East Coast cell phone plans?

[ixlr8]

I presently have a Verizon flip phone, I am thinking for a variety of reasons I would like to have either a smart phone or tablet to access the internet when cruising the ICW. I am tired of Verizon nickel and dime'ng me to death and I'm looking for a different carrier. I have looked at some of the MVNO, Mobile Virtual Network Operators, like Ting, Republic, Cricket, Freedom Pop, but they don't seem to have very reliable data coverage along the coast.
Verizon and US Cellular are the only game in town where I live, AT&T has very spotty coverage and Sprint doesn't have any coverage.
It is starting to look like for best coverage I am going to be stuck with Verizon or AT&T. 🙁
What are folks using, what would you recommend?

 

[Phil Nersessian]

I have AT&T and have always been happy. The new Comcast plans look appealing though. I would definitely upgrade to a smart phone though. I like "My Radar" for live radar/ weather and the NOAA website for ocean conditions,wave height etc... Now if I could only get my adult children off my cell phone plan....

 

[baz]

If you come across some free Wi-Fi hotspots or even fee-based ones the Wi-Fi Signal booster such as the EliteAC FM can prove to be useful. Using Wi-Fi vs. Cellular data plan can save a bunch of money.

This nifty device grabs Wi-Fi signals within a 2-3 mile radius, amplifies them, and broadcasts the signal inside your boat. It provides a secure, private network for all of your wireless devices and the GoAC also has several LAN ports for hardwiring computers and devices.

I've read boats at an anchorage could pick up open Wi-Fi connections that didn’t show up without the device on. So it does comes in handy.

See https://www.wifiranger.com/shop/product/65-eliteac-pack-fm

I've used this in the past and when at a Marina and far from the Marina office's Wi-Fi router for example, it will boost the signal (it will not improve the signal quality) to be as strong as standing next to the router.