Skoolie Internet Solutions

Here are our skoolie internet solutions!  Staying connected is such a big part our daily lives as it is with most people.  From communicating with family, homeschool, to working remotely, having reliable internet is a must for us. We started researching internet solutions before we bought the bus and looked at many different types of options.  

Cell Phones

Both of us have Iphone 7 Plus phones each having 10GB of hotspot data.  This is what we started with. For basic things we knew this would work. This worked okay while we traveled before picking up the bus and stayed at places that already had wifi.  So, the first place you should check is your current cell phone plan and if you have it already or if it can be added for a minimal fee. This serves as a great backup internet solution.  

Jetpacks/MIFI (AKA Hot Spots)

We alternate between these two options for our skoolie internet solutions depending on where we are located.  We tend to stay in very rural locations outside city limits.  Living off grid but relying on internet means we budget for more internet options on the bus.

Verizon

Before we picked up the bus we were traveling in rural Florida and experienced our first issue with no cell service.  We were planning on being in the area for a couple of weeks to get caught up on work and having no service was going to be an issue.  So from my research prior to traveling I knew about the prepaid Verizon Hotspot Unlimited plans for $65 per month. We also knew we would have to have service from multiple carriers to ensure we had service while traveling.  So we purchased the Verizon Jetpack Inseego 8800L and set up the prepaid plan. This plan is subject data management when in areas of high usage. This is a great plan with no contract. Unfortunately, this plan is no longer available.  

Netgear w/ AT&T

The other hotspot we use is a Netgear Nighthawk MR1100 MIFI with an AT&T Unlimited data plan from OTR Mobile. This is a no contract unlimited data plan with no network management. These plans are grandfathered unlimited data plans that OTR mobile “rents” out. Our plan is $65 per month for unlimited data. We added an AT&T hotspot while we were in Texas and needed an unlimited plan since we were planning on spending the winter there and Chris started teaching ESL online. This has also been a great plan and gives us more options for staying connected.

UPDATE 5/14/20-OTR Mobile no longer uses AT&T as their primary carrier.  Since we were part of the Legacy plan, we can still use AT&T but now for $70 per month.  All new subscribers to OTR Mobile will now use T-Mobile as their carrier.  I will keep this post updated if I make any more changes to our plans/providers.

UPDATE 1/1/21-We no longer use OTR Mobile due to another increase in cost for using our grandfathered AT&T plan.  The cost was going to be $110 per month.  This was was a significant increase so we decided to cancel our plan with them.  Currently we are only using our Verizon Hotspot and AT&T cell phones as hot spots.  If we find another plan for our AT&T Hot Spot, we will keep you posted.

Antennas/Booster

MIMO Antenna (THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD TRY TO IMPROVE YOUR INTERNET)

Both of our MIFI hotspots have T9 MIMO antenna ports.  We looked for these when researching what units to purchase.  Our first antenna to purchase was the Netgear MIMO antenna and for under $30 this is a great little antenna that is portable.  We first used this with our Verizon Jetpack and it helped greatly improve our signal strength.  Before buying an expensive antenna or booster, I would suggest looking into this first. We love this antenna and have suggested it to numerous fellow travelers.  

WeBoost Drive X RV

So after several months of traveling and being in a location that we planned on staying at for the winter we had a problem.  We were in a rural area with poor signal strength. Our Netgear MIMO antenna did not improve the signal that much so we looked into boosters.  From doing my initial research, I knew that we would most likely need a WeBoost eventually. Eventually ended up being sooner than we thought. So, we purchased a WeBoost Drive X RV.  Keep in my this unit amplifies signal, it DOES NOT create a signal.  It does help our signal in many instances and we have been please with its performance.  

Signal Speed

When we arrive to a new area, we use the Speedtest by Ookla app to determine ping rate, upload, and download speeds. Using this app helps us determine which plan and antenna configuration works best for the area we are in.  I will run it with each hotspot and have them connected to either the Weboost or the Netgear antenna. I used this data to find out which way works best. If you don’t already have this app, you need to get it. It is an important tool. 

These are our skoolie internet solutions to help us stay connected.  You can find many different options for internet connectivity from basic to advanced.  The biggest thing is to do your research and find what works best for you and know that it might change as you travel more.  We hope that this post helps to guide you in your search to find your best solution.

Skoolie Internet Solutions

For those of you who live on the road, what solutions have you found that help you get the best internet along the way?

To see other great products that we use please visit our Shop our Skoolie page.