4G Coverage and Mobile Hotspots

[McGurk]

Looking to upgrade my phone (and my wife's). We currently have Sprint and are happy enough with them, but are wondering if we should get 4G phones and if it's worth doing the mobile hotspot thing. We are paying $60 a month for highspeed internet at home, but are considering dropping it and using our phones for data. The upcharge is $10 a month for 4G usage, and $30 a month for mobile hotspot. It is cheaper, the 4G coverage will only get better (presumably), plus we'd still have 3G everywhere else, along with the available free wifi which seems to only get more and more plentiful in the metro.

Sound like a feasable plan? Will I miss wifi at home (which I currently have)? What are the current phones that you like (Sprint offers HTC EVO 4g, HTC EVO shift 4G, and Samsung Epic 4G)? Thanks in advance!

[headcheese]

depends on how much you use the internet. if you use it quite a bit i would stick with the cable at home.

the speed going through your phone will probably be slower, and would depend on your signal. Like say you were using it in the basement, might not have the strongest signal, that would slow it down. wireless hot spot uses alot of battery, and makes the phone hot, not a big deal.

if you travel alot the wireless hotspot would be nice. Also be sure you have an unlimited data plan.

[pureinsanity]

You'd be happier with high speed internet, even after 4g is readily available.

[delcecchi]

Verizon sells a stand alone wireless to wifi hotspot thing. A buddy that lives in the boonies is considering it. No cable or dsl where he lives. Gotta be better than his current dial up.

[PierBridge]

All of the newer Sprint smartphones are fantastic! I'd assume the HTC EVO is near the top of that list!

[upnorth]

You have to have good signal strength or they don't work very well.

[McGurk]

Well, I'm in Bloomington and have pretty good coverage for about 95% of my travels during the year. When I'm not at home I would understand that it would be spotty, but right now I'm isolated to home anyway so any coverage is better than what I currently have. I get the whole "in the basement" deal, but my current usage is mostly main floor as it is. I'm still up in the air as far as the mobile hotspot goes, but I think I'll get a 4G phone regardless.

[MN Mike]

I have a few customers and friends that run hotspots in one form or another and none of them complain about anything on thier devices, I think the convenience factor outweighs any ' glitches ' they have using them. We took a trip to Montana snowmobiling last week and used a Verizon MiFi all the way out and back, it was slick, you would run into some dead spots but you only had to wait a few minutes and you were good to go again.

Mike

[delcecchi]

I guess if it doesn't work he can take it back. And he can see the tower, he says. and it will be an improvement over dial up anyway.

[upnorth]

Actually fairly fast if good signal can be had.