Last winter we went to New Zealand instead of snowbirding like usual so it's been two years since our last snowbirding trip.I was very impressed on our long trip form Ontario to Mesa AZ that every little campground between here and there had pretty good wifi. All free except for one. We weren't Netflixing but YouTube videos worked fine with little buffering.Now we're at our winter site in Mesa (The Resort) where we were promised fabulous internet included in the rent. Not only is there no internet, there is no word if / when there will be. They're working on it.To add insult to injury, the permanents are getting a rebate on their rent but not RVers. Go figure.I guess I'll get some kind of hotspot. Anybody know what works well here?

Build a fire and send smoke signals......:DActually, I think you can buy an add on that fits in a port on your laptop from Verizon that wil give you Internet access about anywhere...

Do you have a smartphone that is capable of operating as a hotspot? Many now do, or if you are getting a hotspot, you may want to get a phone that can , without having to deal with an additional bill.

kerrlakeRoo wrote:Do you have a smartphone that is capable of operating as a hotspot? Many now do, or if you are getting a hotspot, you may want to get a phone that can , without having to deal with an additional bill.Our jetpack and phone share the same 24 gigs from Verizon.

Get a prepaid plan for data either from Verizon or AT&T depending on what bands your phone uses. Then use the phone as a hotspot as suggested by kerriakeRoo.

I use VERIZON Mi-Fi (JetPack). Any VERIZON store. I use it at home and on the road. Anywhere (well, almost anywhere) you can use your VERIZON phone, this gives you the internet. In my experience, I could not access the web on the JetPack but could use my phone was in Junction Texas. (so I used the cg system for the nite)

Internet access ups and downs | Good Sam Community

vermilye
Explorer
Dec 02, 2017
It would be wise to see what the coverage & by who is available at the "The Resort" in Mesa. Generally, both AT&T & Verizon cover major cities & highways, but things change. For example, here at Quartzsite, for the last 3 years Verizon provides superior data coverage. For some reason, this year they are almost down to dial up speeds, while AT&T is doing fine.

Hopefully, someone in the area will let you know who provides the best coverage for the park.
Lenny_K
Explorer
Dec 02, 2017
joebedford wrote:

I was very impressed on our long trip form Ontario to Mesa AZ that every little campground between here and there had pretty good wifi.

I was wondering which Ontario you are talking about? If you are Canadian you will be stuck with a prepaid plan.
joebedford
Nomad II
Dec 03, 2017
Lenny K wrote:
I was wondering which Ontario you are talking about? If you are Canadian you will be stuck with a prepaid plan.
The big one.

The local cable company will install internet for a few months too.

But it will probably be a prepaid of some sort.
Romer1
Explorer
Dec 03, 2017
Staight talk hot spot

Buy a Straight talk hotspot and buy data as needed. Been using it for 3 years, let it lapse when not traveling, reactivate when needed
monkey44
Nomad II
Dec 03, 2017
joebedford wrote:
verizon has a $50 jetpack and two $200 jetpacks. I suppose the cheap one is 3G. I wonder if the expensive ones are worth the extra cost for light use.

We activate a Verizon 4G jetpack for when we travel ... basically, last trip in the west we only got 3G on it anyway unless we were in a city or town. Once we got away from that, it only linked us up to 3G when we had service.

So, if you travel out of city/town areas, then the expensive 4G is not worth it, because you don't get it anyway ... sometimes do, sometimes not, but not worth four times the cost.
Heisenberg
Explorer
Dec 03, 2017
Maybe wireless line of sight internet would be available.
was_butnotnow
Explorer
Dec 07, 2017
vermilye wrote:
It would be wise to see what the coverage & by who is available at the "The Resort" in Mesa. Generally, both AT&T & Verizon cover major cities & highways, but things change. For example, here at Quartzsite, for the last 3 years Verizon provides superior data coverage. For some reason, this year they are almost down to dial up speeds, while AT&T is doing fine.

Hopefully, someone in the area will let you know who provides the best coverage for the park.

Call and complain has had been great. They need to know. Maybee, they'll bring out a portable tower.
Looks like I better bring my HughesNet Gen5 Mobile unit.

NEWS: RV.net did an article on this in their newsletter today.
They have been in contact with Verizon Read it here.

Quartzsite Verizon Service
MrWizard
Moderator
Dec 07, 2017
i didn't make to Q, last winter, and won't make this winter either
but like 'others' had good/great service in previous years

its a shame really

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