Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods?

Posted By: DukeCigars

Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/13/21 08:00 PM

Looking into spending more time at the lease in east Texas but would need WiFi so I'm looking into hotspots that are either pay as you go or can buy packages. Mostly just for sending emails with spreadsheets and such...don't need streaming but if the price is right, I wouldn't mind being able to! (Well... the wife wouldn't mind)

Any recommendations or anybody using anything out in the pineywoods area? Seems we all get phone signal at camp, albeit 1 bar and it's slow for data

Posted By: Grit

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/13/21 10:11 PM

You could use one of your phones as a hotspot. Reception would be the same if you used a hotspot with the carrier you already have. You can research other carriers and see if there are any towers closer to your camp. Other than that, you're not gaining anything by purchasing one (except for maybe a stronger signal with another carrier). If you have a laptop without sim capability, then a hotspot would make sense. Again, you could use your phone to connect the laptop to the internet. With a fixed location, though, you're pretty much at the mercy of the tower your phones use to connect to the internet.

Posted By: DukeCigars

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/13/21 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Grit

You could just use one of your phones as a hotspot. Reception would be the same if you used a hotspot with the carrier you already have. You can research other carriers and see if there are any towers closer to your camp. Other than that, you're not gaining anything by purchasing one (except for maybe a stronger signal with another carrier). If you have a laptop without sim capability, then a hotspot would make sense. Again, you could use your phone to connect the laptop to the internet. With a fixed location, though, you're pretty much at the mercy of the tower your phones use to connect to the internet.

We did that some over the weekend, but I’d rather not be at the mercy of the phones if possible. ATT has hotspot data plans but seems only with contract… I like the idea of the pay as you go/prepaid type setups as we won’t need it year round

Posted By: Grit

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/13/21 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by DukeCigars

Originally Posted by Grit

You could just use one of your phones as a hotspot. Reception would be the same if you used a hotspot with the carrier you already have. You can research other carriers and see if there are any towers closer to your camp. Other than that, you're not gaining anything by purchasing one (except for maybe a stronger signal with another carrier). If you have a laptop without sim capability, then a hotspot would make sense. Again, you could use your phone to connect the laptop to the internet. With a fixed location, though, you're pretty much at the mercy of the tower your phones use to connect to the internet.

We did that some over the weekend, but I’d rather not be at the mercy of the phones if possible. ATT has hotspot data plans but seems only with contract… I like the idea of the pay as you go/prepaid type setups as we won’t need it year round

I understand. We have Consumer Cellular and we used one of their hotspots for a while, but they quit offering the option. Their data plans are generous and for a great price, too. I don't know if any of the major carries offers pay as you go, but you might look into some other ones. There's probably not that many left, what, Att, Verizon and Tmobile? And all the little guys seem to be owned by the big guys! Either way I wish you luck.

Posted By: Grit

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/13/21 10:32 PM

FWIW, Consumer Cellular uses AT&T towers.

Posted By: DukeCigars

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/13/21 10:34 PM

Cool, thanks for the extra input!!

Posted By: Gringocazador

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 12:00 AM

I us my iphone, Verizon for a hot spot for my work laptop in my deer blind. After a while you get so many IM's, emails and calls you just give up and work and forget about hunting. Battery life is an issue after a while.

This year I am going to get me one of these, I need to order one.

https://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Port...wer+source&qid=1631577513&sr=8-3

Posted By: DukeCigars

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Gringocazador

I us my iphone, Verizon for a hot spot for my work laptop in my deer blind. After a while you get so many IM's, emails and calls you just give up and work and forget about hunting. Battery life is an issue after a while.

This year I am going to get me one of these, I need to order one.

https://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Port...wer+source&qid=1631577513&sr=8-3

Oh yea, I definitely won’t be using it in the stand, it’s more for camp/in the travel trailer. Truthfully my wife will use it more than anything. I work from my cell often but her work ties her to the laptop

Posted By: TXHOGSLAYER

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 12:10 AM

I have one from Kricket mobile that I used at my lake house in Onalaska. You can have it for a few cigars.

Posted By: tailchaser93

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 12:37 AM

My buddy works full time from home using a hot spot here in East Texas and he uses AT&T.

Posted By: DukeCigars

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 12:58 AM

Originally Posted by TXHOGSLAYER

I have one from Kricket mobile that I used at my lake house in Onalaska. You can have it for a few cigars.

Looks like Cricket has coverage at the camp and doesn’t require a contract…this could work!

Posted By: TXHOGSLAYER

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 01:43 AM

Originally Posted by DukeCigars

Originally Posted by TXHOGSLAYER

I have one from Kricket mobile that I used at my lake house in Onalaska. You can have it for a few cigars.

Looks like Cricket has coverage at the camp and doesn’t require a contract…this could work!

Yep, month to month. My son ran his Xbox with it.

Posted By: Brother in-law

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 02:06 AM

I believe cricket is att towers

Posted By: Smokey Bear

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 06:09 PM

I am a forester in the piney woods. I use a net gear hot spot on an AT&T plan. For me it is a big step up from using my phone as a personal hot spot.

Edit to add: there are some areas that Verizon has better signal so do your homework.

Posted By: Tin Head

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 06:14 PM

I go to the woods to disconnect.

Posted By: Smokey Bear

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/14/21 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by Tin Head

I go to the woods to disconnect.

Another day at the office for me.

Posted By: soooo

Re: Good WiFi hotspot for pineywoods? - 09/15/21 12:29 PM

Nomad Internet and Straight Talk are some avenues to explore.