Verizon MiFi for Snowbirds
 

Is there anyone here who is using a Verizon mifi (I think 4G) mobile hotspot exclusively for internet access both in TV and up north?

All my contracts are up, and I am trying to figure out whether to go with a $50/mo Verizon mifi device with 4G service or whether to get separate internet plans both here and up north, and put them "on vacation" when I can.

Is this one device really sufficient? How much are you on the computer? And do you also need a modem and/or router, or is this all you need?

We would probably use 2-4 hours of email, web surfing and linking to a few videos daily, no video games, don't stream tv shows or movies or download music.

wifi
 

I was using one of those, it was supposed to be $50/month ended up being $100 just Internet. One might be good for one place and not the other it depends on how much you use it and if you are in a brick building it doesn't work well at all

I was using the USB device Virgin Mobile | Shop Broadband2Go Devices

I currently use Verizon MiFi and have never gone beyond my 50 dollar limit. I use it both at home and for travel, so I am curious to know how you managed to get to 100 dollars! What I particularly like about it is thet you can connect up to 5 devices at once. I am using it now for my IPad, and when I travel I just take it with me and can connect virtually anywhere. You do not need a router, etc... And I highly doubt you would overun 50 dollars per month. I have had mine over a year now and have never exceeded that. I use a PC, laptop, IPad and wireless printer with it, and sometimes a netbook as well. No problems!

MiFi
 

We are both on it constantly both here and up North. So far have not used the 5GB we get for $50/month. It works great for us.

Just a note on the MiFi usage....

The new Apple iPhones 5's (Verizon) are capable of being a WiFi hotspot. Therefore, you can use them to connect up to 5 devices to the internet. They are also 4G or LTE devices. They function same as the MiFi unit.

Just another option and seems to work well. It does, however, go against your data usage.

I live in Hadley and can barely get a call connected on my Verizon Droid - always being dropped or not connecting. It's not the phone 'cause I am currently in the Georgia mountains with 4G and all bars. So my question is if I can pick up a decent cell signal how could the MIFI work???? Don't even know for sure what it is but always looking to improve costs on internet.

Hotrodgirl or guy could you tell me if you pay monthly or a 1-2 year contract Thanks.

I have a Droid currently and MiFi. No connection problems with either, but will get a new phone soon thru Verizon. My MiFi and phone are billed together, once monthly. You do NOT need a contract for the MiFi price. But you do pay for the device itself upfront. When I got mine it was almost free, as there was a rebate. So my billing consists of the 50 dollar charge for MiFi and my phone 69 dollars or 119... Hope that helped! But I avoid Internet charges at home and am able to use all my devices anywhere.

I bought an unlocked (GSM) Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Android 4.1) phone from Google. "You can share your phone's mobile data connection with a single computer via USB tethering or Bluetooth tethering. You can also share your data connection with up to 10 devices at once, by turning it into a portable Wi-Fi hotspot."

I activated it with a T-Mobile monthly, 4G, prepaid, no-contract, web-exclusive offering. It runs $30 a month with 100 minutes of talk, unlimited text and unlimited web (first 5GB at up to 4G speeds). If you go over 100 minutes of talk, it's 10 cents a minute. I don't use a lot of talk.

So far, so good. I haven't tried it in TV yet, but I'll be there soon.

Thanks for the info
 

Still on the fence. Going to the Verizon store this week to change cell plans so will talk more. I am pretty sure that right now you have to get a 2 yr contract at $50/mo for the 4G (I'm not sure about this) and maybe more for the 5G.

What someone got 2 mos. ago or in a different state might not be what they are offering now or here. And no one company (deliberately) has the same plans, so there is no apples to apples comparison. What also bugs me about cell phone service is that there is no money back if it doesn't get good connectivity, at least that I know of.

We are in a brick condo building up North in the summer, so it concerns me whether or not we'd have a problem with the signal, but people who have Verizon phones have good coverage in our condo. We did not with Sprint, but if we walked a half block away from our building we did.

The Mifi signal is a cellphone tower signal, correct?

I have the MiFi and our home is in Santiago. I have no problems with the connection in Florida or up north in Michigan. I bought the device before I bought my Droid. I guess you would need to compare costs between the two now that Verizon has changed their pricing with the everything plans.

No contract for the MiFi with Verizon. Just the 50 per month.

we have been looking at this also
 

Our introductory rate with Comcast is about up, and they are raising the rates in NY, so we have been considering using a Verizon device. My biggest concern is that I teach online, so need reliable and fast connection. We do not download music, videos, or play games, but when I am grading I can be online several hours a day.
During a recent visit to the Verizon store, we learned that our NY home is not within a 4G area yet, but TV is. We also learned that you have a 14 day trial period during which you can return the device and change plans for a $30 fee. Our plan is to get the device one week before we leave for TV, enabling us to test it in both places within the 14 day period. We also will still have current internet plans in effect as a backup until we decide.
I appreciate hearing others experiences with this.

As I said in a previous post I cannot get a decent signal in Hadley with Verizon. We also rented off Buttonwood and couldn't get a signal there either. Does anyone in TV have a good Verizon connection????

Verizon connection
 

we get very good reception in S.S.