Need Wifi

[barleyguy]

Is there a way to run Visible on a hotspot? As far as I know, you have to run their app, which would require a phone. Once you have the sim set up using the app, can you remove it from a phone and put it in a hotspot?

(Hotspot in this context meaning a physical device I can hook antennas to, not the hotspot feature of a cell phone.)

 

[B and C]

That would be outside their terms of service. The phone the sim is in is the hotspot (feature turns it on and off) and you wouldn't need to put it in another device. There is no app, just the feature built into the phone just like wifi and bluetooth are.

I have their $19 phone. I can put any of my cell devices, this phone included, in the Weboost cradle with an external antenna. The weboost is not carrier specific.

 

[B and C]

Since you need wifi, I sure wouldn't do anything that would jeopardize having it. They CAN tell what type of device the sim card is in is they look and if you have high data usage, this may get them to looking. Put your money towards a booster and not a hotspot. When they cut you off, there will probably be little to no warning and you will be dead in the water. The booster will work on any future carrier you may get too.

 

[barleyguy]

The reason I asked is because I ALREADY have a hotspot and dual antennas. So I wanted to know if I could use Visible with it. It sounds like the answer is no, so I won't sign up for Visible.

Also, there are huge technical advantages to a real hotspot over a booster. The way 4G works really favors dual antennas, because your device is able to look at the signal from both antennas as a pair, and improve the speed that way. Also, on the broadcast side, your device will broadcast with both antennas.  A booster breaks all of that. It only receives a single signal, and when you send data back upstream, it basically receives the signal that the phone is broadcasting and broadcasts it again, in addition to the phone's own signal. This can actually hurt the upstream speed.

In short, boosters help range, but can actually hurt speed if you are already in range. Whereas a real hotspot with a good pair of antennas helps both range and speed.

As far as futureproofing, neither a booster or a hotspot will continue to work when the standard goes from 4G to 5G. Antennas might still be good though.

 

[B and C]

AFAIK, 5G is a LOT shorter range than 4G so probably no 5G in the boonies. My boosted speed is more than adequate for my streaming use. Speed for me is not the be all, do all. I have uploaded videos over it. May take all night to get it there though. All I need is a good solid signal.

You need to look at carriers are supported by your hotspot.

Good luck.

 

[Firebuild]

I read up on visible. Verizon owns it. They were losing customers over their high prices and no truly unlimited. So visible has unlimited through Verizon. They even offer it as a hot spot but if that option is used the speed is choked down to 5mps.  It's a great plan for a stand alone phone. It's not fast enough for streaming  unless you watch on the phone.

It is actually not choked down anymore - that's old information.  It changed a few months ago. The only limitation is oyu're behind regular Verizon customers in line, so when it's very busy that can slow you down.

 

[Firebuild]

The reason I asked is because I ALREADY have a hotspot and dual antennas. So I wanted to know if I could use Visible with it. It sounds like the answer is no, so I won't sign up for Visible.

Also, there are huge technical advantages to a real hotspot over a booster. The way 4G works really favors dual antennas, because your device is able to look at the signal from both antennas as a pair, and improve the speed that way. Also, on the broadcast side, your device will broadcast with both antennas.  A booster breaks all of that. It only receives a single signal, and when you send data back upstream, it basically receives the signal that the phone is broadcasting and broadcasts it again, in addition to the phone's own signal. This can actually hurt the upstream speed.

In short, boosters help range, but can actually hurt speed if you are already in range. Whereas a real hotspot with a good pair of antennas helps both range and speed.

As far as futureproofing, neither a booster or a hotspot will continue to work when the standard goes from 4G to 5G. Antennas might still be good though.

 I don't see anything in the TOS of Visible that would prevent you from doing that; here it is for reference https://www.visible.com/legal/terms-and-conditions.  I didn't know all that about boosters; good to know.

 

[TMooney]

I turned tv services off. I've ran pure wifi off my phone for 6 months. I run you tube live normal you tube Netflix and prime video. That's ran by phone computer roku and a fire stick . Also wifi powers chrome cast all the time. All of it fires on my hot spot at one time . Of course the chromecast mirrors my phone to tv . That's how I watch Bob. Etc. Its pretty important to me.

 

[crofter]

...That's ran by phone computer roku and a fire stick . Also wifi powers chrome cast all the time. All of it fires on my hot spot at one time . Of course the chromecast mirrors my phone to tv ...

Please elaborate on the details of all this. I have used roku before but it was connected to wifi. 

I only have internet through my phone, but there are public wifi connections around here. They stop working as soon as I try to use one. Currently using phone hot spot to tether.   -crofter

 

[TMooney]

When I turn on hot spot on my phone all those things get wifi powered up . They pop up on a screen connected to wifi . So they are all ready to use. Sometimes 3 or 4 things get used at once. Roku and Fire Stick power up to wifi to answer your question. If you connected to my hotspot on my phone your device would pop up such as crofters iphone for example since you would get accepted through password. It gives a full list of what its providing wifi to.

 

[crofter]

@TMooney

Thanks for the info. I had to google for more info, I am catching up on my technology. Everyone else is taking selfies and I am still in the photo booth. Link is a dummies site on firestick.  -crofter

https://www.dummies.com/consumer-electronics/what-is-the-amazon-fire-tv-stick/

 

[Stardust]

What options are people using for wifi? Equipment? Data plans? I want something simple but I need the capability to work online from my van. Thanks!

Your geographical location while connected to the internet has a lot to do with what plans and equipment you may need. If your internet connection is iffy, for whatever reason, your devices and plans won't matter, no matter how good they are.  I highly recommend looking at https://rvmobileinternet.com for a ton of excellent information and resources.