Changed phone and carriers.

We are getting ready to change our internet, tv, and phone service, because poor service at high cost. Yeah, there is always a catch.I am exploring options, and welcome any suggestions.For the phone I bought a "Simple" chip to replace the Verizon chip in one of my phones. It costs $30/mo for the same services I use on Verizon on my other phone but pay more for. It uses Sprint network, but I have not run into any coverage issues. Yet. It purports to have service already and waiting to use in Canada, while we had to pay extra to extend our Verizon phone coverage when we went. I think I can call Canada without extra charge but have not tried it.For TV we usually watch the PBS stations. I also have an antennae that can get me local stations. The PBS stations have started having "Passport" membership for your donation package, so you can access their programs on the internet.That leaves internet access.One option is to use the phone andAnother is Hughes Satellite.I am also in a working group that is looking into setting up a community internet service for the town, which would provide free wi-fi downtown. A non-profit cooperative. Now if we had a Milo Mindbender ...Thoughts?Edited by RAZD, : .

Well you basically get three options, verizon, sprint and att&t --- it seems all the "lesser" brands use one or the other.None in US as good as Europe.Enjoy

It is nice to be able to walk into a store and deal with issues and upgrades. Doing it over the phone is generally a waste of time until you get to the person you need to talk to.But that's just phones and technology, repairs to towers and repeaters is not their responsibility.So can the owners of the towers etc slow down other service providers using their towers?Enjoy

Yes indeed.So I now have a phone on SimpleMobile.com for $30/month. There are a number of levels to choose from This compares in service to what I am paying over $40/month from Verizon.If the $50/month "Truly Unlimited" plan can stream my tv shows to the TV then I can lose the Direct TV satellite service, so I will attempt this.Enjoy

All 5 simple plans are "unlimited" -- they just have different thresholds for when the unlimited data is throttled down to 2G from 4G LTE. Only the top two have no threshold.That is how most "unlimited" plans work - once you get behind the hype.What T-Mobile says

quote:

---

Unlimited 55+
2 lines $60/mo.
For a generation of rule breakers.

​

55yr old+ get 2 lines with unlimited talk, text and LTE data on America’s best unlimited network for $60/mo. with AutoPay.
Call 1-800-T-MOBILE

​

On all T-Mobile plans, during congestion, the small fraction of customers using >50GB/mo. may notice reduced speeds until next bill cycle due to data prioritization. See full terms

---

That 50GB is one of the higher thresholds, and they don't say how much it is throttled. Their other plans mention Netflix and streaming video (DVD quality or higher) to other devices, including TV.Also doesn't say anything about out of country calls -- the simple plan lets me call Canada and Mexico. Good for vacation calling.Enjoy

No contract, so I can quit anytime. I am also past contract with Verizon and can quit anytime.My first phone in town was through Virgin Mobile and I had a second number for a portable hotspot that served up to 4 lines. I used that for internet. It was 3G. Big advantage was I could take it to job sites and use internet there.Yes, the $60/mo plan also includes 8 GB hotspot data.That get's me to the laptop. How much is a half hour of video streaming in GB of data? Don't know how long that would last.My old phone can mirror to a tv screen, the new one cannot. Have not checked wife's i-phone. The TV does wi-fi and bluetooth.Following Jar's watch comments I wonder that the same could be done with TV.But I think I'll have better success with a community wi-fi for the town for internet.Enjoy