - we never noticed any slow down or limit to any hot spot usage.
It was very nice not having to turn to our WifiRanger or 'walmart' wifi type sources, as long as we had an ATT or carrier partner(Canada) signal - which is very broad in the populated provinces of southern CA, a large part of the main roads in Alaska, and the majority of the US.

We may even decide to never go back to 'wire based' cable or fiber internet anymore...

[F4Gary]

My Verizon limits are 23gigs on each phone or 10 gigs for hot spots. My Verizon guy told me that when I hit those limits, I'm not cut off or charged more, I am just a lower priority than someone who hasn't. So I may see no difference if there is "room" on the cell tower (simplifying). Just depends on who or how many are using their Verizon data at that time.

[Waiter21]

We have Verizon, I normally carry the smallest data plan they offer, 6 gig. Before we hit the road, I'd upgraded my plan to one of the biggest plans they offer, 50 gig.

I just signed onto Mobley and will try that. What I save in two months on my Verizon account will pay for an entire year on Mobley.

[les.warden]

Originally Posted by redcolorado

And with the Mobley, if it works out, I can get rid of the internet connection in the S&B, that will save $90 a month.

Remember the Mobley has 5 connection limit.