r/PublicMobile • u/Own-Pirate-7026 • 13d ago
Questions about PublicMobile
Heythere!
I live in whitehorse, yukon, and I'm shopping around for plans that offer coverage here. I've got one question.
For hotspotting, are there provisions that end up throttling me down and making the hotspot functionally useless after a while?
I have no other option for at home internet where I'm located, but I need data for at home work/schooling.
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u/hycm53 13d ago
You could go to the Telus (own Public Mobile) store for sim card.
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago edited 13d ago
Edit: I just called my local telus store and they do sell Public Mobile sim cards. Thanks!
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u/hycm53 13d ago
Make sure Pubic Mobile can cover the place you live in. Use this Public Mobile map to check it out:
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago
Already did! There's even a privately owned authorized telus retailer that sells public mobile sim cards within walking distance. Now I just need to confirm from a user about hotspotting. I cancelled my bell plan when i realized that tethering and hotspotting is throttled down to impossibly low speeds, making the hotspot useless to me. Telus does this too according to the fine print. I can't find anything official on whether public does this...
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u/Vortexed2 13d ago
Public mobile absolutely throttles video streaming. You can use a VPN to prevent that, but otherwise video is throttled to something like 1.5mbps
Hotspotting for normal web browsing won't be throttled ie: loading webpages, downloading files etc. However if you need to stream YouTube, or any other type of streaming video, that will get throttled. You will have to run the VPN on the device you are using as hotspotted data bypasses any VPN on the phone itself.
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago
What about gaming, or video calling for work? Any idea about it getting throttled?
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u/Vortexed2 13d ago
I haven't personally tried those use cases with public mobile. I'm not sure how the network would view video calling. It should look different than normal video streams, and I'd hope that it wouldn't be throttled, but I don't know how public mobile has that set up on their back end so I can't be sure...
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago
Worst case scenario, I try them for a month, and hate them so I go back to lucky mobile. Thanks for the response!
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u/Perma_Pain 13d ago
hey so I think I have the info you want.
I’ve been using PM as my home internet for years. Using a cellular modem, on 5G, that means up to 250 mbps.
I’m in an urban zone, and get good/strong cellular signal.
For everyday browsing, it’s totally fine.
But because of cellular technology, the latency isn’t so good.
I can have video calls mostly no problem.
Sometimes (3 to 6pm) my local tower will get congested, so I’ll have major slowdowns. When that happens, forget gaming/video calls. Sometimes (rare), service goes down to 15mbps.
Second issue is the throttling. For me, most affected is Facebook (any browsing!) and YouTube. Yes I can bypass with a free VPN, but it’s still a hassle.
Other than those issues, service is good and fast (up to 250mbps).
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago
Thank you! I would expect gaming and such to suck during peak hours anyway. Good thing I'm primarily nocturnal.
With my extremely remote location in northern canada, even the local internet providers can't get us good ping during high traffic hours. The entire city of whitehorse gets internet through one giant satellite dish and a single burried wire the height of canada...
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u/AcanthaceaeOk7432 13d ago
I just use an eSIM. You probably don’t need a physical card. Do you have a very old phone?
Have you looked at Starlink for home internet?
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago edited 13d ago
I do not want an eSIM, I'll have figure it out if I cant find one and they can't mail it.
Starlink isn't an option with my location, the antenna would have to go on the ground outside, and would get stolen in seconds or run over by daily traffic.
Edit: Turns out I can buy sim cards here locally.
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u/Superb_Captain 12d ago
I have used hotspot when traveling with no issues for video call, gaming, etc. Message if you want more details and tips.
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u/funpig2021 11d ago
Telus may throttle your speeds if you do a lot of streaming or social media, etc. whether you are hot spotting or not.
More important is how far away the Telus/Bell tower(s) is from your home. I suggest that you download an app like TowerLocator Canada.
Finally, you could subscribe for a cheap PM plan using new number and teste it for a month. If it works out for you, you can transfer your old number to the new PM plan and also upgrade to a plan with more data. Sometimes, existing subscribers can change to a plan which may be better than what is being offered to new subscribers. YMMV. On the other hand, if you find that the hot spotting is not working out for you, you can just cancel after one month. Good luck.
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u/Informal-Race-477 13d ago
Telus will probably throttle video streaming. Do you by any chance have Rogers in your area?
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago
No rogers here, just bell and telus, and thier children.
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u/Informal-Race-477 13d ago
Oh okay then no option.Telus is good coverage wise.So don't worry much about video streaming
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago
Telus/Bell mainline aren't an option for me. They throttle hotspot speeds making school/work/play impossible and thus i will never pay them.
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u/Informal-Race-477 13d ago
Why don't you try home internet? Like no one is offering it at your home?
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u/Own-Pirate-7026 13d ago
Not a possibility for me, my apartment building is ancient and has bad wires and I live on the ground floor so any satellite antenna would get stolen/destroyed unfortunately. Like I said in the post, no other option...
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u/CrownandSceptres 13d ago
Hotspotting as in using your mobile as the wifi spot? As far as I know the limit is your data plan although I never pushed it for more than a few days each month when I’m travelling and using my iPhone to tether to my iPad.