Is the Verizon Unlimited Plan Worth It for RVers
10-23-2017
Author: in Henley's Happy Trails
At one time, Verizon stated it had no intention of starting an unlimited plan. Now with every other wireless carrier offering unlimited wireless plans, it is necessary for Verizon to jump back into the unlimited scene. This is great news for RVers because whether you like the company or not, Verizon does have the largest coverage area. We use this plan and love it, but before you pull your wallet out to solve your internet issues, there are some cons to go with the pros of this plan.
There’s a way to get around the tethering limit.
You can still check email and browse the web with 3G speeds. However, I wouldn't plan on binge watching your favorite TV show with 3G speeds. That was the biggest detractor with the unlimited plan for us, until we discovered the 15 gig rule was per device. We have three devices if you include our phones and hotspot. That means, if we tether with one at a time, that gives us 45 gigs each month on our laptops! This loophole makes the wireless plan worth it again for us.
To conclude, we have found Verizon’s Unlimited Plan to be a bit of give and take. On the limited data plan, we were never throttled but our data usage was limited. We use a lot of data and don't like to rely on a campground's wi-fi. We tried the unlimited plan and kept it because the pros outweighed the cons.
I can't answer to whether the plan is right for you. I can tell you that if you require a constant and steady connection without worrying about the amount of gigs you have left, then the plan is a good one. If you find yourself checking your email and only logging into Facebook once a day with an occasional session of Candy Crush, then a cheaper plan with less data would possibly suffice.
Related Read: Call of the Wild-5 Ways to Improve Phone Reception on the Road
It is truly unlimited...sort of.
This is a truly unlimited plan for your 4G enabled tablets and smartphones. With this plan, my wife and I managed to use over 50 gigs of data in one month at no additional cost. Your speeds aren’t ever throttled or decreased if you use too much. Unfortunately, once you use about 25 gigs on a device, you are placed at the bottom of the line to receive data in your area; this is not throttling but may result in slower speeds if you are around busy cell towers. Verizon does this in order to keep the tower usage fair.Tethering is throttled after 15 gigs.
Tethering is the process in which you use a wireless device as a hotspot to connect a laptop or other device not on a wireless plan. On Verizon's unlimited plan, you only have 15 gigs of tethering at 4G speeds. After that, you are throttled to 3G. According to Verizon, you still have unlimited data; it's just throttled. Initially I thought this wouldn't be a problem since we have a Jetpack which can only be used as a hotspot. Surely this tethering rule didn't apply to a device that can only be used to tether. Unfortunately, it does.There’s a way to get around the tethering limit.
You can still check email and browse the web with 3G speeds. However, I wouldn't plan on binge watching your favorite TV show with 3G speeds. That was the biggest detractor with the unlimited plan for us, until we discovered the 15 gig rule was per device. We have three devices if you include our phones and hotspot. That means, if we tether with one at a time, that gives us 45 gigs each month on our laptops! This loophole makes the wireless plan worth it again for us.
To conclude, we have found Verizon’s Unlimited Plan to be a bit of give and take. On the limited data plan, we were never throttled but our data usage was limited. We use a lot of data and don't like to rely on a campground's wi-fi. We tried the unlimited plan and kept it because the pros outweighed the cons.
Related Read: Internet on the Road
I can't answer to whether the plan is right for you. I can tell you that if you require a constant and steady connection without worrying about the amount of gigs you have left, then the plan is a good one. If you find yourself checking your email and only logging into Facebook once a day with an occasional session of Candy Crush, then a cheaper plan with less data would possibly suffice.
Comment
HenleysHappyTrailsNovember 1, 2017 | 09:47 PM
No problem arreyrvpark, we are glad to help!
arreyrvparkNovember 1, 2017 | 03:57 PM
Great Information! Thank you for the insight!
Author: Levi and Natalie Henley
