WiFi Hot Spot recommendations?

[dedmiston]

A friend of mine is a student working on a special project in southern Wyoming, near Evanston.

He doesn't have any broadband connection, so he's mowing through his mobile data plan really fast. I want to help him find a mobile wifi device with a separate data plan, but I've never used a device like that.

What should I look for in a device and what kind of plans are best?

He has AT&T for mobile, so we know that coverage is good with AT&T.

[valhalla360]

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
And if some are spending upwards of a hundred for 10Gigs from Verizon, switch to a total wireless cell or hotspot. Verizon towers,
Unlimited talk and 5 gigs of 4g data for $35 a month and additional data is 3 gigs for $10

Why would you pay $100 for 10GB?

We have Verizon with no long term plan and the unlimited is $80/month. The only downside is it slows down after 15GB of hotspot use.

Basically, they are all variations on a cellphone hotspot, you just need a plan with sufficient data and be located where there is a decent cell coverage.

The only real alternative would be starlink but then you are looking at $600 for equipment, a clear sky and $130/m. From the folks I've talked to it blows away cell hot spot speeds.

[dedmiston]

gemert wrote:
ATT has a Unite Explore hotspot device. On the unlimited + plan it never automatically slows down. After he uses 22GB it may be "managed" or "De-prioritized". That means that other devices that have not used 22gb have a higher priority on the network. I have used my Unite Explore from Florida to Alaska (through Canada) and back with no issues. We use upwards of 300GB some months with very little slow down issues. Usually only in very crowded camp grounds. I had Verizon and T Mobil at the start of this trip and ATT has been the most reliable service for us. I have canceled all but one V phone and the T phone and hotspot.

On edit, I should have added that the Unite Explore was a 20 dollar a month add on to the unlimited + plan. That depends on how many lines you have though.

Thanks for this info. I got the Unite Explore and the Unlimited Plus data plan. The dude at AT&T said that they didn't carry the Unite Explore and you couldn't ever get unlimited data with a hotspot, but I told him "I know a guy" who got both. Sure enough, they had the device in stock and they were able to set it up with this plan.

Thanks again for your info. Gotta love the brain bank.

[hawkeye-08]

pianotuna wrote:
I suggest he investigate the Mobley device from AT&T

Missed by a month or two.

[vermilye]

The $20.00 Unlimited Mobley plan is gone, although you can add it to one of AT&T's current plans. If you want a separate device & plan, I'd look into Jerry's suggestion.

[gemert]

ATT has a Unite Explore hotspot device. On the unlimited + plan it never automatically slows down. After he uses 22GB it may be "managed" or "De-prioritized". That means that other devices that have not used 22gb have a higher priority on the network. I have used my Unite Explore from Florida to Alaska (through Canada) and back with no issues. We use upwards of 300GB some months with very little slow down issues. Usually only in very crowded camp grounds. I had Verizon and T Mobil at the start of this trip and ATT has been the most reliable service for us. I have canceled all but one V phone and the T phone and hotspot.

On edit, I should have added that the Unite Explore was a 20 dollar a month add on to the unlimited + plan. That depends on how many lines you have though.

[magicbus]

It seems you indicated he currently uses AT&T and a phone hotspot. I've done this for 4 months at a time for 8 hours a day. If this is the case you should just bump to unlimited data for the time needed and then drop back to a cheaper plan when the project is completed. This is very simple to do with AT&T.

Dave

[pianotuna]

TMO is also month to month no contract. I'd pick the strongest signal with the cheapest rate.

[MrWizard]

look at this
att data only plans
https://buyasession.att.com/sbd/Common/ShopRatePlans.action

[MrWizard]

the point of this discussion, is not what somebody might pay for a limited (2)month spread, as posted above

it is about, what IS or might be available with ATT in Wyoming ?

[wanderingaimles]

And if some are spending upwards of a hundred for 10Gigs from Verizon, switch to a total wireless cell or hotspot. Verizon towers,
Unlimited talk and 5 gigs of 4g data for $35 a month and additional data is 3 gigs for $10

[MrWizard]

specials come and go

need to latch onto a special promotion to get data a cheap/prices

6 months ago the Mobely was selling for $79, but what drove the sale was a $20 a month " Connected Car " unlimted data plan

i along with some other members ordered one
the data cost me $22.01 per month

i still have my verizon unlimted plan, but i spread my use across both devices

ATT has some specials going, i think $35 for unlimted on a 'TABLET'

whether or not this might help your friend, you will have to ask him

he probably can't use Metro PCS which uses T-moble
but they have $59? phone plan with unlimited data
i think the same plan is available from Tmo
but Metro is pre-pay month to month no contract

[rockylarson]

We spend a lot of time on the fringe of cell coverage which is just as bad for wifi/internet access as burning up expensive data. On our latest assignment we used free wifi at the following: Visitor Center, Tim Hortons, Library, and the best being a community center in the local grocery store. Libraries are the first place to look and failing that in the past we have actually asked permission to use a hotel lobby and their wifi. It works for us but we are flexible on our time and locations.

[Johno02]

Depends a lot on what provider is best in the area. Several years ago I bought a pay as you go MIFI box from Verizon, to use in an area where the AT&T service was weak. When I need it, I just actvate it and pay for however long I need it, then it doesn't cost me anything until I need it again. Last time I used it, the price was $100 for 10 Gb of data, over a two-month period. We had a two month gig, at the end I had used 9.5 GB and all my time, so it worked well. and we had excellent speed.

[kerrlakeRoo]

The Mobley units are designed to work through the vehicles OBDII access port, but if you check through Amazon and some other retailers you will find that there are power supply adaptors available for it that allow it to function from anywhere that a 120VAC supply is available.