Internet options for full timers

[spuyear]

My wife and I are preparing to become full timers. However, I still need to work and require high-speed internet access. Anyone out there have a solution that works well for them? Is so, can you share your experience? Thanks!

[ependydad]

See if these links help:
Mobile Internet on the road

Info on boosters- wifi + cell

But really, a 1-year membership to rvmobileinternet.com is worth its weight in gold when going full-time and figuring out internet needs. I even paid for a 1-on-1 advising session with Chris and Cherie (and I'm a geek programmer!).

[Aridon]

Move your lines to Google voice, forward your number to what ever mvno you choose.

We use cricket. Have burned through upwards of 150gb in a month without issue. Cricket is owned by att

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

We use an average of 12-18 GB bandwidth per month. What really upsets me is that much of that bandwidth goes to videos/ advertisements various websites use. Forget about getting news from any source without more bandwidth for their videos than actual news.

We have both an AT&T hotspot and a Verizon hotspot. Usually one of them is able to get a decent signal, however we have been places like Jamul, CA - just outside San Diego - where both AT&T and Verizon coverage maps promised 4G LTE service - and there was not even enough signal to do SMS text.

Another place we visit a couple times for doctors visits - absolutely no Verizon signal at the COE campground, but great Verizon a mile away. Good AT&T though.

Full-time moderate speed internet is available to mobile RVers, if you don't plan to go to the wilder less developed parts of this country. Planning to visit the beautiful national parks of the west - forget about regular service.

We've also found dead areas near Cape Cod, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, North Carolina, West Virginia.

In such areas, we have to plan a once a week trip to a moderately sized town - 10K + population - and carry our hotspots with us. Usually have lunch at a restaurant and do our e-mail, bill paying, etc. We never use a public open network like Starbucks for such - preferring to use our own hotspots.

We will browse the web, check the news, Facebook, etc - on public networks.

[TechWriter]

Triker33 wrote:
For Full Time in a RV, there is no such thing as high speed Internet, that is available in S&B.

Not necessarily. If you stay at a campground with cable TV for several months, you may be able to get a cable modem through the cable TV provider. In that case you've essentially have a S&B setup.

We did this when we work camped for 6 months and were able to use SuddenLink.

[sljkansas]

I have been using a Cradlepoint 1000 router for about 10 years ago used.
I bought it used and it has served me very well. I used it in the house, and when on the road.

I bought the 12 volt power supply from Cradlepoint. I can move it to the house, the car and camper.

[Triker33]

For Full Time in a RV, there is no such thing as high speed Internet, that is available in S&B.

[Dutch_12078]

We have three Internet "solutions" on board that work well for us. The first is an AT&T Mobley hotspot device using their "Connected Car" $20/month unlimited 4G/LTE data plan. The second is a grey market Verizon Jetpack that's been "flashed" by an eBay vendor to use a $5/mo unlimited 3G data plan as a backup in case we find an area with no AT&T coverage, but that has not yet happened. The third item is part of the reason we've always had a usable AT&T signal, a Maximum Signal Max Amp RV cell signal amplifier/repeater that boosts and repeats the available cell signals throughout our motorhome. The Max Amp has worked for us even where our devices have said there was no service. Good cell boosters are not inexpensive, but they can be essential if reliable Internet service is important to you.

[bob_nestor]

All the cell phone companies have WiFi or hotspot options. The data limits and prices all vary. But coverage is not the same for all companies in all parts of the country. The first thing one needs to do when looking for a good on-the-road cell plan is to figure out where you're going to be using it. Match your places of use with the coverage provided, then look for the best service and plans available.

What works for someone is East Podunk isn't necessarily going to work in West Timbuktu.

[valhalla360]

Do you have any idea of your total monthly data usage?

Cellular is generally pretty good but while they have "unlimited" plans, they throttle if you use a lot of data.

If you need 50-100gig per month, expect to be throttled.

Campground wifi is very hit and miss.

[donn0128]

There are only two real options for full timers. Neither is cheap. Satelite, but equipment purchase is very expensive and speed is close to dial up. Cell based is a bit cheaper, but depending on service provider and location can be spotty at times. The park we spent the last two months at Verizon was the only choice and then it was only good late at night up to about 6:30 in the morning. Still Verizon is probsbly your best choice for consistant cell providers. A jetpack plus an external antenna would be your best shot at consistant signal.

[2oldman]

verizon

[mikebreeze]

Do a search for 'Mobley' on this site and irv2.com . This hot spot device had a very good price thru AT&T.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Although I don't use it for work, I have used Verizon Wireless Jetpack Wi-Fi all over the US and even Canada with no problems. If you have a good cell signal, you have internet. (Do not get the unlimited plan). I switched to the "unlimited" plan and switched back because they slow down your speed after a small minimal usage. It's not cheap.