USB Modems and coverage for chasing

[Doug Raflik]

So in looking over some recent threads, it appears the Millenicom company is the best way to go for getting data on the road? I was looking at the 3G/4G hotspot plan on this page...
http://www.millenicom.com/page/plans#4g_hotspot_plan

All I need is internet data on the road. I will not be streaming. I like the hot spot feature so my wife can surf on her internet devices on the long drives. Does anyone know of a better plan than this? Anyone have horror stories with them? What happens if the company goes under? Am I stuck with a $100 piece of plastic then?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Doug Raflik

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

So in looking over some recent threads, it appears the Millenicom company is the best way to go for getting data on the road? I was looking at the 3G/4G hotspot plan on this page...
http://www.millenicom.com/page/plans#4g_hotspot_plan

All I need is internet data on the road. I will not be streaming. I like the hot spot feature so my wife can surf on her internet devices on the long drives. Does anyone know of a better plan than this? Anyone have horror stories with them? What happens if the company goes under? Am I stuck with a $100 piece of plastic then?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks,
Doug Raflik

Verizon offers a $50/5GB per month plan with a $35 activation fee (with no contract required if you supply your own device) and 3G only Mifi's (2200) can be had on ebay for ~$30. Millenicom has the better price if you need 10GB's of data but the actvation fee is a tad higher. Since you aren't streaming you could probably save money by going directly through verizon.

One other thing to note. If buying a Mifi device on ebay make sure the seller provides the ESN number so you can confirm that there will be no problems activating it with Verizon. You can check the eligibility of devices here

 

[Skip Talbot]

Millenicom is currently not offering Verizon coverage, just Sprint. You're better off going with Verizon's $50 month to month no contract data plan as Brandon pointed out as Verizon's coverage is superior to Sprint's and I've heard quite a few complaints about the mifi device Millenicom is offering with that Sprint plan.

 

[Doug Raflik]

Millenicom is currently not offering Verizon coverage, just Sprint. You're better off going with Verizon's $50 month to month no contract data plan as Brandon pointed out as Verizon's coverage is superior to Sprint's and I've heard quite a few complaints about the mifi device Millenicom is offering with that Sprint plan.

They told me yesterday that plan piggybacked the Verizon network.

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

It was my understanding that the hotspot plan was offered with Verizon service. I know the BYOD plan is Sprint service (as is the unlimited data card). It still doesn't make much sense to go that route unless you plan on using more than 5GB per month.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Ah, sorry I thought their only Verizon offering was the Advanced plan, which they just took down. I agree though, you probably will not need more than 5 gb a month if you're using the device mainly for chasing.

 

[Doug Raflik]

Ah, sorry I thought their only Verizon offering was the Advanced plan, which they just took down. I agree though, you probably will not need more than 5 gb a month if you're using the device mainly for chasing.

What do i look for on ebay as far as what I need?

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

What do i look for on ebay as far as what I need?

Something along the lines of this.

The idea is that you need a device with a clean ESN which that auction states. To verify that you could always message the seller to obtain the ESN number and check it at the link I posted above.

 

[Doug Raflik]

thanks a ton everybody.

 

[Trey Hart]

Does anyone know if buying one of the pre-paid Verizon USB 760 you see everywhere on ebay will work with the 5G $50/month plan with no contract or will these as they state only work by prepaying. On Verizon's website the prepaid plan is either 1day at 100MB, 1 week at 300MB, 1 month at 1GB for $50 or 5GB at $80. I want to be able to buy a card on ebay and pay the $35 activation fee and have the $50 a month plan for as long as I need but cancel when wanted.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Adam Simone]

Does anyone know if buying one of the pre-paid Verizon USB 760 you see everywhere on ebay will work with the 5G $50/month plan with no contract or will these as they state only work by prepaying. On Verizon's website the prepaid plan is either 1day at 100MB, 1 week at 300MB, 1 month at 1GB for $50 or 5GB at $80. I want to be able to buy a card on ebay and pay the $35 activation fee and have the $50 a month plan for as long as I need but cancel when wanted.

Thanks in advance.

I bought my USB card on ebay last year and did the 5GB/$50 plan through Verizon and plan to activate it again soon. So yeah it should work for you.

 

[Jim Parsons]

I just picked up a new Pantech UML290 on Ebay for $43.00....It is a well reviewed USB modem on Verizon and is both 3/4g. It has separate antenna plugs for both so you can use an amp with the 3g.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Trey, when I bought my Verizon 760 a couple years ago, all the retailers such as Best Buy were pushing the prepaid modems, and I had the same idea as you. But I was informed that the prepaid modems are just that and only that--prepaid--and will not work with a monthly plan. And prepaid is a rotten deal.

I didn't trust what I'd get if I bought a 760 on eBay, so I went to the Verizon store and bought my own non-prepaid 760 modem outright. Verizon set me up with their contract plan, albeit without the contract. From Verizon's standpoint, that simply means that I pay from month to month as I would if I were on their 2-year plan, but I can close my account whenever I choose.

If I were to buy a USB now, I would go through Millenicom and choose their Verizon plan. But Verizon isn't a bad option--except their 3G plan is pricier than their 4G by ten bucks a month. And from what I've heard on this forum, the 4G program is a year or so away from being practical for storm chasing.

 

[Brandon Jenkins]

If I were to buy a USB now, I would go through Millenicom and choose their Verizon plan. But Verizon isn't a bad option--except their 3G plan is pricier than their 4G by ten bucks anth. And from what I've heard on this forum, the 4G program is a year or so away from being practical for storm chasing.

Millenicom no longer offers the Verizon USB plan, and the price on all 5gb data plans with Verizon is now $50

If buying a modem through eBay just check the esn at the link I provided at the start of this thread and you shouldn't have any problem if it comes up clear for activation.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

Word is on a couple of other forums is that they have a few devices left for the advanced plan . But you need to call quick . Folks are grabbing them up.

Millenicom no longer offers the Verizon USB plan, and the price on all 5gb data plans with Verizon is now $50

If buying a modem through eBay just check the esn at the link I provided at the start of this thread and you shouldn't have any problem if it comes up clear for activation.