RTR internet/cell phone ?

[Oberneldon]

I have my "personal Hot Spot" on my AT&T phone, will this work at the RTR?
I am just curious, and hope this is allowed in this thread.
Sharon

AT&T does work at the RTR with a but. During the RTR there are thousands of people in Quartzsite especially as the big tent event approaches. The towers do get overwhelmed for data during the day.

I did an experiment with my cell Amplifer last year. It gave me more bars but did not give me more data throughput. As I drove to town my data got better. I did go to McDonalds for data, but that too was often overwhelmed for getting much throughout.

The best time to get data off the cell towers is after 10 pm and before 8 am. Voice generally works ok as it uses less bandwidth. Text uses the least and works.

Brent




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[TMG51]

Do you mind me asking the price for the Verizon hotspot?

I pay $90/month, which includes the device payment as well as 12gb of data. You can of course buy more or less. When I was working remotely as a consultant, I needed it. I could get buy with only ~8gb for work but I expanded to 12. Now, I don't need it, but I still have it for convenience. Some months I use only 4 or 5gb. This month I exceeded 12.

 

[Gypsysoul]

looking at WALMART web site I see that Straight Talk has several hotspot devices.  Always get one that can use 4G LTE on the verizon towers.  Be very careful of your purchase as straight talk also sells AT&T coverage, and will definitely mix up the two when trying to sell to you.  The device itself is around $40.

then you need to buy the data to use with it.  That will cost $15 to $40 depending on the amount of data.

If you are not well experienced with buying hotspots technology from resellers (walmart via straight talk are resellers); then go direct to Verizon.  You may be able to rent a hotspot from Verizon, and pay the data fee.

Your goal is to get this all below $100 on Verizon data towers.

Ty I will deal with Verizon directly.

 

[Gypsysoul]

The problem with a lot of the off brand phone services is that they contract for tower usage with whoever offers them the cheapest deal.

They usually use some of everyones' towers in different locations. This creates a problem for users because no one can say definitively that 'Service Provider XX' will work in ABC town. Who knows what towers they're using, it's impossible to tell!

It's one of the reasons why they're often times cheaper.

BTW, for anyone else with Verizon no contract (technically prepaid) phone service. I had 5 Gbts of data for $60.00 a month - I could have gotten 6 with auto pay but didn't want the hassle of the auto pay. When I ran out of data before rollover date, I went to put my service on autopay to get the extra gig. Muchas hassle for me as a Canadian!

Long story short - Verizon now has a new 'prepaid plan' - 10Gbts for $70.00 with a rollover feature as long as you pay the next month before or on it's due date. Only available in the stores not through customer care.

Ty I think I am going to look into a Verizon hotspot but I may just make due with my sprint phone. I can make calls online if needed.

Caryn

 

[frater secessus]

Ty Does anyone know the names of the prepaid phone services that run off of ATt and Verizon towers?

Airvoice is an AT&T MVNO.  I have the $10/month prepaid plan from them and am very happy.  The math comes out to be 400MB data/mo or a similar mix of phone/text.  I use google hangouts for text and voice, which is the cheapest way to do it.  Unused time rolls over if you renew and I have never used the entire $10 worth in any given month.

Of course I am around wifi a lot and am cheap frugal with mobile data; offline nav, restrict background data for nonessentials, etc.  I use Llama to automate the aggressive use of wifi where available.

 

[Gypsysoul]

Airvoice is an AT&T MVNO.  I have the $10/month prepaid plan from them and am very happy.  The math comes out to be 400MB data/mo or a similar mix of phone/text.  I use google hangouts for text and voice, which is the cheapest way to do it.  Unused time rolls over if you renew and I have never used the entire $10 worth in any given month.

Of course I am around wifi a lot and am cheap frugal with mobile data; offline nav, restrict background data for nonessentials, etc.  I use Llama to automate the aggressive use of wifi where available.

Tyvm for this information. I am going to check them out as well.

Caryn

 

[jimindenver]

Caryn

Is your Sprint a real Sprint phone or a reseller? If it is Sprint service then you likely will have roaming around the Q. Otherwise the best you can hope for is 3G.

 

[Gypsysoul]

Caryn

Is your Sprint a real Sprint phone or a reseller? If it is Sprint service then you likely will have roaming around the Q. Otherwise the best you can hope for is 3G.

Hi Jim,

It is a real sprint phone.  That helps.

Ty,

Caryn

 

[blars]

For 3g and slower, Verizon and Sprint use CDMA. (LTE is GSM)
AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM.

So if you see CDMA on a 3rd party device like strait-talk, it's for Verizon or sprint. GSM is for AT&T or T-mobile or europe.

 

[mayble]

I don't suppose T-Mobile works out there?

I am in Michigan and just "cut the cord", swapping my AT&T home internet for T-Mobile service and a hotspot (gotta feed my netflix habit :blush: )
T-Mobile had a horrible reputation for coverage a few years ago, but it's definitely improved.  So far I haven't found any dead spots but I'm hesitant to switch my cell phone over to them until I see it works most everywhere I want to go.  I may have to switch again when I get on the road permanently(ish).

 

[frater secessus]

I linked to test results of TMO @ Quartzsite in post #12 above.

 

[jimindenver]

Michigan is one of the states that T-mobile uses band 12 in. I had great coverage even out in the corn fields last summer. I do seem to remember one of the south western states also being band 12 but am not sure which.

 

[RVtrek]

Anyone know if verizon's data service is "usable" during the day when there's tons of people at Quartzsite?  I have occasions where it's really important that I be able to get online, so I'm trying to figure out that part of the trip.

I have a Verizon JetPack (6620l), and I've been using it around home for a while now, and it's pretty solid.  But I know with a ton of people around Q, the network is going to get overwhelmed.  I'm just wondering if it gets so bad that it's not even usable.

 

[Almost There]

Last year I didn't have a problem but then I don't use my data for downloading things like movies or YouTube videos so maybe I wouldn't have even noticed.

 

[highdesertranger]

I never had any problems with my Verizon jet pack at RTR. highdesertranger

 

[user 13531]

I'm on T-Mobile, was out there in late November and had good service throughout the area. Went off road I-10 via Vicksburg Rd. to El Paso Gas service road into the back side of Quartzite. Had service the entire way....

 

[Fivealive]

You can always go to your carriers website and look at the coverage map.

 

[user 13531]

T-Mobile works fine out there. I was just there over Thanksgiving. In town and off-roading way out with good coverage. I'm on T-Mobile's unlimited plan for $70 per month. 28 GB with speed reduction at approximately 22 GB.... Samsung Galaxy 5S, running wifi hot spot feature with no problem...

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage-map.html

 

[user 15722]

Long story short - Verizon now has a new 'prepaid plan' - 10Gbts for $70.00 with a rollover feature as long as you pay the next month before or on it's due date. Only available in the stores not through customer care.

I have no clue how much data we would consume if monitored and suspect it would be frightening !
$70/month PREPAID, for 10gb doesn't sound like a good deal for anyone but THEM !!!
To me, it sounds like a $70/month program with a cap, and if paid on time they'll allow you a rollover if any exists.

I spend hours upon hours doing research and study on any number of different subjects.
Then there are two others on the router !

This is going to be a Major lifestyle change !

I tried a few estimation exercises...  one came out 193gb, the other was 65gb.  Cost would be prohibitive if mobile.
Perhaps I should investigate all the best practices for WiFi, now, before I need it ?

Will the Library, stirbucks, and Pilot be my new QTL ???

Wow!  This is beginning to sink in...
wheels

 

[user 15722]

My pay as you go hot spot from Verizon is 35 bucks for 2GB.  highdesertranger

As I've said elsewhere...  I have no clue how quickly I would burn 2gb...  

Is this even gonna work at all for a gamer, a youtube watcher that may stream netflix for an afternoon, and a web surfer ?


I can see your method of contract for phone and prepay for data might be the best option to prevent disaster of a huge over run !

Best
wheels