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

[BigBlue1]

You have to understand your location on the internet is based on where you pull an IP address from. So that is a lot of the issue with websites thinking you are somewhere you are not.

Indeed. I do understand that. But technically it is not 'where you pull an IP from' but rather where your ISP has tagged the IP pool as being located or registered. It seems that ISPs are getting less and less localized with this info so the problem is getting worse. Well, either that or more sites and apps are trying to figure it out without asking.

Rob

 

[TractorGuy]

On an IP note I had something strange happen the other day. I was reading something on Wikipedia the other day and it had a message in red blasting me for an edit made from my IP. Said something about being out of line and threatening to take away my editing rights. It also suggested I should sign up for a Wikipedia account. I cleared my Wikipedia cookie and checked again and the notice wasn't there.

I don't think anyone gets a static IP unless they pay extra for it through a cable or phone service.

Mine was showing me in Miami FL up till about a week ago and now it places me in Jacksonville FL. I live near neither.

 

[kcflhrc]

The whole IP location thing can get real crazy when you try to stream local channels and your DHCP Pool is located in another city. For some reason my Mobley always thinks I'm in Chicago and I for **** sure am not from there nor do I have plans to ever go there.

 

[cqaigy2]

My ip says Vancover Washinton, wrong. Not all sites us ip location, some use cookies on your browser and that usually is your mailing address.

 

[kcflhrc]

A tracert from the command line to say maybe google.com will tell you more than you ever wanted to know. Your IP address has a lot to do with your provider also. My Mobley IP address says I'm in Chicago but the only reason it says that is because that's where the AT&T DHCP server happens to be. All bets are off with a mobile device but if you have a local provider than more than likely you will pull an IP from that area.

 

[BigBlue1]

Just an update on my use of this plan... In late November I replaced my Mobley with a Netgear Nighthawk M1 device. The Nighthawk has the ability to aggregate data streams that the Mobley cannot do (up to 4x maybe?) so the thought was that it would lead to better speeds given the same conditions of tower location and signal strength. I've found that to be the case. Where my Mobley used to give me 9-16Mb/s download speeds the Nighthawk now routinely allows 30 to upper 40's, sometimes into the 50's. I combined that with a TP-Link Deco wi-fi mesh setup and our home Internet has never been better or more consistent. Very happy with the changes. Living in rural areas doesn't have to be as limiting as it used to be!

Rob

 

[jcummins]

Just an update on my use of this plan... In late November I replaced my Mobley with a Netgear Nighthawk M1 device. The Nighthawk has the ability to aggregate data streams that the Mobley cannot do (up to 4x maybe?) so the thought was that it would lead to better speeds given the same conditions of tower location and signal strength. I've found that to be the case. Where my Mobley used to give me 9-16Mb/s download speeds the Nighthawk now routinely allows 30 to upper 40's, sometimes into the 50's. I combined that with a TP-Link Deco wi-fi mesh setup and our home Internet has never been better or more consistent. Very happy with the changes. Living in rural areas doesn't have to be as limiting as it used to be!

Rob

BigBlue1 questions... Been thinking of killing my direct TV and replace with YouTube TV but my internet with this Mobley needs more stability. Price on this netgear $100 spread on prices, how much did you pay and where did you buy? My Mobley has taken spells of being very sluggish, also keeps going off the air. I've put it on a timer to reboot every day at 4am, seemed to help. Did you just move Sim and it worked? Or did you need this PUK code I've read about. Are you using WISP with this setup or how is the config setup?

 

[BigBlue1]

BigBlue1 questions... Been thinking of killing my direct TV and replace with YouTube TV but my internet with this Mobley needs more stability. Price on this netgear $100 spread on prices, how much did you pay and where did you buy? My Mobley has taken spells of being very sluggish, also keeps going off the air. I've put it on a timer to reboot every day at 4am, seemed to help. Did you just move Sim and it worked? Or did you need this PUK code I've read about. Are you using WISP with this setup or how is the config setup?

Good questions. Dealt with those myself. I actually just stated YouTube TV in Dec and will be dropping DirecTV soon. My setup has worked well for me streaming that, but even with the Mobley I could do Netflix and Amazon Prime Video just fine.

I found a 'refurb' Nighthawk M1 on eBay for $155. By 'refurb' I think they just meant that they did a factory reset. But it works. Didn't come with a USB charger for that price, but I had an extra from my Pixel that works (it takes a high-output charger). I saw them from that price used up to maybe $300-ish on Amazon. I figured it was either going to work or not work and I bought from a seller with good return policy (free return shipping, 30 day window) so I was comfortable.

I had some Mobley challenges in the last year too. Mine would just drop its connection maybe once every week. A simple power cycle fixed it. But overall it was pretty much OK.

I don't know much about WISP. What I did was hook my M1 to an ASUS router that I previously had my Mobley hooked to. This time via ethernet instead of USB though. And then connected the Deco main unit to the ASUS. I'm guessing it isn't an 'optimum' routing setup but I have had zero problems with normal Internet use, significant video streaming and work VPN use through it. All wifi is now done via the Deco mesh and the ASUS is just 'bridging' (probably not the real term) the M1 to the Deco.

As for YouTube TV, it has pretty much met all expectations that I had for replacing DirecTV. Only minor quibble is that the interface isn't as easy to use as I'd like, especially the 'Library'/DVR stuff. Works, but lots of clicks on the remote to get where I want to be. Looking forward to saving $65/month with this replacement. And no 'satellite signal lost' messages!!

Rob

 

[jcummins]

On the SIM card did you need to contact AT&T or did you just move it?

 

[BigBlue1]

On the SIM card did you need to contact AT&T or did you just move it?

See your PMs

 

[kcflhrc]

I recently moved my SIM also into a NetGear 4G LTE Modem and put a new NetGear Nighthawk router behind it. My speeds went from 15 meg down to almost 60 regularly. You will need the PUK Code, no doubt about it. You input a bad PIN 4 times then it prompts you for the PUK code. Then you can set a new PIN. Keep this PUK Code handy as well as the new PIN. The PUK code is specific to the SIM Card. AT&T readily gave me the PUK Code over Chat.

 

[TractorGuy]

I'm seeing the Netgear Nighthawk M1 LTE modem brand new for $120. Am I looking at something different than you guys are talking about?

I moved my sim to a velocity before a pin or puk code was required. I wonder if I would need a code to move it again.

 

[BigBlue1]

I'm seeing the Netgear Nighthawk M1 LTE modem brand new for $120. Am I looking at something different than you guys are talking about?

I moved my sim to a velocity before a pin or puk code was required. I wonder if I would need a code to move it again.

Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100. They are $299 new on Amazon, $150+ used on eBay (for buy-it-now, not bids). Where are you seeing it new for $120?

https://www.amazon.com/Netgear-Nighthawk-MR1100-GSM-Unlocked/dp/B07G5KWZ3H/

I think it was just the Mobley that AT&T applied firmware to that forced the PIN lock. But I guess you can't say for sure until you move it.

Rob

 

[jcummins]

BigBlue1 sent you a pm with another question

 

[BigBlue1]

BigBlue1 sent you a pm with another question

Didn't get one...

 

[rangerfredbob]

I need to look into this hard, my stupid internet is capped at 1mbps... and it's $50/month, next step is satellite which last I checked was $120 or more and I have too many trees...

I have AT&T cell service and get 4 bars on the phone no problem in most places so it sounds like this would be a good match, I think I am 7 miles from the nearest tower... which has to be better than the DSL that I'm running now that gets slower in winter...

 

[BigBlue1]

I need to look into this hard, my stupid internet is capped at 1mbps... and it's $50/month, next step is satellite which last I checked was $120 or more and I have too many trees...

I have AT&T cell service and get 4 bars on the phone no problem in most places so it sounds like this would be a good match, I think I am 7 miles from the nearest tower... which has to be better than the DSL that I'm running now that gets slower in winter...

If you don't already have a Mobley and AT&T's "Connected Car" plan don't bother looking into this specific plan. It is no longer available to sign up for. But there are several other plans available. I think AT&T has the same basic plan but for about $99/mo and Ubifi (not 'Unifi') has a similar plan for $89.99 (The SIMPLY UNLIMITED Plan - UbiFi). Assuming they work the same as Mobley plan they are great options for location without good/fast/cheap cable or DSL options but I don't think you'll ever get into one for the $20/mo again.

Rob

 

[BigBlue1]

jcummins pointed out to me separately that there are several part numbers of the Netgear Nighthawk M1/MR1100 for sale. There may be compatibility problems with the non-AT&T branded one (mr1100-100NAS) if you're trying to use it on AT&T's network. If you want to buy one look for the model with the AT&T logo on it (possibly mr1100-1A1NAS and mr1100-1A2NAS?). He also suggested looking at a firmware thread where some folks have had problems: Nighthawk M1 Killed by FW 12.5.5.12 - NETGEAR Communities . Keep your Mobley around for a backup!!

Rob

 

[kcflhrc]

This is the NetGear Modem I'm using and it's on Amazon brand new for $120

NETGEAR 4G LTE Broadband Modem - Use LTE as Primary Internet Connection | Unlocked | Works with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (LB1120)



Then I have a NetGear Nighthawk Router behind it for the WiFi. You can use any router of your choice.

The modem itself has no WiFi built in, just an ethernet Port, so you have to use a router behind it for WiFi as well as DHCP

I would stay away from the NetGear M1. No external antenna's means your WiFi signal will be crap.

 

[BigBlue1]

This is the NetGear Modem I'm using and it's on Amazon brand new for $120

NETGEAR 4G LTE Broadband Modem - Use LTE as Primary Internet Connection | Unlocked | Works with AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon (LB1120)

View attachment 639155

Then I have a NetGear Nighthawk Router behind it for the WiFi. You can use any router of your choice.

The modem itself has no WiFi built in, just an ethernet Port, so you have to use a router behind it for WiFi as well as DHCP

I would stay away from the NetGear M1. No external antenna's means your WiFi signal will be crap.

Yeah, that's not the device we're talking about. Similar, but different. The LB1120, as you mention, can't be used as a wifi router, though in the config we're talking about that doesn't matter much. I think that it also only allows 2x carrier aggregation vs 4x on the Nighthawk M1/MR1100, which means it likely supports only half the throughput. This is the same reason the Mobley is roughly 1/4 the throughput of the M1 (it is no aggregation = 1x). The LB1120 might be a great option for someone wanting to double the performance of their Mobley. But for another $35 I think the M1 was definitely a better choice for me.

As for your antenna comment, I assume you're talking about cell signal, not wifi? The lack of antenna is a very situation-specific thing. In my case I've tried external antennas on the Mobley and on the Unite Explore that I briefly used and found zero benefit. I don't have great cell signal strength in my location (3-4 bars mostly) but I'm getting 40-50Mb/s throughput with the M1 so it ain't crappy for me. Also, your phone doesn't have external antennas... is its signal 'crappy' too? To each their own.

ETA: When I wrote the above I thought you were the same person stating that the M1 was available for $120 and was claiming yours was that. I see now it is two diff people with different intents, but the above info is still valid so I'll leave it.

Rob