Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Technology Corner: CELL PHONE INTERNET ACCESS

Print | Close

Topic: CELL PHONE INTERNET ACCESS

Posted By: 1775 on 04/20/11 04:06pm

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.

Sprint owns Virgin Mobile (and Boost). If you have used Virgin's plan then you were on the Sprint data network.

I have Sprint for voice and data (old plan) and it has worked just about everyplace that I have gone on the East Coast. The Sprint map when you look at it is sparse. Voice roams on Verizon which has heavy coverage but data does not.

Roadtrek 190 Popular 2011

Meryl and Me Hit the Road

Posted By: 1492 on 05/16/11 10:27am

RV Student wrote:

Hi, is anyone currently using Sprint for their 3 or 4G services?

Yes, but not through Sprint. I'm using Clearwire 4G hotspot device, which is what Sprint is currently using for their 4G service. Getting between 9-10Mbps download speed.

Posted By: rbthom on 05/19/11 08:12pm

AT&T has a USB connect shock wave 4G Thats free to get on line right now but cost about $50.00 per mo. , is anyone using this ? seems like a simple way to have internet access while traveling.

Belle, Ralph and Max our BT
2001 F250 super duty 7.3 super chip
24RBSL Kodiak

Posted By: jack o lantern on 06/13/11 08:06am

OK, haven't seen any new posts for several months so maybe lots of new things now. My husband and I are now going on the road and need traveling internet. We have old cells with no current data programs with At&t but willing to do whatever we need to, to get mobile internet and the best cell service for east to west, to Alaska and back cell service. Please make this simple. What cell service was found to be best across the U.S.in general or consider internet service also? I'll take whatever advice you can give or send me to someone who can help me. Thanks, John and LInda

Posted By: anchor on 06/13/11 08:18am

Have used Verizon for about 20+ years in our travels tethered to laptop. I understand there are very experienced RVers here that have many views. If you view a Verizon coverage map it seems to cover more then any other cell service. We have not much more to offer except what we mentioned above.

2002 Class C 31' Gulfstream
2005 36' Keystone Challenger 5er
2000 Chev 3500 1 ton crew cab dually
2014 Ford Fusion
Trawler and Sailing (Ocean & Gulf Cruisers)
Fulltimers
Present Hobby: Cameras
Residents: Florida Gulf Coast

Posted By: claudalfa on 06/13/11 03:23pm

This is the way we will be going VERIZON

Posted By: thefivers on 06/13/11 04:14pm

I am in the Trial Period for both Verizon with a Thunderbolt and Sprint with an EVO...... I am not sure what phone to keep. I am not getting great 3G with either phone (maybe I'm expecting too much). I live in the Las Vegas area and can't leave for a camping trip for another month so I can't test the phones to see how the connections are when I'm camping.

Can you all please give me your experience with how both phones and services are working with 3G & 4G. I realize I will most likely only get 3G ( if I'm lucky )when out camping. I need to send one phone back and keep the other before my trial is up next Tuesday. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks,AL

Sold my 1992 Safari Ivory 36' Diesel Pusher 8.3L 4 Speed Allison.
Retiring this year, so now I'm searching for a tow vehicle and 5th wheel.

Posted By: Road Princess on 06/13/11 06:05pm

jack o lantern wrote:

Verizon Wireless is probably the best for coverage. I was a full timer for 9 years and I can't tell you how many times I had cell service for voice and data when my near neighbors in the RV park with other companies had useless phones. I was getting on line with my Verizon phone right next door to a lady in a coach with a brand new AT&T air card who could not.

I now am a part timer and I still use Verizon. Now I have an Android phone and I use PDA Net to tether the phone to the netbook while in the RV. Verizon has a service for $20 per month that will let you do the same, but PDA Net and Easy Tether,apps do it for free without Verizon knowing about it (read that as FREE). PDA Net's latest version even has a setting to "cloak" your usage from the cell provider.

I strongly suggest you sign up to subscribe to InternetBySmartphone and/or InternetByCellphone Yahoo! groups. You will find a lot of information there that should be helpful.

BTW, I love my Android phone. The apps are awesome for RVing. I have a free one for Passport America campgrounds and a 99 cent one that gives me more information than I need to know about rest areas on the Interstates, including which ones have free WiFi. There are also ones for gas prices and Androids come with Google's navigation which is pretty darned good. The ability to search an attraction on the internet on my smartphone as we wander down the highways and byways is just plain awesome!

Janet
Way-the-heck-south Texas

Posted By: Road Princess on 06/13/11 06:13pm

thefivers wrote:

I have a friend who is a full time RVer. She has two phones, a Sprint and a Verizon. She has reported that the Verizon is getting service while the Sprint phone is a "brick"

As for 3G or 4G, I wouldn't count on 4G anywhere outside of very major cities for a while. We just came back from a trip and had 3G for most of the way between Fredericksburg, TX and Las Cruces, NM. There were a couple of places where we had 1X service (south of I-10) on Verizon but it worked fine for voice and the smartphone operated just great, which surprised me, so I'm assuming it would have worked for data, too.

Posted By: thefivers on 06/13/11 06:30pm

Road Princess, thanks.....

My problem is "I THINK" the Verizon Thunderbolt is having an antenna issue and not connecting to 3g and sometimes no 1X even at my house in Las Vegas.

With what you said about your friend I have no choice but to send the Sprint phone back.

Now I may have to send back the Verizon Thunderbolt and get something else before my demo period is up. 1 week to go! ( Battery dies in a few hours )

What model versizon phone are you using?
AL

Print | Close