Best Alternative to Millenicom

[5thwheeleroldma]

We have been using Millenicom for a couple years now as the campground hotspots are pretty useless. Now that Millenicom is gone, is there some other good alternative? Millenicom has worked well for us, so I guess the Verizon converage is good where we go. However, I suspect Verizon really intends to overcharge us when they take over. Our cell phones are ATT, and we get by with them too, so I guess I could go with ATT; not sure they'd be any better though.

[Bill_Satellite]

Please read my last post on in the other thread.

Also, you can buy a Cradlepoint router and plug a cellular USB device into that and share the one card with multiple computers in your home or RV. The added benefit is that when you are in the RV, the Cradlepoint can also look for open wifi hotspots and you can maintain your one set of network configurations and use the wifi just as you did your cellular but saving tons of data along the way.

[5thwheeleroldma]

I'm the OP; thanks all. There is another thread that seems to have more responses. I'm still waiting to see if Verizon will offer me some kind of special deal as an old Millenicom customer. Will probably go with Verizon in the end. All these comments have really helped me.

I probably will just go with Verizon for both RV and home internet. I found there is a little UBS device I can plug in to my wife's desktop and it will pick up the Verizon hotspot for internet just like my laptop. In the past, I compared Suddenlink cable (which I now have) to the hotspot. The hotspot was faster, in spite of what Suddenlink says. We're out in the country and the much vaunted fast cable doesn't seem so fast out here.

[jcpainter]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
The biggest difference between AT&T and Sprint and the Verizon service is not the coverage but what happens when you have to roam. AT&T and Sprint limit roaming data to about 300MB/month (you know, nothing!) and Verizon does not have any similar roaming limitation.

This is soooo true. See my "true life" experience posted earlier on this tread.

[Bill_Satellite]

The biggest difference between AT&T and Sprint and the Verizon service is not the coverage but what happens when you have to roam. AT&T and Sprint limit roaming data to about 300MB/month (you know, nothing!) and Verizon does not have any similar roaming limitation.

[wintersun]

For home use we switched this month to a T-1 line to our house as there is no cap. For travel we will be going on one of the Verizon family plans that includes 10GB of data as that is all we need.

Verizon still provides better national coverage than AT&T is not any worse than AT&T though that is not saying much at all. Both are notorious for over billing customers and for cramming.

I would wait for the dust to settle before doing anything. We did the move to T-1 to get around the Millenicom data cap as it restricted our use for streaming digital content.

[Bill_Satellite]

I dumped Millenicom long ago as I did not come close to using 20GB/month. If you don't use enough data with their plan it was too expensive to make any sense. I generally used 10-12GB/month, many times less, and I could adjust my Verizon data plan to match my needs ever month.

[TechWriter]

I dumped Millenicom before Verizon took over because I was able to get a cheaper data rate using just Verizon.

Note that I'm using 40GB and also have smartphones through Verizon.

[5thwheeleroldma]

Thanks louiskathy, so I guess True Connect is out as I think they do use Sprint towers. How about StraightTalk; do they have some hidden problem with their Verizon towers?

[louiskathy]

jcpainter wrote:
Do your due diligence with AT&T. We traveled out west with another couple last summer. They had a 6GB AT&T plan and we had Verizon.

Their data service was shut down after minimal usage. They called AT&T to see what was going on and they were told to read the fine print in their contract. Apparently when you are in an area where AT&T does not have their own towers, but provides service by using agreements with local companies, they limit your data usage to some really small amount and shut your service down if you go over it. I don't remember the number, but I believe it was less than 1 mg!

I immediately called Verizon to see if they also did that and they told me that they were familiar with the AT&T policy, but Verizon did not do the same.

That was over a year ago, so things could have changed . . . but you might want to check it out before you make your decision.

Same thing with Sprint. You really have to read and look closely.
When you look at a Sprint coverage map the entire USA looks like it has good phone and data coverage... Be sure to CLICK ON THE DATA tab... then if you hit the + a few times and drill down on specific areas... like the entire area between WA and ND... most of the map goes to light purple which means roaming only. Including along the Interstates. Sprint hotspots will not work if they are on a roaming network. You only get 100 mb or so.

I talked to Straight Talk today. I was told that they are on the Verizon towers. They only have one hotspot to choose from and it's 3G only. Not sure I want to be stuck with that but 4G towers are few and far between where we go. Might be a good way to go for now. It's basically a month to month plan on a 30 day cycle. No contracts. If you buy the data in 1GB or 2GB cards... they are only good for 30 days and then expire. If you buy 4GB, 5GB or 7GB cards, those are good for 60 days and then expire. If you run out of data in the middle of your 30 days you just buy another card of data to bridge to the next 30 day cycle. There is never a charge to reactivate. Just buy a data card, add it to the account and you're good for 30 days again. The data cards are not refundable.

I talked to Verizon a few days ago and verified that my mifi will work on the Verizon plans... just have to get a new SIM card from Verizon. (They are free but take about a week to get.) I just don't like paying a $20 line charge JUST to have an acct with them... and then paying appx $10 / GB for data. ouch.

[mockturtle]

I use Straight Talk Mobile Wifi and it's reasonably priced and works well on Verizon. They don't offer enough GB and they can be difficult to work with for tech service but it's OK for me. For now.

[Dog_Folks]

It has been our experience that in the western states, Verizon has much better coverage.

In the eastern states, AT&T.

It will depend upon where you live/travel.

[Gr8life]

Be careful also of those providing service on the "Verizon" network. My plan only uses actual Verizon towers and I recently drove half way across both Missouri and Oklahoma with no service.

[5thwheeleroldma]

Thanks JCpainter, that would be a bummer!

[jcpainter]

Do your due diligence with AT&T. We traveled out west with another couple last summer. They had a 6GB AT&T plan and we had Verizon.

Their data service was shut down after minimal usage. They called AT&T to see what was going on and they were told to read the fine print in their contract. Apparently when you are in an area where AT&T does not have their own towers, but provides service by using agreements with local companies, they limit your data usage to some really small amount and shut your service down if you go over it. I don't remember the number, but I believe it was less than 1 mg!

I immediately called Verizon to see if they also did that and they told me that they were familiar with the AT&T policy, but Verizon did not do the same.

That was over a year ago, so things could have changed . . . but you might want to check it out before you make your decision.