Verizon Jet pack users

[johndeerefarmer]

I plan on building a cabin in CO in the next year or so and would like to setup a cam for both security and watching the progress of the build. In that area Verizon works. I was thinking on using a Verizon Jet pack.

I have a few questions about them.

1. I assume you can make the Jet Pack into a hotspot and share the internet to my cam or cams? Does this require a wireless router or just the Jet Pack?

2. If the Jet Pack can act as a hotspot what range does it have?

3. Finally, how reliable is it? Does the Jet pack need to be rebooted often? Is there anyway to reboot it remotely? I could use a timer and just remove the AC power once every 24 hours but if I do that will the Jet pack start back up on it's on?

I see they also have a Smart Hub but it has battery backup so unless there is some way to have it reboot on a set schedule I would have to kill the power for too long of a period

https://www.verizonwireless.com/home-office-solutions/verizon-smarthub/

 

[jimmiee52]

You can use it as a hotspot with no router if you like and it does not have to be rebooted. As long as it is setup to find your can even if you lose power it will find the jet pack once rebooted.

I have had no issues with mine other than after 25GB it runs extremely slow. FMCA has a deal for 50dollars a month and the hotspot is .01 with 2 year agreement.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CWSWine]

The Jetpack has a battery so it loses power it will stay online until the battery runs down. You can connect a camera to direct and that what I do to check on my coach in storage and works fine. The range depends on a lot of factors but I don't have any problems around 40 feet with the hotspot in the coach.



I won't get the FMCA deal because you have to sign a two-year agreement and the limited you get slow down to crawl when you hit 22 gigs. I would get the Version Pre-Paid plan that isn't capped and I have used over 200 gigs and still can stream Netflix and cost 70 per month with a 5 dollar discount for paying with a credit card. Best of all it is on a month to month contract. I would stay out a contract since they change coming to the cell network and don't want to be caught with a high-cost plan.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

What is the longest that you have ran the Jet pack without trouble? My experience with routers and computers tell me that they all need rebooted periodically. If I can't reboot it because of the battery back up then that might not be what I want

 

[CWSWine]

I have only had mine for about 35 days and been in the coach for about 20 days without rebooting or locking up. That's probably not the answer you're looking for.

I was told by the Verizon salesperson that the less expensive 7000 series will overheat if you leave it plugged into power and the more expensive 8800 you can leave plugged and it won't overheat.

Here is the link to what I got; Scroll to the bottom of the page.

https://www.verizonwireless.com/prepaid/

What is the longest that you have ran the Jet pack without trouble? My experience with routers and computers tell me that they all need rebooted periodically. If I can't reboot it because of the battery back up then that might not be what I want

 

[Second Chance]

We have been Verizon Wireless JetPack users for 3.5 years, now, so perhaps I can add a little to this discussion.

1. The MiFi JetPacks serve as both 4G LTE internet hotspots and wireless routers - no other equipment needed.

2. The JetPacks are intended for portable use, therefore they are battery based (lithium ion). Leaving the JetPack plugged in for long periods after the battery is fully charged can and will result in battery swelling and a possible fire hazard.

3. Our rig is 36 feet long. We keep the MiFi at the back of the living area and the WiFi is fine in the front bedroom. It can also be accessed outside under the awning. High-frequency radio waves are line-of-sight and signal strength will be reduced by passing through walls and other solid materials.

4. Streaming video (such as a security camera) uses quite a bit of data. On a limited data plan, you will max out rather quickly each month. Verizon has just come out (December, I believe) with a new pre-paid plan with unlimited data for MiFi JetPacks (phones cannot be used as hotspots on this new plan). We have gotten excellent service since we've switched over to this plan... until we landed in Augusta, GA, for medical appointments 10 days ago. The tower nearest the RV park we use is under-resourced and over-utilized. In the evening, we often have issues with prioritization and losing our internet connection. We have not had this issue anywhere else (Aberdeen, MD, Cincinnati, OH, and various stops in between, MCAS Cherry Point in NC, etc.), so I'm confident it's an issue with this particular tower.

5. The JetPack has not required frequent reboots or attention except as noted in #4 , above.

Verizon offers 4G LTE solutions for the home. They use hardware other than the portable JetPacks. You might consider looking into those options and having a conversation with Verizon.

Rob

 

[johndeerefarmer]

I see that Verizon offers the Arlo Go a cellular connected camera. Looks like I can add it to my current plan. This would cost me about $60 month for the Above Unlimited plan (75G since I already have three devices with them

https://www.verizonwireless.com/connected-devices/arlo-go/

it comes with 7 days of cloud storage. Extra storage costs more but you can view live video all you want. Looks like it's $100 year for a 30 day video history.

https://www.arlo.com/en-us/landing/arlosmart/

I am going to do some more research on this including can I reboot it remotely.

 

[johndeerefarmer]

We have been Verizon Wireless JetPack users for 3.5 years, now, so perhaps I can add a little to this discussion.

1. The MiFi JetPacks serve as both 4G LTE internet hotspots and wireless routers - no other equipment needed.

2. The JetPacks are intended for portable use, therefore they are battery based (lithium ion). Leaving the JetPack plugged in for long periods after the battery is fully charged can and will result in battery swelling and a possible fire hazard.

3. Our rig is 36 feet long. We keep the MiFi at the back of the living area and the WiFi is fine in the front bedroom. It can also be accessed outside under the awning. High-frequency radio waves are line-of-sight and signal strength will be reduced by passing through walls and other solid materials.

4. Streaming video (such as a security camera) uses quite a bit of data. On a limited data plan, you will max out rather quickly each month. Verizon has just come out (December, I believe) with a new pre-paid plan with unlimited data for MiFi JetPacks (phones cannot be used as hotspots on this new plan). We have gotten excellent service since we've switched over to this plan... until we landed in Augusta, GA, for medical appointments 10 days ago. The tower nearest the RV park we use is under-resourced and over-utilized. In the evening, we often have issues with prioritization and losing our internet connection. We have not had this issue anywhere else (Aberdeen, MD, Cincinnati, OH, and various stops in between, MCAS Cherry Point in NC, etc.), so I'm confident it's an issue with this particular tower.

5. The JetPack has not required frequent reboots or attention except as noted in #4 , above.

Verizon offers 4G LTE solutions for the home. They use hardware other than the portable JetPacks. You might consider looking into those options and having a conversation with Verizon.

Rob

Thanks Rob!

 

[Country Campers]

So a more important question, This cabin , will it be a hunting camp? If so can I come, pretty please????

Brian

 

[orbiker]

If you wanted to power the Jetpack only 10 hours a day, that could be done with a light timer. Program the light timer on and off as much as you want.

 

[Second Chance]

If you wanted to power the Jetpack only 10 hours a day, that could be done with a light timer. Program the light timer on and off as much as you want.

Great idea!

Rob

 

[johndeerefarmer]

If you wanted to power the Jetpack only 10 hours a day, that could be done with a light timer. Program the light timer on and off as much as you want.

My question is, if I do this will the Jet Pack automatically turn back on and reconnect to the cellular network? If it has a power button that has to be pressed this won't work

Thanks

 

[Second Chance]

My question is, if I do this will the Jet Pack automatically turn back on and reconnect to the cellular network? If it has a power button that has to be pressed this won't work

Thanks

The JetPack does not turn off when the power supply is unplugged - it simply goes on battery until the charger is plugged back in (in this case, turned back on by the timer). If the battery were to completely die, such as in the case of a prolonged power outage - the JetPack would go off when the battery dies and would have to be manually turned back on.

Rob

 

[johndeerefarmer]

The JetPack does not turn off when the power supply is unplugged - it simply goes on battery until the charger is plugged back in (in this case, turned back on by the timer). If the battery were to completely die, such as in the case of a prolonged power outage - the JetPack would go off when the battery dies and would have to be manually turned back on.

Rob

Thanks Rob, I will keep looking for something that will work

 

[SPDuree]

Rebooting Jetpack using URL

I know this post is many years later, but this thread shows up on google a lot so I want to let everyone know you can reboot the jetpack simply by visiting your jetpack on line
Links removed

This does need to be opened from a device connect to the jetpack. If you needed to reboot remotely, you would need to remote into a device that is connect to the hotspot and visit the URL from that remote device.

 

[JM0397]

As an alternative, look into an inexpensive phone through Visible wireless - they're Verizon's discount company, same service footprint as normal Verizon and a hell of a lot cheaper.
$25 a month now flat rate and unlimited data. Only problem would be long term leaving a phone hotspotted - it might revert, I don't know.

We use the slingshot also, but likely gonna cancel that this winter and just use the phones going forward, at least while traveling in the east & midwest.

 

[SPDuree]

No need to limit yourself to using a phone. I use a Visible SIM card in my Mifi 8800l without any issues! Works great.