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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Technology On The Road -> Estimating Data Usage
Post Info TOPIC: Estimating Data Usage
Ckerr


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Estimating Data Usage
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I currently have a 3G aircard with Sprint that I use while traveling.  I also have a plan that allows unlimited nationwide usage for right at $60 a month.  Id like to set up a wireless network in the rv in prep for going fulltime, but seems I need to switch to a USB aircard.  What I also gain if 4G coverage where available.  Catch is that I have to switch data plans to one that has unlimited 4G usage and allows 5Gb of 3G usage.  I'm guessing that we'll be in more areas with 3G coverage when we go fulltime.

My question is:

How much data do those of you who are heavy internet users (for business or pleasure) find you use each month?  I suspect we will be engaged in some heavy internet use, but have no idea how to estimate what we really need.

Also, any recommendations about service/equipment are greatly appreciated.

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Carol

Carol Kerr Welch

Wife to Jeff, "Mom" to Chuy; Retama Village Resident

2018 Winnebago Horizon 40A,  Jeep Cherokee Limited, Harley Davidson Trike 

Realtor specializing in RV and 55+ Communities in the Rio Grande Valley

 

 
Racerguy


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Linda and I are heavy internet users.We both spend 4 or 5 hours a day on the net surfing,doing our blog,facebook,banking etc.We have never used more than 4 Gig in a month.We do not download music or movies though.If you do that you will find yourself over the limit very fast.

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phyllen


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We changed our Sprint aircard to a Sprint 3G/4G mobile hot spot box. Same monthy charge, $60 - gives us unlimited usage. Works like a wi-fi. Up to five computers can feed off of it.

Operates much faster than the aircard. We had no problem connecting in Tx, Louisiana, Pa, SD, Kansas, OK, Nebraska, VA. Operated on 3G. They said it is really fast in certain areas like Houston.

It does lose charge quite fast so expect to plug it in after each use.

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bjoyce


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We use from 3.5 to 12GB per month so it varies. Many find 5GB is much more than enough and others do not. If you are using Windows you can use DU Meter on each machine for free for 30 days to see your usage - http://download.cnet.com/DU-Meter/3000-2381_4-10019150.html?tag=mncol. 

(I measure our usage on Hughes.net satellite and our Verizon aircard, but when we use wifi I don't measure but most months we supply our own internet.)


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jb


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Howard has info on the 3gstore.com in the journal.  On the website they give some common activities like downloading music or a movie and an estimate of the data usage. 

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Ckerr


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Thanks everyone. I'll see what I can find out about total usage and go from there.

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Carol

Carol Kerr Welch

Wife to Jeff, "Mom" to Chuy; Retama Village Resident

2018 Winnebago Horizon 40A,  Jeep Cherokee Limited, Harley Davidson Trike 

Realtor specializing in RV and 55+ Communities in the Rio Grande Valley

 

 
rjenkins


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AT&T says that 98% of all customers use 2Gb or less. Like it was mentioned above, you start getting into movie download and you can quickly blow that number out of the water.
As for Sprint, regardless of what Verizon says (they are good at marketing and perception) Sprint is much further ahead in 4G deployment than anyone else. They will 'truly be' in enough markets in the US to cover 120 million customers with 4G. Theoretical limits on 4G is about 150Meg which is much much more than what is currently offered for landline high speed so my guess is that as 4G takes off, video will be much more desireable and maybe even preferred. If you can get into an unlimited data plan with 4G now while it is being introduced, do it because that is the future. I can not imagine unlimited lasting forever so if you get in now you may get grandfathered in if they change the plans in the future.
Everyone has capped 3G deployment, the only thing they are doing is beefing up the backhaul network and even then, it is for the anticipated 4G rollout.
Some of the new smartphones has HDMI interface. I think in the very near future people will be using their smartphone as a video device that downloads the film and streams it over to the TV.

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