Forum Discussion

geo_m's avatar
geo_m
Explorer
Jul 12, 2015

iPad with cellular

Anyone here using iPad with cellular for camping trips where wifi not available.I am about to upgrade my tablet and was wondering if this is practical .We have a tv app through our cable service.We do not have a smart phone,but do have access to a data plan through AT&T.
  • wildtoad wrote:
    My suggestion would be to upgrade your phone to an iPhone then get a regular iPad. You can the use either device to access the Internet, make phone calls anywhere you can get cell and data services. I can make calls or use apps access the web from my iPad using a connection thru my iPhone.
    you cannot tether an iPad to an iPhone without paying extra to the carrier or jailbreak the phone.
  • geo m wrote:
    Anyone here using iPad with cellular for camping trips where wifi not available.I am about to upgrade my tablet and was wondering if this is practical .We have a tv app through our cable service.We do not have a smart phone,but do have access to a data plan through AT&T.


    Yes. In many cases I end up asking my iPad to "forget" the CG's wireless as I get better performance from Verizon LTE. But that's typically in FHU campgrounds. This year we're doing a lot of dry camping where cell signals are barely adequate for text messaging.

    If this is going to be your primary entertainment device, I'd recommend downloading some stuff before leaving home. The Sandisk iXpand is one way to add capacity without paying for the more expensive iPad.
  • you cannot tether an iPad to an iPhone without paying extra to the carrier or jailbreak the phone.

    Uh.... Wrong - I have Verizon's talk, text, and 10 GB data plan... And use my iPhone as a personal hotspot to which I connect my iPad and or MacBook daily!!! No extra charges!!!
  • I have an old iPad 3 with cellular Verizon (made the mistake of buying the non cell, no GPS and returned) and since I'm single no kids, it is my co-pilot.

    Bought a holder that keeps it where you see in the pic.
    I have lots of map apps, half don't need live data, like when I travel in mexico.

    Apps,
    Google maps
    Google earth
    Motion x GPS HD
    Motion x GPS drive
    Telenav GPS
    Topo maps
    Waze
  • SCVJeff wrote:
    Jframpey wrote:
    you cannot tether an iPad to an iPhone without paying extra to the carrier or jailbreak the phone.


    Uh.... Wrong - I have Verizon's talk, text, and 10 GB data plan... And use my iPhone as a personal hotspot to which I connect my iPad and or MacBook daily!!! No extra charges!!!how old is that plan? I know people that have that but say its no longer offered. I guarantee ATT doesnt do it

    I have an iphone 5, with ATT data plan for 10 gigs a month. I use the data on the phone and I tether my Samsung tablet to it all the time.
  • Yes. And a public campground is one of the places I use the iPad, if there happens to be 3G or better coverage in the area. Also at rest stops, and even staying in hotels where the WiFi setup tends to be cranky, requiring you to be logged into the hotel chain's portal.

    The data coverage won't be everywhere, there is a lot of dead air space out in our part of the country, but coverage is getting better as they fill the landscape with wind farms, since it seems operation and maintenance of those things requires people to have mobile data connections, so they pay for the towers.
  • We have an iPad 2 Air and 2 iPhones all cellular. The new iPhone 6 are very nice but we still like to have the iPad along on long trips. We download our local paper each morning, post pictures and email them to our kids and grandkids. Your plan is nation wide but be very careful if you get into Canada, or sometimes even real close.

    I still have a love/hate thing going on with AT&T. Good service most of the time but high prices all of the time.
  • Boband4 wrote:
    SCVJeff wrote:
    Jframpey wrote:
    you cannot tether an iPad to an iPhone without paying extra to the carrier or jailbreak the phone.


    Uh.... Wrong - I have Verizon's talk, text, and 10 GB data plan... And use my iPhone as a personal hotspot to which I connect my iPad and or MacBook daily!!! No extra charges!!!
    how old is that plan? I know people that have that but say its no longer offered. I guarantee ATT doesnt do it

    I have an iphone 5, with ATT data plan for 10 gigs a month. I use the data on the phone and I tether my Samsung tablet to it all the time.How old is that plan? I have friends that can to this with their rather old plan. But both ATT and Verizon told me 'Nope' gotta pay for it about 6 months ago.

    Somehow all these quote responses are getting messed up. How old is that plan?
  • This is a difficult question. If you are camping where you have Cell service sure I would consider it. But if yo are going out in the sticks like we do where there is 0 cell coverage than it is not use full.