Streaming Internet

DonTom said:
I didn't realize a portable wi-fi hotspot is a two-way device.
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If it couldn't communicate in both directions then it couldn't do the needed handshaking to support involved protocols, therefore would be useless.

Addendum: I see Gary was posting and beat me to it.
 
DonTom said:
What is their reasoning for that?

-Don- Auburn, CA
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Look up Visible's history. It was started in 2018 by Verizon as a pilot program in a few cities to test the feasibility of reprogramming their customer's existing phones away from 3G so Verizon could shut down that network and re-purpose the spectrum. In return for bringing their iPhone to a storefront and installing a SIM card that made the phone use 4G, customers got unlimited everything at a ridiculously cheap price during a time when cell carriers were charging through the nose for service by the minute. Re-programming phones en mass proved not to be practical but in the meantime Visible discovered pent-up demand for a low cost service that mirrored what people were used to getting from their landline phones - unlimited use instead of counting the minutes. It pre-dated similar offerings from their competitors by several years.

Why no dedicated wi-fi hotspots? Visible's business plan focused on phones, not dedicated hotspots or tablets. Unlimited data instead of a cap on the phone's hotspot was an afterthought that proved to be a popular draw.
 
Larry N. said:
If it couldn't communicate in both directions then it couldn't do the needed handshaking to support involved protocols, therefore would be useless.
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What would the symptoms be if you could receive, but didn't have enough power to transmit back?

-Don- Auburn, CA
 
Larry N. said:
t would be as if there was nothing there- period, Don.
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Okay, but the reason I asked is because a couple of times (over many years, so this is not common), I had five bars, but it did not work at all. It did NOT say "no service" as it does when there is no signal. Just did not work. Do you have any idea why?

-Don- Auburn, CA
 
DonTom said:
Okay, but the reason I asked is because a couple of times (over many years, so this is not common), I had five bars, but it did not work at all. It did NOT say "no service" as it does when there is no signal. Just did not work. Do you have any idea why?

-Don- Auburn, CA
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Probably roaming to a provider you weren't authorized to use.
 
DonTom said:
Okay, but the reason I asked is because a couple of times (over many years, so this is not common), I had five bars, but it did not work at all. It did NOT say "no service" as it does when there is no signal. Just did not work. Do you have any idea why?

-Don- Auburn, CA
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Voice and data are two different things. As Lou said, you could have been roaming. With the five bars, you could have made a voice call but the service you were connected to didn't have a roaming agreement for data with your carrier.
 
Alaskansnowbirds said:
you could have made a voice call but the service you were connected to didn't have a roaming agreement for data
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That was exactly what happened at the Sunset Camp in Death Valley a few years ago with my Version Hotspot. Very strong signal that could not be used for data, but voice worked fine on my cell.

I assumed it had something to do with the hotel across the street. They want us to pay $12.00 per day to use the Wi-fi there and you need to be very close to the motel. It didn't have the range to most RVs in sunset Camp.

IIRC, a few years before that, even data worked from Sunset with Verizon.


-Don- Auburn, CA
 
Be aware some providers limit hotspot usage even on an unlimited data plan. We have just had that issue with Mint Mobile. 10gb limit but you can pay to add more.
 
Jackiemac said:
Be aware some providers limit hotspot usage even on an unlimited data plan. We have just had that issue with Mint Mobile. 10gb limit but you can pay to add more.
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Mine is supposed to slow down at some point but is still useable. I never got anything near that point, so I have no idea how slow.

-Don- Auburn, CA
 
While Starlink may have a high up-front cost ($499 for equipment & $165/month for ROAM plan), you can suspend the plan when you're not using it.

What cell data plan allows you to do that?
 
DonTom said:
That was exactly what happened at the Sunset Camp in Death Valley a few years ago with my Version Hotspot. Very strong signal that could not be used for data, but voice worked fine on my cell.

I assumed it had something to do with the hotel across the street. They want us to pay $12.00 per day to use the Wi-fi there and you need to be very close to the motel. It didn't have the range to most RVs in sunset Camp.

IIRC, a few years before that, even data worked from Sunset with Verizon.


-Don- Auburn, CA
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Verizon service in Sunset Campground is provided by the hotel's private tower. Voice only, no data. The nearest true Verizon tower is outside the park in Amargosa Valley or Beatty.
 
DonTom said:
But it still works? How can they tell what you're using? I didn't realize a portable wi-fi hotspot is a two-way device.

Or perhaps the fact that it isn't is how they tell. We all know cellphones are two-way. I never gave much thought to how the portable Wi-Fi Hotspots work.

-Don- Auburn, CA
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As Tom said, all Internet transmissions are two way communications. Carriers can analyze the data packets traveling through their networks. They can identify hotspot traffic by looking at packet headers and content. For example, when a device is used as a hotspot, the User-Agent may indicate that it's a tethered connection, different from a regular smartphone or tablet
 
Lou Schneider said:
Verizon service in Sunset Campground is provided by the hotel's private tower. Voice only, no data. The nearest true Verizon tower is outside the park in Amargosa Valley or Beatty.
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Do you remember if data used to work there, perhaps 20 years ago? I think I recall Verizon data used to work there, but I am not sure.

Do any cell data services work there in Furnace Creek?

-Don- Auburn, CA
 
The Sunset campground area has always allowed about 0.5MB of data usage a day for travelers. That would allow me to download mail headers overnight. I seldom was able to get the messages completely, and if they had pictures - forget it. We have been going for 12 years or so. And the recent Verizon service for voice is only since AT&T is cooperating. Since the entire Furnace Creek area including the hotel, the motel, and the gas station are actually private property, not NPS property. That is the reason they can control the prices the way they do, and the reason they can manage the cell service the way they do. Stovepipe Wells has more service, though not great. Before Starlink we would drive up the Daybreak Pass road to near the top looking to Beaty. We could pick up good data there.
 
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