General Hotspot and WiFi questions

[ShaggyKids]

Hi everyone,

When we moved out into the country about 4 months ago my internet availability options were horrible so I went with a Verizon hotspot.

Now I'm wondering if I didn't make a stupid mistake. I bought a hotspot from Verizon and now I'm wondering if I should have just used my phone as a hotspot in order to save some money because of course they're charging me for the hotspot connection. I purchased a refurbished hotspot for $0.99 so it's not a new one but of course that put me under contract with it. So I'm looking for some input on that.

My next question is if you use a hotspot for your internet do you have your phone connect to it when it's in range or do you leave your phone off the Wi-Fi?

Thanks!
Deb

 

[Almeuit]

It doesn't sound like a bad deal. If you are going to stay with Verizon for those 2 years of that contract you aren't losing out on anything.

As for the wifi versus data thing. I can't comment really. I use LTE everywhere and wifi at home but I have unlimited LTE and also a home ISP at home for my wifi.

 

[ShaggyKids]

It doesn't sound like a bad deal. If you are going to stay with Verizon for those 2 years of that contract you aren't losing out on anything.

I'm paying extra for the hotspot every month. If I'd have used my phone pretty sure that would be free.

I don't know if there are disadvantages to using my phone as a hotspot vs. using the hotspot hardware. Better speed with a hotspot?

Maybe more wear and tear on my phone if used as a hotspot? Pretty sure it would hit my battery harder?

 

[dpham00]

It would depend on the hotspot and the phone. Of course with hotspot on it would hit the phone battery harder, how much depends on the device.

Speeds, it also depends on the device. Some devices are capable of things like carrier aggregation which could help speed things up but only if there is more than one band being broadcast or the same band but non consecutive blocks


With regards to whether or not it is worth it... It is more convenient to use a hotspot device for most people using it as home Internet. But if you are OK with just turning on the hotspot on the phone when needed, then sure that could work and save a few bucks for the line access charge on the hotspot

 

[racquetballer]

I use my phone Note 7 as a hotspot at home and when I travel. Works great. Works better than my previous phone (Note 4) and I had no problem with the Note 4. Note 7 just seems to have better latency and faster downloads according to ookla speedtest.. I'm trying to keep it around 100 gigs now. I was doing between 100-200 gigs a month and did NOT get the dreaded letter from VZW. In fact I just got the subsidized Note 7 from them locking me in for 2 more years. I had been out of contract for probably over 4 yrs and bought new phones off of swappa to maintain my UDP.. I could go the route of FoxFi but I'm paying the mobile hotspot just so VZW won't have a reason to kick me off.. YMMV.

 

[dillon24]

How much extra does the hotspot cost? It won't let me turn it on without subscribing

 

[Hghlndr]

Hey Shaggy!
I have a VZW Note 5, (upgraded by the insurance after my Note Edge couldn't be replaced), with grandfathered unlimited data etc., and pay ($30/Mo prorated) to use it as a hotspot (unlimited too) needed 1 week a month.
The note edge used to get real hot and speeds were ok. Note 5 stays cool and speeds are amazing in LA since it is capable of LTE advanced. Battery drain is normal (-50%) in 4hrs using hotspot.
I can do anything with the phone normally while it's being used as a hotspot other than leave the house for those using it as such.
Haven't noticed any problems of wear and tear whatsoever and have had the phone doing this monthly since April.
Maybe you can return the hotspot and save the monthly fee?
Though you'd have to do the math: as $30/Mo prorated (grandfathered plans) verses newest plans where you have no extra cost to invoke the hotspot and use your capped data. Hmmm. Good luck.

 

[ShaggyKids]

Thanks Hghlndr!

 

[ShaggyKids]

How much extra does the hotspot cost? It won't let me turn it on without subscribing

Mine is $10 per month. I bought a refurb through VZW.

 

[dpham00]

How much extra does the hotspot cost? It won't let me turn it on without subscribing

If you have udp then it will cost $30 /mo

 

[racquetballer]

Mine is $10 per month. I bought a refurb through VZW.

How much data are they giving you for $10/month? I've been paying for my unlimited 4G Smartphone Hotspot @ $30/month less $6 total of => $24/month with my 20% - Feature Discount. I could use a 3rd party app like FoxFi but decided to pay for my 4G Smartphone Hotspot since I do use it to tether and I wouldn't want to give VZW a reason to kick me off UDP..

BTW I am rolling a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and I miss having multiple batteries at the ready. I do have an Anker PowerCore 10400 Portable Charger but I still prefer removal batteries.

 

[ShaggyKids]

How much data are they giving you for $10/month?

It's just part of my 30G plan, not on its own plan.