Straight Talk Wireless: New Unlimited Phone Plan for $25, $200 for new phone after a year so pay $300 get $200 back! Verizon network.

[Gr8ful]

https://clark.com/cell-phones/strai...hlid=15adf1db8c035b621a305beff04a696fe5d10849

 

[rruff]

Looks promising. My issue with Visible is that they won't allow me to use my old phone for some reason, although it's a Verizon compatible phone.

And... I'd prefer ATT, but no cheap unlimited plans that I've seen.

 

[rruff]

Also... not seeing anything about hotspot. Does that mean I can't connect to a laptop?

 

[Gr8ful]

rruff, We have Consumer Cellular 2 lines with unlimited everything for $55 with an AARP membership $12/2 years. It's AT&T & the best customer service I've seen in many years. Not sure about the hot spot.

 

[Gr8ful]

• Consumer Cellular: Buy any phone and get two months of service for free (new customers only).
• Consumer Cellular AARP Exclusive Rate Plan - $55 for 2
  Web Page | https://savings.consumercellular.com/landers/partners/aarp/aarp55
• Network:AT&T
  
  High Speed Data: 50GB
  
  Hotspot: Hotspot data usage counts against your high speed data allotment.
  
  Additional Plan Details: AARP members save 5%; Consumer Cellular is the highest-rated service provider by Consumer Reports
  
  Payment Frequency: Monthly
  
  Support: Phone, chat

 

[twomountainlions]

I wonder if Visible gives coverage in all the same areas where Verizon does or are there some places, very rural areas, where its real Verizon-only. I heard of such things with ATT mnvos.

 

[Gr8ful]

We had Visable & I'm pretty sure Visable & Verizen coverage are identical as they/re the same company.

 

[maki2]

I wonder if Visible gives coverage in all the same areas where Verizon does or are there some places, very rural areas, where its real Verizon-only. I heard of such things with ATT mnvos.

Visible is a “real” part of the Verizon company and it uses the “real” Verizon Towers.

 

[twomountainlions]

Visible is a “real” part of the Verizon company and it uses the “real” Verizon Towers.

Yes, all mnvos do that. But it doesnt mean that every single vz tower is made available to mnvo carrier. Thats what my question is about, if there are any differences in coverage.

 

[rruff]

Yes, all mnvos do that. But it doesnt mean that every single vz tower is made available to mnvo carrier. Thats what my question is about, if there are any differences in coverage.

There is deprioritization of mnvos, but I haven't heard of restricting towers... and can't think of a good reason why they'd do that. I think if a Verizon plan can get a signal, then you'd have the same signal strength with Visible, but you may have poorer download speeds.

 

[twomountainlions]

There is deprioritization of mnvos, but I haven't heard of restricting towers... and can't think of a good reason why they'd do that. I think if a Verizon plan can get a signal, then you'd have the same signal strength with Visible, but you may have poorer download speeds.

Verizon, which I have/prepaid, is very sneaky with deprioritization and in many towns I can't even use google maps on my phone, thats how bad deprioritization is sometimes. Literally sitting in my rig unable to take off. Also, prepaid does not get the same coverage range as post paid with them. So would not be surprised if they restricted certain areas from mnvos alltogether, if their towers are already overloaded there. It happens with att mnvos, there is a discussion somehere about that. I had no deprioritization with ATT around some areas in Quartzsite region, where verizon had 0 speed all day. But Verizon kept refunding me money every time I complained.

 

[twomountainlions]

Another thing with Verizon is loss of 4g (or voice) coverage where I used to have it before. Seems like some bands were moved to 5g and they just dropped 4g phones off coverage in those areas, while they killed 3g. No voice even, no nothing anymore. Verizon map says 4g service around Baker, NV. No service for me, just like along most of hwy 50 this year. No way to call roadside assistance or offroad recovery. I think I used to have service in the same spots.
Need to get sims for 2 mnvos, I guess, to run off both att and vz networks....

 

[Gr8ful]

Literally sitting in my rig unable to take off

That's why I still have an atlas & paper maps

 

[twomountainlions]

That's why I still have an atlas & paper maps

Not going to work for traveling though small towns all over the country and finding best routes these days, especially in my large rig

 

[twomountainlions]

That's why I still have an atlas & paper maps

I actually have very detailed offline maps on my Gaia gps app loaded for every location I go to, normally, but in town I want to see directions plotted on google map, my large rig does not like traffic jams and road work, their directions are optimized for current conditions and closures and would rather wait for extra 5 mins to load them.

 

[twomountainlions]

Turns out Visible does not have phone customer service, that's a no for me.
Straight Talk ..seems like current plans cost close to Verizon prepaid with loyalty or auto pay discount applied.

Called Red Pocket, they give options as to which carrier network to use (but need 2 sim cards to switch around) and decent priced plans, hot spot too, I guess will give them a shot.
I pay 50 bucks for unlimited verizon with 5gb hot spot with loyalty discount now, it was ok whil ACP program lasted and verizon used to often throw extra 30 bucks in to compensate for throttling (their customer service is great) so service was free for a year.

 

[Gr8ful]

Turns out Visible does not have phone customer service,

That's why we changed to Consumer Cellular, best customer service I've seen in years. 2 lines $55

 

[rruff]

Called Red Pocket, they give options as to which carrier network to use (but need 2 sim cards to switch around) and decent priced plans, hot spot too, I guess will give them a shot.

Kinda think Starlink Mini is the way to go... it allows access in the boonies where all cell coverage is poor, and costs about the same or less vs a decent hotspot plan.

Does Redpocket have more than 20GB hotspot? That's all I see.

I just contacted Verizon to see the cheapest hotspot plans I could get... $60 for 25GB, and $80 for 100GB...

 

[twomountainlions]

Kinda think Starlink Mini is the way to go... it allows access in the boonies where all cell coverage is poor, and costs about the same or less vs a decent hotspot plan.

Does Redpocket have more than 20GB hotspot? That's all I see.

I just contacted Verizon to see the cheapest hotspot plans I could get... $60 for 25GB, and $80 for 100GB...

Starlink mini wouldn't work for me. Device costs 600 bucks I think, while I use cheap phone, and will reuse it switching carriers. For $50 its 50gb of data, modern internet is a data guzzler, 50gb will be spent in 10 days with daily use. Also, clear view of Northern sky might not work in National forest spots.

Im not sure about max Red Pocket hotspot, I hardly use hotspot on the road now/bummer to power up laptop, but there is unlimited hack with hot spots in general (shall not be discussed here).

 

[twomountainlions]

That's why we changed to Consumer Cellular, best customer service I've seen in years. 2 lines $55

Right now they want $50 for 1 line for unlimited (age 50+) $47 with aarp discount.