Best plan/equiptment/carrier for occasional mobil internet

Verizon sells (or at least did a year or so ago) aircards with prepaid data. If the data isn't used for some period of time (I don't know how long it lasts) it will go away and you have to buy more data. I don't think the resellers offer this just the actual Verizon stores, but I could be wrong about that.

We have Verizon MiFi, and use it both on the road (5 months in the winter) and at home. Some here report you can call to "suspend" the service - and pay $5 for a month while suspended. During winter travels,We would like to suspend the service when we are in a park that has free wi-fi (seems like more and more do). Is there a minimum time Verizon will suspend? and any restriction on how many times they will suspend in say a year? I'm not talking about one or two days - but say 2 weeks or a month at a time? Thanks for your replies.

Just signed up for Freedom Pop. Paid 18.99 for 10GB and 89.99 for wireless modem and router. Speed seems to be accelerated according to 18.99 plan. Will wait until unit arrives and will keep everyone informed on service, speed and coverage.

I use Freedom Pop on Sprint works most places. Happy with the plan. $20.00 for 2GB.

If you have a 4G smart phone with Verizon you can turn the hot spot on and off at any time. Not sure about the allowed data use for an individual but on the family plan the entry level is 2 GB/month. For 4 GB add $10, for 6 GB add $20, etc. The best way for us is to start off the month with the basic 2 GB, watch usage and increase the allowed amount as we see it may be needed. When you increase the data during the month it can be backdated to the beginning of your billing date for that month. Our billing date is the 21st of each month. If we see we're about to exceed the 2 GB and are up to 5 GB and it's the 18th of the month we can go online and for $20 raise the allowance to 6 GB and avoid overages. On the 21st we change it back to 2 GB plan.

I've got the old Verizon unlimited data plan and when I go somewhere that has no wi-fi access available I call Verizon and have them turn on the phones hot spot for a specified number of days and it runs $1.00 per day for this access.

I purchased "Internet on the Go" through Walmart, while its not on the Verizon Network(Sprint, I think) but you can buy blocks of data that can used over a year's time. I used it very well in Calif and Nevada during my travels this past July/August.

Our data plan is not a hot spot. It is older. I think they called it direct connect something or other.

Jim

X2 on suspending the Verizon hotspot. You just need to notify them every 90 days to continue. You keep you 5GB/$50 plan. If you cancel, then you will have to go with one of their new plans.

Thanks to all for the information. Will now need to sit down and try to compare the different plans and options.