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Use mobile phone w/unlimited LTE for home internet?

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So I'm currently getting teamed by TWC for home internet and just changed to T-Mo for mobile service. I noticed I could add another T-Mo line w/unlimited internet for $40/mo. Is it a crazy idea to get that line, a cheap android phone and use it for dedicated home internet service? It would be cheaper and faster than TWC!

Anyone done this or heard of anyone doing it successfully?
 

chscag

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I have T-Mobile with two lines and occasionally use it to setup a hot spot when Verizon (my isp) goes down. It works well enough but even with 4G LTE speeds it doesn't match having a fast connection with an ISP such as Verizon, Comcast, etc.

I guess if T-Mobile is going to give you unlimited data for the extra $40 per month, it would be worth it. T-Mobile does not require a contract so if it doesn't work out the way you want, you can always cancel the service.
 

vansmith

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I have no idea how your carrier rolls but do they throttle data speed if you go over a particular limit? If so, you're much better off sticking with a regular networking plan which will afford you considerably more bandwidth.
 
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fleurya
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I can get speeds of 15 down and 5 up real speeds on my phone with T-Mo, which is on par with advertised speeds of TWC's basic service. IT's just my wife and I and we don't double stream or anything ,so I think it should be plenty.

T-Mo does have plans that throttle back from LTE to lower speeds after a certain amount of usage, but their unlimited plan is supposed to be unlimited LTE with no throttling.

There's chance they may take it down when I start getting 50GB+ a month, but since it's not contract I can just shut down that line and sell the phone. The only downside is I don't know how good the connection will be if the phone providing internet is upstairs and we've using the internet downstairs. I'll have to test it out using my own phone.
 

vansmith

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T-Mo does have plans that throttle back from LTE to lower speeds after a certain amount of usage, but their unlimited plan is supposed to be unlimited LTE with no throttling.
That may be the case but they might have an abuse of service policy. My carrier, for example, has as part of its acceptable use policy a clause on, "generating levels of traffic sufficient to impede others' ability to send or retrieve information, or to use the Services in an abusive manner in connection with any unlimited packages, options or promotions." I'm not sure how a "data plan as internet connection" falls with regards to something like that (I guess it would all depend on how much traffic you use).

The only downside is I don't know how good the connection will be if the phone providing internet is upstairs and we've using the internet downstairs. I'll have to test it out using my own phone.
Could you not just plug the phone in somewhere else in your house?
 

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