When we started this skoolie journey, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. We would be challenged all along the way. One that we didn’t expect was how difficult it would be to get high-speed internet.
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Currently, we are living on my (Christina) dad’s land in rural Alabama while we build our skoolie, #nitathebus. We knew that if we could get internet on that property and we could travel with it — we would be golden.
We did a ton of research and knew that we needed an unlimited, unthrottled data SIM card through a third-party reseller and an LTE hotspot router.
But oh. my. goodness. There are so many options and so many ways to really mess it up.
So after many, many mistakes, here is all the information that I wish I knew about SIM cards, hotspot routers, and everything in between.
Satellite internet is not your only option
If you live in a rural area, you know there are limited options for the internet, much less anything that is high-speed. Usually, the only option is satellite internet. And let me tell you, there is nothing high-speed about satellite internet – not counting that you are entirely dependent on clear sunny skies for any reliability.
Mistake #1: Setting up satellite internet
While researching and waiting on the SIM cards we wanted to come back in stock, my dad asked if we could go ahead and set up satellite internet to have something at his workshop while we were traveling.
We decided to use HughesNet. We chose a business plan since we knew that we would be using large amounts of data.
Of course, we learned after installation that satellite internet is not conducive for work VPNs, video streaming, or video conferencing – three of our primary requirements for the internet. It doesn’t matter how large your data plan is.
Once we adjusted our expectations and our lifestyle to the parameters of satellite internet, it worked well. It is best for Google searches and email. We tried to lower our plan, but the business and residential satellites are different and would have required another installation and more money for something that did not meet our needs. Ultimately, we canceled our plan.
Choosing the right router
You are most likely familiar with traditional routers connected to cable or fiber-optic internet service that runs to your home. This type of internet is tethered to your address, can not be moved, and is dependent on the service providers in your area.
For our set-up, we needed an LTE router. This router has a SIM card slot to connect to the internet through a data plan (most do not have one). How this router works is similar to how your cell phone gets internet service.
We bought two different LTE routers because:
Mistake #2: Not making sure that your router is compatible with your SIM card
I thought I would buy a router, put in the SIM card, and viola, I’d have internet.
Of course, it wasn’t that easy.
One of the best mobile hotspot routers on the market is the NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Router MR1100. It is a great router and perfect for travelers, and precisely what I wanted. The best feature is that it can run off batteries for a couple of hours if you need to step away from an outlet (hello, lake-side working).
However, the first SIM card I ordered from RV-4G had this little warning buried on their website:
The only plan they had available was the PINK PLAN, which I bought, not knowing it would not work.
TIP: The ORANGE PLAN is on AT&T’s network, and the PINK PLAN is on T-Mobile’s network. Think of the logo colors.
The second router we purchased was the NETGEAR Orbi 4G LTE Mesh WiFi Router with a SIM card slot (LBR20). This router is AMAZING. It can connect up to 20 devices, has the option for satellite extenders for larger homes, and has a great app for the settings dashboard.
It was easy to set up on both T-Mobile and AT&T 4G LTE networks. It is more powerful than the Nighthawk M1; however, you must plug it in 24/7. The Nighthawk M1 can be unplugged and ran off of batteries for a couple of hours if needed.
We love the Orbi mobile app to track our data usage and update our internet settings. As you can see, we are using a lot of data, and it hasn’t been throttled once.
OUR CHOICE: NETGEAR Orbi 4G LTE Mesh WiFi Router with SIM card slot (LBR20)
Choosing the right SIM card provider
Unfortunately, the Big Three (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) do not directly offer truly unlimited, unthrottled, high-speed data plans for mobile hotspots. They say it is unlimited but will throttle the speed after 30 GBs or so of data.
Mistake #3: Believing that unlimited data really is unlimited even if throttled.
We decided to add a hotspot line to our Verizon phone plan as a backup. Initially, I thought, “No big deal. We can stretch out 30 GBs.” Boy, was I wrong! While connected to my company VPN, I ran through that data in about six hours. Something that I thought could last us a few weeks or even a month didn’t make it an entire day.
When you do reach that 30 GB threshold, Verizon throttles your data to a snail’s pace. Honestly, it is worse than waiting on the 90s dial-up internet. It becomes completely unusable.
I kept hearing about these third-party data reseller companies, but it was hard to find much information on the best choice. Also, several of the ones that I was interested in were out of stock.
How it works: Third-party resellers are allotted data lines that don’t have a cap so they can offer truly unlimited, unthrottled, high-speed internet.
We tried two different companies: RV-4G’s Pink Plan on T-Mobile’s network and SkyMobile’s Blue Plan on AT&T’s network.
RV-4G Review: The customer service for RV-4G is wonderful. I do wish that they had placed the router warning on the data plan page and the equipment page. Once I had bought the Orbi router, I couldn’t find my first SIM card, so they sent a second one pretty quickly, which I appreciated.
Our main issue was the reliability of T-Mobile’s network in rural Alabama. While it was easy to set up, the internet connection went out regularly and we had to restart the router at least once a day. I feel that this wouldn’t be an issue if you are in an area where T-Mobile is a more reliable network. I would only recommend RV-4G on their customer service and if you have a reliable T-Mobile signal.
SkyMobile Review: The customer service for SkyMobile is also great! The first SIM card we received from SkyMobile did not work, which can be a common issue with third-party data resellers. I requested a new one, but it took a few weeks longer than I received the first one. Once we did receive it, everything worked PERFECTLY.
We can stream on our smart TVs, connect to our VPN, manage multiple video conference calls, and connect and use multiple devices simultaneously. We also have not needed to reboot the router at all. Though we had a few issues in the beginning, the service has been amazing and it WORKS.
SkyMobile works with both the routers that we purchased.
OUR CHOICE: SkyMobile’s Blue Plan on AT&T’s network
Boost your cell signal for better internet
We also purchased the weBoost Drive X RV Cell Phone Signal Booster. Since our SIM card data internet runs on the same signal as cell phones, this device boosts our internet speed and cell phone signal at the same time. We are no longer dropping calls when we are inside, and our internet signal is always at full bars.
TIP: You may have to move the weBoost antenna around to get the best signal depending on your buildings, surrounding trees, etc.
We bought the one for RVs even though we are currently stationary. Currently, we have the antenna mounted on a pole and will move it to the bus when we finish building.
If you want a cell booster for your home, we recommend this one: weBoost Home Room Cell Phone Signal Booster.
What works for you?
Let us know in the comments what internet setup works for you and your family while traveling or in rural areas.