Nighthawk good enough?
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 6:46 pm
My goal is fast (as possible) home internet with as big a data plan as possible. My question is would a mobile modem/router provide much higher speeds than something like a nighthawk hotspot? If so, which devices are most newb-friendly for set up. Based on info below, can someone tell which provider would have the best service?
2nd Q, for data plans, are most of you using phone plans with unlimited data, or dedicated hotspot data plans? The data only options I am seeing seem expensive compared to phone (voice) plans.
I'm trying to get online where satellite is currently the only option for home internet. It will be used for a few wifi devices, streaming, web browsing etc. While researching options I found good reviews of the nighthawk it looked to be good enough, but they seem to be sold out. I eventually found this site and the possibility of a better option has made me rethink. I am very much a novice with all this tech, but willing to wade through the set up of more complicated devices if it will get faster or more reliable internet.
My location is somewhat rural, about 15 min out of town. Terrain is forest and rolling hills. I have tried T-mobile and AT&T phones at the location, both get 1-2 bars. I don't have access to a Verizon device.
I don't know how to tell what tower the phone connects to, but here are the closest towers and bands to my location according to cellmapper (straight line distances)
T-mobile
3 miles (1,250 ft mountain right in between us): 4, 12
4 miles: 2, 4, 12, 66, 71
5 miles: 2, 4, 66
AT&T
3 miles: 2, 17
4 miles: 2, 4, 5, 14, 17, 30, 66
Sprint
4.5 miles: 25, 26, 41
Verizon:
3 miles (unverified): 13
4.5 miles: 2, 4*, 13, 66
2nd Q, for data plans, are most of you using phone plans with unlimited data, or dedicated hotspot data plans? The data only options I am seeing seem expensive compared to phone (voice) plans.
I'm trying to get online where satellite is currently the only option for home internet. It will be used for a few wifi devices, streaming, web browsing etc. While researching options I found good reviews of the nighthawk it looked to be good enough, but they seem to be sold out. I eventually found this site and the possibility of a better option has made me rethink. I am very much a novice with all this tech, but willing to wade through the set up of more complicated devices if it will get faster or more reliable internet.
My location is somewhat rural, about 15 min out of town. Terrain is forest and rolling hills. I have tried T-mobile and AT&T phones at the location, both get 1-2 bars. I don't have access to a Verizon device.
I don't know how to tell what tower the phone connects to, but here are the closest towers and bands to my location according to cellmapper (straight line distances)
T-mobile
3 miles (1,250 ft mountain right in between us): 4, 12
4 miles: 2, 4, 12, 66, 71
5 miles: 2, 4, 66
AT&T
3 miles: 2, 17
4 miles: 2, 4, 5, 14, 17, 30, 66
Sprint
4.5 miles: 25, 26, 41
Verizon:
3 miles (unverified): 13
4.5 miles: 2, 4*, 13, 66
