Hi everyone,
We are about to embark on our full time RV life. And we are having a hard time getting a straight answer from the companies about internet, cell phones and satallite TV.
Anyone, please, give us your first hand experience.
We are going to buy a laptop - which one works best for traveling?
We also have cell phones, our contract is up so we are open to suggestions. We are currently with ATT/Cingular. What are the best plans out there for cell phones as your primary phones and using the everday?
Also, we are wanting to get satallite TV. We currently have a Direct TV Dish and receiver. Is there better? Prices?
Is there a better phone to purchase? Prices?
Last but not least, is it better to have your internet through your cell phone company or the satallite?
Any first hand advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks all!!!!
Not fulltiming, but spend over 200 nights/yr working out of my camper along the east coast. Here's my experience. As far as sat tv goes, it's a toss-up between Dish and DirecTV. Although, I use the latter. Verizon has given me the best cell phone service in my travels. I've got the America's Choice $39.95 [450 mins/mo peak] plan with free nights/wkends and mobile to mobile. As far as internet, I'm satisfied with Verizon's air card, $60/mo unlimited access. Satellite internet will be comparable in cost on a monthly basis, but the startup costs are significantly higher. If you absolutely have to have internet where ever you are, satellite is the way to go. Generally, the air card works when I have a digital signal phone signal. I have been without on a few occasions, but not often.
Note: Due to invalid formatting, all formatting has been ignored.
We use Verizon cell phone America's Choice and Verizon Air Card. We will shut down AT&T land line and Broadband in September. Verizon seem's to meet all our needs
John Jane and "Little Dude"
2007 Chevy Silverado Classic 2500HD 4X4
EC\SB 6.0/ 4:10
2007 Jayco Jay Flight FW RKS 27.5
We've been fulltiming for 4 years now .. I'm glad I kept Cingular now ATT. May have changed but in Amarillo,TX there was no Verizon of any kind .. Thankfully the campground we were in had free wifi .. but hands down Verizon air card .. ATT is doing better but they are still the best. They've lowered their price to 60.00 a month .. I can't give up ATT I want and need those roll over minutes from time to time.
Susan I
2008 McKenzie Starwood 32 FKD TT
03 3500 Quad HO Diesel DRW 4:10
Fulltiming, On the road somewhere.
I have both Hughes satellite internet and Verizon wireless internet service.
If you are new to all of this (going by the way your question was asked) I would stay away from satellite internet service. High initial cost. Large bulky dish to haul around. Do you know how to align a satellite dish? The satellite will give you better speeds but you may not notice the difference. And in theory the satellite will work anywhere, unless you have a tree or something blocking your view.
The air card is the simplest and easiest way to go. Buy the air card, take it home, plug it in, and you are up and running. You will have to choose the provider that you want. Remember the air card works just like a cell phone and will only work wherever you can get phone service. I personally use Verizon. I have tried several but find that in my travels (east of the Mississippi) it is almost flawless.
You do not have to use the same wireless phone company for your phone and internet service. You can mix and match to your choosing. Don't worry. What you want to do is not hard at all. It may seem that way at first, but you're going to love it.
I also believe (my opinion only) that wireless internet it the way to go in the next 2 to 5 years. What I have been reading looks as though the wireless speeds will continue to increase.
Good luck in whatever you choose.
If you have to ask why I drive a Diesel, then you will never understand.
WE have verizon cell phones (2) and I use the phones to connect to the internet, you can get the same broadband service as the aircard added to the cellphone plan as a feature $59 a month add on , just 1 contract ( the cell phone )
the data feature can be turned off or on, and you can turn it off, and then get the aircard if you want to go that route.
most of the time i just use the 1x backdoor, but any time i want I can call vzw and have the'data plan feature' activated on my account ( when i'm working on something and want full time 24/7 high speed service ) then remove the feature when the job is done. and go back to using the backdoor which is slower than broadband but faster than 56k home dialup
sat is nice, but the startup costs have prevented me from investing in it, and I don't knw if it would be as convient for me as the cell phone internet, NO setup
I can send off na email in the middle of a rest stop some place, or the Kmart parking lot, or even while AAA is changing a tire
Connected via Verizon Via LG Dare VX9700
Member of the Verizon Wireless Customer Council
Maximum memory has been reached !
I have been with Bellsouth-Cingular and now AT&T. I am unable to get service in many places throughout the southeast (parts of Georgia, N. Carolina, Florida, Virginia, ect. In addition they only provide service in 22 states. Will move to Verizon in December.
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