BEST option for reliable internet/Working from the road

arlee453 · 02-08-2013, 11:37 AM

I've done some searching on the forums and can't find any threads that are very recent, so sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here...

Here's my situation. We are planning to take a 5-6 week trip from NC out to Grand Canyon, up though Colorado, on to Yellowstone and then back home through the Dakotas, etc. Problem is that I do have a job and only have 20 vacation days per year, AND I am the only one who does my job so can't be away for an entire month anyway.

The GOOD news is that I work from home full time already, so my boss is used to me not being in a physical office... all I need is a phone and internet to do my job.

SOOOO I'm hoping to convince the boss to let me hit the road this summer, taking about 15 days vacation time over the 6 weeks, and working the other days from the TT. In order for me to convince him this is a good plan, I MUST have reliable intenet for my laptop. It won't work if I get out there and then can't get my job done due to crappy internet.

What I've found in almost every place we've stayed so far, is when a campground says 'WiFi', that even IF you can get a connection, it's almost impossible to find decent speed - ie, it's faster for me to check email on my cell phone than on my laptop, click and wait 5 minutes for pages to load - and absolutely no chance for any type of 'realtime' streaming, etc.

So, I'm considering my options for take-along internet.

Right now I'm leaning towards Verizon's hot spot. They seem to have the best coverage out west as compared to Sprint or ATT. Does anyone have specific experience with that at the Grand Canyon South Rim? That's where we will be for several of my 'working' days. How about West entrance to Yellowstone? Downsides are the long term contract. I won't really need it when I get back home... anyone have experience with their pay as you go service? Is it the same coverage area and speed as the contract version?

Also, I've done some research on Hughesnet satellite. Seems like the cons are that it's a bit expensive for the setup, but I'm willing to go there if it means I have 100% decent signal and no worries about a steady, good connection. I'm a former network support person, so I'm not concerned about it being a bit more techincally complex or finicky to setup - I figure I can handle that part of it.

So, any experience with HughesNet on an RV?

Just looking to get a good feel for what's out there, and if there is anything new over the past year or so...

Anyone else work from the road and have any wisdom to share?

**ependydad** · 02-08-2013, 11:44 AM

I work on the road using AT&T and a HotSpot through my iPhone but I'm on the East Coast and generally have been near to major metro areas where the phone has consistently worked.

I did have one situation in Colonial Beach, VA that my connection was fine until the free nights and weekends Friday hit - about 7pm my connection speed dropped horribly to the point it was unusable (and in the middle of production troubleshooting; yeah, that went well).

I've heard about fulltimers using Millenicom (sp?):
Some blog about it

Witch Doctor · 02-08-2013, 11:55 AM

I use the Verizon 4G not the hot spot, it plugs into my laptop. I went from Virginia to Oregon and back. We stopped at the Grand Canyon and never had a problem. I never ever went below a 3G connection. I travel a lot and it has not failed me yet. The cost for 5gigs that's the least you can get is $50.00 per month, I think you have to sign up for a 2 year contract. My contract is almost up. The hot spot would let you use more things off it. But saying that I'm not in Business either. Verizon is the best coverage in my opinion....

Tailwind · 02-08-2013, 12:12 PM

I just changed to the Verizon share everything family plan so I can have wifi on the road this summer. With it, I can make my phone a hotspot at no additional charge, just make sure I have a sufficiently date package to cover everyone. I haven't tried it out yet, but that is how it is supposed to work. I don't know how the reception is at the GC, but it was ok around yellowstone.

jeeplj8 · 02-08-2013, 12:48 PM

I know a few people locally who have hughesnet for their home internet due to their rural location. They are generally indifferent about it. They claim the speeds are not true high speed like a landline, and that like all satellite based systems, it tends to degrade in certain weather conditions.

With a hotspot you could always look at the carriers map and try to find camprgrounds in their coverage areas.

House97 · 02-08-2013, 10:45 PM

The biggest issue with Hughesnet is latency. It just takes a long time for a packet to travel 22000 miles up to a satellite and back down. If your work involves having to remotely access systems with a GUI you will be frustrated. CLI will seem slow but bearable. As always, your mileage will vary.
As an option to a dedicated mifi and its associated contract, you may want to look into tethering via your phone. Sometimes there are contractual advantages. If you're a Verizon customer, and not in an area with LTE service (likely given the plans you have), remember that you cannot talk and use data simultaneously. I hear that's not a problem anymore when using LTE but I have no firsthand experience.

cpaulsen · 02-09-2013, 04:15 AM

We went with the Verizon JetPack.....works great!!

rjshiflet · 02-09-2013, 06:34 AM

I have a Verizon phone and use the mobile hotspot for the one week per month that I'm on the road. I too "work from home" and my boss knows that "home is where my pillow is" and it's great to have that flexibility.

We are "quarter-timers plus" - since we are on the road one week out of each month - plus vacations and other occasional long-weekend trips and I always have my Verizon WiFi with me.

joelek · 02-09-2013, 07:06 AM

Another Verizon Jetpack user here. You can also use the newer smartphones as a mobile hotspot assuming you added that feature to your data plan. My Jetpack replaced DSL at home and now I can take it with me. I am online alot and go through about 4 gigs of data a month. Yes this is more expensive than DSL, cable modem, etc. but again it's mobile so I only need one data plan. IF you use standard internet service at your house AND a mobile data plan when you travel, the two plans will be more expensive than one mobile hotspot hosting device. Verizon = 4GLTE Jetpack. The other carriers are coming on board with their versions of this also.

4GLTE is WAAAAY faster than standard 4G. 3G is a joke for anything other than email and very slow websurfing. Remember all this stuff you pay for it.

Want free - go with free hosted wifi. Many companies installed wifi which is dirt cheap for them to do anyway! The idea is you will spend more time in their business and buy extra food/drink as you surf away. Panera Bread, McDonalds, Hardees, Culvers, coffee shops are good examples. Google free wifi locator to find them. This will get you started. Free Wi-Fi Hotspot Locators - Find Free Hotspots

All this techno mumbo jumbo confusing? Buy a teenager a large french fry and they will set you up in no time. They live online!

Oakman · 02-09-2013, 07:12 AM

I can't help you with the Grand Canyon, but in West Yellowstone the MiFi will work without problems. We use the Verizon Hot Spot when we travel and wouldn't be without it.

That sounds like an awesome trip you have planned. The scenery is spectacular.

whj77372 · 02-11-2013, 01:04 PM

I have had Hughes Net for internet for over 10 years because I live on a small ranch in SE Texas and there was no other option. It was slow, at best, but I had no other choice, also $60 per month for slow service. On December 18th we, better half and I, got new smart phones from Verizon and now use them as hot spots for verizon Wifi. World of difference, much faster and were we live, no 4G yet, all 3G. I don't think that we saved much money, but much faster service. I have read that Verizon should be all 4G by the end of the Year.

arlee453 · 02-11-2013, 01:21 PM

Thanks everyone for the responses!! I think my first option will be the Verizon Jetpack. I did contact Verizon and they said that if I go with that option, I can purchase the equipment and I will have 2 weeks to test drive it. If it doesn't work for me I can return it for a full refund.

They have a $90 prepay option for 10GB per month. I've tracked my usage on my VPN and it looks like I have throughput of about 1 GB per 24 hour period of continual connection. So, that would translate into about 1 GB for every 3 working days, assuming I connect only for those hours I work.

$90/month is high, but with the no contract I only have to pay for the 2 month's worth I would need while on the road, and I could always start with their lower price/lower data volume account and upgraded later if I needed to.

You've definately answered one main question - was HughesNet or similar faster than the 4G and sounds like that's a "NO".

Again - thanks all! I'm feeling much better about being able to work on the road now!

cpaulsen · 02-12-2013, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arlee453

Thanks everyone for the responses!! I think my first option will be the Verizon Jetpack. I did contact Verizon and they said that if I go with that option, I can purchase the equipment and I will have 2 weeks to test drive it. If it doesn't work for me I can return it for a full refund.

They have a $90 prepay option for 10GB per month. I've tracked my usage on my VPN and it looks like I have throughput of about 1 GB per 24 hour period of continual connection. So, that would translate into about 1 GB for every 3 working days, assuming I connect only for those hours I work.

$90/month is high, but with the no contract I only have to pay for the 2 month's worth I would need while on the road, and I could always start with their lower price/lower data volume account and upgraded later if I needed to.

You've definately answered one main question - was HughesNet or similar faster than the 4G and sounds like that's a "NO".

Again - thanks all! I'm feeling much better about being able to work on the road now!

If you are a Verizon customer already....there is no charge for the Jetpack.

You may also like: