Verizon VS Visible

[Huck]

I currently have verizon unlimited data plan and it is terribly slow between 8 am to 6 pm.  At times, it is unusable it is so slow. I need to find something better.

Would Visible be any different since it is on the verizon network?

 

[B and C]

It might even be worse as the priority might be after the Verizon customers. You are on a congested tower during the day (probably near a city) that gets congested when the workers show up with all their phones and gadgets. You might try network cell info lite app to see if there are any other towers around you that you could point an antenna at. I use a weboost and a directional antenna.

 

[Huck]

Thanks. I only use a hotspot (jetpack), not a phone so I don't think I have a way to access the app.

I just looked up verizon cell towers and there is one almost in my back yard.  It's on the water tower about 1000' from the house.

 

[B and C]

The bars on your hotspot would be all of them at that range but a water tower is high and probably serving a large population. Most any smart phone should be able to use the app. Set the app for verizon. Be sure you aren't already throttled or deprioritized at peak usage. Since you have a jetpack, take it for a drive to a more remote place where you will be on a less congested tower.

 

[Huck]

I just tried it with my tracfone which is on the verizon network. it showed me connected to a tower about 6-10 miles away, not the antenna on the water tower. I get good performance this time of night, so I will test tomorrow when performance is usually poor. Thanks for help.

 

[B and C]

You are probably in the radio shadow of the tower then.

 

[brucedevauxone]

I currently have verizon unlimited data plan and it is terribly slow between 8 am to 6 pm.  At times, it is unusable it is so slow. I need to find something better. Would Visible be any different since it is on the verizon network?

Huck - it is a small investment ($$)-- if i were you i would buy Visible's $19-phone and sign up for one month (do NOT cancel your Verizon YET)- if Visible is better you have a DOUBLE win (better service at a cheaper price)-- if they are not good you did not loose much!!! it should be noted i hear Visible CS is poor (i have not used CS) ALSO the $19-phone can only Tether to ONE DEVICE (for more you need a Router about $30) but just to test wait before buying a Router!

i hear most people talking about the speed they get like that is the GOLD STANDARD!!! when the most important factor is the number of user on the same tower as you are using!!!!!!!!!

it does not matter which carrier or what time of day or how good your hardware is-------- it is mostly about how many other people are useing the
same tower /carrier at the same time you are using it--

just as an example many years ago as a semi-truck driver at around 4am i was sitting in Chicago waiting to get unloaded- (i was a Sprint user)(and Sprint OWNED Chicago) anyway using my wifi i was getting blazing fast speeds until around 6am when my speed slowed like someone stepped on my water hose!!!!!!

so i could tell you i have been on Visible about 6-months as my home internet source and consistently get 50+ dn and about the same up using their $19 phone!!!!! AND that is true! AND i live next door to a MAJOR University so i would guess there are lots of user on the same Verizon tower as i use!- BUT that is no indication of what kind of performance you would get!!!!!!!!!!! (unless you used the same tower as me)-- Yes sometimes (seldom) i get poor speeds! 

the point is:: you could be on the worst carrier in the world and still get better service than the best carrier in the world!!!

 

[brucedevauxone]

using a router on my Visible so i can tether my tablet & my laptop at the same time! (GL.iNet GL-AR150 Mini Travel Router= $27)
i tether it and it is easy to setup and does allow multi devices at same time- BUT THE SPEED is cut by 4x down to 10dn & 5up--

i see other users mention this same router and wonder if anybody else has this issue?

 

[VanTalk00]

So I've been reading all the Visible threads, and I'm intrigued.

I have an iphone SE, which I can replace with a new iphone from Visible with a $200 discount. Suppose I buy two lines, put my current phone number on the new iphone and get a new number for my old SE iphone to use as a hot spot. I think the one device connect rule doesn't apply to iphones because they have sharable hot spot built in. So I would use my old SE iphone as a hot spot.

A few questions. First, has anyone done this and does it work well?

Next, how often are folks relegated to 3g, which doesn't work with Visible, because they only have 4g LTE service from Verizon?

Are there lots of areas in the boonies where you only use 3g? Where? Anyone?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[highdesertranger]

Verizon informed me that as of 1/14/2020(?) they would no longer support 3g. also that 3g devices would no longer work on their network. I have no idea if this is true but it is what I was told by a Verizon sales rep. highdesertranger

 

[Riverman]

Mine is still working

 

[B and C]

Mine is still working

What is still working?

 

[Jimmyflorida]

I have a visible $20 phone and used it side by side for 2 months with my Verizon unlimited I could not tell the difference since I left sticks and bricks I converted my Verizon to visible and have been happy I hook to my smart dvd player and watch Netflix and never really had any problems even in quartzsite I was able to steam so I believe the service the same Verizon/visible from my experience thanks currently I. Lake havasu

 

[shadowmoss]

I'm in Vegas right now. Lat night I had very poor to no service on both my Visible and my Metro TMobile data. First time the Visible has let me down, I usually use it as a hot spot for the TMobile when it has data issues. I am on the strip and even in the same casino where the Democratic debate was held last night so I'm hoping that was the issue. Wish the casino had warmed me when I made my reservation about the debate being here. Data back just fine so far this morning on both phones.

 

[VanTalk00]

I wonder how the Verizon folks were faring in the debate hotel. I can't imagine a worse environment for piling up traffic in one location.