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One Fleeting Bar

This afternoon, my Mifi beeped, indicating that it had locked onto a cell signal! It was much too weak to get online, but this told me that it would definitely be worth investing into a booster/amplifier! I have a lot of research to do and the budget limits me to what I can find on Amazon that is shippable to Canada. So getting a booster definitely won’t happen quickly, but it’s good to know the option is there.

As for Bell’s new and improved cell service and speeds? I am in field in the middle of nowhere, or just about, and I am currently experiencing the fast download speeds I have EVER experienced, and that includes with a hard wired connection. It’s not holding steady, but I just saw more than 1MBS! In San Antonio, I wasn’t able to download a 100MB file through my tethered phone, but I just downloaded a 400MB file through my Bell Mifi 2 in just a couple of minutes! HOLY MOLY!

13 thoughts on “One Fleeting Bar”

  1. Beware the monthly cap. Fast is great until you use up your monthly allowance in a week. Also be aware that some sites adjust the content size based on speed. For example, NetFlix has 3 different download sizes for streaming content. Which one you get depends on how fast your connection is.

    Dave Sand

  2. Agree with what Dave said. I have read of many people going over their data limit when they get a 4G phone because the sites send more data intense pages if they see you are on 4G.

  3. Looks like Internet right on site might be possible in the forseeable future. Good luck. i know that would make work much easier.

  4. What do the rest of the population in Willow Bunch do for Internet?

    I have had great success with my antenna. This past winter in Florida, I got out my antenna in one campground moved it around (it is directional) got a public signal and we even talked on Skype. Our son set us up with the antenna, it works with Windows Seven, I plug it into a USB port on my laptop.

    A person could probably get one for a Mac.

    North of the 401 here where I live lots of people have high poles on their roof with wifi antennas on the top. We are only a mile from a Bell office so we get excellent reception.

  5. Dave, I’ve been living with huge bandwidth limitations for years, so I’m not going to change my habits and start streaming Netflix and stuff. I just like being able to do things faster!

    Norma, it’s kind of confusing out here in that Willow Bunch is a town, but also a rural municipality that encompasses several villages, including mine. I’ll have to tame a neighbour and see if folks out here do without cell service at home or what. I’m seeing a lot of satellite dishes, so I’m guessing that’s how people get TV and I know there is hard wired internet available.

    I’m definitely going to start with an antenna and go from there.

  6. All that I was saying is that even if you don’t change any habits, you may end up using more data because the sites that you normally visit may send more content (or larger content) based on your speed. NetFlix was just an example.

    Dave Sand

  7. Ah, I see. Thank you. Sneaky! 🙁

    I check my data usage several times a day and so far, nothing amiss. *all appendages crossed*

    Thanks for the heads up!

  8. Like I said above, many RVers get huge bills when they first get 4G because the data sent is larger. as long as you can check the accurate usage you will be OK. I have read where some can’t check up to date usage so be aware if there is a lag in reporting.

    • Caroline, with Verizon, my data usage gets updated about twice a day. With Telus, I was lucky if it was once a week. Bell seems comparable to Verizon….

    • Les, good to hear from you!!!

      That’s exactly what Andy recommended, with an additional external antenna! Buying on Amazon was too complicated and you saved me a lot of work; I just ordered from Future Shop.

  10. Hey Rae,

    So far, I am extremely pleased with the Wilson Booster. I have one of the longer antennae but the short one that came with it is working just fine. I will try out the longer one on an upcoming trip to the BC interior where we had fringe reception just with the cell phone. Got the longer one straight from China with a 50′ extension antenna cable for under $15, and delivery was about 15 days …

    Yeah, Amazon can be challenging for people in Canada.Sometimes no problem, other times, forget it. I can get stuff from some of their vendors all most overnight and others (or Amazon) next to impossible.

    The Wilson antenna needs a piece of steel to mount the magnet to, and to work properly. Andy’s suggestion about a pizza pan glued to the roof is a good one. Right now mine is just stuck on the steel bumper with the cord hung out the window.

    Been following you on your journeys all along 🙂

  11. Les, I hope the product is as good as the testimonials! 🙂

    I don’t have any problems with Amazon. If I can’t get something shipped to Canada, I have it sent to my friend in VA who then forwards it on to me. Best way to do it! But buying straight from Future Shop was likely going to cost the same, factoring in the shipping plus customs.

    I’ll be picking up a new pizza pan next time I go into town, just to glue to my roof. Meanwhile, I will continue to cook pizza on my icky old one. 🙂

    I haven’t heard from you in so long, it’s good know you’ve just been quiet. 🙂

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