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mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 12:30 PM Nov 2022

Not really computer help; more like wifi hotspot help.

The house where I live is not wired for the internet. To work from home, I've been using a Simple Mobile mobile hotspot. It works, but it's expensive.

Comcast Xfinity (CX) has some great deals going right now. Today, I saw an ad online for $30 per month. With Xfinity, though, there seems to be always a catch. What you see advertised is not what you hear when you go to the store. First Xfinity wants me to sign a contract. Only after that will they come out to the house, for $100, and then estimate how much it will cost to extend their service to where I live.

The people directly across the street are on Comcast, and I can see an existing spare tap on a utility pole right where Comcast runs the service to my neighbors' house. It's a whopping 150 feet away, but an extension to my house would have to cross a public right of way, so there is some complexity. We have overhead wiring in the neighborhood, which was here before there was cable TV or the internet. Over or under, the CX cable would have to cross a street.

Verizon Fios has not yet reached my neighborhood. Neither has T-Mobile. Ting is getting close, but their service is $89 per month, as far as I can tell. I have a twisted pair landline. No form of internet access that goes over a twisted pair will suffice for working from home.

I'm going to try another Comcast store to see if I can get them to tell me the same story twice. Oh, I'll have to come up with a router too, either by renting one of theirs or buying one of my own. They don't seem too expensive to own outright.

Meanwhile, Consumer Cellular (CC) has unlimited data for $50 per month. I called the phone number to ask if I could use one of their phones as a mobile hotspot. This is not possible on my Tracfone iPhone. Tracfone does not allow that. Consumer Cellular says that I can use their phone as a hotspot.

I was thinking of renting CC's cheapest smartphone, eventually owning it after two years, for the express purpose of using it as a hotspot. I would keep my Tracfone to use as my smartphone. My exising iPhone is compatible for bringing over to CC, but I want to keep it as a smartphone. The cheapest CC smartphone is only $5 per month. I assume that I would own it at the end. Hey, $5 is not really a big deal.

It would be more expensive than CX, but I'm tired of not getting the same story twice from CX. Either CC or CX would be cheaper than Simple Mobile. I have a nearby Target. They are the outlet for Consumer Cellular. CX has three nearby bricks and mortar stores. I try one or two of the ones I have not yet been to.

I am aware that CC will knock off another 5% for AARP members. I am not a member of AARP. It's probably worth joining just for the discount.

Your thoughts are welcomed.

Thank you.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Not really computer help; more like wifi hotspot help. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2022 OP
Check out Republic Wireless jmbar2 Nov 2022 #1
I'm not sure we have them here. Will do. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2022 #2
I would caution you about the "unlimited" plans. drray23 Nov 2022 #3
Ahhh, good point. That's what I'm hoping to find out more about this afternoon when mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2022 #5
You were right. mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2022 #11
Are you in a 5G area? discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2022 #12
I am, but T-Mobile is not in my neighborhood yet. mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2022 #13
I understand. discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2022 #14
I have heard this is a good option... FarPoint Jan 2023 #18
I used Consumer Cellular for my phone Tetrachloride Nov 2022 #4
Wonderful. Thanks. NT mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2022 #6
I left consumer cellular without any problems. Mosby Nov 2022 #7
Speed isn't an issue. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2022 #8
Look into Starlink SmartJellyfish Nov 2022 #9
Thanks, but they're a lot more than Comcast. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2022 #10
My son uses Windstream -- plain old telephone system (twisted pair) Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2023 #15
I didn't know that was possible. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2023 #16
Windstream is just one landline company Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2023 #17

jmbar2

(6,092 posts)
1. Check out Republic Wireless
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 12:44 PM
Nov 2022

They often have really good deals. Seem to be more consumer-focused that many of the other carriers.

Good luck!

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
2. I'm not sure we have them here. Will do.
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 12:45 PM
Nov 2022

Consumer Cellular seems to come out well in Consumer Reports, as does Ting. Ting is near but not yet here. It's costly too.

Thanks.

{later}

I checked. https://republicwireless.com/ Republic has limits on data, either 20 GB or 35 GB. CC and CX are unlimited.

drray23

(7,962 posts)
3. I would caution you about the "unlimited" plans.
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 12:59 PM
Nov 2022

Read the footprint carefully. Most if not all of those advertising for unlimited have a threshold beyond which they throttle your internet down to 3G speeds.

Also, some carriers have explicit restrictions on using a cellphone as a Hotspot. If you don't buy a specific plan for Hotspot they will restrict you after a certain amount of data.

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
5. Ahhh, good point. That's what I'm hoping to find out more about this afternoon when
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 01:02 PM
Nov 2022

I go to Target.

It does seem to good to be true, that I could use a phone as a hotspot and as a phone. If there were the case, then everyone would be doing it. Okay, not everyone, but some people.

Thanks.

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
11. You were right.
Fri Dec 2, 2022, 01:48 PM
Dec 2022

I went to Target and looked at the point of purchase display. In the fine print, one is advised that you get only so much date at the advertised speed. Beyond 50 GB, your upload and downloads speeds are throttled.

Thanks.

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
13. I am, but T-Mobile is not in my neighborhood yet.
Sat Dec 3, 2022, 05:39 AM
Dec 2022

Last edited Sat Dec 3, 2022, 07:30 AM - Edit history (3)

I check every now and then.

Here's what I decided to do:

Comcast Xfinity has been running ads all over the TV and the radio for a Black Friday sale on internet service. I threw in the towel and ordered it. The installer came by yesterday to look the place over, but he did not install the cable. He had been told that the cable would come in underground, but it can't. It has to come in overhead, and he had no ladder. Also, I'll be buying a cable modem router combo, probably later today. He can't sign off on the work order until the signal is up and running inside the house. So, neither he nor I had the equipment needed for an installation.

He'll be back on Monday.

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,577 posts)
14. I understand.
Sat Dec 3, 2022, 07:26 AM
Dec 2022

I have the T-mobile service. It works better than anything I've had in 5 years. I lived in Philly (19136) with Comcast before moving across the river. We had overhead wire 50 feet from the house but cable was underground. The techs always came with ladders and couldn't find the lines.

I have no complaints about T-mobile home internet: $50/month, 22 ms pings, 99 mbps down, 9 mbps up.

FarPoint

(13,617 posts)
18. I have heard this is a good option...
Tue Jan 17, 2023, 11:26 AM
Jan 2023

I do home care visits as an RN...one of my client got this....does great for them. $50 month they said.

Tetrachloride

(8,447 posts)
4. I used Consumer Cellular for my phone
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 12:59 PM
Nov 2022

However, if you ever decide to cancel any internet service, cancel your credit card.

Consumer Cellular is spamming me after a 2 year absence.

Mosby

(17,458 posts)
7. I left consumer cellular without any problems.
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 01:11 PM
Nov 2022

Different companies and different phones will have varying speeds. I think there are a couple 5g speeds. I noticed with my phone that when on 5g UC, I get up to 600mbps download speeds but the uploads are throttled to around 95mbps.

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
8. Speed isn't an issue.
Mon Nov 28, 2022, 01:14 PM
Nov 2022

I'm not a gamer, and I don't watch endless movies or TV shows. My coworkers have advised me that the speeds offered by carriers' cheapest plans are adequate.

SmartJellyfish

(63 posts)
9. Look into Starlink
Tue Nov 29, 2022, 10:25 AM
Nov 2022

Starlink is a high speed satellite based internet service that is intended for under served locations as yours. There are some up front equipment costs and the service is $110/mo in North America.

This will solve your problem if you think it is right for you. STARLINK

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
10. Thanks, but they're a lot more than Comcast.
Tue Nov 29, 2022, 11:28 AM
Nov 2022
SpaceX Raises Prices for Starlink in Ukraine Amid Funding Troubles

The price for Starlink is going up for consumers in Ukraine amid lingering questions over how SpaceX plans to fund the satellite internet service in the war-torn country.

Users in Ukraine reported receiving an email from SpaceX on Tuesday about the price increase, which will raise the monthly cost for Starlink in the country from $65 to $75.

In addition, SpaceX is now charging $700 for the Starlink dish, up from $500. In contrast, a Starlink dish costs $599 for users in the US, followed by a $110 monthly fee for service.

According to the email, SpaceX plans on instituting the $75-per-month internet fee starting on Dec. 29. “If you do not wish to continue your service, you can cancel at any time,” it says.

Hermit-The-Prog

(36,587 posts)
15. My son uses Windstream -- plain old telephone system (twisted pair)
Sat Jan 14, 2023, 05:37 PM
Jan 2023

He streams movies, did teaching over the connection during covid lock-down.

I use Verizon wireless for home ($60/month), but have used my Consumer Cellular phone for a hotspot to stream high school football games. If Verizon aggravates me again, I'll drop them and just use CC, even though it is a slower connection. ( Coverage map doesn't show AT&T available where I'm at even though the CC connection is through AT&T. )

My Samsung A03s cost $160 through CC.

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,934 posts)
16. I didn't know that was possible.
Sat Jan 14, 2023, 11:29 PM
Jan 2023

I thought the most that could be done with that connection was DSL.

I just checked. Windstream is not in my area.

Thanks.

Hermit-The-Prog

(36,587 posts)
17. Windstream is just one landline company
Sun Jan 15, 2023, 02:40 AM
Jan 2023

You might want to plug your zip code in at
https://www.broadbandsearch.net/
to see what's available in your area.

I get about 28 Mbps down / 6 Mbps up over my cellular wireless connection and that's good enough for what I do.

Here's some info on DSL
https://broadbandnow.com/DSL

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