Streaming via Mobile Hot Spot

[Dean Baron]

Looking into streaming again this year and am trying to figure out how I want to do it. Is it possible to do it via mobile hot spot or is it better to use an aircard for streaming? I don't have an aircard right now so if I can use my phone as a mobile hot spot for data that would be great.

 

[Randy Jennings]

The problem with using a phone as a hot spot is signal strength (unless you use a booster). My recommendation would be a dedicated hot spot (like the Verizon Jetpack) with external antennas.

 

[Quincy Vagell]

I sometimes stream via the Verizon mobile hotspot on my phone, but signal strength is not consistent in very rural areas. It’s not bad across much of Kansas/Oklahoma or if you’re in a fixed location with reasonable service. It’s once you start moving that concerns of dropouts arise.

There are better ways, but it can work if you don’t have any other options...

 

[B. Dean Berry]

Camera ---> Hardware encoder ---> Cradlepoint COR-IBR router ---> External antennas.

 

[Chris Dickerson]

This is my third straight season streaming. I use a Verizon Jetpack, and my plan gives me 20 GB a month. The last 2 years I've had 15 each month and it hasn't been an issue.

I'd definitely recommend a dedicated hot-spot over trying to use your phone's hot-spot; it'll kill your battery and your phone will run hot, which isn't good in the long term. Also, if you're getting in and out of the vehicle or away from the car, your signal could suffer in sparse coverage, affecting your stream quality. You can add one to a Verizon plan for like, $20/month.

I also run a Wilson 4G-X booster, and velcro the Jetpack to the B-pillar of my Jeep, right below the booster's internal antenna to maximize signal strength. I upgraded the magnetic external 4" booster antenna to a higher gain 12" antenna as well.

I've been able to use this setup over a decent chunk of Tornado Alley and part of Dixie Alley, and it has worked out really well, my streams have been very solid.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

The problem with using a phone as a hot spot is signal strength (unless you use a booster). My recommendation would be a dedicated hot spot (like the Verizon Jetpack) with external antennas.

I second that, I have a Verizon Jetpack that I re-activate every now and then to use while travelling and I really like it. I have the no-contract plan so I can sign up for data when needed, and then deactivate it when I no longer need it.

 

[Michael Gavan]

Best decision i've ever made was buying a vehicle with built in wifi.

GM's Onstar data plan is $20 and does not require onstar activation. It's unlimited (Throttled at 22 Gb, but if you do go that high the limitations will be signal strength and data speeds out on the plains)

Unfortunately, it's AT&T based. However, because of the car's (Silverado) signal strength finding (truly) dead zones are surprisingly pretty rare. Tested in eastern South Dakota, Several remote areas of Iowa, Central Nebraska and Kansas, and east of OKC. I've found exactly one remote intersection in central South Dakota where data was really poor.

Even when signal is suboptimal, I can listen to podcasts and when I'm not driving I'm watching youtube videos. On vacations, sometimes 3 different people might be streaming video/podcasts in my truck at the same time without interruption. This is soo much better than my experience with boosters and jetpacks.

All i need are some good storms to test out performance while live streaming.

 

[Chris Dickerson]

Best decision i've ever made was buying a vehicle with built in wifi.

GM's Onstar data plan is $20 and does not require onstar activation. It's unlimited (Throttled at 22 Gb, but if you do go that high the limitations will be signal strength and data speeds out on the plains)

Unfortunately, it's AT&T based. However, because of the car's (Silverado) signal strength finding (truly) dead zones are surprisingly pretty rare. Tested in eastern South Dakota, Several remote areas of Iowa, Central Nebraska and Kansas, and east of OKC. I've found exactly one remote intersection in central South Dakota where data was really poor.

Even when signal is suboptimal, I can listen to podcasts and when I'm not driving I'm watching youtube videos. On vacations, sometimes 3 different people might be streaming video/podcasts in my truck at the same time without interruption. This is soo much better than my experience with boosters and jetpacks.

All i need are some good storms to test out performance while live streaming.

I've also been speaking to Verizon about their "Hum" service. It's a module that plugs into the same plug as the Progressive thingee, where you get the car computer codes. But it provides unlimited wifi as well. I'm waiting for Confirmation that it works with the booster, but I may switch to that if it is. It will give me all of the benefits of the hot-spot and no throttling, plus a bunch of vehicle diagnostic stuff as a bonus. I could ditch the hot-spot and do Hum, and it would be about the same price.

But I can't recommend this service as I haven't used it. In theory, it's a better setup, but I want to test it when I have a full chase day within the return period just in case. It still requires a two year contract, so I want to be sure before committing.

 

[Dean Baron]

Thanks for the input, guys! I used an aircard back in the day when I was chasing more. Any suggestions on jetpacks? It's been a while since I have looked into this kind of thing so I'm a bit out of the loop. Probably running through Verizon since that's what I have my phone through. Also, if I buy the jetpack myself does that get me out of having to sign a contract and allow me to activate/deactivate when I want for chasing?

 

[Chris Dickerson]

Thanks for the input, guys! I used an aircard back in the day when I was chasing more. Any suggestions on jetpacks? It's been a while since I have looked into this kind of thing so I'm a bit out of the loop. Probably running through Verizon since that's what I have my phone through. Also, if I buy the jetpack myself does that get me out of having to sign a contract and allow me to activate/deactivate when I want for chasing?

Yes, but if you deactivate it, you'll have a $35 activation fee to reactivate it. The model I use is listed as "Jetpack 4G LTE MHS MiFi 7730L". Unfortunately I don't have it handy, but it is the higher end of the two that were available 2 years ago when I got it.

 

[John Wetter]

Yes, like others have said, when streaming, I'd definitely go with a JetPack and either one that can do an external antenna, or to have an in-car amplifier. Streaming is just too touchy in my experience to use a phone as poor signal areas just bog everything down.