Verizon Dedicated 3G Mobile Hotspot - RV-Dreams Community Forum

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Verizon Dedicated 3G Mobile Hotspot

Paul and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm going to follow this thread.

I was flabbergasted to learn that my Verizon aircard costs me $60 per month and, even with the high usage plan, my bills have shot up tremendously!

I only use the aircard infrequently now (since I'm on campground internet) but, the primary reason I got the aircard was for security reasons. The campground internet is unsecure. We do all of our banking and bill-paying online and, even though the bank and credit card company say they use "secure" connections, I'd rather have my OWN secure connection.

Paul

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have had Verizon broadband fro two years and really like it. It has better coverage area than out Verizon cell phone. We just switched from the USB antenna to the MyFi device which I think you are asking about. So far no problems and up to 5 laptops can connect at one time once they have downloaded the software. We find it handy because the DW can connect while I am also connected on another computer. We have used Verizon broadband while traveling down the road and it work great, especially on freeways since most towers follow major highways.

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have Verizon phone service, but are using PDA.NET for our server. There is suppose to be a way that you can network your computers so one is the hot spot. I had ours recognizing each other, now they won't. I am assuming that its a program issue. I am running XP and Sharon is using Vista Home.
If you are using a Smart Phone you might want to check out PDA.NET. They have free access and for a one time fee you have a secure connection, and unlimted use. You do have to have a Smart Phone and data service. Another way we save on our phone bill is that Verizon gives a 15% discount for current and retired milatary. Every little bit adds up.

-- Edited by 2fortheroad on Monday 6th of December 2010 09:53:11 PM

J Riechman · RV-Dreams Family Member

What is it? I have an aircard that I pay $60 per month for 5g.

-- Edited by J Riechman on Monday 6th of December 2010 11:40:23 PM

lb311 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Verizon has a pretty nice deal right now (but it's a promo, so not sure if it will go much longer than the next 30 days or so). If you have a Mifi device, you can get a lower priced plan of $35/mo for 3 GB of data. If you happen to need more bandwidth during a particular month, it's now just $10 per GB extra. So, 5 GB would end up costing $55 with this new plan vs. the $60/mo minimum I was previously paying.

If you are a bandwidth super-user, they've also now got a 10GB plan for $80/mo too.

This new $35/mo plan is only available for Mifi devices (not USB aircards).

Lynne

J Riechman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Go figure. Thanks for the info.

Blars · RV-Dreams Community Member

I've got millenicom.com $60/month for 10gb no contract. This is on the verizon network, they have an "unlimited" plan on sprint as well. If you want you can buy a router to plug the usb stick into. It also has a jack for an external antenna. To use it on linux, see my blog article, the instructions millenicom has don't work.

-- Edited by Blars on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 06:09:06 AM

Mallo · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use the Verizon air card so I have it to take into a customer site if I need to and then use a Cradlepoint router in the RV to give us our own hot spot using that air card.

None of the Verizon solutions are all that cheap and all have limits it's just a matter of finding the right combo for you.

At a customer site I can't create a wifi hot spot without breaking their network security so mifi and devices like that are no good for what I do for others they could be good.

When we're on the road we just pull the air card from the router and the navigator can get on the web as we drive if needed.

Mallo

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

We use a Verizon USB Air Card with either just one of the computers or with our Cradle Point MBR100 router. We do not use it much, except when travelling. Due to health issues, we are nailed to home for awhile.

Yep, the $60/mo is hard to swallow, when we are hardly using it. However, our account is grandfathered in with "unlimited use" PERIOD! If we cancel the account, the "unlimited usage" goes away forever. That is harder to swallow than the per month charge for now.

We have considered forgoing our cable hookup at the stiks and planks (white cedar, not bricks) and just plug the MBR into our Cradle Point and avoid the cable charge. We would still receive broadband. However with the cable broadband "bundled" with cable TV, we would not save that much.

Still pondering the coming year and what to do. Could be wrong, but I would think there are likely few "unlimited" accounts still active. Any out there?

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

Roz wrote:

We use a Verizon USB Air Card with either just one of the computers or with our Cradle Point MBR100 router. We do not use it much, except when travelling. Due to health issues, we are nailed to home for awhile.

Yep, the $60/mo is hard to swallow, when we are hardly using it. However, our account is grandfathered in with "unlimited use" PERIOD! If we cancel the account, the "unlimited usage" goes away forever. That is harder to swallow than the per month charge for now.

We have considered forgoing our cable hookup at the stiks and planks (white cedar, not bricks) and just plug the MBR into our Cradle Point and avoid the cable charge. We would still receive broadband. However with the cable broadband "bundled" with cable TV, we would not save that much.

Still pondering the coming year and what to do. Could be wrong, but I would think there are likely few "unlimited" accounts still active. Any out there?

Roz if you have a Verizon Smart Phone check out PDA.Net. Its a one time fee $15.95 for a secure site and UNLIMITED use. You do have to use a usb cable because it is not a compatible wifi connection. So for now we just share it between our two laptops. Where ever you have Verizon service you have Internet .

Roz · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the heads up!

Gary · RV-Dreams Family Member

2fortheroad wrote:

Roz if you have a Verizon Smart Phone check out PDA.Net. Its a one time fee $15.95 for a secure site and UNLIMITED use. You do have to use a usb cable because it is not a compatible wifi connection. So for now we just share it between our two laptops. Where ever you have Verizon service you have Internet .

A thought on this.

Is it possible to "tether" the smartphone to a cradlepoint router to make it a "wireless" solution while not having to worry about turning on the wireless feature of the phone?

The reason I ask is that I recently ordered a Droid X and reading this made me think of the Cradlepoint thing.

Thanks.

3Gstore_Matt · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Verizon MiFi is a popular option for users looking to get up to 5 devices online. I'd actually recommend against going with the MiFi 2200 now that Verizon has their 4G LTE network available.

The main reason we recommended the MiFi 2200 was for the new $50/mo for 5GB of data and $80/mo for 10GB of data. The new 4G devices have the same plans, they don't have the 3GB for $35/mo plan the MiFi has though.

The major benefit is these devices will do both 3G and 4G depending on the area you're in. The devices that are currently available are the LG VL600 and Pantech UML290. Both feature an external antenna port (being told we should have the adapter for the Pantech UML290 soon!), however, we currently don't have a solution for the 4G antennas. Hope to have those soon though!

For those talking about PDA net I'd be very careful. I'll admit the application is handy but I wouldn't recommend using it to replace a connection completely. If Verizon starts to notice a huge amount of data being transfered from your phone with the existing plan it's going to setoff an alarm. I can also say applications like PDA net WILL NOT work with a Cradlepoint router. You need the official phone software to utilize the tether feature to connect. The router doesn't know what to do with PDA net because the firmware isn't designed around it, it's designed around the core features built into the phone with official tether support.

-- Edited by 3Gstore_Matt on Wednesday 8th of December 2010 05:10:12 PM

-- Edited by 3Gstore_Matt on Wednesday 8th of December 2010 05:11:36 PM

Gary · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Matt. One doesn't learn unless one asks! Great info!

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have the Sprint mobile hot spot. Sitting here in BWI airport and good connection. We've used it in NJ, MD,PA, SD, Iowa, LA, TX, Nebraska, OK, KS, always got a connection. Often used it while riding down the Interstates. I wish it were a little faster and in some areas I lose connection and have to start up again.

Cost is 59.99 month. As fulltimers, I am satisfied with the cost as it is more convenient than anything else I've had. It can service up to 5 computers at once.