Inexpensive unlocked android smartphone

[GA Russell]

Ripplinger, will that dongle give me free wi-fi even though I do not have a router, and do not have wi-fi service?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by conan50

Why not use a Tracfone like the LG Optimus Fuel which adds 3x the minutes.

Since I don't know how TracFone plans work, I'm curious how many minutes, texts and MBs that $7 a month would get you?

Since this TracFone phone uses the Verizon network (as does BYO Wireless) I'm trying to figure out if TracFone is a better deal than the $5 a month plan at BYO. I use the $20 Net10 LG Fuel on the BYO Wireless with its $5 a month plan. For $5 more, I topped that up an extra 250 MBs of data -- 200 MBs of which is still available after about 2 months. For WiFi calling, I use GrooVe IP (with a RingTo number). It supposedly works on 3G, but I'm guessing the quality would be horrible. WiFi VoIP calling is not bad at all.

But the original poster doesn't have WiFi and the Magic Jack deal needs 4G, so I'm not sure how any of this would help him/her.

[conan50]

Originally Posted by rcentros

Since I don't know how TracFone plans work, I'm curious how many minutes, texts and MBs that $7 a month would get you?

Since this TracFone phone uses the Verizon network (as does BYO Wireless) I'm trying to figure out if TracFone is a better deal than the $5 a month plan at BYO. I use the $20 Net10 LG Fuel on the BYO Wireless with its $5 a month plan. For $5 more, I topped that up an extra 250 MBs of data -- 200 MBs of which is still available after about 2 months. For WiFi calling, I use GrooVe IP (with a RingTo number). It supposedly works on 3G, but I'm guessing the quality would be horrible. WiFi VoIP calling is not bad at all.

But the original poster doesn't have WiFi and the Magic Jack deal needs 4G, so I'm not sure how any of this would help him/her.

Wouldn't need wifi for just Tracfone coverage.
I hadn't used one in years, but I just set up a Tracfone for my wife. Kind of surprised they were still around. The LG Fuel phone I bought her increases the Tracfone minutes times 3. So a 60 minute card is actually 180 minutes. You need to buy at least a 60 minute card every 3 months to keep your phone number active, of course you can buy more minutes for 6 months or even a year at a time coverage. So $20 for a 60 minute (180 minute if you buy the right phone) comes out to about $7 a month cost. I do understand they buy minutes wholesale from Verizon, so the coverage area should be good. I haven't tried it on that phone, but I don't see why one could not use Google Voice calling when within wifi range to save those minutes for use when outside wifi range (for anyone who has wifi).
180 minutes = 180 texts with Tracfone. Data use would be expensive, 180 minutes = 180 mb data I think.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Ripplinger, will that dongle give me free wi-fi even though I do not have a router, and do not have wi-fi service?

I'm pretty sure the WiFi dongle would only allow you to receive WiFi at your computer, not transmit it. (I'm using one at my computer.)

Just curious, how do you currently get Internet? There has to be a modem with a router of some kind. (Often the router is built into the modem.) Most -- if not all -- modern DSL or cable modems are combination devices. They usually have the modem, plus the router, (and often) plus a switch (multiple ethernet connections) built in. And a lot (if not most) of these devices also include WiFi capability -- though it not always used or turned on.

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'm pretty sure the WiFi dongle would only allow you to receive WiFi at your computer, not transmit it. (I'm using one at my computer.)

Just curious, how do you currently get Internet? There has to be a modem with a router of some kind. (Often the router is built into the modem.) Most -- if not all -- modern DSL or cable modems are combination devices. They usually have the modem, plus the router, (and often) plus a switch (multiple ethernet connections) built in. And a lot (if not most) of these devices also include WiFi capability -- though it not always used or turned on.

Yeah, rcentros is correct. But again I'm assuming you have to have a modem if you're getting internet service, and most of those now have built-in wifi, which is why I said you might double-check if that's not the case for your modem. What ISP do you have?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by conan50

Wouldn't need wifi for just Tracfone coverage.
I hadn't used one in years, but I just set up a Tracfone for my wife. Kind of surprised they were still around. The LG Fuel phone I bought her increases the Tracfone minutes times 3. So a 60 minute card is actually 180 minutes. You need to buy at least a 60 minute card every 3 months to keep your phone number active, of course you can buy more minutes for 6 months or even a year at a time coverage. So $20 for a 60 minute (180 minute if you buy the right phone) comes out to about $7 a month cost.

Okay. You could come out a little better with BYO -- for $5 a month, (or $15 for the three months, or $20 with a 250 top-up), you would get 300 minutes, 300 texts and either 30 or 60 MBs of data -- depending on whether you used Auto-Renew or not. I would not use Auto-Renew but, instead, make sure I topped-up before the plan expired each month. Than you could add 250 MB data top-up (for a total of 280 MBs), and it would be available until you stopped topping up.

(I'm looking at this and realized what difference does it make? The TracFone deal gives you 540 "units" (minutes, texts and MBs) and that comes out to 3.7 cents each. The BYO deal comes out to 2.2 cents each unit (880 units) -- but it's a lot more hassle. Besides, in either case, there's a good chance your wife doesn't use all the units anyhow. Oh, and I should mention, BYO charges tax -- about 10% where I live. I'm not sure if TracFone does or not.)

[conan50]

rcentros, no tax that I'm aware of. I mostly like that Tracfone/Verizon has good coverage in our area, and is a fairly simple solution for calling.

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I'm pretty sure the WiFi dongle would only allow you to receive WiFi at your computer, not transmit it. (I'm using one at my computer.)

Just curious, how do you currently get Internet? There has to be a modem with a router of some kind. (Often the router is built into the modem.) Most -- if not all -- modern DSL or cable modems are combination devices. They usually have the modem, plus the router, (and often) plus a switch (multiple ethernet connections) built in. And a lot (if not most) of these devices also include WiFi capability -- though it not always used or turned on.

Take a look at http://lifehacker.com/5369381/turn-y...reless-hotspot

[GA Russell]

PeterT, that looks very interesting, but I'm too sleepy now to study it. I'll look at it again tomorrow. Thanks!

My ISP is Time Warner Cable.

My cable modem is the Motorola SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00768SBAU/

If this modem has a router, it's news to me! I can tell you that I am not paying for wi-fi service.

It would seem to me that I would be using the magicJack app primarily with 4G, which I believe is widespread in this area. But maybe I would have to become somebody's customer to use the 4G.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

If this modem has a router, it's news to me! I can tell you that I am not paying for wi-fi service.

It would seem to me that I would be using the magicJack app primarily with 4G, which I believe is widespread in this area. But maybe I would have to become somebody's customer to use the 4G.

You're right. Your Surfboard modem doesn't have a router or switch (or WiFi) built in. Without a router you have just one port. I'm guessing your Magic Jack is the kind that plugs into a USB port on your computer.

Entry level WiFi router/switches are cheap. You can pick them up new for about $20 on Amazon. (One listed below is $12 (refurbished), including shipping on Prime.)

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-E800-W...ds=wifi+router

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-RangeM...netgear+router

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WR8...ds=wifi+router

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Router...ds=wifi+router

You just plug your modem into the WAN port on the router, than you have four Ethernet ports and WiFi connectivity. Plug your computer into one of the LAN ports.

To use Magic Jack's App with 4G you would have to have an account with some mobile phone service. But you could use WiFi anywhere WiFi is available. I would still consider using GrooVe IP with a RingTo number instead of -- what appears to be -- a convoluted system with Magic Jack's app.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Take a look at http://lifehacker.com/5369381/turn-y...reless-hotspot

That's an interesting way to do it (if you have an unused WiFi card in your computer available). I hadn't seen this before (at least not that I remember). I think for home -- considering the price of WiFi routers these days, that it would more practical to just buy a cheap router (you wouldn't have to keep your computer turned on, for one thing).

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

I have been a magicJack VOIP customer for a number of years. It isn't perfect, but at $20 or $25 per year, it has been a real money saver.

MagicJack now has something new to offer its customers - an app (your choice of Apple App Store or Google Play) which will allow you to make phone calls via 4G or Wi-Fi without using data plan minutes. And this app is free.

Is there an inexpensive unlocked android smartphone which would allow me to take advantage of this offer?

Here is the link which explains the offer:
http://www.magicjack.com/magicApp.html

Noticed this thread title.... T-Mobile (whom I moved to in February) offers wifi calling as a standard part of its plan. The thing is though it still counts against your minutes and data which makes it kind of worthless.

I understand Google is about to release a phone/start their own virtual network which will make use of wifi, tmobile and other carriers and will 'roam' between them. Rumors are that it will be available in the fall.

As far a cheap unlocked android phones I just (as part of moving from Verizon to T-Mobile) got a BLU Studio 5.0C phone for $110 and other than a few annoyances I love it. It has dual sims and lets you manage which network/carrier is used for which function (data, phone, text, etc).

I also transferred my 'home' phone to a T-Mobile cellphone and connect to my home wireless system using this Xlink Bluetooth interface.

Overall I'm saving $45/month from my Verizon contract and am now with the UnCarrier. No Contract (of course that means they can change the price whenever they like )

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by rcentros

That's an interesting way to do it (if you have an unused WiFi card in your computer available). I hadn't seen this before (at least not that I remember). I think for home -- considering the price of WiFi routers these days, that it would more practical to just buy a cheap router (you wouldn't have to keep your computer turned on, for one thing).

Example:
You are traveling. Your hotel only allows you to connect one device to their complimentary WiFi.


Note that your one and only WiFi card (basic feature of all laptops always ever) is freed when you connect via wired ethernet.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Example:
You are traveling. Your hotel only allows you to connect one device to their complimentary WiFi.

Note that your one and only WiFi card (basic feature of all laptops always ever) is freed when you connect via wired ethernet.

I haven't run into motels that only allowed one hookup via WiFi, but I'm not sure how this would work in this situation. If you hooked up to the motel via your WiFi card, your WiFi card would no longer be available?

When I traveled for work -- a few years ago now -- I use to carry an earlier version of an Asus WL-330N (mine was just a WL-330, pre "N" and pre "G").

http://www.amazon.com/802-11b-Portab.../dp/B007GFYHPG

If I had wired Internet, I could plug it into a port in my switch and use it as a WiFi router (AP, or something like that). If I had WiFi and wanted wired hookups, I could feed it into a switch and run a wired computer, printer and VoIP phone. Or I could make it a combination device and use it simultaneously as both a wired router (with added switch) and wireless router. I still use home versions of this device (Asus WL-320GE) for a couple of my kid's locations in my house -- it also feeds into switches and they can simultaneously run their computers and VoIP phones using it.

Amazon sells these still -- for $149, but you can still buy them on eBay for about $18 (including s/h).

Amazon ...
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-WL-320GE-...=asus+wl-320ge

eBay ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Asus-Bro...item1c4fd27988

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I haven't run into motels that only allowed one hookup via WiFi, but I'm not sure how this would work in this situation. If you hooked up to the motel via your WiFi card, your WiFi card would no longer be available?

Neither have I, but I heard "the story". I guess they had a wired port, or perhaps that one involved tethering a Macbook to an iPhone, anyway, point is it can be useful to know how to share a connection.

And at home, if you only have wired internet, you can plug your laptop in and set it up as a WiFi hotspot without any other tools needed.