(Part 4) Top products from r/verizon

Like /u/WindAeris mentioned, the T-Mobile Test Drive is a great way to get a real-world idea of what their service is like.

They do put a $700 hold on your card, so make sure whatever card number you give them can take that. The iPhone 5S they give you has unlimited minutes, texts, and unthrottled data so you can then run around and test the network to your heart's content, then return the phone to any T-Mobile retail store on the last day. Once you return it, and the store determines that it's not damaged, the hold is removed from your card and that's it.

Also, if you're frequently at areas that have good Wi-Fi networks, T-Mobile has Wi-Fi calling and texting on iOS 8 and almost all of their Android phones. Devices which also support VoLTE (iPhone 6 and a handful of Androids) can do seamless handoff between Wi-Fi and VoLTE calls without dropping the call.

If service is so-so in your home, you can get a free signal booster from them which'll strengthen their 3G, 4G, and LTE signals ($25 deposit after September 24^th), or you can get what's basically a ASUS RT-AC68U (a seriously kick-ass 802.11ac dual-band router) optimized for Wi-Fi calling for a $25 deposit (though you have to return it if you ever leave T-Mo) or $99 outright from T-Mobile if you're on a prepaid or a no credit check plan.

I love it. got it a few days ago. Got it for $125 shipped off Ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Verizon-Fios-Quantum-Gateway-BHR4-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC-Greenwave-G1100-/301431036181?pt=COMP_EN_Routers&hash=item462eb09915

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Verizon-Fios-Quantum-Gateway-AC1750-Dual-Band-802-11AC-Wifi-router-zwave-G1100-/261694360968?pt=COMP_EN_Routers&hash=item3cee330d88

Edit:

For $150 you'd probably do better putting the Actiontec in bridge mode and use

http://www.amazon.com/802-11ac-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1750-Gigabit-RT-AC66R/dp/B00IEG4H1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418163126&sr=1-1&keywords=rt-ac66r&pebp=1418163115104

I just like the convenience of 1 router/gateway. But the Asus, or any router that's ~$100 or more, will be better than what Verizon offers. But relatively speaking, it's far and away a great improvement over the Actiontecs.

Yes you can!

this is the one Verizon offers. The only issue is it looks to only support band 13, so it could have slow speeds.

Edit: here is the same thing via amazon. From additional reading, it looks to support band 4 as well :)

You should get a splitter that supports MoCA which is like Ethernet over coax. Your cable boxes use this to communicate with your router and receive data such as the program guide and video on demand. One that does 5 MHz to 2 GHz or greater like these would work fine.

Cable Matters 2-Pack Bi-Directional 2.4 Ghz 3 Way Coaxial Cable Splitter for STB TV, Antenna and MoCA Network - All Port Power Passing - Gold Plated and Corrosion Resistant https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KO8W9RA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NnExDbEJ5784W

There are many non-Verizon brand hotspots out there, I can't say that the one I use is the best as its the only one I've tried but the one I use has ports for antennas and 4 ethernet ports to hard wire in your computers which i needed for my work from home computer.

There is a workaround involved with getting this activated on Verizon prepaid which involves you owning a Verizon brand hotspot, registering that hotspot for the prepaid plan and then simply moving the sim into this device. i purchased a $30 Verizon Jetpack on ebay for this purpose.

MOFI4500-4GXeLTE-SIM4 4G/LTE Router AT&T T-Mobile Verizon Embedded SIM with Band 12

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EY11K40/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also use the following products to get the best signal possible, currently:

(Quantity 2): Wilson Electronics Wideband Directional Antenna 700-2700 MHz, 50 Ohm (314411)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J14YEHQ/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(Quantity 2): Wilson Electronics 20-Foot WILSON400 Ultra Low Loss Coax Cable with N Male Connectors - White

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NQ3P3M/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(Quantity 2): MPD Digital UC-5FHC-9DB9 N Female to SMA Male Right Angle Pigtail LMR-200 Double Shielded Coaxial Cable, 6-Inch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CJWQJ2U/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

Signal Strength: -51 dBm (100 %)

Speedtest results (extremely dependent on location but these are my results for my location):

Ping: 28 ms Download: 82.55 Mb/s Upload: 15.97 Mb/s

https://www.speedtest.net/result/8022626633

​

Here are the videos I used to build my system (just a heads up there is nothing about Verizon Prepaid in these videos):

Fast Unlimited 4G Internet Router for RV or Van or Rural Off-grid: How to Setup the Mofi 4G Router

https://youtu.be/pKyf9BQsduU

RV Internet - Get The Fastest Mobile Internet & Wifi On The Road - "How We Do It!"

https://youtu.be/7m_I9i0eTnM

My suggestion was to dump the home phone. You are spending $80 between the two. I would get internet and then purchase something like this

Ooma Telo Free Home Phone Service https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4XMEYA/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_IlUBxbQAHWR00

or this

OBi200 VoIP Phone Adapter, T.38 Fax https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUV7C9A/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_9mUBxbYWV6XAQ

You would have an upfront cost of $50 - $100, but you would save about $10-$20 a month.

really? nice guy! anything used on amazon for cheap maybe?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EP2BN00/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Surprised to hear about your experience with Asus. I have this router here and I've been very impressed with the performance. I have iPhones and sometimes MacBooks around and never had any issues.

ASUS RT-N66R Dual-Band Wireless-N900 Gigabit Router IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, IEEE 802.3/3u/3ab https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EYKSJ1E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Wx3GzbADM6KBH

Ahh, makes sense.

The 6620L is solid, but probably more than you really need. Personally, I'd probably get a used MHS291L because you can also get antennas for them if you need a bit of a range boost.

Ok, thank you. Would it be possible to just buy this: https://www.amazon.com/Verizon-Wireless-LTE-Nano-Card/dp/B00A7YRIJK ?

As there is none in my immediate location.

I've unplugged it for now— waiting to see if I should just plug it back in or wait to get an appropriate strip. I wasn't able to find an FCC ID but this is the information I found on the back of these:

Verizon: Max Load: AC125V 15A 60Hz Model:C2401 E257463 P/N ASBPB642BK

Belkin: "Surge Protective Type 3" Max Load: 15A 125-60Hz 1875w VPR: L-N 500V. L-G 500V

Also took what you said and am researching for some other strips, not sure if this one is overkill? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HPV3RW/ref=twister_B0774PW9R4?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

Wish Verizon would tell me if the one they gave me is just their property or if there's some reasoning behind it but those wait times.

I have one of these similiar situation as you. I ordered one of these ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006ZIEUC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) and am using it with a simple magnetic car antenna on my roof. Boosted my speeds significantly.

I bought this. It is only good for 4G/Data Only. But took me from no bars to full bars. I have it placed on my desk.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009UNGTCQ/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

DM doesn't just stand for District Manager, it also stands for Dick-Move. Upper management types and such tend to skew heavier toward narcissism than the general populace fwiw. (see The Psychopath Test)

Here's a link to one if you wanted to read into it more. Description states it "mirrors" your device display to the TV so seems I was right on that but as far as it counting as tethering I really can't say.

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Lightning-Digital-Adapter-MD826AM/dp/B009WHV3BM

I was doing some research yesterday (since I saw someone comment about it the other day) and sad part about the karma go unlim. account is that only a max of 3 connected devices can be used. But, I saw on a YouTube video, someone commented that if you buy the netgear trek 300n travel routerit will allow you to connect more devices to your account. http://imgur.com/Hts9llM

No they aren't. Show me one place that's the price.

http://www.amazon.com/display-Screen-Digitizer-Assembly-Samsung/dp/B00JOZWEDS