But… because of customer service complaints and a lot of controversy about the founder’s background, we no longer use Nomad, and are no longer advertising, promoting or recommending the service.
Nomad Internet started in 2017 and has specialized in providing reliable, high-speed cellular Internet service to rural residential areas all across America.
They also offer a Nomad Travel Plan aimed specifically at RVers. And that’s what we tested.
I first tried out the Nomad service a few years ago when they began going after the RV market. I was generally impressed back then but tried several other services, including Starlink RV service, which I had hoped would be the perfect Internet solution for us.
Alas, Starlink has been largely disappointing for us, and last December, as we learned about Nomad expanding its mobile service with new technology, I began testing it out again.
Since then, we’ve run numerous Nomad Internet speed tests from campgrounds, on the road, in big cities, and boondocking in the wilderness. It has consistently brought speeds well over 100 Mbps, sometimes even exceeding 200 Mbps.
Our experience has been that it is reliable and high-speed.
The product itself works but you need to know there are lots of complaints about the customer service offered by Nomad and the background of the company founder.
We never needed service in our test so personally, we did not experience any issues. But, as noted, we are no longer using the service, will be returning the equipment, and have dropped them as sponsors.
This review is on their modem and the experience we had in using Nomad.
But that said…
Most RVers don’t need such a sophisticated connection.
Many can get by piggybacking off their phone’s cellular connection or using campground wi-fi or a hotspot data card from their cellular provider.
There are two elements to Nomad Internet that you need to understand.
This is where it gets a little complicated. It’s the most expensive part of the service.
The company makes several different modems.
The modem we use is the Nomad Air. It’s aimed squarely at RVers. Below is a photo of the one we used.
It has a one-time cost of $299. Like cable TV modems, you’re expected to return it when you stop the service.
The company has a line of several other modems, some much cheaper. The Air seemed best for us to use during our tests. It ran on the Verizon Network.
It is much more than a router and hotspot. It works with both 4G and 5G cell services and also the enhanced C Band on the Verizon wireless network.
Verizon has jumped full steam into deploying C band cell coverage.
Now without getting too geek-speaky, let me explain that C band is a newly activated 5G frequency band that can now be used for improved voice, text, and data services to mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and modems through a cell tower.
Compared to other frequency bands, C band offers a number of specific improvements and benefits.
Here’s how Verizon describes C Band:
“C-Band offers a transformative mix of performance and coverage, allowing it to offer significantly broader range and penetration than high-band spectrum–so it can be accessed from within buildings–while offering speeds significantly greater than low-band 5G”
Source: Verizon Wireless C Band statementBottom line: C band provides a technologically advanced and extremely reliable solution for mobile network users who want improved coverage, more data capacity, and overall better service when connected to the Internet.
Most routers and modems currently available do not cover C band, though that is expected to change as more wireless providers get on board.
The Nomad Air modem has special high-power antennas for the C band that extends the reach of cellular networks. If C band isn’t available in a particular area – numerous C band towers are being activated daily across the country – the Nomad Air defaults to older 5G bands. If 5G isn’t available, it uses 4G.
Once you get the modem, you then need a subscription plan.
As of April 2023, it’s $129 a month for the Nomad Travel Plan. That’s comparable to all the other high-speed wireless Internet plans out there.
These are the advertised features of the plan.
We tested the Nomad Internet in both our Arcadia Fifth Wheel and our Class C Leisure Travel Van motorhome.
We’ve used it for all of our connected devices, including two laptops, an iPad, our two iPhones, and our Smart TV.
I used it in multiple locations across the country to livestream our Sunday night Ask Us Anything Internet Q&A show, upload videos to our RV Lifestyle YouTube Channel, make and receive Zoom video calls, and stream movies on the TV.
I ran speed tests across the country. Here are three representative examples of the speed we typically get:
Setting this up was super easy. You plug the modem in, give it time to lock onto a cellular signal and then select it from your device’s wireless setup screen. Enter the password Nomad provides you and you’re online.
In our RVs, I kept mine in the entertainment cabinet and left it plugged in all the time for connectivity as we drove driving and when set up at a campsite
In February, when we were at our sticks and bricks home we had a power outage because of high winds. The cable Internet we have at home lost service and was expected to be out for a few hours. I brought the Nomad Air in from the RV and was able to make an important Zoom call I had scheduled.
While the regular Nomad Air needs AC power to work, the company recently introduced a travel bag option that comes with a powerful back-up battery that will run the modem for one week. The company says that one week run time is 24 x 7.
If you turn the unit off when you sleep or won’t be needing it, you can extend that time even more.
This is perfect for boondockers and off-the-grid campers or to use when severe weather like an ice storm or hurricane disrupts the power grid.
It costs $200.
The lithium battery fits in the canvas travel bag with the modem and all plugs and connectors.
Nomad customer service has had numerous bad reviews on the forums out there. We also received lots of emails from disgruntled customers, which I forwarded to Nomad.
Their founder, Jaden Garza, and service manager Robyn Weber, were responsive at first and promised to reach out to those complaining.
They explained that like many startups, they experienced the highs and lows of rapid growth after they started going after RV travelers. They admitted to me they could not scale customer service as fast as their earlier customers needed, which created a reputation problem.
Since then, they claimed, their customer service has grown and they insisted it has improved as they added a new team of trainers, supervisors, chat, email, and phone operators over the last few months. They said they have have also equipped them with all of the tools and resources to quickly identify and resolve all customer concerns.
But as we tested the equipment, the complaints kept coming from my readers and many noted specific examples or cited questionable legal issues and allegations of fraud involving Garza in a previous business.
When I specifically asked him about them, he first denied them. Then I found more evidence that indicated that he may have used a slightly different name in the past and was charged in a criminal fraud case. I specifically asked him about that. He stopped replying.
My last communication from him was in early April. He said that he has “taken a step in to a different position, and Robyn is now CEO of Nomad.”
Ultimately, I decided, there was just too much drama. And too many disgruntled customers. I learned I am not alone. Other YouTube creators have also dropped the company as a sponsor for similar reasons.
While the modem worked and we had good results using the service, the amount of complaints I received about the company and the questionable past of Garza that he never explained made it clear to me that we could no longer be associated with the company and I ended our sponsorship arrangement.
Again, we had no service issues over the four months as we traveled across the country using it as our exclusive Internet provider when traveling.
But for the above reasons, we are no longer using Nomad.
Where to next?
Our RV Adventure Guide outlines seven-day guided explorations of scenic areas of Southern Utah that we’ve explored. It would make an excellent RV trip for you!
In each location, we provide a suggested route and itinerary (7 stops in each guide, one for each day of a week trip!) as well as links to multiple campgrounds and boondocking spots, local tips, and interesting things to do at each location.
You can hit everything in seven days, do a whirlwind weekend tour, or you can take your time and explore the area over a 2+ week period.
Planning an RV trip can be very time-consuming so that’s why we’ve done the research for you! Just take our guides and use them, we’re sure you’ll have an RV trip for the ages! Instant download. CLICK HERE for information on ALL our RV Travel Guides
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April 04, 2023at9:55 pm, Toldya So said:
Confirmed scam. Check Eric from nomadic fanatic, creativity rv, and endless rv comments. No longer supporting this scam company. I tried to warn you both via email and never got a response. Lost all faith in this money grab bs utube stuff. I no longer follow any of you greedy scam artists.
March 18, 2023at7:42 am, Marian Research said:
Do your research. The “owner” Josh/Jayden Garza was convicted and imprisoned for crypto fraud after fbi investigation. Now his wife is listed as the owner of this new company and developer of the app. They resell Verizon sims cards and are NOT a partner with Verizon.
March 17, 2023at8:09 pm, David Spradlin said:
By far the worst customer service! Took over three weeks to get a return authorization to send back in a defective device. They were still was billed twice for a account that I could not use. Finally after two more weeks was refunded for one bill. Received a email stating that my account was to be canceled in three days. Three days later my checking account was billed, not for the previous amount but more! I did not agree to the new amount and was not notified of the new pricing.
March 09, 2023at1:14 pm, Vicki Ross said:
Their customer service is as bad as ever. I just want to log this for future users.
I’ve had Nomad Legend ($149) for 18 months. I went through no service at all through the Dec/Jan reorganization. I had reservations about giving them more money to get the Nomad Air, but after reading about your affiliation, I took a chance.
I received an email in Jan stating, “that for my patience not to worry about sending back equipment.” Now, I’m getting billed for 3 different plans ($149, $99, $109. Support says I have to return equipment (their policy changed) to cancel the old plans.
My customer history is gone, so I guess they want me to have faith they’ll be responsible this time.
March 06, 2023at10:35 am, Ed Fogle said:
Left unsaid is which mobile network the Nomad uses. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile?