TIPS LTE/5G backup for $10 a month... sorta

[dghundt]

I can use both wan ports on my router, definitely. That's straightforward.
(My hughesnet modem actually will not permit bridge mode which is a hassle if needed, nor can I set the network address to anything other than 192.168.1.x)

As far as business LTE, it seems to be a challenge for business backup - slow, expensive.

Just wondering if Cox cable is a reasonable backup to Cox fiber?

 

[KNERD]

I can use both wan ports on my router, definitely. That's straightforward.
(My hughesnet modem actually will not permit bridge mode which is a hassle if needed, nor can I set the network address to anything other than 192.168.1.x)

As far as business LTE, it seems to be a challenge for business backup - slow, expensive.

Just wondering if Cox cable is a reasonable backup to Cox fiber?

Well, the LTE connection creates a new WAN port which has nothing to do with the LTE service, unless of course you connect a LTE device to it like this one

Amazon.com

I would not trust Cox to tell you the truth what is going in. The infrastructure may be on separate lines, but I would suspect the the pipes are all going to the same office.

I recall years ago when AT&T was expanding their DSL lines. With limited range from the Central Office, they used optical lines to extend the range of their service.


Does the service go down often enough to consider a backup?

 

[dghundt]

It doesn't go down often, but for our medical office it is something we need to have. Guess I could just hotspot to my phone....

So much is in the cloud these days. We used to have our own in-house servers with warm spares. I could just stay with hughesnet $69/month 25mbps down.

 

[KNERD]

Or you could test out that LTE modem with your cell provider. I understand it does have the ability to connect an external antenna to it.

 

[krzykat]

I just don't like being tied to the same provider for failover. Cox / Inifinity / TW / ATT / T-Mobile / etc ... get from 2 different and then use your own router that handles the failover so you can be in charge. Not only that, but sometimes, the issue is not a HARD failure. Sometimes, there might be unacceptable packet loss or jitter that you can manage your router to change route priorities.

 

[dghundt]

What about ATT data plan?

https://www.att.com/prepaid/mobile-hotspot-tablet/

Or Verizon mobile hotspot plan. $20 for 15Gb.

Unlimited Plus 5G and Unlimited Plan for Hotspots ❘ Verizon

Get Unlimited Plus 5G or an Unlimited data plan for your hotspot or jetpack. Ditch Wi-Fi and get connected with a low monthly plan for connected devices from Verizon.

www.verizon.com

 

[KNERD]

What about ATT data plan?

https://www.att.com/prepaid/mobile-hotspot-tablet/

Or Verizon mobile hotspot plan. $20 for 15Gb.

Unlimited Plus 5G and Unlimited Plan for Hotspots ❘ Verizon

Get Unlimited Plus 5G or an Unlimited data plan for your hotspot or jetpack. Ditch Wi-Fi and get connected with a low monthly plan for connected devices from Verizon.

www.verizon.com

I do know if you do a reseller account with AT&T you can get a 2GB a month for static IP address for $35 a month.

I think you missed the fine print on the Verizon one: "only available to accounts with an existing device on an eligible Unlimited plan."

The other plans they add an extra $30 on the price

 

[dghundt]

I was getting all set to use mint mobile and the LTE router mentioned here.
Finally got word back after talking with my local COX rep, that they can give me the $40/month LTE back up service (prev only compatible with cable), and install it for me.
I love building my own stuff, but it's not my main job. Sometimes I just need it done and done.
Then I can cancel HughesNet at $70/month which requires old fashioned manual switchboard technology where I have to move all the cables from my router to the HughesNet router during an outage, if I'm here.

 

[krzykat]

Finally got word back after talking with my local COX rep, that they can give me the $40/month LTE back up service (prev only compatible with cable), and install it for me.

What are their limits? Bandwidth speed and total capacity?

 

[dghundt]

Its only 10-25mbps, available only if fiber down, but unlimited gb data.
There is also some benefit to them providing the service vs. roll my own mint mobile/netgearLTErouter. If cox LTE service has issues, I can have them fix it at no extra charge. They have been pretty responsive over the years when there is a problem with service.

 

[KNERD]

I was getting all set to use mint mobile and the LTE router mentioned here.
Finally got word back after talking with my local COX rep, that they can give me the $40/month LTE back up service (prev only compatible with cable), and install it for me.
I love building my own stuff, but it's not my main job. Sometimes I just need it done and done.
Then I can cancel HughesNet at $70/month which requires old fashioned manual switchboard technology where I have to move all the cables from my router to the HughesNet router during an outage, if I'm here.

That seems to be a good deal.

 

[hawk#1]

I was getting all set to use mint mobile and the LTE router mentioned here.
Finally got word back after talking with my local COX rep, that they can give me the $40/month LTE back up service (prev only compatible with cable), and install it for me.
I love building my own stuff, but it's not my main job. Sometimes I just need it done and done.
Then I can cancel HughesNet at $70/month which requires old fashioned manual switchboard technology where I have to move all the cables from my router to the HughesNet router during an outage, if I'm here.

Not too bad, and they get to solve any issues for you. Too bad you can't get the unlimited backup for the 20-25 range, but you are still saving by dropping HughesNet.

 

[Telin - Kyle]

We have used Peplink and Rabbit Run devices for cellular failover and both work really well. Now if I could find a good unlimited data plan for the partners that want single-link LTE in place of their ISP I would be in good shape.

 

[KNERD]

We have used Peplink and Rabbit Run devices for cellular failover and both work really well. Now if I could find a good unlimited data plan for the partners that want single-link LTE in place of their ISP I would be in good shape.

You could try T-Mobile. A few months ago, I bought a cheap $150 Samsung phone and in return they gave me $125 credit on a new account with their $50 Magenta plan.

 

[Telin - Kyle]

You could try T-Mobile. A few months ago, I bought a cheap $150 Samsung phone and in return they gave me $125 credit on a new account with their $50 Magenta plan.

I will check it out thank you. Some of the plans I recently looked at forbid running cameras or POS through them which unfortunately rules them out for this use case.

 

[KNERD]

In that case you can set up a VPN and have all traffic go through that VPN, and they would never know what the traffic is going through it.

 

[wardmundy]

Here's an unlimited HotSpot data plan for $60 but the speed is capped at 12 Mbps.

FMCA Tech Connect+ Data Plan Transitioning from T-Mobile to AT&T - $59.99/mo Unlimited Hotspot

Back in 2017 the FMCA - Family Motor Coach Association - a non-profit RV membership club, stepped into the role of offering cellular data plans to its members. Over the years they've offered both a

www.rvmobileinternet.com

 

[KNERD]

Here's an unlimited HotSpot data plan for $60 but the speed is capped at 12 Mbps.

FMCA Tech Connect+ Data Plan Transitioning from T-Mobile to AT&T - $59.99/mo Unlimited Hotspot

Back in 2017 the FMCA - Family Motor Coach Association - a non-profit RV membership club, stepped into the role of offering cellular data plans to its members. Over the years they've offered both a

www.rvmobileinternet.com

I wonder if it would not be better to just get the T-Mobile Magenta plan which is also $60 (was $50 until recent inflation spurt) which there is no throttling until you get above 50GB of data & on a congested tower/area.

 

[newvoiper]

Just wanted to say thanks for sharing this data plan and your experience using it with Netgear LB2120. I ended up signing up and buying an LB2120 to use in my 2nd residence. Using the LB2120 as an LTE modem for now, but if I ever get traditional internet there someday, the redpocket plan will become my failover ISP. The home has hot water heat (takes up to 12 hours for the place to warm up in the winter). The whole thing is working like a champ with the wifi thermostat and home alarm system.

 

[wardmundy]

I just don't like being tied to the same provider for failover. Cox / Inifinity / TW / ATT / T-Mobile / etc ... get from 2 different and then use your own router that handles the failover so you can be in charge...

Great point. We just had Spectrum jack up our Internet rate by 30% to $65 promising no additional price hikes for a whole year. We unplugged the cable modem and plugged in a T-Mobile Home Internet device for $30. We unplugged our Eero WiFi router from the Spectrum box and plugged it into the T-Mobile device, and we never missed a beat. All the DHCP services and reserved IP addresses continued to function like nothing had ever happened.

Funny part of the story is we then got a call from Spectrum inquiring why we had cancelled our service. I mentioned the price hike, and the agent said, "Did you try contacting our retentions department?" I explained that I had, and they said there was nothing they could do. The agent then says, "Oh look. I see we have a new special for only $35 a month with the same bandwidth as your previous service." When I said no thanks, he then says, "I see we can also throw in a cellphone plan at no additional cost to you." He forgot to mention the pricing was only good for one year while T-Mobile's is locked in for as long as you use the service. Bottom line: Spectrum, Comcast, and WOW all suck and have made an art form out of jacking up rates every year. Glad they finally have some competition.