I posted this last year, but to make it easier for me to find the post I'm creating it's own thread :-)

Need a hotspot on a budget? Check out http://freedompop.com
If they operate in your area it's certainly worth checking out...
They give you 500MB of data FREE each month. Based on what @chris has said, that's way more than you'd need. (It's reported that axtime uses about 20MB per event)
They have pre-owned 3G hotspots for $30 (you don't need 4G/LTE for axtime).
So for $30 ... you have a hotspot you should be able to use with no data fees and no contract. You'd just have to make sure nobody accidentally opens facbook or instagram on your timing network ;-)

I looked into FreedomPop for a long time, and I just couldn't get past all the horrific reviews they get online. I went with NetZero who have been around forever and get decent reviews. Their free plan only includes 250MB/month, bit that's more than enough. I had a 3G/4G dongle in hand within 3 days for around $60 with standard shipping. It fired right up and has been working pretty flawlessly so far.

@Duke said:

I looked into FreedomPop for a long time, and I just couldn't get past all the horrific reviews they get online. I went with NetZero who have been around forever and get decent reviews. Their free plan only includes 250MB/month, bit that's more than enough. I had a 3G/4G dongle in hand within 3 days for around $60 with standard shipping. It fired right up and has been working pretty flawlessly so far.

I have a verizon mifi from work with unlimited data so I just use it for our club. I didn't know netzero had such a plan. Very cool!

T-mobile also has a 200MB/mo free plan for any compatible tablet. Just have to make sure you could tether to the tablet from your axtime laptop. http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-get-a-free-data-plan-for-your-ipad/

Wonder if I can rename this thread to budget hotspot devices ...

@JasonPowell said:

Wonder if I can rename this thread to budget hotspot devices ...

answer = affirmative

We bought an AT&T Hotspot (Netgear 770S) from a retail store for $60, then refill the SIM card on it with 10GB/mo plan for the months we run. Then let it lapse in the off season. (No Contract)

For connecting all the computers the NetGear 770S allows for an external Ethernet connection that we employ and run a separate access point that has much, much more range.

This replaces the FreedomPop device we had that didn't work at a few of our sites, and would go up and down through out the day depending on how it felt.

I didn't realize freedompop was that poor of a service. Bummer! Guess I'll stop recommending them as an option.

Of course, another option is to just tether to your smartphone, but most people like to keep their phone near them during the day :-)

Regardless, the lesson here is spend some bucks for a hotspot to push live timing up to live.axti.me so you don't have to dork with a public wifi network for participants. You and your participants will be glad you did :-)

@JasonPowell said:

Regardless, the lesson here is spend some bucks for a hotspot to push live timing up to live.axti.me so you don't have to dork with a public wifi network for participants. You and your participants will be glad you did :-)

ABSOLUTELY. We used to have network issues all the time with the public on our wireless for results. It would lag badly or go down entirely. At our events this year, using RMlive, it's been so so so much better with only a handful of devices on it.