Currently we are relying on campground, McDonalds and other free hotspots, I wish to have my own, which of the two is best and does AT&T have pay as you go or is it monthly, finding out seems to be a hard thing to do at any sales locations.Currently we have Boost Mobile and AT&T pay by the minute phones and I do not wish to learn and pay for linking my phones to the internet. We do not have smart phones, the DW will be getting one soon but I'm a long way off.

Cellular data is super crazy expensive... it's probably the most expensive way to buy Internet access... there's no way around the cost. And using cell data to power a WiFi hotspot means you'll be using laptops, etc, which can burn through data faster than smart phones do.I looked into pre-pay data, and the prices are crazy. Only way to get close to a fair deal is with a contract. Lot of folks here like Millinumcon or whatever it's called, which is a reseller for Verizon's network.I'm not sure I understand your which is better question? A jetpack is a mobile hotspot, but it's a stand alone device. Smart phones can also serve as mobile hotspots, using an app - usually this is heavily regulated and / or forbidden by the carriers.In my opinion, budget carriers Sprint and T-Mobile offer better prices, but the trade off is poor coverage. If either carrier had as big a network as they advertise, their service would no longer be cheap. If the area you like to camp in is serviced by one of these budget carriers, you can save a lot of money. Otherwise, you'll have nothing but frustration.

Jetpack = Verizon Network The Verizon network has better 4G coverage IMHO.

JetPack is Verizon's brand name for their wifi hotspot. The price is $50/mo for 5GB of data, and the overage is only $10 per additional GB, so the overage rate is the same as the base rate. They have hands down the most comprehensive coverage in the US. 5GB is more than enough for 2 people to get through email and web browsing every day. I would not advise using it for streaming movies, an HD movie is about 2GB by itself.We have a JetPack on Verizon and our daughter in college has one. She hits the 5GB limit every month watching TV, etc., we rarely come close.Sprint MiFi prices are the same, but their coverage is not as complete as Verizon's.

At AT&T, we pay $250 for 30GB/month. :EBut, we use it for work...Since cellphone companies don't make much money from phones and plans anymore, this is their last stand.I can't wait until it becomes more cost effective!

Also have the Verizon Jetpack. $50/month for two years. Was told I could turn it on and off during that two years but my contract would extend until I used it for 24 months. Then come to find out I could only turn it off twice a year for two months at a time or some such schedule. Coverage is like any other wifi device. We happen to go to a place on a yearly basis that had, up until this year, poor verizon coverage. Works great at home where we also have cable internet with wifi.

JETPACK oe AT&T Mobile Hotspot | Good Sam Community

louiskathy
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Mountain Mama wrote:
I'm looking at a hotspot from Straight Talk. Device is $80 and then you add data, pricing starting at $15 for 1GB for 30 days. You refill as necessary. It's my understanding it uses Verizon towers but may limit your speed, but I don't think that will be a problem for us as we just need coverage when camping as we don't have smartphones yet but do like to check email, weather, etc.

Google Straight Talk Hot Spot if you're interested. Here's the link to the Data Plan website. Hotspot data plans

Reading through the info on the web page... Straight Talk hotspot is for 3G speed only. Just be aware of that.
louiskathy
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
I've only chatted online with Verizon and Sprint but it sure seems that it can get expensive in a hurry. If I remember correctly, Verizon wanted to add a $20 a month line charge to the monthly bill for the data charges.

All I really need is 3GB/month when we're not "on the road"... with the monthly line charge it gets to be $50 a month plus the cost of their device and taxes.

I have a Millenicom hotspot that gives me 20GB for $89. It's 3G/4G LTE and that's nice when we are hooking two or three devices to it. Just wish they had a
middle plan... 10GB for $45 would be nice. Dream on.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Verizon. Used it all over the US with no problems.
cpaulsen
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
Have used the JetPack for over 2 years with no problems.Started with 8GB then moved to 10.With the new data plans till the end of the month....we swapped to 30GB. The 30 GB was only 17 dollars a month more then the 15. Now the cost is 130 a month for the 30 which was the same cost as the 15. With the 30 now.....it is almost unlimited for us as will never use that much.
Robin1953
Explorer
Oct 14, 2014
louiskathy wrote:
I've only chatted online with Verizon and Sprint but it sure seems that it can get expensive in a hurry. If I remember correctly, Verizon wanted to add a $20 a month line charge to the monthly bill for the data charges.

All I really need is 3GB/month when we're not "on the road"... with the monthly line charge it gets to be $50 a month plus the cost of their device and taxes.

I have a Millenicom hotspot that gives me 20GB for $89. It's 3G/4G LTE and that's nice when we are hooking two or three devices to it. Just wish they had a
middle plan... 10GB for $45 would be nice. Dream on.
The cost increase and the fact that I left 12 to 15GB of unused data on the table every month is why I dropped Millenicom and switched to Straight Talk that also uses the Verizon network, 3G only. Two months time and 4GB of data for $40. I looked into Verizon but the monthly line access fee is ridiculous in my opinion. Straight Talk works for me since I only use it for banking.
ryoung
Explorer
Oct 15, 2014
Hardware wise I have had good service from the Verizon Jetpack 4620L (Novatel) device for the past two years. Prior, I had an AT&T Mobile Hotspot (Sierra Wireless) device that I had replaced 4 times within the 2 year warranty. On the 5th time I gave up and went to Verizon.

Also I think Verizon has the edge when it comes down to cellular coverage. Just my experience.

ryoung
wintersun
Explorer II
Oct 17, 2014
There has to be a cell tower with the telco's transmitter on it for it to be usable without paying roaming charges. Most of the towers are located along major highways and if the tower near the campground has only a Verizon transmitter someone with T-Mobile or ATT is out of luck and if it is an ATT only tower than the reverse will be the case.

Verizon had the most towers across the USA but AT&T has been rapidly expanding its coverage and it is at least 80% as good. T-Mobile and Sprint are fine in urban areas but not a good choice for travel.

Verizon service through Millenicom used to be the best deal but now it looks like AT&T may be a better choice.

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