Teach me, i'm a dummy

[DRiccio21]

if you didn't read that title in the 'teach me how to dougie' voice, then you failed.

so here's my situation, i have had my verizon account forever, and i pay for my parents and my grandmother and my wife on a family plan which is like 200 bucks a month i think. my wife and i have unlimited data on our lines, the other 3 have no data package. i used to just upgrade my parents lines when i needed a new phone then transfer it over to my line so i could get a new phone whenever i needed to. this prevented me from 'upgrading' my line because they don't offer unlimited data anymore and i upgraded my line i would need to get a normal data plan. well verizon won't let me upgrade the other 3 'non-data' lines any more if i buy a smart phone with the upgrade, they require the minimum data package of 30 bucks on any line i upgrade. so i basically can't upgrade my phones any more unless i lose the unlimited data. i currently don't use enough to benefit from the unlimited so i'm trying to debate what to do.

i realize the fact they are begging me to get rid of it that i have something valuable and i should probably keep it. i just want to know the best ways for me to be getting my money's worth. from the way i listened to the guy talk (who was trying to give me advice) he said i should dump my home internet line and just run my ps4 and laptops and ipad's off my phones hot spot. a) will that really work? b) would the speeds be reasonable enough that i wouldn't notice c) could i even potentially dump my cable somehow and stream thru my phone to the tv? (cable hacking jokes here).

so i'm moving in a few weeks to a different condo, i am buying 2 new tv's and i will need to make a decision on my phone and my cable package.

so i ask you NDL, how do i go about doing the most affordable and smartest thing, knowing my options. or should i just get rid of my unlimited data plan and get a normal one (which would actually save me money currently based on how much i use, but i feel as though i should keep it to my advantage).

[Uuaww]

Very small chance you're able to do this. Just going off your tech abilities that ive experienced

[sixpackdan101]

I reallyyyy doubt that a 4G hotspot would have consistent download speeds for browsing the net or streaming HD video without some issues. Also, I don't think they have the upload speeds necessary to play games online either. Run speedtest.net on your phone using 4G and then run it on wifi and see the difference in speeds.

[sixpackdan101]

I reallyyyy doubt that a 4G hotspot would have consistent download speeds for browsing the net or streaming HD video without some issues. Also, I don't think they have the upload speeds necessary to play games online either. Run speedtest.net on your phone using 4G and then run it on wifi and see the difference in speeds.

I just did this out of curiosity and my wifi was slower, so what the hell do I know

[DRiccio21]

the verizon guy i spoke to said my 4g lte would be plenty fast enough to play games and run netflix and stuff

and ted, just cause i am indifferent about certain things doesn't mean i couldn't learn.

give me some examples of where i would have issues or why you think it wouldn't work for me. from how i understand it i'd just keep my hotspot turned on, come home, keep the phone on the charger so it doesn't burn the charge too quick and then run everything off my hot spot

basically i want you or dak or corey or jsence to walk me thru the pro's and cons of keeping the unlimited data. if its completely pointless for me to have it i will just dump it. but even the verizon guy was like 'between you and me, i'd learn how to take advantage of this and never let it go'.

i'm indifferent either way, just want to know my pros/cons

[dakshdar]

I would honestly just run all the cost numbers and pick the cheaper option. If you keep your unlimited data and dump home internet, what does your TV only package go to (since you'd lose a bundle, most likely)? I can't weigh in on dumping all home TV and internet and stealing through one of the hack things because I wouldn't consider it. Though, you could possibly use the Playstation Vue thing and get all your TV through that with the PS4 running on your 4G LTE. Just have to add that subscription into the cost.

Also, how much data do you actually use on your phone? Have to know that to know what price plan it would put you into if you had to pick a data plan. That right there might price it out to a point where you may have to keep it, as some high level data plans get crazy expensive.

My phone does 16.5 Mbps down and 10.66 Mbps up (in most recent speedtest) on AT&T 4G LTE. It isn't bad. Certainly Netflix and HBOGO would run fine on that. But if you're running Netflix in one room and trying to game in the other, I think you're going to have issues. They recommend 5 Mbps for HD Netflix, as a reference, so there goes 1/3 of my theoretical hot spot bandwidth. I think gaming would struggle in multiplayer online with ~10 Mbps.

And, though I don't think they can do it legally, is there a chance Verizon starts throttling your speeds if you become an extremely heavy data user, even on an unlimited data plan? A quick search turned up this (http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-tell- ... ling-data/) but I can't say how valid it is from one article (there are others that claim there is no throttling at all). Seems like something they'd do, though. And that would potentially cripple your ability to do anything if you're using your phone for everything.

Also, if you went with a cheap, lower data plan, you'd probably be on your phone a whole lot less (assuming this is separate from work and work phone time). And less phone time may lead to a happier and more relaxed life. Non-stop phone use is normal now and I can barely remember what it was like before that was the case. I just cut my data plan to save money and take some focus off phone time. Just a thought.

[DRiccio21]

the idea of having to think about all this stuff probably isn't worth the aggravation.

i might just keep mine on unlimited and take my wifes off.

[The_Niddler]

We used to be on unlimited with ATT but then we looked at our past bills and never went over 4 GB.
So we got off the unlimited and are now on a 6 GB plan.
Unlimited is no big deal in my opinion.

While LTE speeds are definitely enough to handle Netflix streaming in 1 room and playing your PS4 online in another, cellular is impacted by things like weather or a tower having an issue.
What I am saying is it is not as reliable as having home internet.
The other thing is throughput.
While the speeds are high enough, the throughput may not be there.

Personally, I would keep cellular separate from home internet.
The other reason is security.

So I would recommend keeping them separate but I also think you don't need an unlimited data plan but you have to look at your past usage to get a better idea.
Your cellular bills will show your usage.

[DRiccio21]

this playstation vue thing seems interesting

if i got that i'd have basically everything i would need except HBO and ESPN/ABC

i guess i could get HBO go and espn3 access for that and Netflix to cover anything else

[nick]

i got unlimited internet last yr and it's amazing.

[Baker]

I used to have unlimited data with AT&T, and once you reach a certain point (cant recall what is was), they do slow down your internet speeds. We switched to the 10gb plan and have went over once, which cost $15 for an extra 2gb. Anyway, I would for sure keep your home internet and your cellular data separate.

[LetsGoPeay]

i got unlimited internet last yr and it's amazing.

Not to hijack Dave's topic, but I recently called Comcast and told them my bill was "unacceptable and unmanageable" seeing as I have the exact same service I had 5 years ago and my bill has doubled. I then hit them with the numbers that showed that I could go to a dish based provider and the savings for 6 months would equal a year of my current service. I was a real asshole in a completely civil and reasonable manner. So they knocked $50 of my bill, upgraded me to the fastest internet package with no data cap, removed my HD charge, threw in Starz and HBO, and are sending me their top of the line modem. And I my price and all the service is locked in for a year. The customer service rep just said to call back next year and complain again to get everything re-upped. Hooray me!

[Weasel]

In reading up on Google fi, I stumbled on Republic Wireless, very similar it appearshttps://republicwireless.com/. Seriously considering making a switch

[texasfan4444]

I used to have unlimited data with AT&T, and once you reach a certain point (cant recall what is was), they do slow down your internet speeds. We switched to the 10gb plan and have went over once, which cost $15 for an extra 2gb. Anyway, I would for sure keep your home internet and your cellular data separate.

Right on Baker...This is what I was coming to post. I held on to my unlimited as long as possible but once they started doing this I realized its not really unlimited. Yes I could continue to get data, but no longer would I be getting LTE speeds id be downgraded to 4g or even 3g at times. I cover my phone, my wife and my parents. I have a 15 GB plan for the four of us. and spend around $200 per month.

I am also in agreement, depending on your use of internet at home, that you should keep it separate. You want to pay for acceptable speed not size for home. You will eat up all your data on Netflix and just basic surfing and then be stuck with subpar speeds on your phone. IMO, your best option is to possibly bundle your cable (U-Verse), internet, and cell with one carrier(ATT in your case). I actually bundle my internet and cable through Cox. (About $150 per month for their fastest internet, HD, 3 boxes, and the sports packs, and home alarm) Get the best deal possible there and continue to contact them every year when you see another offer from a different carrier that could knock off $20 or more to your bill.

[DRiccio21]

right on.

going to dump my wifes unlimited and keep mine for the time being.

[jsence2]

Dave, to be honest, when I moved to ATT Next, I had to dump my unlimited plan. I'm currently on a 10 GB plan but as soon as the season ends (within a month) I will move back to a 4GB plan, which I won't ever go over (with all the social media stuff I do on-field at the games, I had no choice for now).

As for TV, Shel/Corey can share with you their HBO/ESPN info that they have from me, you're covered there as long as I work for my current employer. Hopefully that helps you some there.

[jsence2]

As for internet.....stick to actual internet, hotspot is not reliable. Especially in times where the cellular network has high traffic, or if you have a home that will have a lot of interference (water pipes, steel/brick, appliances, other networks, etc)

[The_Niddler]

As for TV, Shel/Corey can share with you their HBO/ESPN info that they have from me, you're covered there as long as I work for my current employer. Hopefully that helps you some there.

Don't hold your breath here Dave, I am still waiting on this info too.

[jsence2]

As for TV, Shel/Corey can share with you their HBO/ESPN info that they have from me, you're covered there as long as I work for my current employer. Hopefully that helps you some there.

Don't hold your breath here Dave, I am still waiting on this info too.

I sent that to you months ago in a Pm...

[The_Niddler]

As for TV, Shel/Corey can share with you their HBO/ESPN info that they have from me, you're covered there as long as I work for my current employer. Hopefully that helps you some there.

Don't hold your breath here Dave, I am still waiting on this info too.

I sent that to you months ago in a Pm...

Don't remember seeing it.
Can you pass it along again?

And thank you.