Fezziwig
SF bay
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Joined: 07/25/2008
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That was Verizon direct.
The big charges were from data overuse, but I was careful to monitor my usage, and I'm sure that I was right. At first I suspected Windows XP (or a mailbot or something) was doing behind-the-scenes data transfers, but when we looked at Verizons comm journal and the detail records therein it became apparent that was not the case. And then it started happening on linux. A couple times I used dataservice almost up to the limit and then quit using Vz altogether so that I'd stay below the price threshold, but it didn't work! There was a flurry of weird data transfers just before end-of-billing-cycle and I'd end up owing hundreds again.
Something crooked was going on and I didn't know whether it was Verizon or someone within Vz cheating both them and me.
The only solution was to quit.
I'd like to get a pre-paid datacard that would quit working if I exceeded my pre-pay, but there's no such thing that I know of. I think the cellphone companies are happy to overcharge their customers.
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Dave From AK
On the road since 2002
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photonut4 wrote:I am researching new internet options. I am done with the mifis, as I had nothing but trouble with them. Which would give me a more reliable internet connection: tethering a cell phone or a 3G air card in a cradle point router? I currently just use a trac phone, so I would have to sign up with a carrier, if I go the cell phone route. I would go with Millicom if I go the air card route. Thanks for any info. Liz In general, there is no difference in signal quality between tethering a phone and using a USB modem in a router. If one will take an external antenna and the other does not, then you would see a difference in a marginal signal area.
That said, I reliably get faster throughput tethering my Droid Bionic than I do with my USB modem and Cradlepoint router. I suspect that the radio technology simply improved in the four or five years from when the USB modem was made and when the Bionic was made. I travel in almost exclusively 3G areas. I am a Verizon subscriber.
I see a lot of unfavorable reviews of MiFi-type devices. I wonder if that has to do with the devices themselves or with the limitations of 4G service as it currently exists.
Dave Rudisill
2004 Beaver Monterey
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de4lee
Everywhere
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Joined: 09/30/2012
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First of all I'm so new to this I haven't even picked up my rig let... I wanted to know about satellite internet. Will it give me faster load times and more access? We run a busness so we daily upload video's and 150 pic's of the hike each day. I know I can use my phone for a hot-spot but we also want to stream movies. We are going to be full timers so dependability is important.
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Dave From AK
On the road since 2002
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de4lee wrote:First of all I'm so new to this I haven't even picked up my rig let... I wanted to know about satellite internet. Will it give me faster load times and more access? We run a busness so we daily upload video's and 150 pic's of the hike each day. I know I can use my phone for a hot-spot but we also want to stream movies. We are going to be full timers so dependability is important. Satellite Internet access for RVs has fallen off in popularity as cellular access has improved.
Satellite service has the advantage of working wherever you have a clear shot at the satellite from your rig. However, there is a high up-front cost ($5,000-$6,000) and it is slower than cellular access in GOOD cellular areas (but not in overcrowded 3G areas). In recent years, Verizon 3G data access has expanded rapidly, and their entire network is scheduled to be 4G in the next year or so. Unless you plan to spend time in areas with no cellular data access, you are better off with a cellular provider.
(Don't confuse RV satellite Internet service with fixed satellite Internet services, such as Wild Blue.)
RV satellite service download speeds are 700-1000 Kbps, so steaming movies is probably not feasible. Upload speeds are 50-200 Kbps. In Verizon 4G areas, download speeds of at least 5 Mbps are typical, but in the case of both satellite and cellular data access the carriers place limits on the amount of data you can download before either incurring extra charges or having your service throttled to very slow speeds.
A good source for info about satellite service is the Datastorm Users Forum
For cellular data service, check out the InternetByCellPhone Yahoo forum
Hope that helps.
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de4lee
Everywhere
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Thanks for the heads up. I hit all the cel service places today to get a quote. I really surprised the guy at AT&T when he was doughtful if he could help me. Uyill I just asked if he had a 20g service he said well yeah? I said ok how much?.. It shocked him but he quickly hunted up the form to tell me and I can get out with 2 phones, Hotspot device and 20g for about $280. I will still have to severly limit my NETFIX but I think I can make it work.
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ridingonfumes
california
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Joined: 04/24/2010
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I almost never use netflix on the road, I use an app called droidtv it allows me to download shows directly to my Android tablet or phone, both of witch I can hook directly into my tv if I want a larger screen.
I have a 32gb sd card in my tablet it allows me to store about 100 hours of tv on my device that I can watch anywhere even with no signal.
It's like $8 for 3 months service, and the shows are entire seasons including stuff that aired only the day before.
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Jetflix also allows download to sd card but it's not as usrr friendly as droidtv's set up
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I do all my downloading when near wifi and save my 4G cellular data for the rest of the internet
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ridingonfumes
california
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As for my carrier I was on tmobile, for 6 years, untill I got fed up,.. I paid $10 for an online company to send me an unlock code for my Android phone its a sensation 4G,
..now I can jump from one gsm prepaid carrier to the next whenever I want depending on who has the best service where I will be camping
...... Gsm carriers are basicly ATT and T-Mobile, they lease their tower to lots of prepaid carriers. Straight Talk, simple mobile, go phones, ect
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. Any unlocked tmo or att phone will work on the others network but unless it's Pentaband it will only have the ability to use the other carriers 2G network.
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Lots of newer phones from both companies are Pentaband but I recommend the galaxy nexus (unlocked $349 from goole play store) or the new LG nexus coming in the next week price yet un-announced.
Being unlocked and direct from Google are a huge plus aside from being Pentaband, and nexus phones (nexus phones are pure android no 3rd party bloatwear so they always get the newest software updates first)
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Straight Talk has 2 kinds of Sim cards one for att network and one for tmobile, when in for example lone pine ca I use at&t straight Talk Sim because tmobile has no coverage at all, in lake Isabella both have strong signal but tmo only has 2G while at&t has 3G,,,,,,, however if I'm in bakersfield I use a tmobile Sim for their kick a$$ 4G.
Most prepaid plans cost $40-50 a month for unlimited everything and straight Talk they will throttle to 2G though after using 2gb a month, (best plan for more 4G before being throttled is tmobiles prepaid $70 a month unlimited everything 5gb before throttle)
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Currently I'm using a straight Talk Sim, but soon I'm going to take it up a step.
I tmobile also offers an online sign up only plan 5gb before throttle unlimited text and only 100min talk, and for $30 a month,,,,,,,,,, then for more talk time I'm getting a 2nd phone through the lifeline cellular program aka obamaphone,,,,,,, for $20 a month they will give me a dum-phone with 1000min. That uses the Verizon network, so $50 bucks a month and I will have plenty of talk, text, and data AND access to all 3 of the biggest carriers networks for the best possible chance of a signal where ever I'm camped
* This post was
edited 10/28/12 09:33pm by ridingonfumes *
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moisheh
North America
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ridingonfumes: I do not see that Tmobile plan. Is it prepaid or contract? I looked at both the 3G and 4G. The coverage maps show the service as being very limited.
Moisheh
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ridingonfumes
california
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moisheh wrote:ridingonfumes: I do not see that Tmobile plan. Is it prepaid or contract? I looked at both the 3G and 4G. The coverage maps show the service as being very limited.
Moisheh
Yeah the Page is confusing from the plans Page find the link that says "browse all plans".
Or this link should work
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans
Also As of next month the tmobile $70 unlimited everything will drop its 5gb throttle cap and become true unlimited 4G..... And tmobile just bought out metro pcs so their coverage area will be integrated into the tmo network.
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moisheh
North America
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ridingonfumes: That is an ineteresting way of getting cheap data. I am leary that the coverage will not be that great. I punched in a bunch of zip codes and amny came up with either no coverage or 2G. Even looking at some larger cities the $g is spotty. My usage will be mostly non RV. Long Distance trucking. I think Verizon is the only one with great coverage. I am experimenting with thAt new service: Ting. They use Sprint but for voice pigyy back on Verizon. That still may leave me with a data problem. Sprint appears to have very good 4G in large cities.
Moisheh
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