Pay as you need MiFi

[Colliemom]

I'm thinking of getting a MiFi device to take on my trip west, but don't want to get a contact service as once I'm home I won't need it again till I go someplace camping or whatever. I don't use a cell phone, so that's out. Was wondering if anybody has used or does use a no contract MiFi like Straight Talk or something and how you like it. Can you se them anywhere despite buying them in your local area? Well, I realize some areas are going to be out, like around rhe mountains etc.

[bluepinecones]

The only pay as you go plan I'm familiar with is thru Verizon. I use it in my iPad with the iPad serving as hotspot for laptop.

If you want their MiFi without contract, you have to buy the WiFi device, not cheap. With contract, they give you the device.

[Colliemom]

Sarah, friend told me she is getting a device through WalMart that operates through Straight Talk and wil buy a minutes card. Sounds something like buying those minutes for Straight Talk, Trac Phone etc. except it's forvWiFi service

[Bethers]

Sue, I've talked to someone who is very happy using that. She says it's worked fine for her. I'd take a chance on it, knowing ahead of time it may not work everywhere. I believe some of those plans use Verizon. Not sure on that. And someone told me it uses Sprint. If Sprint, you'll have more gaps. Wonder if they can tell you at Walmart?

[JudyJB]

You can also buy some used but nearly new Verizon Jetpacks pretty cheaply on eBay and then sign up for a month-to-month setup with a data package from Verizon. This is one just like the one I am using: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/verizon-jetpack-890l

[Bethers]

You can also buy some used but nearly new Verizon Jetpacks pretty cheaply on eBay and then sign up for a month-to-month setup with a data package from Verizon. This is one just like the one I am using: http://www.ebay.com/bhp/verizon-jetpack-890l

I went to the Verizon page and if I read it correctly, they want $45 a month for only 1 GB of data. Yikes. The $10 for additional was ok, but that $45 is high. Now if the $45 is the initial cost, then you can keep adding 1 gb as needed, then not so bad.

[longdog2]

There are a number of different pay as you go available at Walmart or available through places like Best Buy as well. One is the Straight Talk which is owned I believe by Tracphone. Straight Talk has two different Mifi's/jetpacks. One of them uses Verizon towers and the other uses ATT towers. You can tell if you look at the packages because the one using Verizon has a red map on it and the one using ATT has a blue map on it. You have to buy the the mifi/jetpack and purchase the data minutes as you need them. I've been reading a lot of reviews as I am thinking about it too for when I am not at home. The Straight Talk using the ATT towers has gotten very bad reviews for a while now with losing connection/bad connection/slow internet service. The people using the one for Verizon towers seem to be very happy with it. Verizon also has pay as you go but the data mbs/gigabytes are a lot more expensive than the Verizon through Straight Talk even though the mifi you have to buy is cheaper. Also, when you buy the minutes, be sure you are getting the data not the phone minutes. They are usually all together.

[Azusateach]

I've found a no-contract mifi called Karma Go. They've gotten good reviews. Only problem is that they're coming out with an updated model and it won't be available until the end of May. But I've pre-ordered one, with 5 GB of data. It runs on the Sprint network, so it should be fine near big cities. I won't need it much, but it'll be nice to have on hand.

[grammynmaggie]

whatever you get my advice would be make sure they use Verizon towers as much as I dislike and have orher problems..you will get the best reception with their towers

[Bethers]

whatever you get my advice would be make sure they use Verizon towers as much as I dislike and have orher problems..you will get the best reception with their towers

And I would prefer AT&T, but would take a good pay as you go plan using AT&T or Verizon towers.

I would not go with a plan using Sprint. They still don't have enough coverage. They've gotten better, but not good enough for major traveling.

[Azusateach]

whatever you get my advice would be make sure they use Verizon towers as much as I dislike and have orher problems..you will get the best reception with their towers

And I would prefer AT&T, but would take a good pay as you go plan using AT&T or Verizon towers.

I would not go with a plan using Sprint. They still don't have enough coverage. They've gotten better, but not good enough for major traveling.

Beth, I agree with you about Sprint. But in California, there are few places it won't work. I'm a Verizon customer otherwise. Can't beat their coverage.

[grammynmaggie]

I did think I read somewhere that AT&T as more out west not sure about that but I think I read it

[IrishIroamed]

Just thought I'd pass along - something to think about. I (for now) don't care about wi-fi, but being a full-timer may be different.

http://www.gocampingaustraliablog.com/2015/03/camping-and-wifi.html

[Bethers]

Just thought I'd pass along - something to think about. I (for now) don't care about wi-fi, but being a full-timer may be different.

http://www.gocampingaustraliablog.com/2015/03/camping-and-wifi.html

Some of my favorite places, especially when I started out, were totally off-the-grid. I still love some of those best. Chiricahua had no service or data service. I only had wifi as a worker. I'd definitely go there with no service for a week, but for a couple months, different story.

[Colliemom]

Interesting article on Australian viewpoint. The electronic age has certainly taken over here in America. Especially cell phones. I see a lot of people in campgrounds on them all the time, especially kids and teenagers. Completely oblivious to what's going on around them. I don't have a cell phone and don't miss it either.

I do like having WiFi on trips though, so I can keep up to date on my bills etc. All but gas, electric and cable are on automatic payment through my investment companies bill pay system. But the other three are changing al the time, so although they are billed online, I need to see the bill to know what the amount is to pay. I just don't feel comfortable in giving my account numbers out. And on a rainy day, nice to touch base with friends on emails etc., send pics and so forth. But I've decided that I'm not going to bother with MiFi for this one trip. It will just be gathering dust once I get home. And I know cell phone service is spotty out west around the mountains where I wil be parked anyway. Am going to get a Bear WiFi extender though.