3G/4G staying connected March 22, 2012, 10:47:25 am Yahoo Message Number: 129299I noticed in our Lazy Daze travels last fall that we generally preferred campgrounds in National and State Parks or Forests to the ones with all the bells and whistles that cost 3 to 4 times as much. The only negative side that we noticed was a lack of wifi. During our stay at the Gulf Islands National Seashore Park in Florida, there were two other friendly Lazy Daze couples who unlike us, were able to keep up with their e-mailing and blogging. We'll be spending five months this year in our Lazy Daze, spending the majority of our time camping where wifi is not offered. As I switched to a Mac from a PC three years ago and the new iPad offers 3G/4G capability, it looks like a very compelling, albeit expensive possibility. I could just continue to use my MacBook. I do not have an iPad, and will not buy an iPhone. The cheapest possibility for an air card or mifi that I've found so far have been from Tru Connect at $5 per month plus 4 cents per MB. The iPad's Verizon offering of $30 for 2 GB a month sounds expensive by comparison, unless you consider what it would actually cost to use 2 GB with the "cheaper", slower and perhaps spottier Tru Connect service. 2 GB from Tru Connect would wind up costing $87, if my math is correct. I'd be interested in an assortment of advice based on past experiences, but also guesses at future developments. Which will have looked like the wiser decision in hindsight 3 or 4 years from now? Is the new iPad the best choice, or would it be smarter to just get along with an air card for my MacBook? I'm look forward to some advice and actually hope that it's conflicting and opinionated.Skip G.
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #1 – March 22, 2012, 11:09:00 am Yahoo Message Number: 129301Quote "The only negative side that we noticed was a lack of wifi. During our stay at the Gulf Islands National Seashore Park in Florida, there were two other friendly Lazy Daze couples who unlike us, were able to keep up with their e-mailing and blogging.Skip G. Skip Have you investigated Millenicom.com? It's $60 for 20GBs and the only prerequisite is there must be cell service in the area where you are.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #2 – March 22, 2012, 12:14:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129307On Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:47:23 -0000, "skippersfeld" skip_grominger@...> wrote:QuoteThe cheapest possibility for an air card or mifi that I've found so far have been from Tru Connect at $5 per month plus 4 cents per MB Skip, You should read the last two articles published on The Companion concerning connecting to the web. Millenicom is a lower cost provider than the one you mentioned. As to what machine to use, I think that is beyond the concern of this forum. My POV anywho.
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #3 – March 22, 2012, 12:22:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129308Millenicom currently doesn't have the 20GB (3G service on the Verizon network) on their website. They do occasionally take it off when their supply of the 3G modem stick is gone...whether or not it'll be back again, I don't know. However, they are advertising a 3G/4G unlimited plan for $69.99 per month (no contract, no taxes) using the Sierra Wireless 250U stick. They also have a 3G/4G "hotspot" 10GB plan for the same $69.99 using the Samsung hotspot. I'm not sure which networks these two plans are on, by my guess would be that the unlimited plan is on the Sprint network while the 10GB per month plan is on the Verizon network. I'd call and confirm with them before deciding on which way to go.You can get information at www.millenicom.com .Linda Hylton http://earl-linda.blogspot.com
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #4 – March 22, 2012, 12:24:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129309I just read the details on Millenicom's 3G/4G 10GB plan. It actually adds up to 20GB per month since you get 10GB of 4G and 10GB of 3G.Linda Hylton http://earl-linda.blogspot.com
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #5 – March 22, 2012, 06:29:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129316"The cheapest possibility for an air card or mifi that I've found so far have been from Tru Connect at $5 per month plus 4 cents per MB" If I'm doing the math right, four cents per megabyte is $40.96 per gigabyte. Since the going rate at most carriers is $10.00 per gigabyte, Tru Connect sounds as if it would only be cost-effective for very low usage--lower than the major carriers' minimum plans: say, a hundred MB a month or so. Most folks in this group would probably not find that level of service sufficient.By the way, two important things to note about Millenicom:1. Unlike most telcos, they do not require a contract. There's no commitment, and no penalty if you discontinue (or restart) service at any time. This makes them ideal for snowbirds, who may only need wireless internet service for part of the year.2. Not all Millenicom plans use Verizon as the carrier... and as an RVer, you DON'T want a plan that uses anybody else--particularly Sprint, which has poor to nonexistent coverage outside of major metro areas. That's why I recommended Millenicom's $59.99/20 GB per month "Advanced" plan, which does use Verizon. As far as I know, their 3G/4G plan uses Sprint.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #6 – March 22, 2012, 09:40:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129321That's why I recommended Millenicom's $59.99/20 GB per month "Advanced" plan, which does use Verizon.- If you go on to Millenicom's web page, you only see the three plans below [and the carrier for each].http://www.millenicom.com/ As far as carriers are concerned, with the current plans. All $69.99/month plus equipment.1. 3G/4G Hotspot is Verizon 2. 3G/4G Unlimited is Sprint 3. BYOD plan is SprintBut the Advanced plan does not show up. So I'm thinking, what's Andy talking about? Well, if you click on Coverage, and enter your street address, the return will tell which plans are available for that address INCLUDING the Standard and Advanced Plans. So I call Millenicom, wondering what's going on. At first the person who took the call said "where did you find the Advanced Plan?" I explained the sequence I went through and she said "well, we really don't sell either the Standard or Advanced Plan unless someone really wants it because we're hoping within a couple of weeks to have a 4G Verizon USB Modem so we'll be able to offer the Standard and Advanced plan on the Verizon 4G network." Her recommendation was to wait if you can. They'll sell you the Advanced Plan, 20 Gig/month, $59.99/month, but you're buying a Verizon 3G device according to the person I talked to.She also said here's how the carriers work:- Standard Plan - Verizon - Advanced Plan - Verizon - Hotspot - Verizon - Unlimited - Sprint - BYOD - Sprint If the above is true, Andy's right, the Advanced plan is a heck of a deal. Direct from Verizon 10 gigs/month is $80. So if Millenicom is going to offer 20 gigs of 4G, that's equivalent to $180/month from Verizon [10 gigs at $80/month plus $10/gig for every gig over 10 gig/month]. Kind of sounds too good to be true, but if it happens, I'm jumping on it.John & Cheryl1994 22' TKChug[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #7 – March 22, 2012, 10:01:45 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129323I called them on that. If you get 4G all the time you have 10 gig. If you only get 3G you have 10 gig. You only get 20 gig total if you move around between 3G and 4G coverage. If you always have one or the other the limit is 10 gig. The plan is designed for truckers and RVers traveling between 3G and 4G.John A Wozniak Sent from iPhone Please excuse any typos
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #8 – March 22, 2012, 10:17:48 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129324Good information, John! Thanks for getting the straight scoop from Millenicom. Sounds as if good things are coming. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #9 – March 23, 2012, 09:57:02 am Yahoo Message Number: 129330I contacted Millenicom and they told me that the 3G/4G hotspot uses Verizon.As far as I know, their 3G/4G plan uses Sprint.
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #10 – March 25, 2012, 05:05:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129401However...My experience with Verizon is that they will match a competitor's plan. If and when Millenicon goes to 20 GB for $60, I'll give a call to Verizon and ask for the same deal on my present 4G Verizon MiFi. I am presently paying $80 a month for 10GB. If Verizon won't match Millenicom then it would be a great deal! David (1998 LD MB)
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #11 – March 25, 2012, 07:45:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 129403On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:05:19 -0700 (PDT), David Roderick davidmichael3639@...> wrote:QuoteIf and when Millenicon goes to 20 GB for $60 That's what many of us have been paying for over two years. For Verizon 3G through Millenicon. Reading analysts reports 4G is only available in metro areas and then sometimes overloaded. I would not know if I had 3G or 4G, but being in small towns and remote locations, I would bet 3G for sometime to come.
Re: 3G/4G staying connected Reply #12 – March 27, 2012, 11:38:04 am Yahoo Message Number: 129444Trust me -you will know when you have 4G. Your PC, laptop, iPad, smart phone become super fast when connected. JJ--"I love the infantry because they are the underdogs. They are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the guys that wars can't be won without." - Ernie Pyle"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." - Edward R. Murrow***James A Jackson*mobile: 909 553-4768home: 951 769-7665 ** ** **[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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