LS Sim Card Plan

[Joe Paulin]

In the past, I have always used a wifi hotspot as an internet connection for my TLS when using it as a network rover. Recently we switched phone service from Verizon to ATT (which was a very pleasant experience and a good move for us, but that's another story) and I had them give me an activated SIM card for my TLS. It works nice, no issues and is convenient. I assumed it would be another $10-$20/month for the SIM card but in fact it is $50/month on our plan, which seems a bit much. For those of you that use SIM cards in their TLS, what are you paying a month for the service?

 

[John Evers]

I have a Verizon on a shared plan which adds $25 a month, and an AT&T (data only) for $25 a month.

I would dislike to have to carry a hotspot in my pocket, and always have to remember to keep it charged. Your body also absorbs a large portion of the signal which harms reception, and possibly you.

FWIW, if you have an internal cell, you can use the WiFi of the LS to create a hotspot. I no longer carry a hotspot to the field for use with the laptop.

 

[Matt Johnson]

I use a free FreedomPop plan. It provides 200mb of data a month and uses ATTs network.

 

[Jim Frame]

I would dislike to have to carry a hotspot in my pocket

But don't you already carry a phone? I use my phone as a hotspot, since I always have it with me anyway. It's my clock, calendar, camera, email, text and web browser when I'm in the field. I use a OnePlus 6T, and after a day of use as a hotspot it has about 50% of charge left. No additional monthly charge for hotspot use on Verizon, and the LS data usage is too small to add any cost to my data plan.

 

[Joe Paulin]

Yes, anything we can eliminate sure makes our work easier for sure. That was my thought process with the sim card. With the ATT plan we have, an additional $10/month let's me use my cell phone as a hotspot, so the $50/month sim card just doesn't make sense for me. Plus with the LS, we can charge our phones from the usb port if the battery is low.

Matt, how much is the FredomPop plan that you use?

 

[Matt Johnson]

Matt, how much is the FredomPop plan that you use?

It is free, the only thing I’ve ever payed was to buy the SIM card.

 

[John Evers]

Jim,

Michael Glutting and others will laugh for sure. I still use a flip phone.

If I leave my phone sitting out in the sun, it becomes a hot spot.