grandfathered data plans - RV-Dreams Community Forum

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

grandfathered data plans

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I guess most of us think several hundred dollars for an AT&T unlimited plan is not worth it. Is that a phone plan with tethering, a mobile hotspot/MiFi, or a USB modem plan? Does it include LTE? A phone plan without tethering would not work with computers and other wifi devices.

MarkS · RV-Dreams Family Member

My ATT plan includes tethering and 10GB shared among all devices. We typically use less than 4GB and two ppl on the plan seldom use data except on the wifi at home so it works great for us. Sometimes I tether my ipad when I am out and about.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

I don't anticipate that we'd need a ton of data while away from a future rig or campground as we don't use a ton when are currently away from the S&B. We do view videos etc much more when at home so I guess that was where I thought one of those unlimited plans might come in handy. I sense that many who are boondocking have occasions where cell/internet is spotty so whether unlimited data is worthwhile is where I was going with the question.

Bill, I don't fully understand the capabilities of what such data plans entail or whether they are usable by smartphones or just data devices only. Sounds like unless we are total data hogs then they might not be needed.

Mark, your set-up seems to be where we are heading for our own telecom package or possible with lower data and add the Millenicom 20GB plan if we were to start FT today.

I know we are still a long way away from needing to sign up for it, I'm trying to get my mind from where we are to where we need to be when the time comes.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have the Millenicom 20g plan and Verizon 4g plan for our phones.
So far it has worked well for us. The only issue we found was that using the phone as a GPS ate into the data plan quickly. We don't stream movies, but do use alot of data.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks, good to know. I don't think we'll be using GPS much(at least on purpose) but we will probably stream movies occasionally, youtube moderately, some skyping(when we learn how to use it LOL). I love surfing around the web for research on many subjects, that probably will be our biggest data need. The more I look at the smartphones the more I think we'll migrate to them from our current basic phones. The smallest Verizon plan we could currently go to would be 4GB. Add in the 20GB Millenicom Hotspot and the total is 24GB. We've never come close to that amount so maybe that is enough though we haven't done much of the three I listed above. Does it sound like I'd be in the ballpark as far as having enough?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

The 20Gb Millinicom plan is the most economical for the money out there at this time.....until you get on the road and feel out your usage its a tough call.

while on the move...(driving) cellular data is your only option.....when stopped there is alot of WiFi everywhere and with a little finagling with antennas and such it is a major option that is convenient and free.

alot of people tend to come out here over prepared only to find there stuck in a contract and spending money on systems that are not used.

look at all the options and dont get stuck on just one...they change very quickly!!!

I Boondock almost exclusively and very rarely in the areas that Im in have I needed pay services above basic.
it is really going to depend on your travel habits and your comfort levels out here.

-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Thursday 26th of December 2013 09:19:48 AM

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike your comment about being overprepared is exactly what I suspected. Relying on our home internet thru Comcast it's hard to gauge how much we'll need to provision via cellular connections and how much is available free(we'll have to figure that issue out as we get a bit closer to FT). So far we've been in a cable "bubble" so to speak with only a limited attempt to cut the cord. Now if there was a way to tow 3000 miles of cable along with us on the road.... not!!! LOL

Each new perspective adds to our confidence that we have joined a great community. Thanks Mike.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am not a fan of free wifi, because less than half our campsites and camping nights are at places with usable free wifi. Campground wifi that is limited or flaky is more the norm. You can often find open wifi hotspots if you drive around, but they are not everywhere.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think if I had to start driving around to find a place to connect to a WiFi I might be tempted to think "it can wait" or "what's the rush?". At that moment, I'd be thinking it's Margarita time.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

just off the top of my head Free WiFi

home Depot
Lowes
Cracker Barrel
Mcdonalds
Wendys
burger king
staples
office depot

starbucks

dunkin donuts

radio shack

and the list goes on

theres more free wifi out here than there was public phones in there hay day!!!

of course if money is no object ....all of the above is Moot!!!

-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Thursday 26th of December 2013 05:20:26 PM

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Clearly, I need an education on my options here, excuse me while I finish my drink...... aaah, so I have to change the way I think about internet and accessing it. Cutting the Comcast cord is going to be harder than I thought!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

This may not be of any value to you, but I'll explain our "current" situation. We have an account with Verizon with our MiFi Jetback for internet for our laptops. In addition, we have three smart phones on the same plan. Our usage is very, very limited on such things as YouTube and such, so most of our usage is internet. I'm on four different forums, this one being one that I moderate on, so it gets a lot of my attention. On the forums, there are two where I occasionally upload photos to our Photobucket account for displaying on the forums. Again, this forum is one where I have to upload photos to be able to embed them into a comment.

With all that going on, we probably use something like 12 gig of data usage a month, although our account is actually for 14 gig. Keep in mind that any upgrades on either smart phones or to computer equipment will use up some of that data. With that in mind, there are a lot of nonsense stuff on my phone that I NEVER update because I don't use it.

Terry

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

something to think about.....

simple basic services......all bases covered Getting the best of whats out there without opinions

Millinicom...........70.00 for 20 GB................plenty of internet!!
dish network .......30.00 basic sat package..120 channels.......plenty of TV!!
Walmart Straight talk....45.00 unlimited Talk/text/web.............plenty of phone!!

all for 150.00 a month ....No Contracts!!!

millinicom....= Verizon internet....subcontracted
straight talk...=Verizon Cellular......subcontracted
Dish network....satellite TV without a contract

RVKevi · RV-Dreams Family Member

Has Millenicom gone up for new subscribers, Mike? We have the 20 gig plan and pay $60 a month.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

RVKevi wrote:
Has Millenicom gone up for new subscribers, Mike? We have the 20 gig plan and pay $60 a month.

The 3G 20GB Advanced plan for $60 is no longer available. The current plan is the 4G 20GB Hotspot plan for $70 a month.

Some get a UML290, a SIM adapter and move the SIM from the hotspot to the UML290 and use it in a router. Some do this because their hotspot is flaky, some for the advantages a full router has over the hotspot. Some advantages are bandwidth monitoring (how much have a used this month?), Ethernet ports, longer wifi distance, one SSID (network name) so your wireless printer and everything just works. Others are happy with their hotspot.

Note that I am also on the Advanced plan.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Millinicom is now 69.99 for 3g/4g/LtE.....according to there website

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

OK, here's our experience, with 2 people both working full time, one working a "corporate job that is virtual" the other an artist with a website to maintain, applications to complete, PayPal to maintain for ordering off the website, etc. Both avid users of email, social media sites, etc. Corporate job that requires streaming of video for training, conf calls, town halls, etc.

We come very close to 20 GB/mo on the Millenicom plan, very few commercial RV parks with Tengo or other WiFi spots fast enough to accomodate our data usage, a grandfathered plan on Verizon cell phone to allow some streaming, etc. Plus, we are fans of county/state parks, we do not like neighbors that are "close enough to touch", not really good boondockers, although right now we are in Quartzsite, but that will not last past our Christmas / New Year's vacation time, so with a grandfathered Verizon plan on the cell to tether to that only works part of the time, Millenicom data that we almost fill up every month, a Sprint MiFi device that has been less than good with data connectivity, we are always wanting more and more data. We finally gave up on TV through our data devices and bought a Dish Tailgator and have a plan this is costing $50/month and yet still can't seem to get local channels no matter what we connect, program, yell at, etc..

Technomadia has a great book to help guide you through all this, but I still maintain it's trial and error for some of us, Chris and Cherie, plus Jack Mayer and his website have given us some great ideas and insight, but we still struggle every month and every site to find the right solution for our current lifestyle which include 2 full time people working and lots of moving about the country.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

The idea of an unlimited data plan on a device like an iPad mini which could act like just like home cable internet- slower but otherwise the same for our needs) seemed interesting hence the question to start the thread. Though it now sounds possibly unnecessary for our foreseeable needs.

The Straight Talk suggestion from Mike sounds interesting but I think we'd have to buy our phones(not in the budget). We'll have to check into that one.

Switching to DishTV is something we are already considering and the current offers are compelling. But that would be another thread.

I've poured over Chris & Cherie's website and Jack Mayer's website and while I get some of what they cover I have plenty of time to understand some of the RV specific suggestions and recommendations they give. What a great resource.

Terry, your info is useful, I'm a number cruncher so it helps to us to be able to "what if" using real life examples. In fact, thanks to all for sharing your great insights and experience. It looks like our budget for telecom provisioning is going to a fair bit lower than I originally projected.... Score!!

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the shout-outs for our mobile internet resources (www.technomadia.com/internet) - including our articles, reviews, free video and even our book on the topic.

As we, and many others find - there's no easy simple solution if you need bandwidth on the go. Every new location will present new challenges, and no matter what tools you try to have pre-prepared in your arsenal - it may just not be enough.

That's where a box of wine comes in handy :)

Honestly, if you 'have a while' until you are full time - don't stress out about it too much. Technology changes at a rapid pace, and the solutions many of us are using today may not be available in the future, and there will be new options.

- Cherie

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Like Cherie said - there is no "magic bullet" that works for everyone. My needs will be different than others needs. And my tolerance level will be different. One thing that is true, though, across the board - Internet access on the road is far more expensive than at a fixed location. No real way around that - and you just have to accept it if you want good connection most places.

If you look back 5 years ago and compare it to today - from a connectivity and speed perspective it is a night and day difference. In 5 years we will be saying the same thing. Right now Verizon- for one - is pretty much complete on their rollout of LTE. Now they are upgrading speed, bandwidth, and technology generations on their network. Some big changes will occur in the next 5 years. One of them - I hope - is more data for the $$.

Oh - and to understand all this stuff there is no better source than Chris and Cherie's book. Really. (yes a shameless plug...but it is true.)

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well I wouldn't use stress as a descriptive here for me, I know we have plenty o' time to sort out the details and this thread and the other on cloud storage I started is background for me to get a feel for the direction I might eventual take technology wise. Almost immediately, I have learned that I have a fair bit of catching up to others in this area.

Jack, I'm sure I'll pepper you with lots of questions about solar( I've read your material from your site) when the time comes. Having lurked around here and elsewhere for about a year I have absorbed a ton of info on such matters but as a student it has come time to actually begin asking the questions.

Hoping to earn my masters in RV in the years ahead.... and Cherie, I'm told I make awesome margaritas, though box wine is cheaper LOL