WiFi Options

[bpd138]

Hello again,
I'm just wondering what people do for wifi while camping. We're on the Verizon network and were thinking of using one of our phones as a wifi hotspot but we were also considering buying a MiFi jetpack or similar device.

 

[Neal]

There are a lot of options but it's typically cellular or now Starlink. Wi-Fi at campgrounds has never been something to count on. I suggest reviewing this forum:

RV Tech: Cellular, Internet, TV, SAT, Audio/Visual

RV mobile internet resources for Cellular, Wi-Fi, TV, Internet, Satellite, Starlink, Audio/Visual, Cable TV, COAX, Home Theater, etc.

rvforums.com

 

[Gizmo]

Hello again,
I'm just wondering what people do for wifi while camping. We're on the Verizon network and were thinking of using one of our phones as a wifi hotspot but we were also considering buying a MiFi jetpack or similar device.

That depends on your usage. If you just going to check email and social media apps the hotspot would probably be enough. If you planning on streaming TV then hotspots probably don't have enough data access to support TV. TV can use anywhere between 1GB SD to 3GB HD per hour and most phone hotspots are limited to 40GB or less till they are throttled to almost worthless speed. Tell us what your plans are and how you plan to use your hotspots.

 

[Floridakraut]

Hello again,
I'm just wondering what people do for wifi while camping. We're on the Verizon network and were thinking of using one of our phones as a wifi hotspot but we were also considering buying a MiFi jetpack or similar device.

I use hotspot on the phone to stream tv. I have 40 gigs on my phone and my wife has 40 gigs as well. Will never be able to use it all. Call Verizon. You been a customer for a while in good standings they will give you more than enough free hotspot to watch tv 24/7

 

[Gizmo]

This is off Netflix's site on how much data you use streaming.
"Standard definition: up to1 GB. High definition 1080P: up to 3 GB. Ultra high definition (4K): up to 7 GB" per hour.

So you can see using Netflix's own stats if you watch TV 4 hours a day at "Standard Definition" that would be 120 GB per month. Most TVs these days are 1080 so using Netflix numbers of 3GB per hour 4 hours of TV would be 360GB per month. If you watch TV 24/7 at Standard Definition you would use 720 GB according to Netflix numbers and at 1080P you use more than 2000GB.
If you plan on using other services many of them are even more of a data hog than Netflix.
Now if you have Dish, campground TV, or over the air you can cut way back and the 80 gigs you have on your phone will probably be fine.

If you like us we turn on the TV in the morning and watch the news for 1 hour or 2 then in the evening we watch TV for a couple of hours before going to bed. With YouTube, phone computer updates, upload to social media, and pictures we use between 300 and 600GB per month.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Ditto on the usage. 1 TV streaming HD a few hours a day and couple phones and computers… 250GB to 500GB a month for us.

We use Starlink as our primary with ATT100GB as a backup and Verizon hotspot off our phones as a backup to the backup.

 

[Gizmo]

This will give you Idea on how much data different types of servies use. This is off Verizon site.

100GB is roughly enough data for any one of the following:

• 5000 Hours of web browsing
• 25,000 Music Tracks
• 650 hours of streaming music
• 320 Hours of Skype
• 800 App Downloads
• 100 Hours SD(720K) Movie downloads
• 33 Hours High Def (1080P) Movie downloads
• 40,000 Emails