User Tag List

Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Seasoned Camper
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    249
    Mentioned
    4 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    General Question on getting internet access

    Hello Folks!

    New to RV'ing - I purchased AT&T Hotspot package for my iPhone and DW's. We both have AT&T iPhones. I got 30G for each. As I said I'm new to this stuff and not sure if I screwed up ro not. We picked up our new 2670MK less than a week ago. Our second leg of our trip home, we went to Crater Lake in OR. The RV Park had internet, but it was terribly slow. It even went out completely, due to a nearby accident for. a few hours!

    My first question - If we have little to no cell service - is a Hotspot of any use??? What good is it and why do I need/want it? We added a 32" smart tv in the bedroom. The TCL model in the elevator is NOT a smart tv and I'll be replacing soon!!

    Speaking of TV - the location we were in, at Crater Lake had no cable, so no TV!! I "THOUGHT" thats why I wanted to Hotspot - now I'm wondering if I wasted my money?? I couldn't connect the smart tv in the bedroom to the hotspot. I'm assuming its my lack of know how, vs. the TV. I'm considering getting a satellite, but undecided on which one?

    Any suggestions for Internet or TV service?

    Thanks!
    Steve

  2. #2
    Long Hauler bertschb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Bend, OR and Palm Springs, CA
    Posts
    3,043
    Mentioned
    27 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Silverado333 View Post
    My first question - If we have little to no cell service - is a Hotspot of any use??? What good is it and why do I need/want it? I'm considering getting a satellite, but undecided on which one? Any suggestions for Internet or TV service?
    If you don't have cell service, you can't get wifi through your cellular hotspot. A 30gb cell plan won't allow you to stream much TV though even if you did have service.

    Both DirecTV and Dish network offer TV service via satellite but you need a clear path to the sky for the satellite dish. Heavy tree cover near your RV may block the signal. We had a roof mounted satellite dish on our first two RV's with DirecTV service. It worked great for us but we've moved to streaming. We use a mobile cellular router and a truly unlimited data plan with no data caps or throttling. it's not cheap but it works great - as long as you have a decent cell signal! We were in a remote section of the NW corner of CA in the redwoods recently and had a very weak cell signal which made wifi almost unusable. It's situations like this where SpaceX's future Starlink service would really come in handy. Hopefully that will be available to the masses in a couple years. Limited availability later this year to a select few.
    Brian & Kellie
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, FBP, 1,460w solar, 540ah BBGC3, MORryde IS w/disc brakes
    2020 F-350 Platinum SRW Powerstroke Tremor, 60g TF fuel tank, Hensley BD3-F air bag hitch

    Previous setups:
    2019 Solitude 373FB-R, 2019 F-350 Platinum DRW Powerstroke, Hensley BD5 air bag hitch
    2016 Reflection 318RST, 2016 GMC 3500 Denali SRW Duramax, Hensley BD3 air bag hitch

  3. #3
    Site Sponsor jlspence99's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Madison, AL
    Posts
    98
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    We have Verizon and each have 30Gb of hotspot data before speed may be throttled down. We also each have 75 Gb of 4G data. This is important for us because we have iPhones and purchased a lightning to to HDMI adapter that we use to stream Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Philo and HBONow directly from the phones to the TCL TV. So 210 Gb of total unthrottled data. We also have a WeBoost RV cell booster to improve cell signal. When we can’t find signal, we simply watch movies on our Blu-ray player.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Jeff & Susan
    With Annie, our dachshund
    2019 Reflection 303RLS #123, TST 507 TPMS
    2019 F-350 XLT 4x4 PSD SRW CC LB Factory 5th Wheel Prep Package
    B&W Companion OEM Hitch


  4. #4
    Site Team Second Chance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Wherever...
    Posts
    9,016
    Mentioned
    187 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    These folks are the gurus of mobile connectivity - it's worth the price even if you have to subscribe:

    https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/

    As full-timers, we have both satellite TV (with an automatic carry-out antenna for better chances in trees) and a "grandfathered" unlimited data plan on a Verizon MiFi hot-spot. Between the two, we can usually get what we want. Read what the folks above have to say and you'll be better equipped to make some decisions.

    Rob
    U.S. Army Retired
    2012 F350 DRW CC LB Lariat PS 6.7
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes,
    Sailun LRG tires, solar, DP windows, W/D
    (Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
    Full time since 08/2015

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

DISCLAIMER:This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Grand Design RV, LLC or any of its affiliates. This is an independent site.