Forum Discussion
archaic 3g hotspot speed -- age 55+ plan
So I misplaced my t-mobile phone while traveling and had to buy a burner to get back home, find my phone, etc.
T-mo's price was so high that I walked over to a major competitor in the same mall. The sales manager tried to upsell me until I got out the door.
The recovery burner was about 40% less at the major competitor, and their age 55+ plan is about $5 more per month (month-to-month prepaid for now).
What really shocked me was the hotspot speed -- almost 600% faster (4g lte vs t-mo capped at 3g data) -- all for a few dollars more per month.
plus my t-mo needs a network extender in my home to work, but the competitor's network doesn't need it.
I was pleased with t-mo before this issue popped up, but with high priced recovery options, poor salesmanship, low speeds, and poor radio penetration it looks like I might have to switch.
Hotdog76 wrote:
I just read all of these Q & As about the 55+ Hotspot speed, which I have, and if I understand correctly, it runs at 3 GHz, right? I have a device that needs 2.4 GHz. I’m SOL, aren’t I?
No 3G means 3rd generation not 3GHz
I just read all of these Q & As about the 55+ Hotspot speed, which I have, and if I understand correctly, it runs at 3 GHz, right? I have a device that needs 2.4 GHz. I’m SOL, aren’t I?
Google fi is just another service provider. It has caps and throttling like most of the others.
There were no magenta plans when I was grandfathered into t-mobile's lowest data bucket, which has not been upgraded in years.
I don't have time to build out a spreadsheet of the various takings and givings right now, but the mvno's appear to be on the rising edge again.
The essential plans came out late in 2018 and the Grandfathered 55+ plans came out before 2017.
Good luck on finding another provider , Try google fi. You basically pay for what you use.
My recollection is t-mo renamed the original age 55+ plan to "essentials" when they created the magenta upgrades and grandfathered people like me into it.
But I could be wrong about that. In any case, it's obviously past time to review the provider landscape.
I can't spend time on it right now but 4g lte or even 5g mobile hotspot looks like a possibility for less than I am paying currently, and no more cell tower booster in my window.
The essential plan is rather new and is geared for people who don’t use those services that much.
I’m still on the original 55+ One plan for $60 a month for 2 lines but wasn’t interested is the Magenta version and the added cost to upgrade.
I signed up before they added the pay up for extras magenta plans, a couple of years ago.
It's past time to reassess all options rather than blindly boost up a tier.
The Essential plan you’re paying tax on also while the other two 55+ plans the tax is included and you get more.
I am on t-mo's age 55+ essentials unlimited plan and they charge me monthly.
the competitor's burner is prepaid, month-to-month, and running 4g lte hotspot data rate but capped to 5 gb.
It is true that 55+ magenta and magenta max change the hotspot throttling and caps ... at additional cost.
