OmniLynx New Unlimited Data Plan - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Howard · Host

OmniLynx New Unlimited Data Plan

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Having been "burnt" on the Millenicom fall, think I'll pass on this.

Barb

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

The cat is out of the bag now.... bring on the unlimited data wars! It's all good for the end users. WOOHOO!

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm not sure how bad you could be "burnt" by Millenicom. Unless you bought into it less than a month before the closed. The same applies here, but there is zero up-front money. Just the monthly charge. Really, there is little to lose. You just have to be careful if you have a Verizon double data deal. If you change that plan in ANY fashion you lose the double data. If you do NOT have a double data plan you really have nothing to lose by trying the unlimited OmniLynx - or at least I can think of nothing. It is a monthly contract.

I doubt this will last, so if interested you need to sign up soon. "Thinking about it" is probably not the best strategy here. IMO.

I'm signed up, and if it plays out over the next few months I'll probably take a chance and cancel my Verizon double data.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

As great as it sounds... we have questions,

Jack or Howard, could you elaborate on the "doubt it will last" comment. I'd hate to sign up, being from IL and have them pull the rug out from under us. What would happen to the 6620L MIFI device? Would we have to return it if they terminated the program? Would those that sign up now have the terms changed if they change the offer? What about throttling... based on traffic conditions in Huntsville, AL or locally?

We have VZ currently but with only basic phones and puny data (we rely on ATT DSL at home) We had a VZ MIFI hotspot previously but ATT made us an offer we couldn't refuse. That offer is nearing the end and new options are apparently available.

Brian

-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 9th of September 2015 09:59:41 AM

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

$47.75 a month is very cheap for cellular internet. Normally Verizon and AT&T charge $50 + tax per month for a 5GB mobile hotspot only plan on a 2 year contract. (These plans seem to still be offered). If it does get shut down, you can quickly go to AT&T or Verizon and get set up with something new. Compared to many other RV risks, this one is minor. If they get shut down, I suspect they will no longer want the 6620L devices back.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Doesn't do any good if you are moving every few days and aren't in areas where you can get shipments. So couldn't take advantage until October when we get back to Mesa. And then the signal isn't very good at our site in Mesa, so paying another $50 a month for marginal service doesn't warm my heart.

DRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

This offer is good timing for me since my 2 yr 5GB jet pack ended last month. I have verizon phone and have more data so an easy decision for me. I used Chris & Cheri's Omnilynx referral number.

Howard · Host

Hey Brian,

No one really knows any of the "what ifs" at this point. To Bill & Jack's point, there just really isn't much risk with giving it a try. If the service and speeds are terrible, or they discontinue the plan, you may have to send the MiFi back and cancel payments - the risk is pretty much hassle and inconvenience. If the service and speeds are just like Verizon direct, you've hit a home run with cheap, unlimited data for as long as it lasts which might be months or years. The upside is very much worth the risk. If we didn't already have the double data deal with 30GB for the price of 15GB (which I'm not willing to scale back at the risk of losing the pricing), we would jump in BUT we would have a back-up data plan that we could turn on, increase, or upgrade at the drop of a hat.

Many people had a great run with Millenicom, and if this plan has a similar run, a lot of people will be very, very happy (this is even a far better deal than Millenicom). However, Millenicom suddenly ended and that's why we are all being very cautious with our caveats and warnings. This plan is eerily similar to what Millenicom was doing (only better, with less upfront risk), so it's hard to fathom why Verizon is allowing it to be marketed to the public (especially as "unlimited" and at that price). I just don't see this as a marketing strategy that the "higher ups" at Verizon are going to like. My gut says there is no way they are going to allow this for very long, but we could all be wrong and it might be the next big thing in mobile internet. :)

So, that's about all I can tell you right now.

biggaRView wrote:
As great as it sounds... we have questions,
Jack or Howard, could you elaborate on the "doubt it will last" comment. I'd hate to sign up, being from IL and have them pull the rug out from under us. What would happen to the 6620L MIFI device? Would we have to return it if they terminated the program? Would those that sign up now have the terms changed if they change the offer? What about throttling... based on traffic conditions in Huntsville, AL or locally?
We have VZ currently but with only basic phones and puny data (we rely on ATT DSL at home) We had a VZ MIFI hotspot previously but ATT made us an offer we couldn't refuse. That offer is nearing the end and new options are apparently available.
Brian

-- Edited by biggaRView on Wednesday 9th of September 2015 09:59:41 AM

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Howard, we've certainly got something to chew on... but maybe not for long, as Jack said.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for sharing this Howard.

Our general theory on this is that there's very little risk upfront, no upfront costs. We consider this an 'enjoy it while it lasts bonus'. We also feel that this could be yanked at anytime. So don't depend on it, and have a backup plan for when it goes away.

Our OmniLynx Unlimited Verizon Plan with Novatel 6620 MiFi/Jetpack just arrived today! Unboxed, shows unlimited data and speed tests are ROCKING! (Comparable to our direct Verizon plan on a 6620).

We ordered on Thursday, September 3 (Customer #1837) and it arrived a week later (holiday weekend in the mix). We have reports of them arriving as early as this past Tuesday from others.

So far.. impressed. Now, to see how long this sweet deal for unlimited Verizon data for $47.75/month, no contract and no device purchase lasts.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Why would there be a difference between the two 6620 accessing the same tower? Is Verizon throttling you now?

DRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

Huntsville OmniLynx POC called me today because I had to give them a different address than my PO Box. I asked the tech a couple questions about the product.

1. I asked how long they have offered the product for Huntsville school. I was told since Nov 2014 for school employees then service recently opened to public.

2. I was told the internet has not been throttled since service started.

I am looking forward to receiving my 6620 jet pack.

David and Cheryl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Has anyone run a bandwidth speed test on the OmniLynx service? If so, what kind of speeds up/down are you seeing? We don't start full timing until next summer, but at this price I'm thinking about getting on OmniLynx and using it in place of my AT&T Internet (which costs twice as much) while we're still in our S&B.

RonaldNC · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just tried to order the device and service. The website has a message that "Due to the large amounts of orders received, our devices are currently on backorder". They suggest trying again on Monday.

DRV · RV-Dreams Family Member

I ordered on 9 SEP and am customer 2700. That should mean they are receiving over 100 orders a day.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

David and Cheryl wrote:
Has anyone run a bandwidth speed test on the OmniLynx service? If so, what kind of speeds up/down are you seeing? We don't start full timing until next summer, but at this price I'm thinking about getting on OmniLynx and using it in place of my AT&T Internet (which costs twice as much) while we're still in our S&B.

We have run speed tests at our current location, and they are comparable with our other Verizon devices (proving they aren't at present time throttling).

In Elkhart, IN this morning I am getting 11 Mbps down and 1.5 Mbps up (slower than the other day, but I am inside a bit metal building at the moment). However, your speed tests would be dependent upon your local conditions - signal, tower position, tower overload, etc.

Again, we do not recommend replacing any other services with this one. We really don't feel this deal will pass muster long term with Verizon corporate, and it will likely go away. Consider it a bonus while it lasts.

- Cherie

David and Cheryl · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Cherie!

RonaldNC · RV-Dreams Family Member

RonaldNC wrote:
I just tried to order the device and service. The website has a message that "Due to the large amounts of orders received, our devices are currently on backorder". They suggest trying again on Monday.

It looks like they may have gotten a bigger response than expected... still not allowing new orders. I hope I didn't miss the bus!

TS · RV-Dreams Community Member

OmniLynx works great, just as well as my current "5G data limited" Verizon JetPack ... but with greater battery life. With 3-4 bars, I'm getting 17 down and 1 up for speed. 5 bars brings 20+ down and 6-7 up. As my 2 year contract is up with Verizon in OCT, I'll try to keep this as a replacement (and if it looks permanent I may even replace my office wi-fi with it, saving another $50 per month.

I've referred a couple people, but devices are now on back order. I, too, spoke with Jake at OmniLynx and he said he's got over 2000 customers and doesn't anticipate throttling problems or problems with the unlimited offer.

So far so good. Took about a week to receive the device and I activated it immediately.

Really, people, there's NO downside to this ... even if they go out of business (discontinue offer).

Jim and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yup, we waited too long.

"The wireless provider previously servicing the OmniLynx Program has recently
expressed an inability or unwillingness to continue supporting the program.
As a result, and regrettably, we will be unable to accommodate orders at this time.
We are exploring alternatives for the continuation of the OmniLynx Program.
At this time existing customers will not be affected by this change in supply.

Thank you for your patience, support, and understanding in this matter."

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sounds like that train has left town. Not to worry, not that long ago the data wars kicked into high gear with the short-lived "double data" deal. And before that it was something else. I remember a few years back 20GB of data would cost you a kidney... Just kidding. Point is, there will be another offer and a better one too just around the corner. For us, going FT 4 years or so from now, data should be even cheaper than my wildest expectations. It's all good!

bobk3d · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well on a happier note, I had held onto my original AT&T Unlimited iPhone plan, and they just increased the limit to 22GB before throttling. Whoo hoo! I don't think they enabled hotspot capability, but I'll be able to watch a lot of TV with it.

To me it smells more like a response to competition than regulation. Under the old terms it wasn't a good deal, and I was on the verge of changing it to save $30/month before I decided to go mobile. For once, there's a payoff for being lazy and wasteful.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well I guess I wont whine.........10 gigs with rollover....unlimited talk and text ....and a hotspot for 55 a month without a contract...........thank you AT&T

CDuck · RV-Dreams Community Member

Apparently Verizon pulled the plug. I got an email the other day that OmniLynx is over on 11-30-15.

Howard · Host

Yep, the people that made the plan available were much more optimistic than those of us with a little knowledge and experience with these types of plans. I have to say they shut it down more quickly than we thought, but we're not surprised. I think we gave everyone fair warning this was a likely outcome. :)