Hotspot or WiFi service?

[val2525]

I need some kind of wifi or hotspot service for a couple of months while I'm staying at an extended stay hotel. The place I'm staying has wifi but other locations I've stayed at with this chain, the connection is really slooooooooooow. Using the hotspot on my cell isn't a great option because I have Sprint and their data sucks. It's really slow here, and it was really slow in Mobile. I have no reason to expect it to be fast in Phoenix either.

So....is there a way to buy internet service that isn't thru the usual suspects (CenturyLink, Comcast etc)? I really don't want to have to do all my eBay listing from Starbucks

[Pantlandia]

I believe there are a few out there that you can buy. You would have to buy the device and then the service. The devices usually run $40 to $60 and the service is usually the same as a prepaid phone ($40 to $60 a month depending on the data usage you want). I'd try best buy or the like.

[kat]

I would definitely use a device as Jeremy suggested.
My brother stays in an extended stay and even though wifi is included, no one uses it for business. They use their own secure devices. You also don't want your account associated with any other accounts that might have logged in with the same IP address that have been banned. Just in case that's a possibility of being linked.

[val2525]

Sept 10, 2017 5:45:16 GMT Pantlandia said:

I believe there are a few out there that you can buy. You would have to buy the device and then the service. The devices usually run $40 to $60 and the service is usually the same as a prepaid phone ($40 to $60 a month depending on the data usage you want). I'd try best buy or the like.

What do I google to find the service? Hotspot? I can get device and service thru Sprint but that's my last resort. This is technology that I'm clueless about.

[thekloset]

walmart sells some kind of prepaid wifi doodad, like there prepaid phones.

www.walmart.com/search/?query=prepaid%20wifi

(i know absolutely zero about these, someone just recently mentioned it to me and i thought it was interesting)

[SA]

First, I would check the Sprint map to see how cell service is where you're staying. Maybe they have stronger service there?

My first option would be to up my cell data and tether it (use phone as a wifi hotspot). I'm with Verizon and it's complimentary, but I think Sprint might charge for this.

Or wait until you get there and see if you have a strong signal? If not, switch phone carriers?

OOOHHH - or maybe join a FB group in the area (maybe a rental group, BST group, relocation group, etc) and ask who has the best service in the area or how Sprint does there?

But I will say this: I hope you get there and find a place ASAP so you're only in a hotel for a week or less!

PS: When are you moving? I know I saw it, but not sure if a timeline was shared and I missed it.

[57roses]

I'm with Verizon also and they have just added unlimited data (they do slow the service after so many GB-like 24, but we have never hit that many with 4 phones) . When we travel I use my phone as a hotspot and it works very well with my computer. We can even watch Netflix or other streaming. You may want to check into switching just to compare pricing.

[val2525]

Sept 10, 2017 11:49:00 GMT SA said:

First, I would check the Sprint map to see how cell service is where you're staying. Maybe they have stronger service there?

My first option would be to up my cell data and tether it (use phone as a wifi hotspot). I'm with Verizon and it's complimentary, but I think Sprint might charge for this.

Or wait until you get there and see if you have a strong signal? If not, switch phone carriers?

OOOHHH - or maybe join a FB group in the area (maybe a rental group, BST group, relocation group, etc) and ask who has the best service in the area or how Sprint does there?

But I will say this: I hope you get there and find a place ASAP so you're only in a hotel for a week or less!

PS: When are you moving? I know I saw it, but not sure if a timeline was shared and I missed it.

Sprint charges for it. If I want the free data, they drop me to 2G speed. On Sprint, that's like dial up speed. There are dead spots in Phoenix. PHOENIX. It's the 6th largest city by population (might be 5th now), 12th largest metro in the country, 10th largest city by land size....and Sprint has many dead spots. And they aren't in the outlying areas where you'd expect them. Nope, they're all over and in major places. Arrggghhh.

I'll be in extended stay anywhere from 4-7 weeks. I'd planned to go down next weekend on Saturday, but I'm going to talk to the landlord about staying an extra day and leave either Sunday or Monday. I don't start at the new office until Wednesday so I have a little leeway. He has to yet to put up a for rent sign, plus he has to do things to get the unit ready for the next tenant so I know he hasn't leased it yet. I'll knock on his door later today with check for 2 days rent and I think he'll be fine with it.

[Deleted]

I love the City-Data forums for relocation advice. They've always had really good info.

[Pantlandia]

Search for Mobile Hotspot.

Also, if you are considering one that isn't a major carrier, be sure they don't run on the Sprint Network.

[val2525]

Sept 10, 2017 18:23:03 GMT Pantlandia said:

Search for Mobile Hotspot.

Also, if you are considering one that isn't a major carrier, be sure they don't run on the Sprint Network.

Can I sign up for a mobile hotspot service if I don't have cell with that carrier? I have several clients with verizon hotspots (very fast!) but they also have their cell service with verizon.

I think I'll go by a verizon store this week and ask.

I'm kinda clueless when it comes to mobile stuff

[val2525]

Sept 10, 2017 18:15:01 GMT @dantes said:

I love the City-Data forums for relocation advice. They've always had really good info.

Already have a topic posted there

No replies, though. Sometimes they won't reply on that particular forum if they think it's been answered before and you just didn't use the search feature. I did, however, search and while cell service is addressed, hotspot service was not. And they aren't the same, that much I do know.

[SA]

You can get a verizon hot spot - but there is a 2 year contract if you want the discounted price.

For example, you can buy a hotspot device for $150, and then 10G data a month is $60 and up.

www.verizonwireless.com/internet-devices/

ETA: you can put an item in your cart, and there is a link to see coverage for that item based on zip code.  

If I were you and didn't like Sprint - I would change carriers if you can.  I have been with Verizon what seems like forever and it is super rare that I don't get reception.

[val2525]

Boy mobile data is expensive! It might be cheaper to just go to FedEx Office and rent a computer for an hour each night, or on nights my internet is too slow or not working. Ouch!

[RetroMonde]

I just thought about this post and had to reply. There's a power outage on the other side of the freeway from us now. We have lights but it took out our internet & cable with it. I just noticed my computer is giving me the option to use my iphone as a personal hotspot- it's never worked before but I'm on it now and it's pretty fast-(I'm on AT&T). I bet it's a data hog but it's pretty cool have the option to be connected anyway.

[SA]

Yes, it is when you have just data.

I'm on an old Verizon plan. 32G data shared between the 4 of us for $70/ mo plus $20 line. I must add though that I purchase my phones outright so I'm not paying an extra $20/mo per line (that's how they get you on those discounted rates and contracts).

I will add, we never got our 32G a month and we always have our data rolled over to the next month. Also, I can tether any Bluetooth device for free.

[blissfullymiserable]

My internet used to be a bit unreliable, I had T-Mobile at the time and it seems like it was only $10 extra a month or something for the tethering but I didn't use it regularly. It sure was nice when the internet at home was down though. Centurylink ended up replacing some lines and now I have AT&T, I haven't needed to tether for a quite a while. I should check into it though, just in case.

My Dell desktop is about 6 years old, I've never been able to figure out how to tether from my it. I'd always dust off the old laptop.

[Deleted]

I've used the Walmart Hotspot, I think it's with their pre-paid service called Straight Talk. I got the hotspot box on sale, it was an older model. I bought a 5 gig card and it was all less than $80. It was really fast and I was out in the country on a trip without any internet at all on my US Cellular phone.

[val2525]

If I remember correctly from reading up, the hotspot service is faster than tethering to the phone. Plus, with the hotspot, you can still use your phone.

I decided to wait until I get down there and see how bad the motel internet connection is, and how the Sprint signal is in that area. My cell bill starts on the 28th of each month, and I may upgrade my plan to unlimited data for $15 more a month. I'd go from 1gb data to 10 gb data (4G) and unlimited 2G data after the 10 is used. That might be my best bet *IF* the Sprint signal is good there. If it's not, then at least I know what I'm looking for now! Thanks!