We are about realize the full-time dream after two years of planning/prep. I have studied the excellent books and information provided in this forum and am grateful for your shared experiences. Based on the latest discussions, we will initially invest in hardware to pull in cell service based data and take wifi as it is available. I plan to purchase the weBoost Drive 4G-X when available to pull in the signal and a AT&T Unite Pro to produce a wifi hotspot inside the bus.
Here is what we have:
2 - iPads wifi only
1 - iMac Desktop
1 - iPhone 4 on a 2GB data plan
1 - iPhone 6 on a grandfathered unlimited plan
My current data usage on the unlimited plan is less than 1GB a month and I am considering ditching it and bundling data. Is it worth keeping? If I could transfer it to an iPad with cell capability, I could see the value in keeping it, but not a phone.
Also, with my planned set-up, is there any benefit to adding a router like the wifiRanger GO without the external antenna system?
Diana and Jim said
03:15 PM Mar 15, 2015
Your data usage is going to go way up on the road. That is a perfect personal hotspot. IMHO, I would keep it.
Jim
Someday said
03:33 PM Mar 15, 2015
Many on the road would love to have an unlimited plan. Why don't you keep it initially and then make a decision regarding it after you find your routine of usage on the road. Many say CG wifi is so unreliable, and you will likely want the security for banking etc of your own personal internet etc.
Like Jim says IMHO I'd keep it, at least initially, you might be very glad you did.
rocknb said
03:45 PM Mar 15, 2015
Howdy Howdy Gpndavid,
I can't say one way or the other about keeping your unlimited plan, but I can agree with Diana & Jim.
When we're in the s&b our monthly usage was between 3 to almost 5 gig per month. So that's what we were looking for (5 gig) to go on the road FT. The lowest we could get thru our carrier ( Verizon ) at that time was the Jetpack MIFI with 10 gig. So, that's the way we went and I also remember telling the Verizon folks "we will never use that much". The response from the Verizon folks " well if you do, you also have 2 gig you can use on your new Iphones". Now after being FT since this past Thanksgiving, we have had to use the Iphones to finish out 2 different months. I wouldn't have believed it, but most people do use more, much more ! Just saying !!!
Technomadia said
04:50 PM Mar 15, 2015
Keep in mind two things about the unlimited iPhone plans:
1) AT&T is currently throttling usage after a few GB (ie. they slow your speeds down). This SHOULD be changing very soon with the new FCC rulings and lawsuits pending.
2) The unlimited data is on device only - you can't use it to as a mobile hotspot to get your other devices online.
As such, would recommend switching to an AT&T Mobile Share plan with your iPhones and Unite Pro (great hotspot). Unless you think you'll be able to use a LOT of data on device, then the unlimited plan may be worth keeping. Just attaching an HDMI out cable into a TV could make your iPhone a nice media player for Netflix and such once/if AT&T drops the throttling.
A router? All depends on your needs and how many devices you're trying to connect up. With just one computer and two iPads, and only one internet input source (AT&T hotspot) it may be overkill.. unless you decide you need a WiFi as WAN device to bring in outside WiFi sources too.
-- Edited by Technomadia on Sunday 15th of March 2015 04:50:41 PM
Gpndavid said
08:29 PM Mar 15, 2015
Thanks all for the sage advice. The new AT&T Share plan with rollover should work well for us based on our current and projected usage. Unlimited data sounds good, but it's just a phone...no tethering..no hotspot. Oh well...
Chris/Cherie, Your books are great reference materials and I appreciate your continued inputs to help folks. I hope to share some vino around a campfire with you guys one day. I'll bring the box!
Gpndavid said
10:13 AM Mar 17, 2015
WeBoost is showing price of $999.99 for the Drive 4G-X. Not sure it is worth 3X what the Drive 4G-M costs.
cheryls-other-half said
09:32 AM Mar 18, 2015
Mitch sez STOP.!!!! (and read CAREFULLY!)
Gpndavid wrote:
Thanks all for the sage advice. The new AT&T Share plan with rollover should work well for us based on our current and projected usage. Unlimited data sounds good, but it's just a phone...no tethering..no hotspot. Oh well... Chris/Cherie, Your books are great reference materials and I appreciate your continued inputs to help folks. I hope to share some vino around a campfire with you guys one day. I'll bring the box!
Yeah, I thought I wouldn't need MY AT&T unlimited plan anymore.
Absolutely glad I kept it.
Before we sold S&B we lived through Hurricane Sandy, and our Copper/DSL was down for 5 months (until they finally put FIOS- fiber in).
We survived on that unlimited data plan.
Remember one thing. YOU ARE GRANDFATHERED. (AT AT&T) , you CAN upgrade your phone (if its a year old or more), but you CANNOT EVER go BACK once you go off the unlimited data
Right now I wish Cheryl had an unlimited data plan on her account too, but she doesn't.
And when we got on the road, we did buy the millenicom (now defunct) verizon 20GB data plan. VERY GOOD.
Since the boondocking rally in Arcadia (started Feb 8th),we've STILL been here (see our blog).. because of a broken weld on our PinBox.
In Feb, we used about 36 gig between the two accounts.
... I knew there was a reason I wanted to upgrade the OS on my android tablet, but why when not on CG wifi?!)
Oh, yes, we do have a wifi-ranger Go, and definitely recommend it, especially with the new software upgrade.
And yes, we do tether (see junefabrics.com, as well as as foxfi.com)
For years I used pdanet (junefabrics) until foxfi came along (and these are some of the only android programs I've ever paid for!)
about 2-3 years ago I did need to physically tether to one pc, but since foxfi, all has been quite good, and very few complaints from carrier (but I do do a *data# every few days or so to log my usage).
Yes, sometimes (after 8-12 GB) AT&T slows down, but I've found in all those cases, rebooting the phone helps, and resets it.
And the advantages of the WFR-GO let you keep everything on one internal network (in case you share files/documents with each other and tablets and local wifi printers.
We will likely retire my Samsung Galaxy S II (yes a 2!) that has actually dropped off a scaffold 30 ft in the air during retail store construction) and survived (because of the Otterbox defender case- which did die!), and convert it to a T-mobile (walmart) backup hotspot.
So yeah, data is as important to us as it is to Cherie and Chris (at technomadia).
Again.. IMHO, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't screw yourselves and get rid of the grandfathered AT&T PLAN
Mitch B.
jaynjazz said
05:02 PM Apr 1, 2015
Keep in mind I am not full time...
We were on the grandfathered Verizon unlimited plan and pretty much between, tablet and two phones only using on a high month about 5GB of data. We changed the plan to the everything plan. We saved almost $70 and opted for the 15GB plan with the two phones and tablet. We still average 3-4GB now but included in the plan is Mobile Hostspot so we will be using that for laptop use when on the road.
It's enough for us at this point and if it changes in the future we can upgrade the plan anytime for more data. Will get a better feel for what is needed when we take our month long trip in September.
We are about realize the full-time dream after two years of planning/prep. I have studied the excellent books and information provided in this forum and am grateful for your shared experiences. Based on the latest discussions, we will initially invest in hardware to pull in cell service based data and take wifi as it is available. I plan to purchase the weBoost Drive 4G-X when available to pull in the signal and a AT&T Unite Pro to produce a wifi hotspot inside the bus.
Here is what we have:
2 - iPads wifi only
1 - iMac Desktop
1 - iPhone 4 on a 2GB data plan
1 - iPhone 6 on a grandfathered unlimited plan
My current data usage on the unlimited plan is less than 1GB a month and I am considering ditching it and bundling data. Is it worth keeping? If I could transfer it to an iPad with cell capability, I could see the value in keeping it, but not a phone.
Also, with my planned set-up, is there any benefit to adding a router like the wifiRanger GO without the external antenna system?
Jim
Like Jim says IMHO I'd keep it, at least initially, you might be very glad you did.
Howdy Howdy Gpndavid,
I can't say one way or the other about keeping your unlimited plan, but I can agree with Diana & Jim.
When we're in the s&b our monthly usage was between 3 to almost 5 gig per month. So that's what we were looking for (5 gig) to go on the road FT. The lowest we could get thru our carrier ( Verizon ) at that time was the Jetpack MIFI with 10 gig. So, that's the way we went and I also remember telling the Verizon folks "we will never use that much". The response from the Verizon folks " well if you do, you also have 2 gig you can use on your new Iphones". Now after being FT since this past Thanksgiving, we have had to use the Iphones to finish out 2 different months. I wouldn't have believed it, but most people do use more, much more ! Just saying !!!
Keep in mind two things about the unlimited iPhone plans:
1) AT&T is currently throttling usage after a few GB (ie. they slow your speeds down). This SHOULD be changing very soon with the new FCC rulings and lawsuits pending.
2) The unlimited data is on device only - you can't use it to as a mobile hotspot to get your other devices online.
As such, would recommend switching to an AT&T Mobile Share plan with your iPhones and Unite Pro (great hotspot). Unless you think you'll be able to use a LOT of data on device, then the unlimited plan may be worth keeping. Just attaching an HDMI out cable into a TV could make your iPhone a nice media player for Netflix and such once/if AT&T drops the throttling.
A router? All depends on your needs and how many devices you're trying to connect up. With just one computer and two iPads, and only one internet input source (AT&T hotspot) it may be overkill.. unless you decide you need a WiFi as WAN device to bring in outside WiFi sources too.
www.rvmobileinternet.com/overview is our overview article that talks about this stuff, if anyone is interested.
- Cherie
-- Edited by Technomadia on Sunday 15th of March 2015 04:50:41 PM
Chris/Cherie, Your books are great reference materials and I appreciate your continued inputs to help folks. I hope to share some vino around a campfire with you guys one day. I'll bring the box!
Mitch sez STOP.!!!! (and read CAREFULLY!)
Yeah, I thought I wouldn't need MY AT&T unlimited plan anymore.
Absolutely glad I kept it.
Before we sold S&B we lived through Hurricane Sandy, and our Copper/DSL was down for 5 months (until they finally put FIOS- fiber in).
We survived on that unlimited data plan.
Remember one thing. YOU ARE GRANDFATHERED. (AT AT&T) , you CAN upgrade your phone (if its a year old or more), but you CANNOT EVER go BACK once you go off the unlimited data
Right now I wish Cheryl had an unlimited data plan on her account too, but she doesn't.
And when we got on the road, we did buy the millenicom (now defunct) verizon 20GB data plan. VERY GOOD.
Since the boondocking rally in Arcadia (started Feb 8th),we've STILL been here (see our blog).. because of a broken weld on our PinBox.
In Feb, we used about 36 gig between the two accounts.
... I knew there was a reason I wanted to upgrade the OS on my android tablet, but why when not on CG wifi?!)
Oh, yes, we do have a wifi-ranger Go, and definitely recommend it, especially with the new software upgrade.
And yes, we do tether (see junefabrics.com, as well as as foxfi.com)
For years I used pdanet (junefabrics) until foxfi came along (and these are some of the only android programs I've ever paid for!)
about 2-3 years ago I did need to physically tether to one pc, but since foxfi, all has been quite good, and very few complaints from carrier (but I do do a *data# every few days or so to log my usage).
Yes, sometimes (after 8-12 GB) AT&T slows down, but I've found in all those cases, rebooting the phone helps, and resets it.
And the advantages of the WFR-GO let you keep everything on one internal network (in case you share files/documents with each other and tablets and local wifi printers.
We will likely retire my Samsung Galaxy S II (yes a 2!) that has actually dropped off a scaffold 30 ft in the air during retail store construction) and survived (because of the Otterbox defender case- which did die!), and convert it to a T-mobile (walmart) backup hotspot.
So yeah, data is as important to us as it is to Cherie and Chris (at technomadia).
Again.. IMHO, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't screw yourselves and get rid of the grandfathered AT&T PLAN
Mitch B.
We were on the grandfathered Verizon unlimited plan and pretty much between, tablet and two phones only using on a high month about 5GB of data. We changed the plan to the everything plan. We saved almost $70 and opted for the 15GB plan with the two phones and tablet. We still average 3-4GB now but included in the plan is Mobile Hostspot so we will be using that for laptop use when on the road.
It's enough for us at this point and if it changes in the future we can upgrade the plan anytime for more data. Will get a better feel for what is needed when we take our month long trip in September.
Good Luck!