Using a Cellular Tablet?

[Texsinbad]

I am a newbie in the process of buying a travel trailer. There are several apps for rving that I will need and use. Looking at them on a cell phone isn't appealing to me.

Samsung, and probably others, have a 8" and 10" tablet that also has cellular and wifi. I was thinking about getting and using it primarily for rving--finding campsites, and it can be used with RV Life/Trip Wizard as a RV GPS.

Of course, it can still be used as a regular tablet.

Not being technically minded, I would appreciate any comments/suggestions about using a cellular tablet for rving.

Thanks

[wildtoad]

We use our IPhones for just about everything but sometimes we want the larger screes that iPad’s offer and then we use the phones as hot spots for the IPads. My iPad Pro is a bit heavy to use for along time unless it’s in its stand/keyboard.

[Lwiddis]

Very pleased with my iPad 2 on the road and at home.

[valhalla360]

A tablet that has a SIM card slot is really just an oversize cell phone. Unless you want to make that your primary cell phone (and it will work), just get a regular wifi tablet and connect to your cell phone hotspot.

Personally I find 10" tablets to be too large to hold conveniently for long. I prefer 7" or 8" as a more comfortable size while still getting a bigger screen.

[bob_nestor]

Why pay for two cell plans? Go for the less expensive WiFi only version of the Tablet and use your cell phone as a hot spot for it. That way you only have to pay for one cell plan.

[monkey44]

Wife has Verizon, Husband has T-Mobile. We've been all over the country, and very seldom draw a blank for wifi. Both Samsung smart phones, and we use hotspot, and link to laptop (or a tablet) when we want it and it works fine. We don't stream anything, so can't comment on that. Works for everything we need.

Very occasionally, one or the other would have it, but not both. Not very often. When that happens, we just link to the other phone - hotspot.

[BobsYourUncle]

I have a Samsung Tablet and always take it camping rather than lugging my laptop around.

It does not have cellular, but I just use my phone for a hotspot as others have mentioned.

If you get a tablet with cell, it is the same thing as having another phone line. You will have to pay monthly for it.

I weighed the options when I bought my Samsung Tab3. The extra monthly charge was a deterrent.

I have occasionally run over my data limit, but the additional cost of that is far less than a monthly fee for cell service in a tablet.

I am happy with my decision, it works very well. Hotspot is built in to most of todays smart phones. No need at all for any extra hardware.

[2112]

DW uses her iPad on the road. She has a Verizon data plan with it so it works just like her iPhone, but bigger. She's the navigator on the road.

When stationary, I use my Samsung as a hot spot and wifi my Kindle to it.

[theoldwizard1]

I concur for older people, you really need a 10" tablet (kind of hoping that Amazon come out with a Fire 12 or 13).

I would not pay extra for built in cellular capability. Either use your existing phone for a hot spot OR, better yet, put the money into buying a cell phone to wifi adapter/router that has external antennas. You can use smaller antennas inside the vehicle or larger ones outside the vehicle when parked.

Many to choose from. Some, like the WiFiRanger mount the router inside and external housing, so do not. You will have to spend some time looking at various models.

This 4G LTE Router WiFi mounts inside. The two "paddle" antennas can be replaced with cables going to external antennas for better long distance reception.