Podcast: Play in new window | Embed
Tech News & Commentary
Steve in Lake Villa, Illinois listens to the podcast and is calling in via the App asked: “Bought the wife a new Chevy Equinox and it came with an AT&T Data plan for three months. That ended and we didn’t want to pay for it. I use Verizon. Any way to find the SIM card in the car and swap it? I have a data plan with Verizon and figured I’d just use that. I didn’t know if that network was compatible or if the car even had a SIM card.”
Steve, Unfortunately you won’t be able to use Verizon with your wife’s car, ironically, up until recently you wouldn’t have had any choice but to use Verizon.
GM replaced Verizon with AT&T as their OnStar data provider starting with their 2015 models (which technically went on sale in mid-2014).
There is no SIM card as far as we know, and you will be stuck with AT&T if you want to use your car’s built-in network features. However, you can still just use your Verizon phone’s hotspot if you prefer. OnStar makes it sound like the connection you get when you go through the car is infinitely superior, but the truth is that unless you’re in an area with poor coverage, you probably won’t notice the difference. The car does have a larger antenna, but in most areas, it doesn’t matter.
If all you want to do is use the WiFi hotspot feature, you’re probably better off sticking to your smartphone’s plan, if you’d like to use features like internet radio, it may make more sense to pay the $10/month for the basic plan, but if you’re not interested after the 3 month trial ended then the monthly plan may not be for you.
An alternative to using your smartphone as a wireless hotspot is, as always, the dedicated portable hotspot. Verizon’s Jetpack MiFi 6620L is very highly rated, for example.
The issue with those, as always, is cost. The device itself sells for $199 (or $50 with a two year contract on the data plan). And the data plan won’t piggyback with your current wireless plan, it’s separate. There are also no unlimited plans available, so video streaming will kill you.
The 4GB plan is $30 per month, but that’ll barely watch one movie. The 100GB plan is over $700 per month, so that’s a whole different level of expense. The big advantage to the Jetpack MiFi is that it’s a separate device so you can use it with a smaller data plan and know that ALL you will do is stream videos to the kids in the back seat. Use your phone for everything else.
It’s also quite fast, and it runs for ages on a single battery charge. That’s great news when you’re driving out in the middle of nowhere without a charging port in sight.
I wish there was an inexpensive and effective solution for streaming data on the go, but right now there simply isn’t. It’s THERE, but it’s expensive.
For more information tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast.
“This Week in Tech History” Weekly Feature with Chris Graveline
Facebook Participation: We shared a post asking If you had $200 to spend on wired, over the ear headphones, what would you buy?
Frank in Shreveport, LA: A Bose quiet comfort headset
Anthony in Miami, FL: Koss..best bang for the Buck.
Daniel in Aurora, IL: I went with the Bose and have been happy. But by no means are they the best.
John: I’d get Kingston HyperX Cloud II and have a $100 to spend on something else
Hugo: audio technica ath-m50x
Clifford in Maryland: If you can find them on sale the Polk Ultrafocus 8000. Fantastic if you want a big isolating noise canceling set for travel.
Chris: For travel? Quiet Comfort 15. Running off a notebook? Get yourself a dragonfly USB DAC stick to go along with it. You’ll thank me.
Tuan: I hate Bose, but spend the extra $100 and get the QC25s. The amazing noise canceling makes up for the mediocre sound.
Robert in Cedar Park, TX: Bose, I have both in ear and over – both noise canceling. Long trips I take the over, short trips the in ear due to weight/fit in bag.
What do YOU think? What would YOU spend your money on?
Guest Segment:
Freddie Laker, Writer at Take Me To Your Leader & CMO – Kairos
A blog focusing on innovations, ranging from the personal to the profound, that are changing the human experience.
CEA Update with Elliot Grimm:
The consumer electronics industry just hit a major environmental milestone, that’s according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency. Elliot Grimm with the Consumers Electronics Association explains – in this week’s “CEA Update.”
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
TYLT: Car Charger RIBBN Cables – These cables rapidly charge 2 Smartphones or 2 Tablets simultaneously.
Jabra: SoleMate Portable Bluetooth speaker for your laptop, tablet, smartphone or music player
Monster Products: DNA Pro 2.0 High powered Over-ear headphones
Hydreon Corp: FakeTV Burglar Deterrent – Simulates the light output of a TV to deter burglars from your home.
Verykool: S5015 Spark II Smartphone – Unlocked GSM phone with Android OS and front facing flash – perfect for selfies!
Kensington: SD4000 Universal 4K Docking Station for laptop computers