AT&T Hotspot (WiFi)

While staying in the boonies in Arkansas for a few months, I had to purchase the wifi box from ATT to get wifi service while there. I brought it here and it works fine. So far, I have not been able to connect via my phone's wifi hotspot.

I use my AT&T hotspot option on my phone all the time. Before the storms, it worked great - could stream video and everything. Post-storm it's been inconsistent, as has AT&T service - improving though.

I've been tethering my AT&T phone to my laptop for years. Before we had Dish, we used to tether to the phone and watch a movie off Netflix. Data consumption could be an issue through, about 3gb for a movie.
Go for the unlimited data plan if you can swing it.
As get stated above, service isn't up to pre-Maria consistency, but it seems to be slowly improving.... like everything else.

I've used my laptop with my iphone personal hot spot with AT&T as well. Service was OK, not great last I used it. Didn't need to use it much as we got BBVI working. Oh yeah, I'm in the boonies in NW Arkansas right now, I got more consistent service on STX (post Maria)

Viya has also set up new 4G all over the island and is offering hot spot modems as an option while they rebuild their fiber network.

I've tried using mine as a hotspot lately. It's been pretty meh. Have more success with Viya hotspot device.

I just upgraded to a "domestic unlimited plus" plan from AT&T so I could use my iphone as personal hotspot for my mac laptop. For 48 hours it has been working well enough, on West End south of F'sted town near Sandcastles on the Beach and Cottages by the Sea. Sometimes I need to fiddle with it a minute or two to get the connection between iphone and laptop working for a new session ... such as switch hotspot on and off to reset, and/or tether iphone and laptop together with USB cable instead of Bluetooth or WIFI. I have been watching hour+ long lectures presented as video or audio. I use the audio option to minimize occasional download interruptions.

In short, it's been a bit slow but good enough for my single use, a few hours a day. The benefit of not acquiring and carrying yet another device, having portability including while traveling, instant on/off service without activation fees, and other conveniences is satisfactory compensation for the slow connection. And I don't trust that the other option speeds are necessarily better.

Good luck. Would be curious what you decide and how well it works out.

I found out that I don’t have the correct AT&T plan to set up a personal hotspot. An AT&T rep explained I have AT&T Unlimited Choice at $145 / mo and not AT&T Unlimited Plus which is $175/mo. The latter plan has the 10GB per device hotspot option. I declined to spend another $30/mo for the hotspot. I’m already spending $40/month more than I used to.

I have the ATT 3GB phone plan that I added an ATT hotspot to (purchased for $200) for an extra $20/month. I have tried it at different spots around the island and it seems to work well for internet surfing and email. I have also used my IPhone 6 as a hotspot before we got BBVI back and it worked well for wifi access for our computers at home. I just swapped from Sprint to ATT in early October and I have exceeded my data limit every month so far within the first week and have yet to see any evidence of data slow down. The fine print says they have the right to slow down your data speeds in congested areas after you have exceeded your data limit, not that they will definitely slow down your speed. And there are no extra charges for exceeding your data limit, just the threat of slowing you down. While we don't use the hotspot ourselves, we have been allowing vacationers staying at rental properties my wife manages to use it for wifi access and there have been no issues yet.

I found out that I don’t have the correct AT&T plan to set up a personal hotspot. An AT&T rep explained I have AT&T Unlimited Choice at $145 / mo and not AT&T Unlimited Plus which is $175/mo. The latter plan has the 10GB per device hotspot option. I declined to spend another $30/mo for the hotspot. I’m already spending $40/month more than I used to.

Wow, that is a lot of money for no hotspot access. I have a 25GB/month plan that allows me to use my phone as a hotspot for $135/mo (and no 10GB cap for the hotspot). It isn't unlimited data, but I do get unlimited calls and texts. I have rarely needed more data, and unused data rolls over to the next month. I set this up three or four years ago, so maybe the options now are different, but I'd look into a fixed-amount data plan if you want to save some cash.

The monthly prices some of you quoted for your plans or options (yikes!) where so much higher than mine that I jumped on the phone to confirm my AT&T plan price!!

My confirmed total including "high" PA state taxes, unlimited data, and an extra $8/month insurance on my iphone is "only" approx $115/month for domestic "unlimited plus," with the hotspot option included at $30/month.

I guess there are too many individual factors, such that you need to do your own research for the features you need/want.

Joanna, when did you get your plan?

The deals only seem to get worse. For about a decade I had unlimited data, including tethered phone connection, for $75 a month. Kept it for years until I had to switch carriers.

The cost of AT&T plans is what is posted on their website or on the AT&T app. I am totally unaware of diffrent pricing by state. I have been an AT&T customer since 2008. For the last 3 years I have had 3 phones on a plan. I switched from a mobile value share 3GB + 3GB with data roll over which was $105/mo. In order to get by without VI Broadband internet I went to Unlimited (22 GB / device per month). My stepson (3rd phone) pays me $40/mo for his share so in reality my share was $65/mo & now is $105/mo.

FDR, a few days ago.
I have had an AT&T single user plan for years in Philadelphia, with low to no data usage because I prefer internet browsing on a big screen laptop. For over a year my basic cost was $72/month which includes $8/month insurance for iphone damage or theft. I switched less than a week ago solely to get the hotspot for STX internet. The rep told me if I went over my 1G limit on the old plan, I would pay something scary like $15 per gig (not just slower speed). The rep matched me up with the approx $115/month plan for a couple months. Then I'll go back until I need hotspot again.

I asked rep why prices are so variable. She said state taxes range from $0 in Texas to $10-20 for my old $72 plan in states like PA. She also said employer plans can include big discounts.