My current Internet + TV streaming implementation

Christo

Christo

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Oct 4, 2019
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Weymouth, MA
www.cruzingear.co
We're currently on our third annual winter trip to Florida so I thought I'd take a moment to update everyone on my latest internet and TV streaming implementation:

Cellular data: T-Mo Home Internet, $35/month for unlimited data. Previously I had been using a cellular hotspot but it cost $5 more per month and was limited to a paltry 30Gb/month of high speed data. I had read that a lot of RV'ers were using the home internet 'hack' since T-Mo doesn't geofence the service to a particular cell tower, even though you have to associate it with an address when you buy it and their official policy is that you will only use it in that location. The device is powered via USB-C and it supports an external antenna, but so far I've found that it works great right out of the box -- I'm getting DL speeds of up to 600Mb/sec. If T-Mo changes their enforcement I'll just revert to using the cellular hotspot. They do offer a plan for RV'ers but its way more expensive ($120-$160/mo) and not worth it IMHO.

Satellite data: Starlink. This is my backup connectivity if I'm in a location where the cell service isn't good. I am on the Roam Unlimited plan that you buy one month at a time and can turn off whenever you like. Last year this plan cost $120/month but now I see that the price has increased to $165/month! Oh Elon... They do offer a 50GB Roam plan for $50/month now, for what it's worth.

Router: GL.iNet Beryl AX. This router supports dual WAN and can either fail over or load balance between the cellular and satellite data connectivity. All my wifi devices connect to this router so that I don't have to change everything over when the WAN changes.

TV streaming: I use a Fire TV stick. It's configured to connect to a bluetooth speaker for higher quality sound. Hack #2: I am also able to access Hulu live while on the road. How? By running a Wireguard VPN client on the Fire TV that connects to a Wireguard VPN server running on my home router. As far as Hulu knows, I'm watching TV from home.
 
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I use a firestick as well.. look into sideloading apps on it such as SmartTube (YouTube but it filters out the ads/promotions).. there is some really good info on reddit about other apps for streaming TV/Movies.

I use a T-Mobile "Business Tablet" account which is unlimited 5G data to a tablet.. of course I don't wish to use a tablet so I took the SIM card out of the tablet and placed it into a T-Mobile Hot Spot Router I purchased off of eBay and did some tweaks.. I know get unlimited hotspot for $10/month (including tax!) and have been doing this for ~2 years now. Of course I'm limited to only have data where I get a signal. It looks like you can still actually get the plan for $15/mo "Magenta Business Tablet". The tablet doesn't really matter, you are basically just buying the tablet to get accesst to the SIM card/plan.. so better off to get their cheapest tablet if you go that route. I personally use the TMobile NOK 5G21 router.
 
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Christo said:
We're currently on our third annual winter trip to Florida so I thought I'd take a moment to update everyone on my latest internet and TV streaming implementation:

Cellular data: T-Mo Home Internet, $35/month for unlimited data. Previously I had been using a cellular hotspot but it cost $5 more per month and was limited to a paltry 30Gb/month of high speed data. I had read that a lot of RV'ers were using the home internet 'hack' since T-Mo doesn't geofence the service to a particular cell tower, even though you have to associate it with an address when you buy it and their official policy is that you will only use it in that location. The device is powered via USB-C and it supports an external antenna, but so far I've found that it works great right out of the box -- I'm getting DL speeds of up to 600Mb/sec. If T-Mo changes their enforcement I'll just revert to using the cellular hotspot. They do offer a plan for RV'ers but its way more expensive ($120-$160/mo) and not worth it IMHO.

Satellite data: Starlink. This is my backup connectivity if I'm in a location where the cell service isn't good. I am on the Roam Unlimited plan that you buy one month at a time and can turn off whenever you like. Last year this plan cost $120/month but now I see that the price has increased to $165/month! Oh Elon... They do offer a 50GB Roam plan for $50/month now, for what it's worth.

Router: GL.iNet Beryl AX. This router supports dual WAN and can either fail over or load balance between the cellular and satellite data connectivity. All my wifi devices connect to this router so that I don't have to change everything over when the WAN changes.

TV streaming: I use a Fire TV stick. It's configured to connect to a bluetooth speaker for higher quality sound. Hack #2: I am also able to access Hulu live while on the road. How? By running a Wireguard VPN client on the Fire TV that connects to a Wireguard VPN server running on my home router. As far as Hulu knows, I'm watching TV from home.
Click to expand...
Happy Spring! There's a big sale in progress on the Waveform QuadMini antenna that greatly improves reception for the T-Mo (Sercomm) G4SE gateway I'm using. I picked up an 'open box' unit for just $226 all in (vs. regular price of $300 plus tax).

I have decommissioned my Starlink for several reasons including the price increase (37.5% in one year!) and the amount of valuable space it takes up in the coach.

IMG_2487_Original.webp
 
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Christo said:
Happy Spring! There's a big sale in progress on the Waveform QuadMini antenna that greatly improves reception for the T-Mo (Sercomm) G4SE gateway I'm using. I picked up an 'open box' unit for just $226 all in (vs. regular price of $300 plus tax).

I have decommissioned my Starlink for several reasons including the price increase (37.5% in one year!) and the amount of valuable space it takes up in the coach.
Click to expand...
Starlink now has daily options for internet as well. So you don't even need to run it the whole month if you're not planning on using it.
 
werewilfs said:
Starlink now has daily options for internet as well. So you don't even need to run it the whole month if you're not planning on using it.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I don't think that's quite right. See

As I understand it, all their Roam plans are still monthly and can be turned on/off at will, but the data options are: Unlimited for $165/mo, 50GB for $50/mo (plus $1 per GB over 50GB), or 10GB for $10/mo (plus $2 per GB over 10GB).
 
I’m going to try starlink this year. I like the month to month subscription. When we’re gone for most of the month, we will do the $165 unlimited plan. Months with limited time rally’s, I’ll do the $50 limited plan. All other months I will pause the subscription. I figure that will only set me back about $300 a year.
That averages it out to about $25 a month. I’m sure I could get an additional cell line for that price, but with the data caps and throttle backs I think the starlink would be the better service to stream movies and tv programs.
 
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Christo said:
Hmm, I don't think that's quite right. See

As I understand it, all their Roam plans are still monthly and can be turned on/off at will, but the data options are: Unlimited for $165/mo, 50GB for $50/mo (plus $1 per GB over 50GB), or 10GB for $10/mo (plus $2 per GB over 10GB).
Click to expand...
You're right Christo. I didn't read into it too deeply. Just saw the $10 option that had popped up and assumed it was a daily option. Now reading into it further that's the equivalent of daily use.
 
Scott Nutter said:
Out of curiosity, would 10gb of internet get the average person a full month of WiFi calls, text, and occasional emails? Assuming the person is not a teenager!
Click to expand...
I purchased a Rogue Wave amplified wifi antenna perhaps 15 years ago for my sailboat. I have used when I went back to my empty condo in NJ where we no longer had an internet provider. It works great and I intend to install it again on my coach.
It is fully marine grade and impervious to salt air.
It seeks out all hot spot and any wifi signal it finds. If you have a cellular account you likely have access to their "hot spots" for free. You can also see every wifi network around you and whether it is locked or not. It will provide you with the strength of each signal. It has an 8.5dB mini-directional outdoor antenna and is powered by Power over Ethernet (POE). This Wave WiFi is a compact Wireless Receiver with an output 800mW of power.
The Rogue Wave comes with its own router and it is also an Ethernet Converter (EC), so a direct connection can be made to any Ethernet enabled device. There is no software to install and no power robbing connections.
1743196497506.webp1743196546315.webp1743196605765.webp
This is a terrific product. I was able to use all of my cable TV account media I had back home without paying a single penny more.

I think that you should tell all GMCers about this.
After all.Motorhomes are only boats with wheels!
 
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Christo said:
T-Mo Home Internet just lowered the price of their unlimited plan to $30/mo (from $35) when combined with an over-55 voice line!

Click to expand...

I have my 3 kids and myself on TMobile, 4 phones total, switched from another carrier, kids traded in their old iphones for new iphones, I traded my galaxy s? for the new galaxy s24 (that's almost $4000 in new phones) and we're on unlimited data plans, 2 year contract for $103 a month total after taxes and fees. I still can't figure out how they can do that and make money. We've been very happy with the coverage.
 
Christo said:
T-Mo Home Internet just lowered the price of their unlimited plan to $30/mo (from $35) when combined with an over-55 voice line!

Click to expand...
Note: This deal is for "Rely Home Internet" which includes a previous-generation gateway rather than the faster Sercomm G4SE that I have. The previous-generation gateway doesn't have external antenna connections. So, not such a great deal. If you're on the former "Home Internet Unlimited" plan, stay put.
 
Necro-posting because the topic exists...

Starlink is currently offering the Standard Kit AX Tri Band Wi-Fi System for $175 (Best Buy or direct). There is the unlimited data plan at $165/month, but there is also the 50GB plan at $50/month. After the first month you can put the plan on 'standby" at limited bandwidth for $5/month. Even on standby you can email, WiFi phone call (if allowed by your provider), video-call, and watch YouTube at 360p. So, for $175 one-time, $50 one-time, and $5/month thereafter you can have internet/calling available at all times from anywhere. When you need additional bandwidth you can activate the plan for a month.

My starter kit arrives Thursday (Sept 11, 2025). :)
 
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Tybalt39 said:
Necro-posting because the topic exists...

Starlink is currently offering the 3rd Gen starter kit for $175 (Best Buy or direct). There is the unlimited data plan at $165/month, but there is also the 50GB plan at $50/month. After the first month you can put the plan on 'standby" at limited bandwidth for $5/month. Even on standby you can email, WiFi phone call (if allowed by your provider), video-call, and watch YouTube at 360p. So, for $175 one-time, $50 one-time, and $5/month thereafter you can have internet/calling available at all times from anywhere. When you need additional bandwidth you can activate the plan for a month.

My starter kit arrives Thursday (Sept 12, 2025). :)
Click to expand...
Any idea what the actual speed of “limited bandwidth” is?
 
Christo said:
Any idea what the actual speed of “limited bandwidth” is?
Click to expand...
AI generated, but it matches what I saw in a video yesterday.....

Starlink's Standby Mode provides extremely limited bandwidth, with speeds topping out at 500 Kbps download and upload, designed for low-bandwidth uses like emergency messaging and basic communication, not for general internet use or streaming. While this mode offers unlimited data, it throttles performance to a speed comparable to or slightly faster than old dial-up connections, allowing users to keep their equipment connected at a low monthly cost while maintaining the ability to quickly resume their higher-speed service.
 
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Update on my starlink unlimited service.
We used it extensively on a 2 month road trip. Streaming movies and tv nightly and emails and web surfing.
We were very impressed. We didn’t notice any throttle backs. And worked fine during Florida thunderstorms. The speeds were comparable to our home fiber optic speeds.
Such an improvement over campground WiFi and spotty cell service.
I consider it a must have while traveling.
Scott
 
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