Wireless hotspot options

[Rich Jordan]

My parents live outside of Richmond, KY, far enough away that cell data service is not uniformly decent. My ATT service has worked there, but my brother's Verizon (and reportedly T-Mobile) is spotty. They don't have and don't want broadband at the house. When I visit there I'm limited to the iPhone and my wife's 4G Ipad.

Due to their recent health issues I will probably be doing short term multi-day trips there to help out in the next few weeks (at least as long as my vacation time, and maybe sick time holds out; we're too small to be covered under the family leave act). It would help a lot to have real internet there because then I could do some work on the laptop and so extend the time available to help out there.

Any suggestions on devices? I see a few no-contract devices at the AT&T store (and also at Amazon) but have never used them. I don't want to switch my iPhone to a hotspot plan because we have a grandfathered unlimited plan and would lose it in the process.

Suggestions appreciated.

Thanks
Rich

[PawPaw]

My mother's country house had horrible wireless signal, but my brother purchased a cell signal booster and installed it in the house. This was several years ago, but it had a small antennae that he put in a window, then corded to a box with an AC power receptacle. It boosted the available cell-tower signal so that he could run his cell phone and a wireless computer while in the house.

[skb12172]

I am there often. T Mobile is very spotty. Short of going to McDonalds and using their internet, you are going to need a backup.

[Rich Jordan]

I am there often. T Mobile is very spotty. Short of going to McDonalds and using their internet, you are going to need a backup.

But I've got ATT, not T-Mobile, and it has been consistently "OK". Not full speed but better than 3G and consistent. I can work with that so it will probably be ATT service I go with unless someone knows of another option... and looking for info and/or recommendations on the hotspot device itself, or vendors for same.

If it matters they're out near the Madison County Fairgrounds east of Richmond

[Aesop]

I've been using a Sprint 4G hotspot for nearly 3 years, and it looks from their service map like that would cover your area of interest.
https://coverage.sprint.com/IMPACT.jsp?kiosk
The only downers are it's pay to play, and I buy their max plan of 12GB/mo., which runs about $95 or so.
But it's the internet I've had since dialup became a dinosaur, and as you'd be a new customer, it wouldn't mess with your other plans.
I had an unlimited voice/data deal on my phone through them, and they tacked the WiFi on separately, so I still have unlimited phone data/voice.

The best part is that I can slip it into my laptop bag, so generally, if I have cell service, I have internet.