Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

This looks very interesting, But how do you figure out if there is ATT coverage at your home?


We all have tracfones and- This may be a really dumb question , but how do I make sure we aren't in an ATT dead spot before ordering one of these ATT OBD2 hot spot devices

Not a dumb question at all! It's the smart question. :thumbsup:

Start here with the AT&T coverage finder, then, as someone mentioned, borrow someone's AT&T phone to verify it at your house. The coverage map is a good start, but they are NOT 100% accurate, and there can be dead spots that are not shown.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I use the OpenSignal app on my phone. It shows what networks have signal in your location and signal strength. And direction to towers.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I use the OpenSignal app on my phone. It shows what networks have signal in your location and signal strength. And direction to towers.

Not all phones are capable of all bands. If you have a Sprint phone, for example, it won't ever see AT&T or Verizon's 700 MHz signal. It simply does not have the hardware (antenna and filters) to receive the 700 band. So, you could install that app on your Sprint phone, check your location, and see NO 700 MHz, even though you are a quarter mile from a transmitter and have a booming signal.

Similarly, a T-Mo, Verizon, or AT&T phone will never see Sprint's 2500 MHz signal. They simply don't have the ability to receive it, even if it's the exact same model number.

So, while it may be useful for playing with on your own carrier, it's not a reliable method of determining coverage for another carrier.

Their maps aren't accurate, either. I just looked up my house, where I know I have decent Verizon coverage, non-existent Sprint or AT&T (as measured by engineering tools, not a phone), and their map shows no coverage for Verizon or Sprint, and weak coverage for AT&T.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Thanks for the correction. Learn something on TBN everyday.

 

[zimy]

I checked on the ZTE site and it's supposed to do all of the AT&T bands, just like the phone, and should be capable of 100 Mbps. I had wondered it it were limited to particular bands or were a lower category device, not capable of higher speeds, but that's not the case.

The most likely reason for the limitation is that the ZTE is accessing a different band than the phone, and that band doesn't have the capacity of the other bands. For example, if the ZTE has poor antenna (it probably does), it may be camping on the 700 MHz band, which would have lower speeds than 1900. 700MHz has better penetration than 1900, so the device will see a better signal on that band. If the phone sees 1900 well enough, it will "prefer" to stay on 1900 even if there is a better signal on 700. The ZTE may not see 1900 well enough to stay there, so it hands off to 700.


What kind of phone are you using for the comparison?

The zte mobley doesn't do carrier aggregation (CA)which is why it will be slower than an expensive flagship smartphone. Nice smartphones like samsung galaxies and iphone's have carrier aggregation. (they can connect to different frequency bands simultaneously to increase data speed) The mobley can only connect to one band at a time. If the band its connected to is super fast then it will be fast, if the band is slow it will be slow. The nicer smartphones can connect to 2 or 3 slow bands simultaneously to give the appearance of a single fast connection. (I googled it)

 

[BigBlue1]

I checked on the ZTE site and it's supposed to do all of the AT&T bands, just like the phone, and should be capable of 100 Mbps. I had wondered it it were limited to particular bands or were a lower category device, not capable of higher speeds, but that's not the case.

The most likely reason for the limitation is that the ZTE is accessing a different band than the phone, and that band doesn't have the capacity of the other bands. For example, if the ZTE has poor antenna (it probably does), it may be camping on the 700 MHz band, which would have lower speeds than 1900. 700MHz has better penetration than 1900, so the device will see a better signal on that band. If the phone sees 1900 well enough, it will "prefer" to stay on 1900 even if there is a better signal on 700. The ZTE may not see 1900 well enough to stay there, so it hands off to 700.


What kind of phone are you using for the comparison?

Thanks for the info. I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S6 Active.

Rob

 

[BigBlue1]

The zte mobley doesn't do carrier aggregation (CA)which is why it will be slower than an expensive flagship smartphone. Nice smartphones like samsung galaxies and iphone's have carrier aggregation. (they can connect to different frequency bands simultaneously to increase data speed) The mobley can only connect to one band at a time. If the band its connected to is super fast then it will be fast, if the band is slow it will be slow. The nicer smartphones can connect to 2 or 3 slow bands simultaneously to give the appearance of a single fast connection. (I googled it)

I read that somethwere else too. Could well be what I'm experiencing. Oh well, I'm getting 20-30 Mbps with the Mobley here at home so I'm happy with it.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

The zte mobley doesn't do carrier aggregation (CA)which is why it will be slower than an expensive flagship smartphone.

True, but it's still a Cat 3 device, and is capable of 100 mbps. It's a Qualcomm MDM925 modem.

I think the band selection is the most likely reason for being capped like that. Living in a rural area, it's not likely that CA is active where he lives. But, it's possible.

Thanks for the info. I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S6 Active.

Nice phone! I'm an RF engineer working for one of The Big 4 cellular operators, and until about a year ago, I worked in device testing. All of the carriers test phones (at least the big sellers) to make sure they aren't going to harm the network, or give us a bad name. The Samsungs are always the best in radio performance. Operating systems are more of a user preference, but radio performance can be quantified in a lab, and Samsung leads the pack.

 

[Xfaxman]

Do I have to activate it before it will receive a signal?

The Power led is green but real dim. No signal, tried three different windows.

It is broadcasting Wi-Fi to my computer.

 

[newbury]

Do I have to activate it before it will receive a signal?

The Power led is green but real dim. No signal, tried three different windows.

It is broadcasting Wi-Fi to my computer.

I believe people have reported that if bought from AT&T with a plan it came activated. Others have had to get it activated.

 

[kf4uda]

Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

I tried to order one from AT&T. They are showing out of stock. My local store doesn't know anything about them.

 

[Xfaxman]

Re: Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

I tried to order one from AT&T. They are showing out of stock. My local store doesn't know anything about them.

Did you see where I bought mine: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...onth-stand-alone-post4743400.html#post4743400

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Do I have to activate it before it will receive a signal?

Yep. Older cellular technologies would see the network no matter what, and you could see the signal bars, but you just couldn't do anything without being activated.

LTE is different. Unless you are activated, you as the user won't even know there's a signal. Down in the guts of the phone it does see the signal, but if it's not authorized to use the network, it will simply ignore it, and from the user's point of view, it's not there.

 

[kf4uda]

Re: Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

Did you see where I bought mine: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...onth-stand-alone-post4743400.html#post4743400

So after you get it do you just call AT&T and setup the account?

 

[zimy]

Re: Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

So after you get it do you just call AT&T and setup the account?

My friend got her's in from best buy on ebay, received very quickly, activated on AT&T website as a Bring your own device. Just had to enter imei and sim card off the box.

Here is a link
BYOP- Bring Your Own Phone or Device to AT&T and Save

 

[kf4uda]

Great, thanks guys I will do the same.

 

[Xfaxman]

Re: Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

Yep. Older cellular technologies would see the network no matter what, and you could see the signal bars, but you just couldn't do anything without being activated.

LTE is different. Unless you are activated, you as the user won't even know there's a signal. Down in the guts of the phone it does see the signal, but if it's not authorized to use the network, it will simply ignore it, and from the user's point of view, it's not there.

Thanks, that is a big relief, thought I wasn't getting a signal out here in the boonies.

So after you get it do you just call AT&T and setup the account?

Yep, that is one option, second is att.com/activatemobley, third is go to your local AT&T store.

I couldn't get the website to work, so just spent a total of 57 minutes on the phone. Took a long time to get to the right department.

The trick is ask for the "connected car unlimited data plan, for $20/mo, standalone". And keep asking and asking and asking, until you get to the right person.

 

[kf4uda]

Thanks Xfaxman, it helps a lot to know what to ask for

 

[BigBlue1]

I bought through the AT&T web site and it was activated when I got it. Mine was a bit confusing at first because the signal LED doesn't light up. It did not light while I was first trying to see if it worked, so I chatted with AT&T support and they had me look at a few things in the admin interface and then told me to try connecting something to the Internet and it worked. The signal LED did come on for a minute or two (solid green like it should) but then went off and has never been back. I chatted with ZTE support and he thought the light might stay off because my -90 dBm is "too low of a signal". Even though I'm getting reliable service and 20-30Mbps with -90, so who knows? I haven't taken it out on the road to see if he is right. If it still won't come on even when I get a stronger signal I may have them warranty it for a new one.

Rob

 

[sodamo]

Re: Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

That was probably the second link I read from back about 12 April.

mexican-bum doesn't provide links. The antenna he refers to "Mobley uses MS156 connectors, thanks to "tentious" in the Rural internet thread for the correct connector." doesn't have a link.
The search function on howard forums is worse than TBN and is seems most posters post from their phones in a "stream of consciousness" mode resulting in over 2,000 posts to try and wade through in two months.

Are you opening up your Mobley to add and an antenna with MS156 connectors? Are you adding an "external" antenna like a Wilson?
Can you just give us a link to what you bought?

Buying stuff off ebay from an unknown seller is haphazard. If someone I trust has bought from them it reduces the risk.

Ordered this connector:
Amazon.com: MS-156 MS156 plug male to SMA female jack test probe RG316 cable leads 15cm NEW Good Quality Fast USA Shipping: Electronics
Yes, my plan is to open it up, drill a hole.

I have two LTE antenna


Will try the little black one first. Then I will try a Yagi I already have in place for my MOFI4500 and if it works will mount the Yagi you see.

Right now just tickled to see mid teens down with Mobley on Nader the dash and me sitting in my bedroom. It was a pleasant rarity for me to see such performance from my regular provider and much much more than $20/month.