Cheap $20 a month Stand Alone Unlimited Rural Internet through AT&T Wireless

[TractorGuy]

No, I wasn't. The person asking the question I answered in your quote was asking about the mini router someone linked to on Amazon (see post #268). That mini router has a microUSB power input and can be tethered via USB to the Mobley.

The Mobley can only be powered via OBD-II. Its USB port is for tethering.

Rob

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Okay, Sorry for my confusion.

 

[the old grind]

I didn't wait for xfinity's 'news' about an upcoming 'mobile data' setup. I'll pass along anything as it arrives, but did stop at a 'corp' AT&T store for a Mobley and to sign up. The store didn't have one :laughing: but that suggests fresh stock and the v1.0.1 firmware.

My receipt has several fee codes, device, sim, etc 'to be billed when shipped', so all zeros. One has an 'activation deposit', and both also a line for 'commitment savings' of $99.99 (potential, I guess). If that's about a 'contract' and a free device, ..... uhh, nope. (ever!)

btw, my monthly data avg for the last say 2 yrs has been 15Gb and my iphone 4 only does calls, texts, calculator, flashlight. (No apps not built in)
So, beat getting this for ~$44/mo and I'm good. I can run these tests any time of any day and get the same results.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

So, it has a SIM in it, but the activation didn't require any info from the SIM. That seems weird, doesn't it?

Nope. Not weird. Having to manually give SIM info is old school. It's done OTA (Over The Air) now.

 

[sd455dan]

Nope. Not weird. Having to manually give SIM info is old school. It's done OTA (Over The Air) now.

actually was replying to that post ( buying from best buy and being unable to activate it with the (Experts) at ATT)
- but Hughesnet dropped the connection in the middle of posting so when I restored auto saved content I picked the wrong post to reply to :duh::laughing: and then made the mistake of trying to edit the original posters info and made a mess of it, but was so ticked at ATT by then I just posted it anyway.

Found aeblanks original post:

Quote Originally Posted by aeblank View Post
Well, I'm going to try at WorstBuy this afternoon.
We'll see. Wish me luck. haha.
Bought one (outright for $99) at worstbuy.
They couldn't activate over the phone, but I just did it online by adding a line and bringing my own device. No activation, $20/mo. I did the option that was NOT adding it to the existing plan. So, I should be good to go. Will go plug it in and test it, I guess.

So, it has a SIM in it, but the activation didn't require any info from the SIM. That seems weird, doesn't it?





Just checked my email again- Nothing from ATT-
the gal said they would definitely, absolutely send an email (within an hour) with the new account info and shipping status of the new SIM

Starting to think they are completely incompetent... This aggravation will still be worth it IF the SIM arrives by Wednesday and can be activated.

At this point I would be afraid to try and activate it on line with everything that has gone wrong so far,
hope it worked for aeblank- sorry about the earlier misspell.

 

[aeblank]

It worked fine for me and has been. 3-12meg with -106db signal.

I'm probably going to do some hardware swapping and we'll see how that goes. Won't bother explaining till after...

 

[Xfaxman]

Weird thing happened 2 days ago, speed was slow, so I moved the Mobley to a different spot on the window ledge. Checked signal strength, it was -119 and showing 1 bar. Checked speed and it was 6.1 Mbps, the fastest that I had seen!

So the next morning I moved it around checking speed only and got this at -115 dBm:




Unfortunately it didn't stay that fast, it is bouncing around 3 Mbps now with -116 dBm. It has always varied a lot. :thumbdown:

I can move it to a stronger signal, but the speed goes way down.

 

[aeblank]

that is weird. I have always been taught that signal is speed. Obviously not *strictly* true.

I have 2 devices with AT&T service (expensive one will be going away). One is -105db and one is -65db. They get about the same speed. I'd expect the -65 to be much more reliable. Also, the -65 has about 4x the upload speed.

Speeds are surprisingly device-dependent. 4G implementation/chipsets, wifi implementation, firmware, etc. etc.
I have an IBM stick computer that is flakey on wifi. I updated the driver today and I think it's better.

I can't help but feel things are "pushed to market" way to soon without full testing.

 

[Xfaxman]

Just got back from testing the Mobley closer to the tower. My wife drove her Dodge, so I could plug the AC Adapter into the AC plug on the dash. That way it would be running on the same power as at home.

Got good speeds going down the road, even got on TBN, while riding down the road.

Parked on a high place 4 or 5 miles west of the tower, signal stayed
around -90 dBm, speed consistently around 20 Mbps.

Drove to Guthrie, at I35 and Hwy 33, different tower, got the strongest signal ever, -80 dBm and fastest speed ever, 30 Mbps.

So I think the Mobley is working OK, just getting interference at home.

 

[zimy]

Just got back from testing the Mobley closer to the tower. My wife drove her Dodge, so I could plug the AC Adapter into the AC plug on the dash. That way it would be running on the same power as at home.

Got good speeds going down the road, even got on TBN, while riding down the road.

Parked on a high place 4 or 5 miles west of the tower, signal stayed
around -90 dBm, speed consistently around 20 Mbps.

Drove to Guthrie, at I35 and Hwy 33, different tower, got the strongest signal ever, -80 dBm and fastest speed ever, 30 Mbps.

View attachment 508162

View attachment 508163


So I think the Mobley is working OK, just getting interference at home.

Do you think an amplifier will help?

Someone posted that the weboost cradle works.

 

[Xfaxman]

Do you think an amplifier will help?

Someone posted that the weboost cradle works.

It probably would help, but now that I am positioning the Mobley by speed, not maximum signal strength, I don't need it right now.