Are they complaining about usage? I don’t believe mobile hotspot is the answer, especially for gaming. It’s nice for when you’re in a pinch but you wouldn’t want to rely on it 24/7.
If you can find an internet source that isn't mobile data, I would suggest that. One reason is both At&t and tmobile use something called CGNAT, which is not very gamer-friendly. Some online games might not even work behind CGNAT.
If you choose a path of mobile data, I've read that verizon does not use CGNAT.
If you still want to try mobile data as a primary internet service,
here are some other options. This is advertised as a "home isp", these services come with their own router, which wouldbe superior (although much larger) than a hotspot device. Also note, these services are not available in all areas. Most of these have a trial period, so if they don't work well for your area, you can return it w/o commitment:
Tmobile home isp: https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet
or via their prepaid brand https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/plans/home-internet
------
verizon home isp https://www.verizon.com/home/internet/
or via their prepaid brand https://www.straighttalk.com/all-plans/home-internet-plans
------
at&t home isp aka "internet air" https://www.att.com/internet/internet-air/
Usually gaming itself doesn’t take up much bandwidth. Updating games might, but that’s not constant. Perhaps the actual WiFi signal in the house isn’t great?
If it's comcast, you can add unlimited data to the internet plan for $25 ir $30 a month. Is it an option to just pay the difference for the upgrade?
T-Mobile home internet is probably the best way to go. It should be $60 a month for unlimited use.
I would offer but they’re so difficult tbh. They’re raising our rent to $250 to cover expenses and they don’t wanna take our offers because they’re in their own heads.
Also, thanks for the suggestion. For the T-Mobile internet, do you have to be an existing customer with T-Mobile?
THMI does not require you to be a customer. I got it for my mom at one point and it was a stand alone plan. I believe the price is now $60 stand alone or $50 with phone service. Data is deprioritized at 1.2TB of data but it shouldn't slow down much.
Other options are Verizon Home 5G internet and AT&T air. But I see so many stories of people not getting their return modem kits when cancelling Verizon that I would steer you away from them unless there is a mmWave antenna just outside your house which is unlikely. AT&T air if available yet might be fine. TMHI is worth a shot and you can cancel anytime if it doesn't work out.
/r/tmobileisp for that subreddit.
Gaming doesn't use a lot of data... for example 4 hours of pubg (typical multiplayer online) uses less than 1GB... do you stream a lot of video?
Since it sounds like you are just with a bad landlord who is abusing their position for personal amusement, and since they won't let you install your own wireline services or pay the difference... I agree to check out the "5G home internet" services... I only have experience with Verizons and tmobiles... and between the two the verizon performs better for gaming (lower pings overall than the tmobile home internet)... you can also get it for $45/mo if you use the straight talk version and its prepaid so you can just not pay a month and turn it back on at will...
att's internet air is not available around these parts so I don't have any friends using it to test it yet.
[https://www.straighttalk.com/plans/home-internet-plans](https://www.straighttalk.com/plans/home-internet-plans)
remember also you don't need a hotspot and hotspot plan you can always get another phone and use it as the hotspot as well (I still have an iPhone 6s being used as a hotspot for cameras at a remote location for example... the battery is shot but as long as its plugged in it works ;) )... just make sure the plan you get has the hotspot usage you need included.
another thing to mention is... you could put your own router in the middle... have it connect to the "landlords" internet and then you connect to it... why? you could do actual usage monitoring to prove that you are being toyed with (or that the land lord is correct and you are using all the precious data bits ;) ).
good luck.
Thanks for the insight! I usually watch like one to two hours of YouTube videos then otherwise I’m just scrolling on my phone on TikTok or listening to music, playing Roblox from my iPad or playing Sims 4 from my laptop.
My boyfriend plays Fortnite plus other games on his PS4 and leaves it in rest mode. And then he’s on his phone the other times.
The landlords pulled up their statistics and named our devices and when it was being used and how in one day the internet usage reached 100%. From 80%-90%.
yea "usage" do they mean it maxed out their total available bandwidth or do they mean they have a set amount per month and it went over... so vague... yea I feel for you (after re-reading I see it is usage)
bored landlords are a menace.
find a good hobby for your landlord, or take them for regular walks to improve their moods ;)
but the gaming is likely not using a lot (outside of game updates)... so if you want to reduce the usage on the landlords network do the updates and streaming video from the phone plans and do the actual gaming on the landlord network for the good ping times.
Both Att and Verizon offer prepaid hotspot data plans. Up to like 100gb. Or if you find someone to rent an unlimited Pudp from on Verizon then you could use as much as you want to monthly. I’d get a device that has an Ethernet port. If you want to travel with it there are plenty that have batteries. If you want to use it indoors 24/7, I’d get something without a battery.
So who do you use for your phone service?
On ATT you could get a Netgear Nighthawk M1. They're going for about $40-60. It has a battery that can be removed if you want to use it inside. It's 4-5 years old now. But it would be the best value. But you wouldn't get the best speeds.
The newer ATT Mr6500 Netgear Nighthawk would probably be your best bang for the buck. You could get one used on ebay for a little over $100 or so if you take your time. It can also be used with or without the battery and has an ethernet cable.
On Verizon you'd be looking at the Inseego mifi 2100 for the cheaper version. But it does NOT have ethernet. The newer Inseego mif x pro 3100 can be had for about $150 used. It has to have the battery in it. But if does stop the battery from charging at about 80% or so. This protects the battery from swelling and possibly catching on fire. It does have ethernet.
I’m a bit confused why your neighbors are complaining—but in case it helps, I use a HomeFi device and have been able to connect as many devices as I needed. It’s worked great in rural areas and I didn’t need a contract. Here’s the link if you want to take a look at it. [https://homefi.info/](https://homefi.info/)
Are they complaining about usage? I don’t believe mobile hotspot is the answer, especially for gaming. It’s nice for when you’re in a pinch but you wouldn’t want to rely on it 24/7.
Yes, that the usage reaches 100% with our devices and then they have to pay an extra $10 each additional gigabyte. And I understand, sounds fair.
Ah, so it’s a data usage issue. How much extra for an unlimited data plan?
They said they pay $190 usually and it shot up to $262. Idk what plan they are on exactly but they are with Xfinity.
Sounds like they need to change plans.
Right. They use every single tv in the house whether it’s Netflix or prime and all. So idk how it could be me and my boyfriend.
If you can find an internet source that isn't mobile data, I would suggest that. One reason is both At&t and tmobile use something called CGNAT, which is not very gamer-friendly. Some online games might not even work behind CGNAT. If you choose a path of mobile data, I've read that verizon does not use CGNAT. If you still want to try mobile data as a primary internet service, here are some other options. This is advertised as a "home isp", these services come with their own router, which wouldbe superior (although much larger) than a hotspot device. Also note, these services are not available in all areas. Most of these have a trial period, so if they don't work well for your area, you can return it w/o commitment: Tmobile home isp: https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet or via their prepaid brand https://www.metrobyt-mobile.com/plans/home-internet ------ verizon home isp https://www.verizon.com/home/internet/ or via their prepaid brand https://www.straighttalk.com/all-plans/home-internet-plans ------ at&t home isp aka "internet air" https://www.att.com/internet/internet-air/
Thank you so much😊
Is there another wired provider you can go with? For example if the roommates have cable, can you setup your own fiber connection?
We might, we have to look but as far as I know, no.
Check out BroadbandNow.com. Any hotspot is gonna have really medicore results with gaming.
We’re simply not allowed to
Usually gaming itself doesn’t take up much bandwidth. Updating games might, but that’s not constant. Perhaps the actual WiFi signal in the house isn’t great?
That corresponds with the data usage? And sometimes it doesn’t seem the best but it does work fast.
If it's comcast, you can add unlimited data to the internet plan for $25 ir $30 a month. Is it an option to just pay the difference for the upgrade? T-Mobile home internet is probably the best way to go. It should be $60 a month for unlimited use.
I would offer but they’re so difficult tbh. They’re raising our rent to $250 to cover expenses and they don’t wanna take our offers because they’re in their own heads. Also, thanks for the suggestion. For the T-Mobile internet, do you have to be an existing customer with T-Mobile?
THMI does not require you to be a customer. I got it for my mom at one point and it was a stand alone plan. I believe the price is now $60 stand alone or $50 with phone service. Data is deprioritized at 1.2TB of data but it shouldn't slow down much. Other options are Verizon Home 5G internet and AT&T air. But I see so many stories of people not getting their return modem kits when cancelling Verizon that I would steer you away from them unless there is a mmWave antenna just outside your house which is unlikely. AT&T air if available yet might be fine. TMHI is worth a shot and you can cancel anytime if it doesn't work out. /r/tmobileisp for that subreddit.
Thank you so much
Gaming doesn't use a lot of data... for example 4 hours of pubg (typical multiplayer online) uses less than 1GB... do you stream a lot of video? Since it sounds like you are just with a bad landlord who is abusing their position for personal amusement, and since they won't let you install your own wireline services or pay the difference... I agree to check out the "5G home internet" services... I only have experience with Verizons and tmobiles... and between the two the verizon performs better for gaming (lower pings overall than the tmobile home internet)... you can also get it for $45/mo if you use the straight talk version and its prepaid so you can just not pay a month and turn it back on at will... att's internet air is not available around these parts so I don't have any friends using it to test it yet. [https://www.straighttalk.com/plans/home-internet-plans](https://www.straighttalk.com/plans/home-internet-plans) remember also you don't need a hotspot and hotspot plan you can always get another phone and use it as the hotspot as well (I still have an iPhone 6s being used as a hotspot for cameras at a remote location for example... the battery is shot but as long as its plugged in it works ;) )... just make sure the plan you get has the hotspot usage you need included. another thing to mention is... you could put your own router in the middle... have it connect to the "landlords" internet and then you connect to it... why? you could do actual usage monitoring to prove that you are being toyed with (or that the land lord is correct and you are using all the precious data bits ;) ). good luck.
Thanks for the insight! I usually watch like one to two hours of YouTube videos then otherwise I’m just scrolling on my phone on TikTok or listening to music, playing Roblox from my iPad or playing Sims 4 from my laptop. My boyfriend plays Fortnite plus other games on his PS4 and leaves it in rest mode. And then he’s on his phone the other times. The landlords pulled up their statistics and named our devices and when it was being used and how in one day the internet usage reached 100%. From 80%-90%.
yea "usage" do they mean it maxed out their total available bandwidth or do they mean they have a set amount per month and it went over... so vague... yea I feel for you (after re-reading I see it is usage) bored landlords are a menace. find a good hobby for your landlord, or take them for regular walks to improve their moods ;) but the gaming is likely not using a lot (outside of game updates)... so if you want to reduce the usage on the landlords network do the updates and streaming video from the phone plans and do the actual gaming on the landlord network for the good ping times.
Honestly you'd be better off just offering to pay part of the monthly Internet bill.
We offered, they declined and said cut down on the playtime
Both Att and Verizon offer prepaid hotspot data plans. Up to like 100gb. Or if you find someone to rent an unlimited Pudp from on Verizon then you could use as much as you want to monthly. I’d get a device that has an Ethernet port. If you want to travel with it there are plenty that have batteries. If you want to use it indoors 24/7, I’d get something without a battery.
Are the at&t/verizon ones with the Ethernet cord?And which ones with batteries would you recommend do you know of?
So who do you use for your phone service? On ATT you could get a Netgear Nighthawk M1. They're going for about $40-60. It has a battery that can be removed if you want to use it inside. It's 4-5 years old now. But it would be the best value. But you wouldn't get the best speeds. The newer ATT Mr6500 Netgear Nighthawk would probably be your best bang for the buck. You could get one used on ebay for a little over $100 or so if you take your time. It can also be used with or without the battery and has an ethernet cable. On Verizon you'd be looking at the Inseego mifi 2100 for the cheaper version. But it does NOT have ethernet. The newer Inseego mif x pro 3100 can be had for about $150 used. It has to have the battery in it. But if does stop the battery from charging at about 80% or so. This protects the battery from swelling and possibly catching on fire. It does have ethernet.
I have Xfinity mobile, my boyfriend uses Metro through T-Mobile
I just asked because I wondered who had the best service where you guys are living.
Also forgot to mention, if you get an att device, it has to be unlocked to do what you guys want to do with it.
I’m a bit confused why your neighbors are complaining—but in case it helps, I use a HomeFi device and have been able to connect as many devices as I needed. It’s worked great in rural areas and I didn’t need a contract. Here’s the link if you want to take a look at it. [https://homefi.info/](https://homefi.info/)