WiFi Connection

I am an addict to the internet.  As first time campers when we could not figure something out (water heater etc) and I could not get connected to this website, I was crazed.  So my husband went the next week and bought a mifi.  It was wonderful, but when it quit working a couple of years later, Verizon told us to just use our cellphone as a hotspot and we never noticed a difference.  Surprisingly we don't use as much data as I thought we would.  Wifi is always disappointing in the campgrounds and we use our phones as hotspots.  We even watched a tv show on the iPad while we were Walmart camping before entering Yellowstone last summer.  Being in Yellowstone was wonderful, but a forewarning, there is practically no cell phone service and definitely cannot pull in any data on your phone.  Even our satellite phone through OnStar would not work.  So if you go there plan on being off the grid.  

Speaking of cell network coverage, there's an interesting App for iPhone called: Coverage?. Available from the Apple store. Don't know if there's a version for Android. It overlays the individual carriers' published maps so it might be subject to some marketing claims, but it's not biased toward any particular carrier. You can choose the type of service such as 2G, 3G, 4G or LTE. It does cost a few bucks, but it's informative. The Verizon advantage over AT&T is dramatic outside of the East.

And I'm with AT&T! Hmmmmmm

Charlie 

I use my cell phone when I am on the road I can tether my laptop and tablet and my wifes laptop and tablet to it as well. The only issue I have is I travel in the US ( I am Canadian) and roaming charges will kill you. I unlocked my cell phone and tried a prepad sim card last year but the coverage was very disapointing. The SIM I got was T-Mobile and I could not get a signal in a lot of places in the north east. I always had a signal when I roamed before on the AT&T network so I am going to get an AT&T pre paid SIM next time I travel in the states. 

Fwunder sent me a terrific link to a book on Wifi and cellular for RV'ers. Cleared up some questions, and help steer me to the answers. There was a section that covered "boosters" or more correctly called repeaters. Your cell phone and your tablet typically have a transmitter that puts out about .6 watts. That's pretty small, however with good coverage it is not a problem. When you hit the boondocks, then it becomes a bit problematical. Need mo' power. A repeater will rebroadcast your cellular signal with a full 3 watts. That should get the attention of the far off cellular tower your trying to contact. Not sure how much it improves the "receive" portion of your signal but will surely help. The units also have a cradle that supports your cellphone and recharges the battery simultaneously while in use. Being a hotspot pulls a lot from your cellular battery.   Additionally, a remote short whip antenna is included to put on your Pods roof. In those spots where you absolutely, positively have to have cellular, this should cover most situations. But, it cannot provide service where non is available. Of course, you also have to purchase a plan from your cellular provider to support your wifi thru your cellular. Hope that helps. Safe Travels.

Until this month we have had a similar plan with AT&T including the grandfathered 550 family talk plan with 2 iPhones. We also temporarily upgraded to the 5GB plan with tethering for trips. However this month I am switching to their new Mobile Share Value plan. We use very little data when at home (home WiFi in use) so we can cut back to 300MB combined shared data, then temporarily upgrade to anything we want for trips. Additional GBs are cheaper, the $10 second line charge disappears, and there is a $15/iPhone discount if your contract is completed or you own your phones. And you can tether with any data plan, even 300 MB. Of course, figuring  it out from their web site is a challenge (like IBM documentation: clear if previously understood), but it might be worth it. The results for us will be a lower annual cost and greater flexibility on the road.

And no, I don't work for AT&T. I'm just cheap.

Charlie