Sateliite Internet Question

[jaybird]

I'm looking into cancelling home internet/Wifi and switching to a possible satelitte carrier and using it for home and RVing. We plan on going fulltime in 4 years. Doe anyone have any thoughts or companies I could look at

[Art-n-Marge]

Over-the-air internet will always be higher priced and slower than what you can get for the house and you'll need two setups otherwise swapping between home and RV add some complexity. There are a few companies who will be willing to take your money. The biggest problem I have heard is that many of these companies do not like their users to align their satellite dishes. I'm guessing that might be a little harder to do, and other than have someone come out and aim it for you (I am sure there will be a fee), you might need some learning and equipment to get this task knocked, but when I last checked into this with HughesNet, they said their offering was not user-portable and I think I am a more savvy user.

I currently fulltime and use a "hotspot" from Verizon and only pay for a 6GB/month dataplan. The cost will increase as you add devices to use (I currently use it for this laptop, a printer and a tablet). You can also increase the dataplan. This might be a less expensive way to go, as long as you compare dataplans between Internet Satellite or a Hotspot.

Do consider that the Satellite/Internet would probably be more available, since it's all about aiming at the satellite in the sky, where a hotspot requires mostly cell service which can be sporadic.

[jaybird]

It looks like the Verizon 4G Jetpack might be a good option. Any thoughts

[PackerFan]

We have used the Verizon Jetpack for about 3 years and it works great. We have no problem getting a signal for it any where in the country and it is a lot more secure than using someone else's Wifi system.

[DQDick]

We've used Verizon for years, but recent prices are a good deal higher for the 40gs we use than on the plan we have grandfathered.

[richfaa]

Verizon jetpack 40 gigs of data. If there is someplace the jetpack does not work we have not been there yet.

[stillcampin]

I agree with using the Jetpack. I have an older model so can't vouch for the new ones.

[mhs4771]

We use a Verizon Phone/Data Plan and DirecTV with a Wineguard Slim Line Automatic Dish on the roof.
We did add the Distant Network package to our DirecTV to get the National Networks no matter where we are in the Lower 48 (you lose it in Alaska and Newfoundland).

[jcurtis934]

I have seen prevosts with two sat antennas on top, one the normal automatic for television and the other a huge automatic dish for internet. I think you are into the big boy money on getting and using one of those for internet..."gee, i paid less for my fifth wheel than that" kind of pricing. Besides, do you really think the roof structure of a fifth wheel would support such a beast without sagging? john

[mlh]

I have a Verizon jet pack with 14 gigs if service with 5 devices 2 phones Home Phone Connect and an I pad along with the Jet pack for $150 per month. We run our business off of the Home phone Connect. Works great. Unlike Richfaa I have found places it won't work but places it don't work you won't even get radio and forget about TV.
The Home Phone Connect by its self is only $20 per month. It works just like a land line with unlimited service both local and long distance. It is a great service and works better at least for us than a land line.
Lynwood

[7.3Ford]

You might want to check out RV Mobile Internet Resource.

http://www.rvmobileinternet.com/

[Starmaster]

Hi Jaybird,

Satellite internet is generally considered to be less desirable than a hotspot or Jetpack due to the slow interactive times (not good for game playing or using to connect to work networks through a VPN connection) and portable self aligning satellite systems cost (very expensive). Satellite based internet access is notorious for poor reliability and is generally not considered portable. Using the same system for home and RV is really not practical due to the complexity of the installation.

I know of no satellite based internet systems that are user installable. I don't want to be a "Debbie Downer", but I think you will find a cellular based internet solution (smartphone with hotspot) will be a more reliable and less expensive solution. You would think satellite internet would be just as easy to implement and as economical as satellite TV, but that just hasn't happened yet.

We have two smart phones on the Verizon 12GB plan and have an extra 2GB because I just upgraded my smart phone, giving a total of 14GB/month. That is a LOT of data as long as you're not doing much streaming of video. We use it at home when our regular internet service is not working well (about half the time) and anytime we are traveling. If we didn't need the wireless internet at home for monitoring, we would go to using our smartphones' hotspot function for all our internet access. Our plan costs $80/month for the 14GB + $20/month for each phone and includes unlimited voice and text messages, total is $120 + taxes.

I use Verizon because they have the best overall coverage in the US. However, there are some areas (mostly out west) where you may not have coverage. Basically if you have voice coverage you will most likely (but not always) have at least 3G data coverage. Remember that a satellite system requires an un-obstructed view of the southern sky, which means no service under trees and in a forest.

The hotspot function on a smartphone uses the exact same service and technology as a current version Jetpack, but on the Verizon plan you do not have to pay the extra $10/month for the Jetpack.

Good luck with whatever you choose, I hope the above is useful info.

Dave

[brenkco]

Dave has given you great advice IMHO. Satellite is a non-starter, very slow and extremely expensive. I'm out west and travel with both AT&T and Verizon. More often than not, AT&T gives us better service. Unlike previous comments, LTE can be much faster than home wired systems, depending upon cell tower loads. I depend on Internet access for work and generally use about a gig or so a day, while traveling. Mobile internet access has developed significantly the past several years, and though more expensive that stationary solutions, it's pretty darn good.

Ken

[WeBeFulltime]

I used to have a Verizon JetPack but dropped it and saved the $20 monthly fee. Now use my Samsung Galaxy S5 as a hotspot. It actually works BETTER than the JetPack and I can still make/receive other calls & texts and use other apps while using the hotspot. We are full timers and have been doing this for several months with great success. We have a 15 gig plan that costs us $85 monthly after our 15% military retiree discount. I still keep ears/eyes open for something that suits us better to come along but this satisfies our needs best for our current lifestyle.

[JandC]

I will go ahead and chime in as a Verizon MiFi user also. While full time we used it 24/7 for one laptop, two I-phones, one I-pad, and a WiFi printer. It was touch and go almost every month on staying at or below 16gb. Traveling constantly and being in 26 different states we never failed to have signal.

Now only being in the fiver 4 or 5 months a year we simply drop our GB's on our plan down to 2 or 3 and deactivate the MiFi. Then when we return to the Montana we change the Verizon plan back to more GB's and re-activate the MiFi.

[richfaa]

Well I lied about the Verizon jetpack working everywhere. I am reminded that it did not work in "old Tucson" but nothing else did either.

We have two smartphones, two Lap tops, two nooks and use Pandora radio.We do have the 40 gig plan but got that awhile back for nothing when upgrading.

[mazboy]

Verizon.

[DQDick]

We have been a couple of places, Wichita Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in OK for one, where Verizon didn't work but as stated above nothing else did either.

[mlh]

Here is a breakdown of my charges:
Data $80
2 smart phones $40
Home Phone connect $20
I Pad $10
Jet pack $10
Plus TAX which comes to about $180 per month.

[jsmitfl]

Just want to chime in here. We use Jet pak and have for almost 7 years. Don't leave home without it. One thing I want to let anyone who does not know about it, Verizon has a corporate discount of 15-20% depending on the corporation. Our FD was 15% and now that I retired and getting my checks thru Fifth Third Bank it has changed to 20%. Also we just upgraded phones and I asked the sales person who I know personally, about the phone being a hot spot. Yes you can use it that way but it MAY be slower than the Jet Pak.