Cellular Game Changers - Is Verizon Losing Ground?
Someday said
01:29 AM Nov 1, 2016
Without question looking at most coverage maps lately, Verizon for the most part seems to still have the edge on more coverage than any other provider, but equally they also charge handsomely for that privilege. We're starting to hear more and more about T-Mobile gaining immense ground and offering pretty good packages, as well Google Fi is being mentioned more and more. Straight Talk comes up now and again as folks are trying to trim their cellular service costs and general overall budgets and so on and so forth.
Would love to hear from folks that have either downgraded their Verizon plans maybe or done away with them altogether and gone to another provider and if so how it's worked out? Also what areas are you mainly travelling in for coverage with that provider, and where if anywhere during your travels you've had frustrations with lack of coverage?
Roam Mobility in Canada is I believe basically a reseller of T-Mobile but without the "binge on" capacity. Due to the US:C$ exchange rate lately they'd increased their charges as well I believe to cover the roaming in the USA. All in all I struggled to see any advantage not to just deal direct with T-Mobile if that was a route we wished to take. Certainly appealing to us not having any TV service intention (not that we watch much anyway), but wondering how bad the coverage might be in Montana (the state immediately below us here)?
Would also really love to hear from those using Google Fi as to how it's worked out for you and the pluses and minuses as well based on how and where you travel? Google being google I've been expecting it to kick some butt so to speak but not heard a huge amount on it outside of their self promotion.
Alternatively as well anyone that's got a small Verizon/ATT or other major player package to compliment one of the "deemed" better value packages out there?
Appreciate your sharing the pros, cons and what you love/hated about other service providers and what combo you use and why you opted that route.
2riker2go said
02:12 AM Nov 1, 2016
We still have Verizon, went with the double your data a couple years back so we make do with 30 gb a month. Most months we don't have to struggle, although we aren't able to watch tv shows etc because it just goes too fast. I will be interested in hearing what other options people have found that work for them.
PIEERE said
08:44 AM Nov 1, 2016
I never used Verizon unfortunately! I had Net 10 prepaid and switched to Cricket serviced by AT&T. I have the $60.00 10GB Plan with the added Hotspot on my phone for $10.00! Not for everyone but it works where I'm located!
JackKim said
09:24 AM Nov 1, 2016
My son, who works for T-mobile hooked us up with a plan that is called Binge TV and you get unlimited streaming from selected providers. We do not always have service, but when we do it is great. We used 100 gigs one month watching tv (I know, my hubby has a problem! Lol) Netflix and Hulu. You still have to pay for your subscription channels, but being able to watch without fear of using too much data has been wonderful. I do not remember what the cost cause the sweet boy got it for a gift for us, but I think it is around $25 a month and I do not think you have to have T-Mobile phone service to get it cause we do not. We have a large family plan with At&t that serves us pretty well.
Anyway, just wanted to share my experience with T-Mobile. Btw son does not recommend the phone service for us yet because a lot of the places we go would not have service. The are more concentrated to the Metropolitan areas. But we have been pleasantly surprised where we have gotten our Binge tv service.
Any questions you can call him. Message me and I can get you his number at work. He is at a store in Beaverton Oregon outside Portland.
Warmly, Kim
RonC said
01:33 PM Nov 1, 2016
Not really sure if Verizon is losing ground, but you are right about the cost. We have a Verizon phone and MiFi Jetpack (my plan) with 18 GB of data (16+2 bonus) for $120 per month. We discovered an AT&T product called a "cellular home phone with internet", which we got just for the internet part. So it's essentially a hot spot ... what's magic about this deal is that we got a 50 GB plan for $80 per month. That is incredibly cheap compared to an equivalent Verizon plan ... which would is currently offered at $225 per month. In addition to that, my wife also has an AT&T cell phone plan for around $40 per month So we have AT&T phone and hotspot (50GB) and Verizon phone and hotspot (18GB) and pay about the same for both (total of $240 for both phones and combined data of 68GB) ... with the AT&T deal being the better value.
Our primary internet source is the AT&T unit, due to the 50GB data package ... and Verizon's 18GB is reserved for when the AT&T either doesn't work, or runs out of data. By using the two major carriers, we feel we have the best shot at getting service when we're on the move. So far, so good.
Hope this info is helpful.
Someday said
02:44 PM Nov 1, 2016
Oh wow Ron and Janice, for sure I've heard others that run businesses on the road say they have both an AT&T and Verizon package needing to be connected all the time (cost of doing business so to speak), but alas for us that's much more than our fixed income budget allocation I have allowed. Nonetheless bless you for sharing that and absolutely it will be of help.
I really hoped after Europe collaborated that providers had to stop all the excessive overage roaming charges etc a few years back that NA might follow suit not long behind but sadly it's still not yet to be. Patience Grasshopper, Patience.
Fortunately whilst I love my trading on-line, catching up on the forums, a couple of series I follow and so on, I can for the most part in non-secure required situations wait for wi fi if the need be. Just thought if T-Mobile binge on coverage has improved that exponentially whether it was worth investing in that. Also going to be interesting to read on Google Fi users their experiences as well.
For how little TV we actually watch, we have struggled for years to continue paying $100/month cable rates in today's day and age. The new set up with government intervention lately hasn't really improved it for us either, because of how widespread on different channels the odd things we do watch are and pay per use equates to more than the package deal we were on (LOL). Think the government have cottoned on to that now, as they are talking about another assessment of it here in Canada apparently.
Keep the sharing coming folks, it's all good info for each other.
RonC: Check with Verizon, their "New Verizon Plan" might be cheaper and you should be able to get 2GB per smartphone of free bonus usage. We saved money off our old "Double Your Data" plan and have Canada and Mexico service along with rollover data. We have already called both Canada and Mexico and this month we are using rollover from last month.
I also have a T-Mobile phone on a 6GB plan with Binge On and tethering, but now T-Mobile is trying to only sell unlimited plans for $5 more (which might get throttled above 26GB), but without good tethering. I picked the phone up to be available for family in the Port Townsend WA area, which is a problem spot for Verizon. Now the family need is over, so now it is mostly used to watch videos and GPS navigation. Just in Washington and Oregon States, there are many more places where T-Mobile is non-existent or slow compared to Verizon. I am going to experiment with it the next couple months as we head into California and Arizona. (I did pay off the $175 LG phone, since T-Mobile was charging $10 a month for insurance and less than $6 a month for the time payment on the phone.)
Someday said
01:46 AM Nov 3, 2016
I for one will be keen to hear your synopsis on T-Mobile Bill as you head to California and Arizona. Thanks for sharing :)
I'd really like to find a more affordable way to watch some programs we enjoy on line = combined total wouldn't come to more than an hour a day max as average, but when we are totally RV only based, I think we might like to watch a little more on dull days and dark nights so to speak. We just can't for the garbage we get now on our satellite at home TV for $100/month justify it's cost any more. Only kept it for hubby's hockey and English football at weekends but .......
Second Chance said
07:28 AM Nov 3, 2016
Someday wrote:
I for one will be keen to hear your synopsis on T-Mobile Bill as you head to California and Arizona. Thanks for sharing :)
I'd really like to find a more affordable way to watch some programs we enjoy on line = combined total wouldn't come to more than an hour a day max as average, but when we are totally RV only based, I think we might like to watch a little more on dull days and dark nights so to speak. We just can't for the garbage we get now on our satellite at home TV for $100/month justify it's cost any more. Only kept it for hubby's hockey and English football at weekends but .......
We are Dish For My RV customers (don't have a stix 'n brix home any more) for TV. Just a few weeks ago, we discovered that they added a new plan to their offerings that provided 99% of the channels we watch for only $45/month. It's called the "Flex Pack" and can be had for $35 a month without locals if you want to just watch them over the air. I'm afraid it won't suit die-hard sports fans or people who want 50 music channels, but it's perfect for us - and all HD with our Pathway X2 antenna, 211Z receiver, and a hard drive attached for recording shows when we're not around. (I believe there's a "sports pack" you can add for another $10... of course.) We couple this with the "New Verizon Plan" at 24GB/month with roll-over (on a military discount) and it's more than we need. We watch more TV than we should, spend more time on-line than we should, and still pay about what we were paying for XFINITY Triple Play back at the house. When we were camp hosts in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, those of us with Verizon phones were the only ones who didn't have to drive out to the highway to make a phone call.
Rob
Russ Ranger said
02:01 PM Nov 3, 2016
When we got back to the states this Summer I needed another cell phone and a plan. We have been exclusively with Verizon for the last ten years. Last year they canceled the option to put your service on hold for 90 days when out of the country. For years we had put our plan on two holds for the 180 days we spent in Mexico each Winter. I had to cancel 3 of our 4 devices to reduce our costs during our Winter break.
When we got back in the states I carefully studied the options. I choose to go with Cricket the AT&T bargain brand. I started with their 10 gig of data option planning to increase the total as we needed more data. BIG MISTAKE. I soon found out that they had NO options above 10 gig of data!!! I was out of luck. I asked them what my options were? Crickets reply was to go to another company, "So sorry".
My bargain only lasted for 2 months before I needed to return to Verizon. My wife told me I was a cheap idiot, she was right. Sometimes a bargain is very expensive.
Now that we are back in Mexico for the Winter I can buy a cheap Mexican plan for $10.00 per month. At least if I don't like it I can just toss it in the garbage can.
bjoyce said
10:40 AM Nov 4, 2016
Russ Ranger: Verizon does have Mexico service included now, but it costs more than the $10 a month and requires you to have a higher data plan. But I can't tell you how good their service is in Mexico, since all we have done is call Mexico from the USA.
Russ Ranger said
10:01 PM Nov 4, 2016
Bill, The quality of cell service in Mexico is alot like the states. It is really dependant on cell tower location and which company Verizon has partnered with. It can be hit or miss. My general opinion is that it is not as good as in the states. We keep our Verizon international plan active but have also had a cheap Mexican phone/plan as back-up.
jimindenver said
08:08 AM Nov 5, 2016
I have a few devices on secondary sellers like Cricket is to AT&T, which is wonderful with it's unlimited unless you need a hotspot. Those are limited to the 10 gig plan and lower.
A company called 4Gantennashop sell T-Mobile and I have a 5 gig hotspot with them that includes Binge on and Music freedom for $15, we have run nearly 30 gigs through it this month.
Ringplus and Freedompop offer Sprint in small quantities for free, even some AT&T.
Probably the best way for streaming is as mentioned above, a tailgater portable dish offers reception where no cell service can, it's always a great picture, usually HD and less expensive than a Verizon plan.
Dan and Ruth said
09:08 AM Nov 7, 2016
I have Google FI and it works great where I am now. Pricing for it is great. We'll find out how well it works next year when we go full time. Ruth is still on Verizon and I think we'll leave it that way until we first evaluate FI on the road.
tincanman said
03:20 PM Nov 7, 2016
I have Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile (had Sprint but went back to Verizon as Sprint didn't live up to it's billing)
I have been full timing for the past 2.5 years and work remotely for my consulting company and I must have good reliable service. I use WiFi hotspot to connect to work, almost no matter where I am in the US.
Verizon has been the most reliable and strong signaled of all the other services - my #1 choice on the road for solid internet. I have an 80GB plan.
AT&T is provided by my employer. I have found that it is the best for very remote locations, off road, up in the mountains, etc.
T-Mobile I got for the "Binge On" service - replacement for cable or dish. First; sadly T-Mobile network only works in and around large metropolitan areas. Traveling around the country this year I had many days of "Binge Off". Second; what the advertisement doesn't tell you, using the BO service uses your T-Mobile purchased data. I bought the 20GB plan and just watching a few Netflix, uses it all up. What I believe T-Mobile is trying to get you to do, is to buy their Unlimited data plan for several $100 a month. On the road I have use my Verizon wireless, work reserved data to Binge. [Just checked T-Mobile's site & unless I missed it, I don't see an unlimited data plan]
However, when T-Mobile works the service is great and along with Hulu, HBO Now, Netflix and Amazon Video it is a great (cheaper?) replacement for cable or dish. [NOTE: BO only works with a particular list of providers which can be found on their website here]
My bottom-line for on the road, get Verizon (with a >= 30GB plan) for it's strength and coverage. Get T-Mobile for "Binge On", but just be aware of my noted shortcomings.
Without question looking at most coverage maps lately, Verizon for the most part seems to still have the edge on more coverage than any other provider, but equally they also charge handsomely for that privilege. We're starting to hear more and more about T-Mobile gaining immense ground and offering pretty good packages, as well Google Fi is being mentioned more and more. Straight Talk comes up now and again as folks are trying to trim their cellular service costs and general overall budgets and so on and so forth.
Would love to hear from folks that have either downgraded their Verizon plans maybe or done away with them altogether and gone to another provider and if so how it's worked out? Also what areas are you mainly travelling in for coverage with that provider, and where if anywhere during your travels you've had frustrations with lack of coverage?
Roam Mobility in Canada is I believe basically a reseller of T-Mobile but without the "binge on" capacity. Due to the US:C$ exchange rate lately they'd increased their charges as well I believe to cover the roaming in the USA. All in all I struggled to see any advantage not to just deal direct with T-Mobile if that was a route we wished to take. Certainly appealing to us not having any TV service intention (not that we watch much anyway), but wondering how bad the coverage might be in Montana (the state immediately below us here)?
Would also really love to hear from those using Google Fi as to how it's worked out for you and the pluses and minuses as well based on how and where you travel? Google being google I've been expecting it to kick some butt so to speak but not heard a huge amount on it outside of their self promotion.
Alternatively as well anyone that's got a small Verizon/ATT or other major player package to compliment one of the "deemed" better value packages out there?
Appreciate your sharing the pros, cons and what you love/hated about other service providers and what combo you use and why you opted that route.
Anyway, just wanted to share my experience with T-Mobile. Btw son does not recommend the phone service for us yet because a lot of the places we go would not have service. The are more concentrated to the Metropolitan areas. But we have been pleasantly surprised where we have gotten our Binge tv service.
Any questions you can call him. Message me and I can get you his number at work. He is at a store in Beaverton Oregon outside Portland.
Warmly, Kim
Our primary internet source is the AT&T unit, due to the 50GB data package ... and Verizon's 18GB is reserved for when the AT&T either doesn't work, or runs out of data. By using the two major carriers, we feel we have the best shot at getting service when we're on the move. So far, so good.
Hope this info is helpful.
I really hoped after Europe collaborated that providers had to stop all the excessive overage roaming charges etc a few years back that NA might follow suit not long behind but sadly it's still not yet to be. Patience Grasshopper, Patience.
Fortunately whilst I love my trading on-line, catching up on the forums, a couple of series I follow and so on, I can for the most part in non-secure required situations wait for wi fi if the need be. Just thought if T-Mobile binge on coverage has improved that exponentially whether it was worth investing in that. Also going to be interesting to read on Google Fi users their experiences as well.
For how little TV we actually watch, we have struggled for years to continue paying $100/month cable rates in today's day and age. The new set up with government intervention lately hasn't really improved it for us either, because of how widespread on different channels the odd things we do watch are and pay per use equates to more than the package deal we were on (LOL). Think the government have cottoned on to that now, as they are talking about another assessment of it here in Canada apparently.
Keep the sharing coming folks, it's all good info for each other.
You might want to follow https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/news/ for news on cell plans for RVers. Cherie and Chris do keep track of the changes.
RonC: Check with Verizon, their "New Verizon Plan" might be cheaper and you should be able to get 2GB per smartphone of free bonus usage. We saved money off our old "Double Your Data" plan and have Canada and Mexico service along with rollover data. We have already called both Canada and Mexico and this month we are using rollover from last month.
I also have a T-Mobile phone on a 6GB plan with Binge On and tethering, but now T-Mobile is trying to only sell unlimited plans for $5 more (which might get throttled above 26GB), but without good tethering. I picked the phone up to be available for family in the Port Townsend WA area, which is a problem spot for Verizon. Now the family need is over, so now it is mostly used to watch videos and GPS navigation. Just in Washington and Oregon States, there are many more places where T-Mobile is non-existent or slow compared to Verizon. I am going to experiment with it the next couple months as we head into California and Arizona. (I did pay off the $175 LG phone, since T-Mobile was charging $10 a month for insurance and less than $6 a month for the time payment on the phone.)
I'd really like to find a more affordable way to watch some programs we enjoy on line = combined total wouldn't come to more than an hour a day max as average, but when we are totally RV only based, I think we might like to watch a little more on dull days and dark nights so to speak. We just can't for the garbage we get now on our satellite at home TV for $100/month justify it's cost any more. Only kept it for hubby's hockey and English football at weekends but .......
We are Dish For My RV customers (don't have a stix 'n brix home any more) for TV. Just a few weeks ago, we discovered that they added a new plan to their offerings that provided 99% of the channels we watch for only $45/month. It's called the "Flex Pack" and can be had for $35 a month without locals if you want to just watch them over the air. I'm afraid it won't suit die-hard sports fans or people who want 50 music channels, but it's perfect for us - and all HD with our Pathway X2 antenna, 211Z receiver, and a hard drive attached for recording shows when we're not around. (I believe there's a "sports pack" you can add for another $10... of course.) We couple this with the "New Verizon Plan" at 24GB/month with roll-over (on a military discount) and it's more than we need. We watch more TV than we should, spend more time on-line than we should, and still pay about what we were paying for XFINITY Triple Play back at the house. When we were camp hosts in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, those of us with Verizon phones were the only ones who didn't have to drive out to the highway to make a phone call.
Rob
When we got back in the states I carefully studied the options. I choose to go with Cricket the AT&T bargain brand. I started with their 10 gig of data option planning to increase the total as we needed more data. BIG MISTAKE. I soon found out that they had NO options above 10 gig of data!!! I was out of luck. I asked them what my options were? Crickets reply was to go to another company, "So sorry".
My bargain only lasted for 2 months before I needed to return to Verizon. My wife told me I was a cheap idiot, she was right. Sometimes a bargain is very expensive.
Now that we are back in Mexico for the Winter I can buy a cheap Mexican plan for $10.00 per month. At least if I don't like it I can just toss it in the garbage can.
A company called 4Gantennashop sell T-Mobile and I have a 5 gig hotspot with them that includes Binge on and Music freedom for $15, we have run nearly 30 gigs through it this month.
Ringplus and Freedompop offer Sprint in small quantities for free, even some AT&T.
Probably the best way for streaming is as mentioned above, a tailgater portable dish offers reception where no cell service can, it's always a great picture, usually HD and less expensive than a Verizon plan.
I have Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile (had Sprint but went back to Verizon as Sprint didn't live up to it's billing)
I have been full timing for the past 2.5 years and work remotely for my consulting company and I must have good reliable service. I use WiFi hotspot to connect to work, almost no matter where I am in the US.
[Just checked T-Mobile's site & unless I missed it, I don't see an unlimited data plan]
However, when T-Mobile works the service is great and along with Hulu, HBO Now, Netflix and Amazon Video it is a great (cheaper?) replacement for cable or dish. [NOTE: BO only works with a particular list of providers which can be found on their website here]
My bottom-line for on the road, get Verizon (with a >= 30GB plan) for it's strength and coverage. Get T-Mobile for "Binge On", but just be aware of my noted shortcomings.