Internet Air Card

[silverp40]

Hello all

This is one for "regular" US East Coast and Bahamas cruisers"

We have an At&T internet aircard (Quicksilver I believe) that costs $70, all taxes included per month for 3G service, 5GB per month. Reception was OK in the Gulf (of Mexico) and mediocre here on the east coast of Fla.

Any opinions (from experience) on companies that offer air cards that have better reception on the US East Coast and perhaps better costs? And what about the Bahamas?

Our friend has Virgin Mobile that works fine along the east coast of Florida and costs less with no contracts. But do not know how that would work further north...

Thanks in advance

[sailorchic34]

Most of the carriers offer month to month plans now too. I found that Virgin moble (really sprint) was sort of spotty in alot of places I cruise. Plus it costs as much as the other carriers month to month plans too.

TMobile has a wifi hotspot for $35/ month for 3.5 gig and $50/month for 5 gig. They seem to have a bit better coverage then ATT. Plus its 4G which is LOTS faster then 3G. I don't watch videos at all which really eats bandwidth. So 3.5 gigs does me fine for a month of email and surfing and annoying folks on CF

Not sure how coverage is on the east coast, but T-mobile beats the others for coverage on the west coast. Plus it works in mexico too. (BUT $$$. Very spendy down south)

At the moment it looks like all the carriers are offering 5G for $50 a month.

BTW I like the wifi hotspots as you can use several devices at once.

You can also root an android phone and use it with wifi tether on a tmobile plan. They tend to look the other way. ATT/Verizon wanted more $$ for wifi tethering a phone. Though the FCC fined verizon for the extra 4G tether fee, as it violated the FCC band plan for the 4g spectrum

[donradcliffe]

Verizon has superior coverage on the East Coast until you get to Maine, where all the carriers disappear. Don't even turn on the aircard near the Bahamas--they will charge you $2.5/mB.

[Amapola]

Our VZ mobile hotspot works great on the east coast and all of Florida. While in the Abacos we subscribe to OII which has gotten better over the years. As donradclife advises, we turn all VZ devices off in the Bahamas. With the exception of Exuma Park, we have found free wifi on most all populated cays. Exuma Park charges $10 per day and only to those who pick up a mooring.

[islandplanet]

Just bought a Verizon 4G Jetpack. Speed is great. Quite happy thus far. On Pacific side of Mexico we use Tel-Cel USB sticks.

[silverp40]

Thanks all for the input!!

All good information here on the CF!