Using a roku while camping

We have used ours the entire weekend successfully. We have T-Mobile @ Niagara Lazy Lakes Campground near Ransomville, NY. I've been getting 5G quite consistently.
Good cell service is a must, so it depends on your cell reception.

A few weeks ago we were at Letchworth, SP near Perry, NY and had no cell service and no WIFI.

So it depends.

WNYBob

It'll work just fine but you'll go thru a lot of data. We use ours, generally go thru 10 gigs a day. If your phones data plan throttles the speed down after you reach a certain threshold, you might also have streaming issues. Probably need at least 3 mbps for the roku to work.

If you have the option, turn the video definition down to a 480 or 720 p setting and your videos will stream better and the data usage will drop drastically.
The folks running all the streaming services assume everyone has unlimited data at fiber optic type speeds.

We stream via a hot-spot and our smart TV all the time - but we have an unlimited data plan on the hot-spot. Just for reference (per hour):

720p uses 0.9GB
1080p uses 1.5GB
2K uses 3GB
UHD/4K uses about 7.2GB per hour

Rob

It depends entirely on how good of a signal you get with your hotspot.

I have used a Roku, as that is what I prefer at home, but in the 5er we use a Chromecast. It seems to work faster when not leaving it powered up and connected constantly. At least that is my experience.

I use my phone and unlimited data plan, with a dongle to tv or projecter. When i have service it works fine.

dieseltruckdriver wrote:
I have used a Roku, as that is what I prefer at home, but in the 5er we use a Chromecast. It seems to work faster when not leaving it powered up and connected constantly. At least that is my experience.

Same here. I download content before heading out and stream it via Chromecast. While Chromecast needs WiFi your actual content is on phone/tablet so you are not streaming it off the internet and using gobs of data.

Dedicated hot spots work better than a phone acting as a hot spot. They have stronger signals - both receiving and transmitting. We have an unlimited plan through ATT with a nighthawk hotspot and not only do we stream via fire stick, I work remote while travelling as well. Up and down the east coast - never an issue. But you will churn through data. I am lucky enough to have a truly unlimited plan fairly cheaply offered through my company.

And if you’re having dropped calls and even unable to make a call, it’s because the tower you’re on is overloaded with all the people streaming video…never designed for this many people using excessive data.