Mobile hot spots

If you are asking about free? McDonalds, Starbucks, Lowes, some Wal-Marts..maybe all, Home Depot, Safeways, Save-On Foods. Many libraries.

If you are talking a laptop? I'd suggest investing 20 or 30 bux in a WiFi booster from Staples or The Source. D Link is good. It will allow you to get a stronger signal if you are out in a parking lot.


Gary Haupt

Thanks Gary. Good info. Looking for mobile hotspots or sticks that you buy and get a plan. I know Roger's and Bell have them . Looking for others. Telus won't call me back!

Is there confusion in terms here? To me a "hotspot" is when you turn the hotspot feature on, on your cell phone. You can generally do this anyplace you get cell service, but not always. Sometimes when roaming you may get cell, but you're not allowed to use their data.

It sounds to me as if the OP really means WiFi hotspots such as McDonalds, WalMart, a lot or quick food places, Starbucks, waiting rooms, etc. In this case, you can pick their WiFi signal on any cell phone at no cost. Just keep you phone in airplane mode so you're not picking up the local cell carrier - if you do, you're going to pay the daily roaming fees.

Bill

Hi,

T-mobile works any where that Bell Canada works. However, they are changing how their data is paid for on September 6th. After that date there will be no more tethered data included in their unlimited offerings. At this moment in time, if you have T-mobile it includes 14 gigs of tethering on the phone. For an additional $5 you get unlimited calling and unlimited text in Canada.

T-mobile will be charging $15 for 5 gigs of tethered data after Sept. 6, but I rather doubt that will apply in Canada. Existing accounts will be grandfathered in.

It is rather a HOOT to me that T-mobile coverage is better in Canada than in USA.

The telcos are greedy beasts.

Actually trackrig I am looking for a rocket stick or mobile hot spot. I don't have a data plan on my phone. In US I have Internet on the go. Doesn't work in Canada.

I just came through Canada two weeks ago from Washington to Anchorage. Having my Samsung phone on airplane mode and using WiFi at various places like Starbucks, WalMart, McDonalds and so on worked just fine and at zero cost.

Bill

Thanks Bill but not a secure connection. Correct?

portliz wrote:
Thanks Bill but not a secure connection. Correct?

Nope, or not as far as I know of.

Bill

OP..in your original ask, you didn`t mention the need for secure. The only way you are going to achieve that is a data plan with your at home carrier. You need to talk to them and ask about their plans for travelers. If you post your carries name here...someone will have the scoop. As `pianatuna` has said...T Mobile in Canada has a plan but it changes Sept 6th.

Your intro shows you in Ontario. If you are close to the border, perhaps go across now and buy a T Mobile at Wal-Mart.


Gary Haupt

Before we left on our trip to Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, I ordered an AT&T Unite hot spot from Amazon. Cost about $89 Can. I went to Bell and put a tablet plan on it. The tablet plan is ramped. $5.00/ month to start and then it increases with the amount of data you use. When we got to Alaska, went into an AT&T store and bought the US sim card and put a $50 pre paid plan on the sim card. Got us lots of data. We had some things to work out just as we left, so we needed extra data.
When we head back from the western area we are planning to go through the lower 48 and will likely just use the prepaid data on my phone that has another AT&T pre-paid sim card in it as we won't be using as much data.(AT&T GoPhone )
I am posting this from Yellowknife using the hotspot on Bell 4GLTE sitting in a lovely campsite.
Only problem we had was lack of cell service between larger centres in the north, just like Northern Ontario. Oh well a day or two of no internet didn't hurt me, but the beer consumption increased!
Brian