When will we get truly unlimited data from cell providers

[mikestock]

I has a solicitor from Spectrum/Charter trying to get me to move from DirectV to their tv service. I already use them as my home internet provider. I argued that I use DTV because of the rv. She tried to sell me on the idea that I could take it with me to wherever WIFI was available and I would have access to all Spectrum hotspots.

Primary thing that prevents my from trying this is that I only get 30 GB of data, to use as a hotspot for the month, and I know this would not last very long. Of course there are coverage issues with the phone that need to improve. Campground WIFI providers aren't pleased with campers trying to stream video.

This is likely the way we get all of our tv, in the future. Just wondering how far away from this, as the norm and if any areas of the country is making progress in this direction.

[lryrob9301]

I get unlimited, non-throttled, data for $22.06 per month with AT&T. Currently I have used 106GB this billing period all non-throttled and last billing period used 122GB.

[2oldman]

tinstartrvlr wrote:
I pay for 30 gigs of data, but after 10 gigs, I get punished with slower speeds

Something wrong in that. I pay Verizon for 24gigs, I get 24 gigs at full speed. Mind sharing what you pay for "30 gigs" of throttled data? I bet it's a lot less than I do.

[tinstartrvlr]

This is one of those topics that really gets me fired up. I apologize for the rant in advance.

I doubt there will ever be unlimited again, and I can see prices just getting higher and higher for access. So many devices are now cell dependent and every family has 3,4,5 of those devices, all sucking data from the network. The networks can't handle it and then it just makes it bad for everybody, unless you live within a block of a tower.

I use a mifi device exclusively for internet access. I have satellite for tv. I'm in an area they claim has 4g data speed, and my mifi says 4g with 5 bars. Yet It's rare I can watch a youtube video so "streaming" isn't going to happen for me.

I pay for 30 gigs of data, but after 10 gigs, I get punished with slower speeds (I fail to see the logic in that, but whatever). I have actually had a download speed of 1.2 kilobytes. The only thing slower than that is zero. (no download ability at all). Yet they tell me I should have around 1.5 MB, until they slow me down, then it is supposed to be about 128kb (whoopee!) which is about dialup speed (for those who remember dialup, you probably feel my pain)

Talking to customer service and tech support is a complete waste of time since no one has a clue. I have been given 5 different reasons why my data service is bad, and in the 4 months I've been "discussing" the issue with them, nothing has improved.

So my answer to your question is "probably never". It's just too lucrative for them to leave it the way it is, and like Dutchmen said, it's only going to get worse.

[DutchmenSport]

You have to admit, for all the advances "technology" has come through promising to make things better for all of us, but at the same time making this world more and more dependent upon it, it sure can be a pain in the neck. It seems they give "us" a token offering to get us hooked, and then yank the cord and next thing we know we're paying big bucks when we've become dependent upon it and forgot how to get by without it. They give it to us, only in limited amounts so we are forced to pay even more. As we pay more, we become dependent more, and the vicious cycle continues on.

Direct TV is satellite driven and you can get it anywhere you can see the sky. There are some hoops you have to go through when you move from state to state to get local stations, but in general, the system is self-standing and self-reliant.

Add yet another complex layer of television viewing on top of the already complex layer of the Internet and WIFI, and the whole things is doomed to become a real pain-in-the-neck eventually ... guaranteed!

Personally, I don't have DirectTV or DishTV any more, because of the constantly rising prices. But ... opposed to "streaming video" that's dependent upon the Internet for normal television viewing .... well, I'll stick with the clear skies!

(we do have Netflix and Hulu... But Hulu freezes up too much, and you don't get normal television, so we do have over-the-air antenna viewing, and pay a premium for our cell phone data plans, If you REALLY want it .... you've just got to pay the price!)

[BobKrogstie]

Obviously the Spectrum/Charter solicitor has not tried to watch TV over WiFi in a campground. As the old saying goes "Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself". Stick with your DirectTV; you'll be happier and so will all your fellow campers trying to use the CG WiFi.

[GordonThree]

Truly unlimited isn't coming back anytime soon, not in the US. Providers will tell you they're at capacity and need to slow down streaming to avoid congestion. That's a load horse hockey.

Providers have tons of capacity but they want both sides to pay for it. They to charge both the streaming viewer and the streaming provider extra.

They see punish the consumer as the best way to accomplish this goal. Make you and me so dissatisfied with usage caps and buffering that we will accept state and federal bills that give the provider "more freedom to expand" so they can "meet our needs for the future" and other carp that lobbying groups spout.

Just my five cents.

[2oldman]

For my money, DTV works fine, and works everywhere. SNL, CNN, local staions, awards shows, and many other forms of programming I've yet to see on any streaming service, including Netflix.

I'm willing to pay for programming that I actually watch.