How much data?

[offroad]

Since you can not get the unlimited data any more (at least not easy) how much data does a person need? I use verizon and have 3gigs per month for my iPhone. Do way too much forum reading and Facebook reading. About run out every month. Am sure if I had a 5gigs per month I would never hit that limit amount the way I use it.

Others want to use NETFLIX and they will burn maybe 1 to 2 gigs per movie. So if you plan to watch no more than 2 movies a week, you can get maybe 10 gigs more?

So grand total if you have 20 gigs to anything you can afford higher than that you should be okay.

Is that what people are finding?

 

[ttpadilla]

This is my first month, and I signed up for 6 gigs. Used 1g since April 9th, but used other Wi-Fi for the most part. Went through 2 gigs in the past 2-1/2 days with forum reading, watching Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, and 1 episode of OITNB, so I'm halfway done with my data, and it has to last through May 7th. I could probably make 10 last a month if I was careful, and 20 would be glorious. But that is pricey!

 

[offroad]

Just data alone cost on Verizon or AT&T is going for $80 for 10gigs in a bring your own tablet or $100 for 15 gigs. It all depends on who you talk to at verizon; as it's real flaky with contacts.

So in theory you could get a verizon tablet. And then get a cheap WIFI only phone to use the data on the tablet.

 

[ttpadilla]

I have the jetpack, tablet, and smartphone through Verizon. Access Fees plus data are $140 a month (they told me it would be $115, but they "miscalculated"). It could definitely be done for less without the smartphone, but I use it so much.

 

[offroad]

I have the jetpack, tablet, and smartphone through Verizon. Access Fees plus data are $140 a month (they told me it would be $115, but they "miscalculated"). It could definitely be done for less without the smartphone, but I use it so much.

How much data do they give you with that combination? 8 gigs? 10gigs?

 

[ttpadilla]

Only 6 gigs at that price. Access fees are super high for the devices.

 

[offroad]

Just found out that AT&T access fees are only $15 per device. While verizon charges $40? That's not very competitive.

 

[LeeRevell]

Only 6 gigs at that price.  Access fees are super high for the devices.

Heck, down here that is a DEAL!  I was paying $120 a month for one phone and three gigs, no jetpack or tablet.  I dropped to two gigs, for just under $90.  This is everything, phone service included, not just data.

 

[ttpadilla]

Just found out that AT&T access fees are only $15 per device. While verizon charges $40?  That's not very competitive.

Well, Verizon doesn't charge $40 for every device, but yeah, they're not cheap. On the other hand, they have the best coverage, so that's what I'm paying for.

My plan is $70 a month, which is 6g data, unlimited talk and text.
Smartphone Access: $40
Jetpack Access: $20
Tablet Access: $10

Total: $140 (plus a few dollars for the government for allowing us to have phones) It might be cheaper to only use Verizon for data, and get a prepaid cell phone from WalMart, but this is what I'm going with for now.

 

[offroad]

Supposedly if you ask verizon and you own your device. They will drop the monthly fee down to $15 per month to keep you.

 

[Milk Hauler]

Cricket Wireless which is now owned by ATT has 10 gig pro plan for less than $55 a month. You could buy one of their cheap basic smartphones and tether it to any device you like.

 

[mockturtle]

I find 4GB/month about right with my Verizon jetpack. I listen to a baseball game almost every night and don't watch videos.

 

[WriterMs]

Total: $140 (plus a few dollars for the government for allowing us to have phones)  It might be cheaper to only use Verizon for data, and get a prepaid cell phone from WalMart, but this is what I'm going with for now.

Walmart's StraightTalk cell service uses the Verizon tower network (and some others, I believe) . So I have found it pretty reliable wherever a Verizon phone would work. I think their unlimited plan is about $45 (plus the taxes and fees).

However, my experience trying to use their HOTSPOT plan for data has been lousy. A person's data usage is supposed to show up on his or her web account page or be available with an automated phone call. They cannot get mine to do this. But an additional BIG problem is that when you do get a data "balance" they couch it by saying it is somewhere around 24 hours behind real time usage.

What this means is that even though data costs only $10 per GB (no access fees but you do have to buy one of their devices), I end up "throwing away" a chunk of data I've paid for when my balance gets low. If I do not manually "refill" my data plan before it runs out, I have to drive to a public wifi to purchase (online) and reload more data.

Hope this is helpful for your evaluation.

 

[jimindenver]

I have that plan with cricket. I have never exceeded it but they do not allow for tethering anymore. I sure wish they did because the phone screen is just too tiny for me. Too add, I get great coverage now on ATT. The old cricket was on Verizon and it blew in the mountains where I camp.

 

[offroad]

I have that plan with cricket. I have never exceeded it but they do not allow for tethering anymore. I sure wish they did because the phone screen is just too tiny for me. Too add, I get great coverage now on ATT. The old cricket was on Verizon and it blew in the mountains where I camp.

Yes tethering is very nefarious with these companies. It can be done. But somehow it gets detected. You can sometimes do screen mirror to a larger screen (son did that with Apple product) but the quality is not better.

 

[minimotos95]

If I remember right StraightTalk is far from unlimited, after just a few GBs you get throttled, same thing cricket does if you go over your plans max. Cricket either is or was running a 20gb promotion at $60 a month or so I've heard I don't know the details.
I've been thinking of ditching my Verizon UDP in favor of a GSM network where I can get a phone like the oneplusone or the current nexus. It's hard to take advantage of my UDP when I only have a 3g phone. I have never had a problem tethering on my UDP even when verizon was being greedy trying to make people pay extra but then again I have been running custom ROMs.

 

[jimindenver]

Wow. I have never exceeded my data plan, I guess that's good too. this is what Cricket says if you do.


What happens after I use up my high-speed data access allowance (2.5, 5, 10 GB)?

With high-speed data access, you will have up to 4G LTE speeds. 4G LTE means you can upload photos in a flash, game with more power, and surf the web even faster.

After you use up your high-speed data allowance, your speeds will be reduced for the remainder of your billing cycle. Reduced-speed data is typically equivalent to analog dial-up speeds.


ABOUT DOWNLOAD SPEEDS

High-speed data access = a maximum of 8 Mbps for compatible LTE devices and 4 Mbps for compatible HSPA+ devices.

Reduced speed data = a maximum 128 Kbps

1000 Kpbs = 1 Mbps

 

[wayne49]

Well, Verizon doesn't charge $40 for every device, but yeah, they're not cheap.  On the other hand, they have the best coverage, so that's what I'm paying for.

My plan is $70 a month, which is 6g data, unlimited talk and text.
Smartphone Access: $40
Jetpack Access: $20
Tablet Access: $10

Total: $140 (plus a few dollars for the government for allowing us to have phones)  It might be cheaper to only use Verizon for data, and get a prepaid cell phone from WalMart, but this is what I'm going with for now.

Humble suggestion, drop the tablet when you can, save $10, and still use the tablet on Wifi from the Jetpack.

I do this with a Kindle.

The real crime is the $30 charge for basic phones.

 

[LeeRevell]

Humble suggestion, drop the tablet when you can, save $10, and still use the tablet on Wifi from the Jetpack.

I do this with a Kindle.

The real crime is the $30 charge for basic phones.

You can ditch the Jetpack too, if you can use the Wifi hub via your smartphone.  I can do that with my Samsung SIII.   BUT.....   your service may not allow that.