Internet options - RV-Dreams Community Forum

vagabondishlady · RV-Dreams Community Member

Internet options

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

50GB is a lot of data. You need an unlimited plan if anyone still sells them. For comparison, the Sprint aircard we used had a 5GB monthly limit for $60.

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

FYI, we have an unlimited data plan with TMobile. My husband uses his cell phone tethered to the laptop & it works well.

Cindy T

vagabondishlady · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks Dan. I use my aircards on a day or two of travel in locations where I am not able to access free WiFi so never had to test limits before. I really should test all options before taking off if I plan to work on the road.

Cindy, how was the coverage with T Mobile phone? I have an unlimited plan with my T Mobile. Should experiment with the cell phone when I am traveling for work before those longer trips. Not a huge fan of T Mobile coverage ..was given the T Mobile phone at work and it works well here in the DC metro area. Not too sure about their coverage all over. Their coverage map does show good coverage all over the country.

Thank you. :)

-- Edited by vagabondishlady on Friday 30th of September 2011 06:24:10 AM

-- Edited by vagabondishlady on Friday 30th of September 2011 06:32:19 AM

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

There is only one option for you with that much usage . The unlimited plan from Millenicom is on the Sprint network . You get 50GB a month . The good thing about Millenicom is there is no contract , no taxes and much higher data limits . Check them out at www.Millenicom.com

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree on the Millenicom suggestion. We have the 20GB/month plan for 59 and think the unlimited was 69 last time I checked. Have yet to see a plan to match them. Had ours since last Feb.

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

The TMobile coverage is pretty good when you're in populated areas. We're in Colorado, so when you get into the mountains or remote areas, the coverage gets much more spotty.

Cindy T

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I seem to remember Howard indicating that he would use tethering or WiFi instead of the Internet Satellite if he had it to do all over again.

We have had good luck with the RV Resort WiFi for streaming movies and internet searches. Although 50GB might get you kicked off.

Howard and Linda seem to be satisfied with the tethering option, so an unlimited dataplan and tethering as primary with aircards and WiFi as backup might be the way to go.

I've seen data cafes/coffee houses in most little towns that you could use as a last resort if none of the other options are working.

Here's a website with some additional info:
http://www.jackdanmayer.com/communication.htm

Also look for postings on this forum by Bill Adams from Internet Anywhere....he's a great resource.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Unfortunately you can't compare voice coverage and data coverage for the cell phone carriers. For voice AT&T and Verizon are fairly even on having the best coverage with Sprint not far behind and T-Mobile way down from there. My mother used to have T-Mobile and found where she traveled she was often without coverage, and she didn't travel often. For data Verizon has the most coverage, followed by Sprint with AT&T and T-Mobile not so good. You do not hear long term RVers using AT&T or T-Mobile for data, those that tried these two dropped them. You don't hear long term RVers using T-Mobile for voice.

As to tethering, it works but you will be slowed down if you are in the upper 2% to 5% of the unlimited users on both AT&T and Verizon. That is their policy for data on phones, which tethering will use. Word is that upper 5% comes in somewhere around 2GB per month.

Max Signal is recommending about the best option, the "unlimited" plan from Millenicom, which is actually a 50GB plan on Sprint's network for $70 per month plus equipment and startup costs. We have the 20GB Advanced plan from Millenicom which is $60 a month on Verizon's network. The nice thing about these plans is you get the same coverage as those on Sprint or Verizon directly. You will have to look at the Sprint coverage maps for 3G data and not spend time in roaming areas where the service is 1X and too slow for someone needing a lot of bandwidth. Note that not everyone can get the unlimited plan, it is not available to us from our billing zip code.

Campgrounds are mostly in rural areas, you need that coverage away from populated areas. That also means that campground wifi is often not the same as motel wifi, they don't run that nice fiber optic out into the sticks so the campground only gets a 1.5 to 3MB line to share out as wifi.

-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 30th of September 2011 01:41:55 PM

-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 30th of September 2011 02:43:38 PM

Hina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Wish I knew about Millenia.com unlimited before, it's cheaper than my 10 GB Sprint plan, which is a 2 year contract. :( But it's working great; I have an online business, which involves some heavy uploading and downloading, large MP3 and .wav files, and I think I barely used 4 GB my first month, which means I can indulge in watching videos more often! :)

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

It is http://www.millenicom.com/ .

(We use 8 to 14GB per month between the two of us so having 20GB on the Advanced plan is great.)

wordznpics · RV-Dreams Community Member

Anyone have any experience with AutoNet? It's a wireless option that's being used by some of the automotive OEMs to provide Internet access in your car.

Also, Time Warner has come out with TW Mobile. Don't know if it's linked to any particular carrier network, but it's supposed to provide nationwide coverage if you have TW at home.

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

Autonet is not a good option for RV users . The equipment is over priced and the service is the same as you would get from the carrier yourself . You can put together your own routers and data devices much cheaper . Then you should look at a reseller such as Millenicom . Who has higher data limits , no contracts to sign and no taxes.

wordznpics wrote:

Anyone have any experience with AutoNet? It's a wireless option that's being used by some of the automotive OEMs to provide Internet access in your car.

Also, Time Warner has come out with TW Mobile. Don't know if it's linked to any particular carrier network, but it's supposed to provide nationwide coverage if you have TW at home.

-- Edited by Max Signal on Saturday 12th of November 2011 11:20:23 AM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just a few topics down is a whole thread about Autonet that reflects what Max Signal said, http://rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t41903489/anyone-using-autonet/ .

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

There's nothing magic about autonet. It's just an air card (Sprint or Verizon last time I checked) built into a router with a pretty wimpy external antenna.
You can do much better.

MorganCDN · RV-Dreams Community Member

Questions from Canada:

We are about to start RVing full time in the spring. In Ontario we are using Bell Canada as our Voice and Data supplier. We have two cell phones (Voice Only Sim Cards) and one Samsung Tablet with a data only Sim Card. We have invested in a Macbook Pro that will be internet computer and are planning the purchase of a Mac Tablet. We plan to move the data sim card between the Samsung and Mac tablets and tether the Mac Tablet to the Mac Computer if computer internet is required.

We plan to travel in the USA for 6 months of the year and were planning on getting sim cards from a US supplier to do the same as we are now doing in Canada. Our average cost for the three cards combined is $90.00/mth. My question is, can we purchase sim cards only from US suppliers. The roaming charges in the the US make the use of the Canadian cards too expensive. My idea would be to exchange the Canadian cards for American cards while in the US and insert the Canadian cards when back in Canada.

All thoughts are greatly appreciated

MorganCDN

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

You really should check out Millenicom .

http://www.millenicom.com/

They have no contracts , no taxes and much higher data limits . They offer CDMA/EVDO based plans , so there are no sim cards . Each device has a permanently assigned ESN Number

-- Edited by Max Signal on Friday 18th of November 2011 04:04:38 PM

K-Man · RV-Dreams Community Member

We're getting ready to head to Texas to do the gate guard work for awhile. I'm very interested in the millenicom program. Would a booster be advantageous with this unit, especially in some of the more remote areas? It appears most of the work right now is near Cotulla (SE of San Antonio).

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

An amplifier is always an advantage in signal challenged areas . For a wealth of information for all things communication while RVing you should check out Jack Mayers site.

http://www.jackdanmayer.com/communication.htm

-- Edited by Max Signal on Saturday 19th of November 2011 06:55:34 AM

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

K-man,

We are gate guarding 16 miles outside of Cotulla. We have a Wilson portable amplifier that I bought as a kit through Best Buy. I have the antenna mounted on a telescoping pole attached to the ladder on our 5th wheel. Our service is a Virgin Mobile MIFI (uses Sprint towers) and so far has worked good. We have AT&T cell phones and get 1 bar without the booster and 4-5 with it.

here is a link to the booster we purchased:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Wilson+Electronics+-+Home+or+Office+Desktop+Mobile+Phone+Signal+Booster+for+Multiple+Users/9522493.p?id=1218138268758&skuId=9522493&st=wilson&cp=1&lp=3

I'm sure there different options out there but this works for us.

Phil

K-Man · RV-Dreams Community Member

Max Signal & Phil Bob: Thanks for that info.

Phil Bob: Could you post a pic of the antenna mount?

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are a myriad of antenna mounting systems on my website. Matt posted the link above, or look in our signature.

djpotts55 · RV-Dreams Family Member

You might want to give Sprint a serious second look. Currently they are the only provider that offers a true, unlimited plan that includes both unlimited minutes and unlimited data and that includes unlimited roaming for both minutes and data. The other carriers have data limits or slow down your internet to a crawl after you use a certain amount of data. I think the current family plans start at about $60 per month, but that one cost would take care of both your cell phone and your laptop internet/data.

Here is an article I wrote on how we get "Internet Access on the Road."

Good luck in finding an unlimited data plan that works for your situation!!!

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

the unlimited plan with Millenicom is Sprint !

with Sprint you get 5gb a month - Millenicom 50 GB

Sprint you pay taxes Taxes - Millenicom - no Taxes

Sprint - 2 year contract Millenicom - No Contract

-- Edited by Max Signal on Wednesday 30th of November 2011 07:02:46 PM

djpotts55 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have Sprint on a month to month plan (2 year contract ended many years ago), and no 50 GB limit. My plan is an unlimited everything plan including unlimited data roaming.

Perhaps they do not offer this plan any longer to new subscribers, but I just checked my contract online to confirm my contract has never changed. I am definitely keeping my plan since nothing out there that is comparable.

Here is the current offer on the Sprint Unlimited with the Everything Data Plan for $79.99 and today is Dec. 6, 2011.

-- Edited by djpotts55 on Tuesday 6th of December 2011 10:41:30 AM

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

They no longer offer unlimited and are terminating anyone that has that plan if they consistently go over 5 GB. You should check ot Jack Mayer,s site for all the latest info including . The best current amplifier offerings.

http://www.jackdanmayer.com/communication.htm

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sprint phones are still unlimited, but aircards are 5GB and limited to 300MB of roaming.

how4546 · RV-Dreams Community Member

I am looking at Blue Mountain Internet. bmi.net. Their site says they have a $80 per month (incl. tax) unlimited data mobile internet plan (4g/3g) with no contract. The map on their site shows they have very good coverage (sprint network for unlimited usage). You call them and they send you their USB modem (no charge) and you just return it in the provided envelope when want to stop service. Millenicom has a $70 month no contract unlimited usage plan but it cost $165 for start up costs.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I withdraw the SPAM alert until further info is available ashamed

-- Edited by Racerguy on Friday 6th of January 2012 07:02:24 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm not convinced yet that the above message is spam. The poster's profile indicates he lives in Texas, the company is out of Walla Walla, Washington, and the poster didn't put in what would be called an active link.

However, I would like to know is that since their system is on Sprint, how does the coverage compare with Verizon. Verizon is the "host" network for Millenicon. Although one might have a set-up charge with Millenicon, it might be worth it if the coverage is better with Verizon.

I do know that we have had good coverage with our Verizon phones.

Terry

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

So if you know you will be on the road less than 17 months it would be cheaper to go with Blue Mountain instead of Millenicom for "unlimited" internet service. (The real Sprint limit is 50GB per month, at least according to Millenicom.) Sprint has the second best coverage for data in the U.S. behind Verizon.

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jury is out for me . No info on this company anywhere . Millenicom has a known track record and other users you can query on the service. Millenicom offers Sprint service as well . It is marketed as their unlimited plan . No where is the cost of the device mentioned in the literature . Nor whether a deposit is required. Just that you can send back to terminate service . With Millenicom you just call them to terminate or suspend service . Another thing looking at the BMI website ,they have way too many irons in the fire . I guess I will reserve judgement till some brave souls sign up and get back to us after a few months and offer a honest assesment

-- Edited by Max Signal on Friday 6th of January 2012 03:16:30 PM

-- Edited by Max Signal on Friday 6th of January 2012 03:17:53 PM

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

While I don't think it's SPAM, even if it were and the information was accurate this would be good information to have as an RVer. There are often new players entering the field and this is certainly RV related "if" the service it's really Sprint service and not something like Cricket where the "service area" is excellent as long as you live in that service area. The link to BMI.net is a valid one so I will mossy over there and take a look around.

Yep, looks like the Sprint Network for $79.99/month "unlimited".

Mobile broadband Internet is the newest, fastest way to get broadband connection speeds - without being tied to a cable or phone jack. BMI can get you online from pretty much anywhere with a cellular signal.

Whether it be used for work or play, long term or short term, you live in a remote area or urban - stay connected with BMI's mobile broadband and take advantage of the efficiencies and flexibility of mobile internet service.

3G plus 4G included with every plan - one device supports BOTH networks.
4G speeds up to 5Mb, 3G Speeds up to 1.5 Mbs
Free optimizer/accelerator software – reduce your data consumption and get faster speeds
No long-term contracts – just month to month rental
Setup is simple and quick
Flexible payment with with credit card or Paypal
$50 Activation fee waived
Free tech support
Nationwide coverage
Optimal data plans for every need

-- Edited by Bill Adams on Friday 6th of January 2012 05:58:12 PM

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Was on the news here that Sprint is now throttling customers who use too much data. Complaints that the Sprint TV commercial is misleading. Apparently "unlimited" means something else to Sprint than it does for the consumer.

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

That only applies to their phones Not dediated data devices

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Im a firm customer with Milencom......Ive tried all the cheap ways out and Love the change over I;ve exspirenced since I did it

I use my connections for streaming my tv to phoneservice to internet all on one simple router what a difference for the money..

MaryBee · RV-Dreams Family Member

How exactly does the Milencom device work? I am currently wireless teathering from my EVO3G phone on the Sprint network.
Does the Milencom device use the Sprint 3G signal and then just plug into your laptop in the USB port?

For my fulltime internet service here at my home we currently use Hughesnet Satellite, but I would love
to get rid of it as it is very costly and we will be going fulltime on the road in the beginning of 2013 so
I would like to find something that I can switch to now.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

Millenicom uses the Verizon or Sprint (Verizon is best if you are traveling but service where you are currently located would be critical for you) service to provide stand-alone internet service rather than having to teather your phone. If you are in a good service area now then you should be very happy.
There is a 3G device for Sprint and one for Verizon and a 3G/4G mifi device. If you want to share the internet in your house you might be able to use the mifi but the signal is pretty weak so will not go through walls and the like very well. The other option is to take the standard device (air card) and plug it into a router. The Cradlepoint line is a very good choice and you could then share the one device with multiple computers, printers, X-box, etc.

MaryBee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ok, Thank you Bill.

So, Verizon is the best service for us when we go on the road instead of Sprint?

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes the advanced plan would be best for you as that is the one on Verizon . Millenicom has a non disclosure agreement so they are not allowed to tell you that.

Bill Adams · RV-Dreams Family Member

No one can what is "best for you" but that is the service that I would recommend.