AT&T unlimited mobile data with tv

[Goshawk]

Looks like AT&T is selling some kind of unlimited mobile data deal if you already have an AT&T direct tv account. Supposedly limited time of course.

So you would need to partner with a relative that has direct tv to get a phone on that same plan and then get unlimited data on the phone.

Not sure if you could then drive a tv with hdmi output from a phone.

 

[jimindenver]

I've been trying to research this but even AT&T chat had no clue.

From what I gather,it isn't going to be cheap. You have to be a Direct subscriber and then it cost $100 a month for unlimited data up to 22 GB and then possible throttled. And additional phone or tablet is $40 a month and I saw no mention of hotspotting.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/11/10746516/att-unlimited-data-plan-pricing-directv-uverse

My thought is if you already have a satellite dish, what's the need of unlimited data. I currently have 12 gigs at my disposal and without streaming, I don't go anywhere near the limit. The satellite we do use while camping has no network issues, no buffering and is truly unlimited viewing. Neither AT&T or Sprint is strong enough where we need it to do streaming anyways.

 

[jimindenver]

I have found that using a hotspot on this plan is a violation of the terms.

 

[BradKW]

I have found that using a hotspot on this plan is a violation of the terms.

Is there some way they could know if you used phone as a hotspot? I don't believe they can monitor unlocked phones like that, but I could be mistaken?

 

[East]

Maybe they care now but with my older unlimited plan from ATT it seems they could care less about me using the sim in a hotspot. I have the old iPad unlimited plan with no throttling. I think if you're okay with throttling at 22gb you might be able to find an unlimited ATT smartphone plan for a few hundred up front on eBay . They don't seem to go as much as the iPad plans because of the 22gb cap and even with voice and text rarely cut above the $100 a month mark.

 

[jimindenver]

Is there some way they could know if you used phone as a hotspot? I don't believe they can monitor unlocked phones like that, but I could be mistaken?

The phone companies can see your phone and it's data, even how it's used. Plans that allow for hotspot usage are usually more expensive or charge a fee. Cheaper plans limit you by not allowing hotspot use or slowing the data down. It's easy to sell you a lot of data if you likely can't use it.

People use apps or rooting to get around it. They do risk losing their plan or having it change to something that allows for tethering.

 

[NeedAnEscape]

Maybe they care now but with my older unlimited plan from ATT it seems they could care less about me using the sim in a hotspot. I have the old iPad unlimited plan with no throttling. I think if you're okay with throttling at 22gb you might be able to find an unlimited ATT smartphone plan for a few hundred up front on eBay . They don't seem to go as much as the iPad plans because of the 22gb cap and even with voice and text rarely cut above the $100 a month mark.

The phone and iPad plans are different. They don't seem to care about tethering on them. Most ways of tethering on a phone plan are detected. The iPad plans are not throttled either.

 

[NeedAnEscape]

Is there some way they could know if you used phone as a hotspot? I don't believe they can monitor unlocked phones like that, but I could be mistaken?

There is a few ways they can tell. An iPhone or Android device won't be downloading Windows updates. The web browser's user agents are different. The TTL on packets from any tethered device is often different. A VPN app running on the phone plus a tethering app that routes traffic through the VPN would be very hard to detect.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Also got to wonder about the fine print in the contract.  If the Direct TV account is in , say, Minnesota, and the cell phone is always connecting in AZ, UT, NV and CA they will spot that fact for sure, if they want to.

Regards
John

 

[NeedAnEscape]

I just noticed they allow tablets on this as well. I wonder if they would let you use a Microsoft Surface 3, which runs standard Windows on it.

 

[Goshawk]

Look on the AT&T web site. If they sell a ms surface with data. Then suppose so.

 

[East]

Here's a nice breakdown of how the new unlimited plan works, via reddit.

image link

 

[Goshawk]

Notice that there is not mention of the costs of direct tv. Or costs of Uverse tv. Can you get an account for $50 a month with direct tv ?

 

[akrvbob]

I have Direct TV and yes, you can get it for $50 or less. New accounts are usually 2-tiered, the first year is around $30 and the second year is around $50. Of course if you buy Premium channels is goes up a lot.

I'd actually consider this but not being able to tether or use it as a hot spot is a deal breaker. I don't use my phone that much to make it worth it.
Bob

 

[Jean P.]

Anyone have experience with Consumer Cellular? I have my phone with them and have cut my bill in half (from AT&T)

Consumer Cellular has a Mobile Hotspot Wifi. $80.00 for the modin plus cost of data. Anyone used this?

 

[darude]

Anyone have experience with Consumer Cellular? I have my phone with them and have cut my bill in half (from AT&T)

Consumer Cellular has a Mobile Hotspot Wifi. $80.00 for the modin plus cost of data. Anyone used this?

i have no exp with consumer cellular i'm on att go phone mobile hotspot. i do know that consumer cellular runs off att


https://www.att.com/att/gophone-mobile-hotspot/en/index.html

i'm thinking that these plans might be a little cheaper than consumer cellular :huh: plus there's no activation fee either the last time i knew consumer cellular was charging a 36.00 activation fee . one pet peeve of mine is being able to walk into a store if my phone is NOT working  instead of dealing with someone in a third world country over the phone :s. i know att treats there prepaid customers like there post paid customers!! and if you get a go phone from att you dont need a mobile hotspot they allow you to teather your phone to your laptop or tablet or what ever device you choose to at no charge