smartphone hotspot

wow. this all sounds like rollin coal just said...pretty over my head with the tech stuff. i am learning bit by bit though! and it all seems so expensive!! i just started trucking, am from canada and we run throughout the U.S. My carrier in canada offers some U.S data packages but these packages are really only enough for emergency use. i'm looking into getting a cell phone data plan through an american carrier although it sounds like it's a)still very expensive and b)inconsistent. really i just want to be able to surf the web for information on the area i may be doing my reset in, social media for contact with friends and family and i would love to continue to use my netflix--although that sounds as if that's what will incur the big over usage charges. Rollin Coal--i checked out some MIFI and how has that worked for you? you said it was expensive--le sigh-- but how is it for consistency? right now i am making use of libraries, mcdonalds and starbucks for some 'free' wifi....of course, the nights that i'm just stopping over i just read a book. seems like the old fashioned ways of entertaining oneself are the cheapest ways to entertain oneself out here! except that i do miss regular contact with my friends....i use the qualcomm to find out where the local library is and sometimes a grocery store... it looks like i'm going to get back into letter writing!

also, how does someone download movies to watch later without an internet connection?

thanks folks!

 

I connect my LG Optimus 90(Android 4.4 KitKat) mobile phone that has a prepaid unlimited internet data plan for $70.00 a month from T-Mobile. Tethering is allowed up to 5mb per month for free, but I always connect my laptop to my mobile phone using the PdaNet + FoxFi app that costs $9.99 (I think that's what it cost me) on Google Play. (Here is a list of compatible mobile phones to use with FoxFi http://pdanet.co/help/devices.php, other phones not listed may also work as my LG Optimus 90 is not on the list and still works.)

My mobile phone connects to my laptop(HP Envy Touchsmart) with the FoxFi / PdaNet in USB mode, this way it hides the tethering connection from T-Mobile and I can use my laptop with unlimited data.

But you have to realize you only get as good a internet connection as good as the signal on your mobile phone. When I'm able to get 4G on my phone I get decent speeds on my laptop for what I'm working with, I can still watch movies and videos online.


I'm using this connection (Mobile phone with FoxFi to laptop) right now, I went to speedtest.net to test the connection and this is the result, not too bad. There are times when I can get up to 15mb per second, just depends on the time of day and where i'm at.


I'm thinking about getting a signal booster for my mobile phone for use in my truck also, which doesn't make your connection faster, it just helps you get a stronger connection to your phone when the signal is weak.


Cheers all, my first post

Kelly

 

If this is not TOO BAD, what is?
If that's 4g that's absolutely HORRIBLE.

Also, you can find PDA Net/FoxFi for free if you know how and where to look.

 

The free version only allows you to access non-secure sights. If you need to check your e-mail or pay a bill...it won't allow https:/ sites.

the FoxFi wireless tether also bypasses the tether. I use it daily to watch Netflix or Youtube thru my WiFi enabled blueray to my flat screen on Verizon.

 

Let me rephrase that.
You can find the PAY VERSION for Free.

figured this 'if you know how and where to look'. gave that away.

 

well...considering the amount many drivers pay for a limited 'hot spot' subscription...the legitimate subscription fee that allows me free use of my unlimited data was peanuts. Either way, FoxFi is the way to go if a persons smartphone is compatible.

 

I would say its not TOO BAD since I can still stream movies and watch videos online from my truck. I'm pretty sure I'm being throttled as well, as you can see how much data I use, this month is up to 68.1 Gb (Gigabytes). I normally don't use any of the 5Gb of mobile hotspot usage that comes free with T-Mobile but I had FoxFi connected the wrong way for a day, so its maxed out.

All of that going on and I can still do most of the things I want to do from my truck.

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The FoxFi free version I remember was free to try and it would disconnect you after 5 minutes of use. I wouldn't trust downloading the full version from any other source than from FoxFi so I could get updates and so I don't download anything malicious.

----

I've been trying the wifi at a few truck stops and they all seem to be unreliable, as I was at the TA in Moriarty, New Mexico 2 days ago and was only getting 1mb download, but on my T-Mobile network I was getting 12mb. This is the same result I got at the TA in Ontario,CA & Kingman, AZ , the Pilot in Madera, CA and a few others in California. I would only pay for that if I had no signal at all from my phone and wanted to just read articles from Drudge or something like that.

 

Don't bother with Truckstop Wifi.
I have NEVER used one I was happy with.

You do what you want as far as FoxFi goes.

I got the FoxFi PAY Version for Free.
I have NEVER had any trouble with it.
It's just like Spyware/Viruses. Watch what you do and you'll be ok.


Verizon doesn't throttle.
I use 30-50gigs a month.
Real average is closer to 40 gigs.

 

The only issue I have with the newest FoxFi (for Verizon Note 3 w/4.4.4 OS)is if you reboot the phone (which the newest update makes me do almost daily)the security software doesn't remember that FoxFi's has an authorized certificate in the security credential file, and give me the security warning popup before it sends me to the settings tab.

And I agree about Verizon not throttling. I use anywhere between 100-200 gig a month depending on if I visit home that month and have never had an issue as long as I have 2 bars of 4G...which will now be increasing because I bought a HDMI dock for my Note...now I can stream my home DVR thru my Dish Anywhere app to my flat screen.