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04-04-2013, 05:23 AM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
2000 36' Land Yacht XC Diesel
Gaffney
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 254
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Campground w/no Internet
What options have you found to provide good, stable, cost-effective internet at the campground? We homeschool via internet.
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04-04-2013, 05:36 AM
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#2
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JourneytoRet
What options have you found to provide good, stable, cost-effective internet at the campground? We homeschool via internet.
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As long as you've got cell phone coverage, you can get Internet through wireless broadband.
Since I haven't upgraded to a smart-phone yet, I use a 4G Verizon MiFi 4510L, which can act as a hub for up to five devices at once. Though if you're in a 3G coverage area, and you've got more than one device connected at a time, it's ALMOST as slow as most campground WiFi connections.
Since everything is wireless, I can even carry the MiFi in a shirt pocket if I want to use my computer or tablet at the picnic table.
Most smartphones are also capable of serving as WiFi hubs all by themselves; you just have to pair a laptop or WiFi tablet to the phone. One of my coworkers does exactly that when she travels.
As for cost-effective, you'll have to shop around for the best plan that fits your needs, but even if it's expensive, what's the value of an education?
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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04-04-2013, 07:25 AM
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#4
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
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We run an internet business and depend on internet access. We use our smartphones as a hot spot for our notebooks. You can get this service through your cellphone carrier, or possibly access it through pda.net (Foxfi). We have found that the speed of these connections are sufficient for our business needs.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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04-04-2013, 07:58 AM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
2005 31' Classic
2005 31' Classic
Douglass
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 91
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Sprint 3G "Air Card". $59.00 a month, for 5 Gig. Works great for 1.
__________________
James Rudd
2001 25' Safari
2003 Dodge 2500
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04-04-2013, 07:59 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2011 31' Classic
Nellysford
, Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,067
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VirginMobile MiFi 2200 if near a Sprint network tower; Verizon MiFi or iPhone hotspot if near Verizon service area. Both have worked flawlessly for us for years, even before we got our AS. Brian is right, it works just fine for most things, video viewing is slow.
__________________
Greg Heuer, Spirit of Virginia Airstream Club
2011 31' Classic Ltd. - The Silver Otter III
2013 GMC Denali 2500HD 6.6 DuraMax - Sierra Blanca
TAC VA-18 | Life Mbr ACI 1927 - Spirit of Virginia Club | AIR 53869
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04-04-2013, 08:59 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Verizon Mi Fi with the $50 a month 5 GB plan. Works very very well, in virtually all places even obscure NF campgrounds in Montana. If you can get Cell, you can get net with it. Verizon has the best coverage.
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04-04-2013, 09:19 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2010 25' FB Flying Cloud
Currently Looking...
Laramie
, Wyoming
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 829
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We added a Wilson Sleek 4G "V" for Verizon which allows use of our MiFi in remote areas.
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Antique Pedaler
2021 Caravel 20 FB
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04-04-2013, 09:21 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idroba
Verizon Mi Fi with the $50 a month 5 GB plan. Works very very well, in virtually all places even obscure NF campgrounds in Montana. If you can get Cell, you can get net with it. Verizon has the best coverage.
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We have also found Verizon to work almost everywhere.
Another one to look at is Millenicom which uses the verizon network. Might be a bit cheaper if you use more than 5 GB a month, no contract.
The general consensus on various RV forums is that Verizon offers the best coverage in more remote areas. ( Sprint and ATT won't even work where I live)
Your mileage may vary
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles
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04-04-2013, 10:49 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
2000 36' Land Yacht XC Diesel
Gaffney
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 254
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Gonna try the Verizon hotspot and will report how well that works for anyone that's interested.
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04-04-2013, 11:56 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2015 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2013 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2012 20' Flying Cloud
Small Town
, *** Big Sky Country ***Western Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,860
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The limiting factor for us accessing IN via cell is the Montana mountains that prevent cell signals getting through ... flat land is just fine, however.
__________________
2015 25' Eddie Bauer Int'l FBQ / 2023 Ford Lightning ER
2022 Ford F350 6.2 V-8; equalizer hitch + Shocker air hitch
Honda Eu3200; AIR# 44105; formerly WBCCI 2015.1
Terminal Aluminitis; 2-people w/ 3+ dogs
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04-04-2013, 12:07 PM
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#12
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,401
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I'm using the Verizon 4620L which is their latest 4G product. What is significant about this unit from the previous units they sell or sold it that it is more powerful in that it can supply signal to a 100 ft radius. Previous units were rated for 30 ft. The other side is that it can drive up to 10 devices vs. 5 on most others. There is an after market battery for this unit that is reported to support 8 hours of battery time. Cost for this unit is the same as the older units out there.
The biggest issue I deal with is the fact that the cellular reception inside the trailer is always limited by the trailer itself. On the other hand if the unit is outside the trailer, and with its stronger Wi-Fi power, service inside to my Wi-Fi devices is very good.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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04-04-2013, 04:23 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Hampton
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,126
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Previously my wife and I kept separate coverage on our cell phones, hers on Verizon and mine on AT&T, so that at least one of us would have coverage. Turns out one of us always had coverage - hers. So we switched everything over to Verizon.
We now share a plan on Verizon, can use the MiFi we have for internet, although we could also use one of our iPads. Works great, have unlimited phone and 10 Gigs data. Both of us work from home so just need a phone and internet; this setup so far has worked great when we have worked from the road. Well, as good as working from the road can get!
BTW, there is an external antenna for the MiFi, but so far have not needed to use it.
__________________
Brad (The Slowsky's)
2019 Airstream Classic 30RBT, 2021 Ford F350 King Ranch 4X4 w/6.7L Diesel, Hensley, ACI #1313
travelwiththeslowskys.com
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04-05-2013, 04:47 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,214
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I still have an older MiFi on Verizon with an unlimted data plan. Information does appear at 3G speeds.
__________________
WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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04-05-2013, 05:16 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by switz
I still have an older MiFi on Verizon with an unlimted data plan. Information does appear at 3G speeds.
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I had the same "unlimited" plan with a USB 720 air card, but Verizon unilaterally eliminated the unlimited plan and made it a 5 GB a month maximum. Not only you can't get the unlimited plans any more, but they took them away from those of us who had them. They did it sometime last summer. You may just be operating under the 5GB limit so have had no reason to suspect it. But they did announce it in all of their literature and billing. BTW, they did reduce the cost by $10 a month for 5 GB of data.
You say, they can't do that: well, they did.
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04-05-2013, 06:53 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,214
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Sorry to disagree. My MiFi unit is still on an unlimited plan as I purchased it outright at the time of acquiring it. The current bill shows that this unit has the unlimited data plan. The monthly charge has stayed $59.95 plus taxes and fees sinc the beginning.
__________________
WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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04-06-2013, 05:52 AM
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#17
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idroba
I had the same "unlimited" plan with a USB 720 air card, but Verizon unilaterally eliminated the unlimited plan and made it a 5 GB a month maximum. Not only you can't get the unlimited plans any more, but they took them away from those of us who had them. They did it sometime last summer. You may just be operating under the 5GB limit so have had no reason to suspect it. But they did announce it in all of their literature and billing. BTW, they did reduce the cost by $10 a month for 5 GB of data.
You say, they can't do that: well, they did.
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If you upgrade your equipment, they do away with the unlimited data. As long as you keep using the old equipment, they don't. At least, that's how it worked with me. I kept using the old USB air card until it died, and had no choice but to upgrade the equipment.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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04-06-2013, 06:39 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1968 24' Tradewind
Rural, blink and you'll miss it
, Missouri
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 692
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Thanks for the info. I have an old AT&T unlimited plan. Transferred over to my iphone UNTIL I tried to make it a mobile wifi hotspot. Then AT&T wanted me to change to a 5gb plan. I declined, told them I would shop around. They told me that no one had a plan like I wanted/expected. I will have to make a change before June. Exploring my options.
__________________
Not knowing enough to be afraid... (I know more than I did, but I did it anyway!)
Eljay
1968 Tradewind Double.
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04-07-2013, 10:30 AM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
2006 16' International CCD
Salt Lake City
, Utah
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eljay
Thanks for the info. I have an old AT&T unlimited plan. Transferred over to my iphone UNTIL I tried to make it a mobile wifi hotspot. Then AT&T wanted me to change to a 5gb plan. I declined, told them I would shop around. They told me that no one had a plan like I wanted/expected. I will have to make a change before June. Exploring my options.
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If you can get the coverage, check out Sprint. I believe they still offer a true unlimited plan.
Stan
Salt Lake City
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Stan
Salt Lake City
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04-07-2013, 11:29 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Well, Verizon told me that they had eliminated the unlimited plan when I still was using the USB 720 I had. They said I could still pay them the $60 a month, but any usage over 5 GB would cost extra. And they also said they would change me to a $50 a month 5 GB plan so why would I want to pay $60 for what I could get for $50? I am only going on what they told me, and sent me letters on.
Then my USB 720 died and I got the MiFi, still on the $50 / 5 GB plan.
So, try going over 5 GB and see if they charge you, or reduce your speeds to a crawl. That is another way they force you to a different plan, automatic speed reduction.
And sometimes it is hard to get a good picture of what they are doing, not just Verizon but any of the companies. I still like my Verizon but did not like the plan changes that I was forced to make.
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