Republic Wireless - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Waggin Tails · RV-Dreams Family Member

Republic Wireless

mrschwarz · RV-Dreams Community Member

I have read about it and tried to sign up. They are in beta testing right now and are full. They use a combination of wifi and cellular and charge $19 per month, once you have purchased a $199 phone. Currently, they use something called a cellular use index (CUI). If you use to much cellular and not enough wifi, you are invited to seek phone use opportunities elsewhere. I read last night that they are scrapping the CUI.

It looks to be my future cell service provider.

Max Signal · RV-Dreams Family Member

You might find this announcement of interest.

http://republicwireless.com/blog/unlimited

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Based on the blog information at the link Max Signal posted, the unlimited is only guaranteed until the end of Beta testing. If at that time they find they can't keep up with the unlimited, one would be forced to either be prepared to get their Republic phone refunded or be stuck with whatever plan price they were to come up with. Also, their Beta testing is FULL??? So what benefit would I have if they never stuck with unlimited?

While I've not researched this, does anyone know anything about their coverage areas? For instance, the big thing with all the biggies is 4G, but that is limited to certain areas.

Sorry, I guess I'll just stick with Verizon. After all, one tends to get what one pays for.

Terry

mrschwarz · RV-Dreams Community Member

I believe they are using the Sprint network.

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

Have to chime in here too. I am no expert once again, but have done endless research and internet is just about the top of my list. That saying about "getting what you pay for" holds true in most cases and here also. I paid a high price to get out a contract from Alltell a few years ago and after that most of those off the wall, beta, etc. programs are out for me. I did search after search, emailing people, talking at rv parks, and then chose Millenicom. Had it just over a year and satisfied. Is it like cable internet at s&b? No. It is close though and never let us down. We have snowbirded four years and fulltime for one now so have traveled a lot of areas of US. Verizon is hands down the winner in my book. Watched people fighting with reception from all others. Another thing that sold me was it is one price too. So many of the companies have a price and all those add on fees. 20 gb per month 59.99. I have no affiliation with Millenicom.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Verizon as a service provider is the best choice for most people that are mobile. If you stay in one place that may not be true in every area....there may be better local service providers. But for the typical RVer that moves about, Verizon is probably the best choice for a data network. Millenicom uses Verizon (on the Advanced plan), and has better contract terms. So for 3G I'd choose Millenicom first - unless you have a reason not to (like I do, being grandfathered into the unlimited 3G on Verizon).

If you need a higher guarantee of connectivity and want your alternative to be cellular then I would pair my primary choice of Verizon with ATT - because its tower network is not shared with Verizon. Probably through a tethered connection to a cell phone that I could turn off/on as desired. The Technomadia folks can talk more about that technique if they want - that is what they do, and it is a reasonable strategy if you NEED to be connected.