wip
Manhattan Kansas
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RV Student wrote:Hi, is anyone currently using Sprint for their 3 or 4G services? I'd be interested in your feedback. I have used the virgin 3G, $10 at a time USB dongle, and it's worked well.
thanks for any hard learned experience.
thanks, GP.
I used Sprint three years ago. It was great almost everywhere. Constantly surprised us with the places we got reception.
Moving back into the motorhome now, so I tried Verizon. Because that has even better coverage, right? There map shows that we're covered here in Anchorage, but I couldn't get online. Customer support says that's because we're in Alaska. In Alaska, Verizon doesn't own the towers, so they get just enough service to be able to put Alaska on the coverage map, but not enough coverage to actually log on. I'm interpreting somewhat, but I think that's the upshot of what she said.
I had four bars, but I couldn't log on. Customer Support's explanation was, "That's because you're in Alaska." So how much of the rest of the coverage map is like like that?
I sent the aircard back.
Don't know whether to go back to Sprint, which everybody says has worse coverage, or wait until I'm in the lower 48 and try Verizon again.
This was a 4G aircard. I don't know what that means. I have no idea what G I was using three years ago.
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Motorhome_Georgia
Southeast
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I currently use Verizon Wireless for cell service 3G on Droid x here in Atlanta and service is awesome. I am now very new to motor homing and picking up my first RV this Friday. I want to initially travel the southeast and next year take on the whole USA. I know Verizon will serve me well, but I think they cost too much. I have unlimited plan on one phone costing me with taxes, fees, etc. $107 mo. I want to add MiFi service and all Verizon offers is 10 gb service month for $80 plus taxes, etc. For 4g service.
I saw where sprint offers MiFi unlimited 4G for $50 a month plus taxes, fees, etc. and that appeals to me not only for the lower cost, but also for the unlimited as I would like to stream my Netflix movies through it as well. With Verizon that would eat up the allowed 10 GB mo. real fast.
I not only want to use MiFi on the road, but also at my city home in Atlanta as primary Internet service.
Anyone have experience using Sprint's MiFi service 4G??
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xctraveler
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Sitting in Valdez AK with my Verizon droidx. Great phone service and data service is acceptable for being off their net. Campground I am in provides free wifi, but I just logged in to 3G Mobile Hotspot to check and the connection was fine. I will check in when I get to Anchorage in a few days. Data was even available in Canada had I wanted to spend $2/mb for the privilege. I have Canadian phone service in my plan.
Paul
2012 Phaeton 36QSH on Freightliner Chassis with a Cummins 380 pushing it. 2011 Cherry Red Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with US Gear Unified Tow Brake System. Check out my blog
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anchor
Spring Hill, FL
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Have read the "W" word (wireless) a few times on this topic. Having been into PCs since about '92-'93. Mostly while using our cell tethered and Verizon while cruising the Gulf and Atlantic on our boat and now with our RV for quite a few years. O.K. here is the question: have always steered away from using wireless. Not sure if the 3-4 protection softwares we carry would be efficient with wireless. SO, just what do you all use to protect while using wireless? Have no experience using wireless. We are fulltimers.
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Motorhome_Georgia
Southeast
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When you say "wireless" are you referring to WiFi and MiFi? Or are you referring to cellular phone service (which is wireless too)?
All can be vulnerable, but you protect yourself in varying way one of which is using good common sense.
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Dave From AK
On the road since 2002
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wip wrote:Moving back into the motorhome now, so I tried Verizon. Because that has even better coverage, right? There map shows that we're covered here in Anchorage, but I couldn't get online. Customer support says that's because we're in Alaska. In Alaska, Verizon doesn't own the towers, so they get just enough service to be able to put Alaska on the coverage map, but not enough coverage to actually log on. I'm interpreting somewhat, but I think that's the upshot of what she said.
I had four bars, but I couldn't log on. Customer Support's explanation was, "That's because you're in Alaska." So how much of the rest of the coverage map is like like that?
I sent the aircard back.
Don't know whether to go back to Sprint, which everybody says has worse coverage, or wait until I'm in the lower 48 and try Verizon again.
This was a 4G aircard. I don't know what that means. I have no idea what G I was using three years ago. I have used Verizon for data in Alaska for years. It works fine.
The problem you had was almost certainly that your 4G card was trying to find 4G service, and there is none of that in Alaska. It's unfortunate that the Verizon rep you talked to was unable to help you get 3G service with the card; it will certainly do that.
Dave Rudisill
2004 Beaver Monterey
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wa0mqe
Florida
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wip, the Verizon 4G card should revert to 3G automatically when 4G is not available. You mentioned which you had 3 years ago, it should have been 3G, providing you were using a Verizon data phone, or a Verizon data modem.
To answer your question about Verizon in the lower 48, just like all the other carriers, they lie about their coverage. Their coverage maps are apparently a wild a@%ed guess. For example I can tell you their map shows solid coverage in most areas in Texas, yet even with the map showing excellent coverage it's not true.
Bob Bowers
2006 Monaco Camelot PDQ 400ISL Cummins
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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wa0mqe wrote:wip, the Verizon 4G card should revert to 3G automatically when 4G is not available. You mentioned which you had 3 years ago, it should have been 3G, providing you were using a Verizon data phone, or a Verizon data modem.
To answer your question about Verizon in the lower 48, just like all the other carriers, they lie about their coverage. Their coverage maps are apparently a wild a@%ed guess. For example I can tell you their map shows solid coverage in most areas in Texas, yet even with the map showing excellent coverage it's not true.
I don;t believe they "lie." Verizon's coverage maps include the following:
These Coverage Locator maps depict predicted and approximate wireless coverage. The coverage areas shown do not guarantee service availability, and may include locations with limited or no coverage. Even within a coverage area, there are many factors, including customer’s equipment, terrain, proximity to buildings, foliage, and weather that may impact service. Some of the Coverage Areas include networks run by other carriers, the coverage depicted is based on their information and public sources, and we cannot ensure its accuracy.
Moreover, they use a mathematical prediction model, not unlike the one that the US copyright laws suggest be used to determine if a household is eligible for Distant Network Service.
We have traveled extensively and use a Verizon air card. I have not yet failed to have coverage when their coverage may said i would. I have, on occasion, had coverage when the map suggested that i wouldn.t. Sometimes, the coverage has not been what I would want; this weekend, we are on a very busy tower. Also note, i have only traveled once, in 2006, out west with the air card, But, the above statements are true about that trip.
Tom
* This post was
edited 06/26/11 05:37pm by pulsar *
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ilovecamping
IL
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Back in about Feb/March my DH and I purchased new smartphones, Motorola Flipside, and have our service through AT&T. We were told at the local AT&T that we could tether with these phones. A month or so ago we were in a different AT&T store and I was asking about tethering and they said it was an additional $45. a month and that my phone wasn't compatable to tether. The only reason I purchased a smartphone was to tether when camping/vacationing/away from home. I talked with AT&T online and was told the same thing. I explained it all and the most I get from them is an I'm sorry. We have always had AT&T and would like to stay with them because of their service. Anyway I have read about using Pdanet and that it is compatable with all phones. Since I am paying for the data plan through AT&T am I breaking any laws if I use this to tether. I would pay the $45. a month if it would work but it won't. Thanks for any help you can give us.
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xctraveler
On the road
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ilovecamping wrote:Back in about Feb/March my DH and I purchased new smartphones, Motorola Flipside, and have our service through AT&T. We were told at the local AT&T that we could tether with these phones. A month or so ago we were in a different AT&T store and I was asking about tethering and they said it was an additional $45. a month and that my phone wasn't compatable to tether. The only reason I purchased a smartphone was to tether when camping/vacationing/away from home. I talked with AT&T online and was told the same thing. I explained it all and the most I get from them is an I'm sorry. We have always had AT&T and would like to stay with them because of their service. Anyway I have read about using Pdanet and that it is compatable with all phones. Since I am paying for the data plan through AT&T am I breaking any laws if I use this to tether. I would pay the $45. a month if it would work but it won't. Thanks for any help you can give us.
IANAL (I am not a lawyer) I have used PDAnet in the past when it was the only way I could tether my phone and Verizon tech was informed I was doing this. They did not tell me I couldn't they just said they would not support it and any problems I had were up to me to resolve. I never had a problem and it worked fine until I upgraded my phone and was able to pay VZ's fee for tethering and have it work. As of this moment I am in Homer AK with a 3G 4 bar signal using the wifi hotpot on my droidX to connect. It is sweet. I have no idea what network I am on, the phone says "extended service" but my plan says it is included. In Canada, data is VERY expensive, but my North American Voice plan includes all voice calls in the base plan.
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