internet access on the road

[richard66]

Which carriers and what devices are being used/recommended to access the internet by our members?

[Gkerlin]

I use Verizon. I'm currently using a mifi 4510L.

I also have AT&T on one of my iPads. The other is Verizon.

I work full time from the camper and travel 6 months out of the year so connectivity to me is not a convenience - it is critical.

I've been very happy with Verizon. This winter I've had 4g most of the time. I have an external antenna plug 3 and 4g boosters in case they are needed.

AT&T is awful. Many times I have no connectivity or phone on AT&T but my Verizon is about 98% reliable. We spend a lot of time boon docking in out of the way places and still have good signals.

[drsmart]

Depending on your needs, we use Internet on the go.
$45 provides 4Gig use whenever or 8Gig use within 30 days.
Wifi card is about $80.

Internet-go.com

No contract.

Dave

[DonandBonnie]

Been using Verizon for about five years now. Had it in the stick house where we had no cable or land line and now in the Big Sky. We used the MiFi until last week when we were due for our bi-annual upgrade. Now we have a 890L. While we loved the MiFi this new gizmo has far better connectivity and speed. As I type this we are in rural Georgia with two bars on the cell phones. The performance is the same as four bars on the MiFi.

[ols1932]

Yes, depending on what you want to spend, that's the answer. There are a lot of good systems available. We have our own High Speed Internet Satellite System. It's Starband with a rolling 5 GB 7-day rolling bandwidth. System cost us $1,900 for equipment in 2008 and $106 a month for usage. It gives us our own secure Wi-Fi system.

Orv

[8.1al]

We use Millenicom, $69.99/month for 20GB. No contract and this is a flat fee,no extras,taxes,etc. It uses the Verizon network countrywide

[Mrs. CountryGuy]

Use the same as 8.1. Pretty much has kept us connected except for Death Valley and this canyon we ended up camped in near Calico the Ghost Town.

We have Sprint iPhones and those connected in the canyon. I have an iPad with 1 gig of Verizon (pure Verizon) on it, after 1.5 days in the canyon, it sorta connected to the net.

For us, it has worked well to have some Verizon and some Sprint, seems if there is an issue with one, there is not with the other.

We run the Millenicom with a router to talk to both computers, and anything else wifi, like the Wii or other devices. And, we use a cheap plastic tiny antenna that we put in Tana's windows.

Unlike many other MOC members, we have had no luck with Wilson antenna. For us, it is a Fail. I have NO idea why, just don't seem right! LOL

I am totally addicted to the internet, blogging, social media, the MOC, I don't do "no connectivity" well at all. Like I said, except for the rare ocassion, I am on the net and chattering and working away with this set up.

[Recumbent]

We have Verizon Hotspot with 5 Gig data and pay $50 per month with which we use HP laptop and Ipad. Also, have Droid with unlimited Verizon phone and internet use, and a two flip phones(one is stick house number at $19 per month) for talking and texting. The entire package cost $251 per month and seems on the high end for cost. Contract ends in June 2013 and we plan to drop one flip phone and hopefully find a plan that is a bit less costly. We have been pleased with the connectivity using Verizon.

[DQDick]

We used Mellenicom until we became convinced that in some of the very rural areas we spend a lot of time in that Verizon was throttling us when their towers became crowded with their regular customers. We went to a Verizon Jet Pack and whether we were correct or not we are now twice as fast sitting in the same locations and no more freezing on a particular website. Not saying we're right, it's just how it works for us and we are normally on the far end of Verizon 3G coverage.

[WeBeFulltime]

We are also very happy with our Verizon Jetpack Mifi 4620L. Has worked great for a year now.

[Larry-P]

We have the latest Verizon JETPACK MIFI5510L 4G.
Works great & much better than any of the previous Verizon
hotspots.

[8.1al]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

We used Mellenicom until we became convinced that in some of the very rural areas we spend a lot of time in that Verizon was throttling us when their towers became crowded with their regular customers. We went to a Verizon Jet Pack and whether we were correct or not we are now twice as fast sitting in the same locations and no more freezing on a particular website. Not saying we're right, it's just how it works for us and we are normally on the far end of Verizon 3G coverage.

That's interesting Dick, I wonder if there is any way to find out what their policy is regarding bandwith purchased from them like Millenicom does

[CATCRAW]

We use Verizon - our cell phone and Tablet act as Mobile Hotspots so we can connect our computers and use the data plan from our phone and tablet when WiFi is not available. Works pretty well for us... I like that I can control the data plan and add and suspend whenever we don't need it. I usually keep my data full time on the phone and suspend the tablet when we aren't traveling and use it on my home Wifi.

[JandC]

We have been using Verizon MiFi for a couple of years and had great luck with it. We liked it because it worked good with our wireless printer and we could travel with it prior to getting the Montana. We have now switched to the Verizon "share" package with our I-phones but kept MiFi for laptops. Moving into Montana full time in 33 days (whos counting) so this set up should continue to work great.

[HOOK]

We use Verizon and are very satisfied.

[Art-n-Marge]

Same as WeBeFulltime... Verizon 4620 HotSpot, same dataplan, same cost bur we've only had ours for eight months. We connect 2 laptops and a wireless multifunction printer (and can support 1 or 2 more devices). We have a MagicJack plugged into either laptop then connect a phone wire to the printer as well and can send or receive faxes over the internet. Yup we've done that with great success.

Have had no connection problems with non-availability but with finding 4G everywhere (but 3G is okay). While we might not like the speed we end up with, we've been able to connect everywhere which has surprised us. We used this in all parts of the Western States.

Combined with our two cellphones and our comprehensive in-cab nav system we can do pretty much everything and no one can say they can't find us (if we let them) and we can certainly find them. We've used the hotspot and laptops and MFP so DW can email and surf the net while we're driving or towing. I've been known to pull over and do the same (look for campgrounds, hotels, restaurants, roads, etc.) before arrival to an area. Knowing stuff in advance is a great advantage and a great way to pass some time during long drives.

We have heard of others who've had problems with AT&T or T-mobile. No word on the any others. We're happy with Verizon.

[DonandJudy_12]

We had a Verizon broadband stick first but upgraded to the Mifi when it became available- You can count us among the very satisfied customers- the nationwide coverage is excellent- JMHO-Don

[subra1228]

We've been very happy with Verizon via our cell phone. Have occasionally needed a (Wilson) booster in remote areas.

[danandbetty]

We use a MiFi2200 mobile hot spot that can support up to 3 devices at once (works perfectly and rarely are in a non covered area. Ours is from Alaska Communication Systems because they are in kahoots with Verision while we're roaming in the lower 48. As far as I know Verison doesn't currently provide services in Alaska so we can't use them all the time - the only company in Alaska that also currently serves the lower 48 is AT&T which I've vowed to never again use. I have no complaints with ACS MiFi mobile broadbanc.

[HOOK]

Verizon offers "Hotspot" for I phone. Works great. They probably offer it for I Pad.