Hi all,I am looking into options for Wifi connectivity while traveling. Here is our situation:We head over to a friends ranch in Winnett MT for about 5 to 7 weeks to help with the cattle, while there, we have 1 bar of cell service (enough to get a text) and no internet service. We camp to far away from the house to be able to connect to their wifi. We camp about 500 yards away from the house and there are barns/buildings between us and the house.We also go camping a lot thru the summer months and hardly ever camp in a campground where there is wifi. Like Fort Peck Reservior, Holter Reservoir and places that just don't have service of any kind...cellular or wifi.We will also be heading to AZ this winter to camp and ride with the side-by-side and I know we won't be in a place that has wifi there either.We always take our kindle tablets (2), tracfone phones (2), 1 laptop.I am not worried about streaming movies since I have a large collection of digital movies on an external drive that I just play on the SmartTv via the laptop.Would like to be able to get on the internet to pay bills, check email, facebook and such.So my questions are:1. Would a mobile hotspot work for this type of camping situation?2. If you use a mobile hotspot....which service provider do you have?3. I don't think Wifi boosters or repeaters would work for us...am I correct in thinking this?Thanks for any help!Cindy

We have Verizon for our needs. You can use the phones we have as a mobile hot spot. We also have an air card which we connect to a small router for the ability to use both computers. It is not necessary any more since we upgraded phones.

If you have NO Cellular service I think you're out of luck until Star Link gets fully established.If you can get some cellular service probably Verizon or AT&T phone or Jetpack would get you the most service. We have a Jetpack with Verizon and have had very few places where we couldn't get online and we've been as far North as Alaska and Newfoundland and most everywhere in between.

enblethen wrote:We have Verizon for our needs. You can use the phones we have as a mobile hot spot. We also have an air card which we connect to a small router for the ability to use both computers. It is not necessary any more since we upgraded phones.Thanks for commenting. I did look into using my phone as a hotspot but since the coverage in the state of MT is spotty at best and we only have 1 bar while at the ranch....I didn't think using my phone as a hotspot would work.

Michelle.S wrote:If you have NO Cellular service I think you're out of luck until Star Link gets fully established.If you can get some cellular service probably Verizon or AT&T phone or Jetpack would get you the most service. We have a Jetpack with Verizon and have had very few places where we couldn't get online and we've been as far North as Alaska and Newfoundland and most everywhere in between.Thanks...I will look into a Jetpack....would I have to change my phone service over to either Verizon or At&T in order to get the jetpack service?

Visible uses Verizon and has a great unlimited hotspot. We find that Verizon has the best coverage , ATT second best. But if you have any cell service and want better service get a cell booster. We have one and are seldom without usable service. And we boondock.

Wifi options | Good Sam Community

enblethen
Nomad
Jan 04, 2022
We have Verizon for our needs. You can use the phones we have as a mobile hot spot. We also have an air card which we connect to a small router for the ability to use both computers. It is not necessary any more since we upgraded phones.
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Jan 04, 2022
If you have NO Cellular service I think you're out of luck until Star Link gets fully established.
If you can get some cellular service probably Verizon or AT&T phone or Jetpack would get you the most service.
We have a Jetpack with Verizon and have had very few places where we couldn't get online and we've been as far North as Alaska and Newfoundland and most everywhere in between.
amontanagl
Explorer
Jan 04, 2022
enblethen wrote:
We have Verizon for our needs. You can use the phones we have as a mobile hot spot. We also have an air card which we connect to a small router for the ability to use both computers. It is not necessary any more since we upgraded phones.

Thanks for commenting. I did look into using my phone as a hotspot but since the coverage in the state of MT is spotty at best and we only have 1 bar while at the ranch....I didn't think using my phone as a hotspot would work.
amontanagl
Explorer
Jan 04, 2022
Michelle.S wrote:
If you have NO Cellular service I think you're out of luck until Star Link gets fully established.
If you can get some cellular service probably Verizon or AT&T phone or Jetpack would get you the most service.
We have a Jetpack with Verizon and have had very few places where we couldn't get online and we've been as far North as Alaska and Newfoundland and most everywhere in between.

Thanks...I will look into a Jetpack....would I have to change my phone service over to either Verizon or At&T in order to get the jetpack service?
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 04, 2022
Visible uses Verizon and has a great unlimited hotspot. We find that Verizon has the best coverage , ATT second best. But if you have any cell service and want better service get a cell booster. We have one and are seldom without usable service. And we boondock.
enblethen
Nomad
Jan 04, 2022
I call my Jetpack an air card. It is the same.
Box says Novatel aircard wireles.
Smaller print says MIFI 7730L Jetpack.
Mine is older model that handles 4G. I would check for newer models
amontanagl
Explorer
Jan 04, 2022
agesilaus wrote:
Visible uses Verizon and has a great unlimited hotspot. We find that Verizon has the best coverage , ATT second best. But if you have any cell service and want better service get a cell booster. We have one and are seldom without usable service. And we boondock.

Thanks I will research the cell boosters too. We never stay in campgrounds and boondock all the time...I just can't pay to camp..just doesn't make sense to me to do that.

So a cell booster would enhance my service on my phone in order to allow me to use my phone as a hotspot and connect my tablet or laptop to that...correct?
amontanagl
Explorer
Jan 04, 2022
enblethen wrote:
I call my Jetpack an air card. It is the same.
Box says Novatel aircard wireles.
Smaller print says MIFI 7730L Jetpack.
Mine is older model that handles 4G. I would check for newer models

Got it..thanks
HappyKayakers
Explorer
Jan 04, 2022
I've also been looking at Visible. Do you just swap SIM cards in your current phone or did you get another phone just to use as a hotspot?

agesilaus wrote:
Visible uses Verizon and has a great unlimited hotspot. We find that Verizon has the best coverage , ATT second best. But if you have any cell service and want better service get a cell booster. We have one and are seldom without usable service. And we boondock.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 04, 2022
HappyKayakers wrote:
I've also been looking at Visible. Do you just swap SIM cards in your current phone or did you get another phone just to use as a hotspot?

agesilaus wrote:
Visible uses Verizon and has a great unlimited hotspot. We find that Verizon has the best coverage , ATT second best. But if you have any cell service and want better service get a cell booster. We have one and are seldom without usable service. And we boondock.

If your phone qualifies they send you a sim, otherwise they sell phones, often at a good discount and may throw in a kickback cash. We have had good luck with them with the exception of an incident last year, an update seemed to have bricked my phone so I have had to replace it. Otherwise no problems, be sure to know your pw when an update happens they will require it. They have a bargain price of $25/mo if you join one of their groups.

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