this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2024
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Living in vans, cars, RVs, etc

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We're not homeless, we're houseless! By choice or by circumstance we are living in our vehicles. Don't worry about us -- it can be a very good life.

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July 2024 I'll finally be freed from my extortionate Verizon contract, have been aiming for Starlink but... (lemmy.world)
submitted 5 months ago by LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world to c/houseless@lemmy.sdf.org
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(Me= vanlife.)

If you have your starlink satellite thing mounted on top of your vehicle, the only time you can get internet is when you are within range of your vehicle, right?

In case there's no Wi-Fi available, and you're away from your vehicle, which is a situation that is pretty constant in my life.

I presume there's no starlink hotspot to carry around(?)

Like it's been nice to have my Verizon hotspot "Orbic" shitty little thing when my phone's unlimited data service is slow or spotty but even the Orbic has shitty service sometimes.

I definitely want to abandon evil extortionate Verizon. Please tell me if I become a starlink customer, I won't be able to use my phone indoors at work which doesn't allow us to use their Wi-Fi, And when I'm walking around town, what to do for internet?

Please tell me your most highly recommended ISP that isn't extortionate & manipulative.

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[–] Stormwind@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Starlink dishes need an open unobstructed view of the sky to communicate with the satellites. You'd need the dish to be outside and then be in range of the wifi from the dish's router (or other routers or mesh system you set up).

IMHO Starlink is best when living or boondocking in remote area without other options and with enough open sky view to get a decent connection. I have a Starlink dish on my van to get internet access when 5G coverage is not available.

The new Starlink Mini dish might be of interest - a small dish, power-able by 12-48V DC or USB-C PD. In the US it is $600, then $30 a month but only 50GB per month before extra charges.

FMCA TechConnect+ has some plans including an unlimited but speed capped AT&T plan for around $60 a month.

[–] fratermus@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 5 months ago

I have Visible (Verizon MVNO) for $25/month. I put the SIM in an LTE router I got off amazon (open box) for $42.

[–] Lag@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I've had a hotspot from Calyx Institute for van living before and it worked great. It's been a while but I remember their price was great with a payment once per year.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Okay turns out that's just a hotspot, and nothing more. It's like paying $750 to sit outside a Starbucks for a year mooching off their Wi-Fi, except I can carry that Starbucks around with me everywhere I go which is great but

It's not an ISP that includes a phone number for calls and texting. I wanted to port my phone number over to a new provider but after I went through and bought the thing they tell me they can't port my phone number, they're not an ISP like that, It's just a hotspot, And I'm on my own when it comes to having a phone number and which carrier provides service for it. Now you've got me fucking paying for a hotspot while still paying for my original separate phone plan. That's not what I wanted.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world -1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

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