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FirstNet by AT&T

Review of FirstNet by AT&T for First Responders

This info is geared more towards First Responders as that’s what FirstNet was built for. FirstNet was conceptualized after the 9/11 attacks as a more reliable means for Law/Fire/EMS to communicate effectively. Those of you who had to watch or even worse- respond to the WTC attacks know that our phones were absolutely useless that day. It didn’t matter who you tried to call, you kept getting busy signals and other strange sounds. There was no getting through.

In the wake of this, 15 + years later, the concept of a dedicated band for first responders was realized and rolled out.

The Good:


I switched over to FirstNet about 8 months ago. I live in Palm Beach County (South Florida) and my service is excellent. FirstNet regularly provides download speeds over 120MB/s and call clarity is superb.

Speed test of FirstNet Data

The moment I hit send on my phone, it is already dialing. Another thing- I’m a rebel and sometimes don’t turn my phone on airplane mode like the flight attendants tell me to. Mostly because I forget. I’ve gotten service up to around 8,000 ft with FirstNet which I though was pretty cool.

My phone bill is around $65 a month (before all the taxes which are always ridiculous) and it includes unlimited minutes, texting, data, and hotspot. In addition, any family members you have that are either on AT&T already or switch over, but do not qualify for FirstNet- a 25% discount is applied towards their monthly bill.

The Bad:


I travel a lot for work to rural areas these days. FirstNet is still being developed in some of those areas and is spotty sometimes. It is different than the AT&T network, so don’t expect the same coverage. It DEFINITELY did not work in Cuba (where as my AT&T phone did). That being said, nothing else worked in Cuba! Don’t ever waste your money on a ticket to Havana with your wife! You’ll find more Cuban culture in Miami by a long shot and you won’t feel so restricted by the Cuban government.

Summary of FirstNet

Alright, end of Cuba rant- overall, I highly recommend switching over to FirstNet. Not just because I’m a bit of a “prepper” but because the quality is great, the price is good, and it comes with peace of mind that we won’t have a repeat of the 9/11 communication breakdown (God forbid something should happen).

One other thing you should know- you can’t add family members on your plan. Only first responders- meaning only verified Police and Firefighters are allowed on the FirstNet network. Again, AT&T will offer you a 25% for your family members on a separate AT&T plan.

Verizon has since marketed a similar product to FirstNet. It is NOT a true, separate, priority network. They have done nothing more than create a new marketing strategy in an attempt to avoid losing out on Police and Firefighter business around the country.


Click here for more info on FirstNet FirstNet Sign Up info

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New Firefighter and Police Meal Plan Discount in Palm Beach

Ever tried a meal prep plan? Looking to lose some weight? Want to eat healthy throughout the week without spending hours prepping on Sunday? Fuel for Fit in Palm Beach is offering a discounted meal plan for Police and Firefighters.

Let’s be clear about something- shift work is NOT conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Whether your office is a patrol car or you’re running 19-22 calls per shift at Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk Express, finding to time to eat clean and portion-controlled meals can be very difficult. Even at a slower firehouse, stations meals may be tasty, but often unhealthy.

How can you track your calorie count and make sure you’re getting the right kind of calories? Look no further- Fuel for Fit is making it easy for first responders. Not only do they offer an incredible discount, but they make it extremely convenient.

No more having to select your meals a week in advance, risking missing the deadline and getting random unwanted meals. Fuel For Fit has a storefront with agreeable hours, grab and go, and pay-per-meal. The discount currently being offered to Police and Firefighters is $5/meal.

What I’ve found to work best is 2 trips a week- once on Sunday and again on Wednesday. I grab 2 meals per day (lunch and dinner), figuring out breakfast on my own. I found breakfast to be the easiest meal to handle, consistently feasting on eggs scrambled/sunny-side up or a nice helping of cottage cheese and fruit with granola. If you supplement with the right snacks in between, keeping your calorie count in the ideal range while leaving plenty of energy for the gym is easier than you’d think.

There is an adjustment period, where you’ll struggle with self control while your body acclimates to the portions. You’ll find yourself constantly opening the fridge in the fire station and staring at the contents or subconsciously veering your police car off into a nearby drive-thru. I’m guilty of these criminal acts myself. I tell you my friends- persevere! Nothing worth wanting is easy. Stick to the meal plan- take advantage of the amazing discount being offered to us.

Now for the important details- Fuel For Fit has 2 locations at this time, both in Palm Beach County, the furthest South location being off of Hypoluxo and Dixie Hwy. The next closest is in Palm Beach Gardens. They plan to open a third location in West Boca soon (which I’m very excited about). Click on the above link for hours and detailed location information.

Educators- we’ve asked the owners about offering the discounts to local Teachers and they seemed open to it. Just bring some sort of identification with you when you go in, and check with owner John to see if he will honor an Educator discount.

We hope you enjoy this pro-tip and are able to make use of it.

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Welcome to the new Castleberry Travel Site!

It’s been long overdue, but we’ve managed a total overhaul of our website. Thankfully it was accomplished with minimal interruption to our Public Servants. Thank you for the patience and patronage over the last few years. I know that you’ve dealt with plenty of bugs and downtime, but everyone has been very kind and forgiving when they contact us.

We appreciate our newcomers via word-of-mouth and all of those who have spread the word to make this possible.

Please, take the time to click the links as they become available. As we don’t have a web development team, things will not always be perfect the first go-around. You know the old adage- “If you see something- say something.” We always appreciate your feedback.

Look for new hotels and local business discounts on the horizon. While the media continues to present our professions (especially our Law Enforcement Officers) in a negative light- mostly publicizing the less glamorous interactions with the public, there are those out there who find ways to show appreciation.

You’ll be hearing from us soon!