Hey everyone! I'm looking for some tech advice. I have a cabin in a rural part of Pennsylvania, and unfortunately, the options for home WiFi there are both limited and pretty pricey. I'm considering getting a mobile hotspot from Verizon, which is my current cell carrier. The main reason I want it is to stream TV shows when I'm at the cabin, and I'd also like to keep it running so I can access either a Blink camera or an Amazon Echo to check on the place when I'm not there. I do some teleworking as well, so I need a reliable internet connection for my laptop. I've had Xfinity before, but their $75/month plan felt ridiculous for how little we'd actually use it. I'm curious if a mobile hotspot would work for my needs, or if there's another solution I'm missing. Any thoughts?
3 Answers
Before you go for a mobile hotspot, it's crucial to check if you get decent cell service at your cabin. Are you able to browse and stream on your phone without issues? If you usually get good coverage, a hotspot might work well. In my experience with Verizon hotspots, they tend to offer slightly better connection than a phone, but not by a huge margin, especially if your cell signal isn't strong.
Also, be cautious about the limits on your mobile plan. Hotspots can have different data caps compared to home internet. Make sure you understand any fine print to avoid surprises on your bill.
A mobile hotspot can definitely support your needs, but it's highly dependent on cell signal strength. If you only have 1 or 2 bars of LTE, your streaming might be choppy. Ideally, you’d want a solid signal to really enjoy your shows without interruptions.
Good point! I guess checking that first is super important.
Yeah, I’d definitely test your phone connection first. No use in wasting money if the service is spotty!