Virgin Mobile Pay as You Go?

weatherman446 · #1 01-30-2010, 08:47 PM

Hey guys, does anyone have any experience with this.

For $100 dollars you buy Virgin's usb and plug it into your laptop and then pay as you go for data. $20 dollars for 20mb I believe. Granted, they don't have the best coverage, they do cover my "spotting territory" quite well (SE WI).

Does anyone have feedback?

KD0AXS · #2 01-31-2010, 12:04 AM

Looks like a rip off if you ask me, unless you aren't going to use it very much.. http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband

100 MB for $10
250 MB for $20
600 MB for $40
1 GB for $60

As a comparison, if you get a monthly plan with Sprint or Verizon you get 5 GB a month for $60. Plus you get the mobile broadband card free rather than having to pay $100 for it.

When I need mobile internet for my laptop, I just tether from my phone (Palm Pre) and don't pay a dime for it.

tinatornado · #3 01-31-2010, 12:36 AM

I don't like the "Pay as you go" thing for anything. It may wind up costing you more in the long run. I'd rather pay a little more, or a lot if I get unlimited access and can move from one computer to another.
I have Verizon Broadband and I love it. It is portable and I can place it into any computer I want. I also have the Blackberry Storm with internet, but it's a pain only because it's hard to touch the screen once I get to the NWS website because the words to the links are tiny. When it's time to change phones, I'm going back to a basic one and then get the Netbook. It will be easier to carry than my laptop and easier to read and use than my phone. The Blackberry is nice because you can hook it up to a computer and use it to access the Internet, but who wants to carry the cable for it all the time? I do like getting my emails on my phone so I know when I get one and whether I need to reply to it. It takes great pics and video! I still haven't made my decision too concrete yet, since there is a Blackberry Storm 2. I'll try it out and then make my decision. I could use some advice about that, guys, please. Keep Blackberry Storm or go to Netbook? Thanks!

weatherman446 · #4 01-31-2010, 11:21 AM

True, most of the time Pay as You Go- you end up paying more in the long run. However I would only use mobile internet on my spotting days which occur only in a 3 month window (and only a few days a month). I'd rather not pay for a full year because of that.

aintnu2this · #5 01-31-2010, 12:33 PM

sounds interesting....I would only use it for chase days also... I might look into that

tinatornado · #6 01-31-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weatherman446

True, most of the time Pay as You Go- you end up paying more in the long run. However I would only use mobile internet on my spotting days which occur only in a 3 month window (and only a few days a month). I'd rather not pay for a full year because of that.

$100 is a lot to pay for a 3-month period on top of the usage. I'd rather use something that will make it worth the money. Then, my portable internet is for use at home as well so it makes it worth the money. You may consider getting a cell phone with internet on it and connect it to your laptop, which will make it worth the money and will give you access to the weather. I can do that as well, I just don't like keeping up with cables, but it's worth looking into that.
Considering the weather we have had in the past year and more, you may use whatever you get more often than 3 months.

SFox167 · #7 02-07-2010, 04:05 PM

I have Cricket mobile, and broadband. It's not bad, but not as good compared to comcast, or sprint. But for a free modem, and only 40.00 a month you get what you pay for, and it works with my laptop in my vehicle too. Oh...forgot to mention, it is unlimited data usage with Cricket, unlike Virgin Mobile where you have a limit.

SKYWARN IL-227 · #8 02-07-2010, 04:24 PM

I used to have Virgin. It worked fine and I didn't have any issues. The coverage was actually really good for what is paid for the service. In fact, i switched to Nextel afterwards and found out I had better coverage in some spots with Virgin. Then I switched to Verizon for cell and Sprint for broadband and have not had any issues at all.

tinatornado · #9 02-07-2010, 09:28 PM

I also use Verizon for my laptop (home use or take it with me) and with Blackberry Storm (required to have internet to buy it), so I have 2 different ways to get internet. I haven't had problems with either one.

KD0HND · #10 02-08-2010, 11:13 AM

I use Millenicom. It's 69 bucks a month unlimited with NO taxes and NO contract. Therefore, after storm season you can terminate without paying a fee. There are a few fees to start up with but it's worth it. It was using Sprint but I think they are switching to Verizon. It's the choice of a lot of chasers on Stormtrack. As far as Virgin goes, honestly I haven't heard too much about it. However, I would definitely agree with everyone else to stay far far away from anything pay as you go when chasing.