Hi all,
Looking for suggestions on mobile phone plans. I'll be retiring
at end of year, and my wife and I will be spending more time in
our RV. We plan to visit national parks (many in the American
West), and don't use lots of talk time. On the other hand, we use
a fair bit of data, and so far have found use of a mobile hotspot
to be better than campground wifi (ugh).
I'm currently on AT&T with an iPhone 12 mini via my employer, and
she has a Samsung smartphone on Verizon. I'll have to turn in
my work phone and get a new one (and new plan).
Are we better off going with a single plan that includes both our
phones (more economical, probably), or with two different plans on
two different carriers (better combined coverage)?
I'd also welcome any more specific suggestions about plans to
consider.
Thanks for any tips!
--
Ted Heise <the...@panix.com> West Lafayette, IN, USA
On 2023-10-01 17:08:21 +0000, Ted Heise said:
Hi all,
Looking for suggestions on mobile phone plans. I'll be retiring
at end of year, and my wife and I will be spending more time in
our RV. We plan to visit national parks (many in the American
West), and don't use lots of talk time. On the other hand, we use
a fair bit of data, and so far have found use of a mobile hotspot
to be better than campground wifi (ugh).
I'm currently on AT&T with an iPhone 12 mini via my employer, and
she has a Samsung smartphone on Verizon. I'll have to turn in
my work phone and get a new one (and new plan).
Are we better off going with a single plan that includes both our
phones (more economical, probably), or with two different plans on
two different carriers (better combined coverage)?
I'd also welcome any more specific suggestions about plans to
consider.
Thanks for any tips!
If you want "data" in a National Park you probable should look at
Starlink for RVs (ie portable).
Cell phone coverage in National Parks is poor to non-existing.
A HUGE number of full-time RVers have switched their data needs to
Starlink for the coverage reason.
Most have also found that having cell phones from two different
providers is an asset.
If you are over 55 look at T-Mobile's 55+ plans, they are among the most affordable there is.
While Verizons 4G network covers more rural areas then T-Mobile,
T-Mobiles 5G coverage area is larger (partly due to T-Mobile using a
lower frequency band)
On 2023-10-01 17:08:21 +0000, Ted Heise said:
Hi all,
Looking for suggestions on mobile phone plans. I'll be retiring
at end of year, and my wife and I will be spending more time in
our RV. We plan to visit national parks (many in the American
West), and don't use lots of talk time. On the other hand, we use
a fair bit of data, and so far have found use of a mobile hotspot
to be better than campground wifi (ugh).
I'm currently on AT&T with an iPhone 12 mini via my employer, and
she has a Samsung smartphone on Verizon. I'll have to turn in
my work phone and get a new one (and new plan).
Are we better off going with a single plan that includes both our
phones (more economical, probably), or with two different plans on
two different carriers (better combined coverage)?
I'd also welcome any more specific suggestions about plans to
consider.
Thanks for any tips!If you want "data" in a National Park you probable should look at
Starlink for RVs (ie portable).
Cell phone coverage in National Parks is poor to non-existing.
A HUGE number of full-time RVers have switched their data needs to
Starlink for the coverage reason.
Most have also found that having cell phones from two different
providers is an asset.
If you are over 55 look at T-Mobile's 55+ plans, they are among the
most affordable there is.
While Verizons 4G network covers more rural areas then T-Mobile,
T-Mobiles 5G coverage area is larger (partly due to T-Mobile using a
lower frequency band)
On 10/2/2023 10:01 AM, Ralph E Lindberg wrote:
On 2023-10-01 17:08:21 +0000, Ted Heise said:
Hi all,
Looking for suggestions on mobile phone plans. I'll be retiring
at end of year, and my wife and I will be spending more time in
our RV. We plan to visit national parks (many in the American
West), and don't use lots of talk time. On the other hand, we use
a fair bit of data, and so far have found use of a mobile hotspot
to be better than campground wifi (ugh).
I'm currently on AT&T with an iPhone 12 mini via my employer, and
she has a Samsung smartphone on Verizon. I'll have to turn in
my work phone and get a new one (and new plan).
Are we better off going with a single plan that includes both our
phones (more economical, probably), or with two different plans on
two different carriers (better combined coverage)?
I'd also welcome any more specific suggestions about plans to
consider.
Thanks for any tips!
If you want "data" in a National Park you probable should look atStarlink is great, but there is quite a jump up in cost for the luxury
Starlink for RVs (ie portable).
Cell phone coverage in National Parks is poor to non-existing.
A HUGE number of full-time RVers have switched their data needs to Starlink for the coverage reason.
of having constant data available. If you are looking for back country
maps, there are many ways to download them for off-line use.
Personally, I like it when the phone doesn't ring and the text messages stop.
Most have also found that having cell phones from two differentAgain, you will pay more from most providers as the plans usually get cheaper per phone for more than one device.
providers is an asset.
If you are over 55 look at T-Mobile's 55+ plans, they are among the most affordable there is.I use T-Mobile's plan for me and the wife, and agree their pricing is
While Verizons 4G network covers more rural areas then T-Mobile,
T-Mobiles 5G coverage area is larger (partly due to T-Mobile using a
lower frequency band)
very good. Unlimited everything, and coverage has been relatively good,
and improving as time goes on. We were up in Canada and drove across
the whole country streaming radio in the middle of nowhere. Surprised
the heck out of me. Got back in the country and it wasn't as good in Northern Wisconsin.
There is a continual debate on two phone newsgroups, and you have to
filter out the kooks and decide who is telling the truth. Kinda like
around here.
misc.phone.mobile.iphone and comp.mobile.android are the two groups and
they get a lot of traffic. I filter most of it, but have seen the
coverage and plan debates all the time.
Enjoy the retirement!
sticks
On Monday, October 2, 2023 at 8:01:51 AM UTC-7, Ralph E Lindberg wrote:
On 2023-10-01 17:08:21 +0000, Ted Heise said:
Hi all,If you want "data" in a National Park you probable should look at
Looking for suggestions on mobile phone plans. I'll be retiring
at end of year, and my wife and I will be spending more time in
our RV. We plan to visit national parks (many in the American
West), and don't use lots of talk time. On the other hand, we use
a fair bit of data, and so far have found use of a mobile hotspot
to be better than campground wifi (ugh).
I'm currently on AT&T with an iPhone 12 mini via my employer, and
she has a Samsung smartphone on Verizon. I'll have to turn in
my work phone and get a new one (and new plan).
Are we better off going with a single plan that includes both our
phones (more economical, probably), or with two different plans on
two different carriers (better combined coverage)?
I'd also welcome any more specific suggestions about plans to
consider.
Thanks for any tips!
Starlink for RVs (ie portable).
Cell phone coverage in National Parks is poor to non-existing.
A HUGE number of full-time RVers have switched their data needs to
Starlink for the coverage reason.
Most have also found that having cell phones from two different
providers is an asset.
If you are over 55 look at T-Mobile's 55+ plans, they are among the
most affordable there is.
While Verizons 4G network covers more rural areas then T-Mobile,
T-Mobiles 5G coverage area is larger (partly due to T-Mobile using a
lower frequency band)
It's not just the National parks. Many of our State and local campgrounds here in Oregon have limited or no cell service.
TB
Hi all,
Looking for suggestions on mobile phone plans.
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