Mifi

[Bob Hartig]

I'm getting set to purchase a laptop modem and am considering the Mifi. I've read some really glowing things about it, but also some negatives that make me think twice.

This product hasn't been discussed since last year on ST. Has anyone here been using it? What has been your experience with it, and are you getting your data from Sprint or Verizon?

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I'm getting set to purchase a laptop modem and am considering the Mifi. I've read some really glowing things about it, but also some negatives that make me think twice.

This product hasn't been discussed since last year on ST. Has anyone here been using it? What has been your experience with it, and are you getting your data from Sprint or Verizon?

My brother has a MiFi that I have used and I like it, I never had problems with it. His service is through Verizon.

 

[Dave Marshall]

I would point out that it doesn't have an external antenna port. That's what kept me away from it. If you use a mobile amp/repeater that doesn't require a direct connection, you'll be ok, but connecting with a normal antenna or booster will require some creative work with a soldering iron.

 

[Bryan Stokes]

The lack of an external antenna port kept me away too. So I went with a Rockies Amp through Maximum Signal, a Verizon USB760 from eBay, and a Cradlepoint wireless router. A little more expensive, but I get superior reception in the sticks and the ability to go month-to-month with my data service.

Bryan

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Bob - For what it's worth, Scott Bennett wrote a review:
http://www.endlessweather.com/?p=317

No external port is what is keeping me away for sure. Get a USB727 or USB760

 

[Bob Hartig]

Ben, that's a very helpful review. And thanks to the rest of you for your input. That cinches it: no Mifi for me.

I've been looking at the Verizon USB760 and it seems to be the way to go. But where can I buy one without getting a song and dance about pre-paid (which is an outrageous rip-off), 2-year contracts, or mandatory activation in order to purchase the unit outright, which is what I want to do? There's got to be a reputable dealer who will just sell me the damn thing for a reasonable price, plain and simple, without trying to pull some of the crap I've encountered.

 

[Bryan Stokes]

Bob,

I bought my USB760 off of eBay for $75 shipped. It was given to someone as a gift and they never used it, so it was basically new. Used ones were selling in the $60-$70 price range.

Bryan

 

[Gordon Spencer]

Try www.millenicom.com , no contract plus a 10 gig limit instead of 5 gig

Ben, that's a very helpful review. And thanks to the rest of you for your input. That cinches it: no Mifi for me.

I've been looking at the Verizon USB760 and it seems to be the way to go. But where can I buy one without getting a song and dance about pre-paid (which is an outrageous rip-off), 2-year contracts, or mandatory activation in order to purchase the unit outright, which is what I want to do? There's got to be a reputable dealer who will just sell me the damn thing for a reasonable price, plain and simple, without trying to pull some of the crap I've encountered.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Thanks, Gordon. I had already seriously looked into Millenicom, but their 760 modem appears to be for Sprint, not Verizon. Their 10 gig plan for Verizon would be great if it were more flexible, but it's only good with the Pantech UM175 modem, and that has received less-than-glowing reviews.

At this point I'm sold on the Novatech 760 for Verizon. I guess I'll have to purchase it on Ebay. Just want to make sure I'm getting one that's a) not the pre-paid model, and b) has GPS. I believe the early editions of the 760 didn't have GPS, but now GPS is included.

BTW, while looking at the offerings on Ebay, I came upon a company called Net World Overstock. I checked out their site; I can't give a firsthand recommendation right now, but they're top-rated on Ebay and their prices are super-low.

 

[Scott Roberts]

Has anyone here been using it? What has been your experience with it, and are you getting your data from Sprint or Verizon?

Got mine through Verizon at the start of this year. Experience thus far: drive from Wichita to COS via Pueblo: 0 dropouts, EVDO data in all but about 10 miles (3 locations). Used in preference to hotel wireless in COS and in Hays on the return trip. Damage photo trip to Iola last week: 100% data coverage, EVDO all but 2 miles. The chase around in circles in Wichita Tuesday was fine, too.

Compared to the VZW USB modem (can't think of the model number now, but it's the current one) in the same vehicle at the same time, the coverage was equivalent. I'm using one of Gordon's CyFre amps (with the wireless interior puck, rather than a hard-wired install). I actually had better coverage on the data cards than on my BlackBerry (a former AllTel device that hasn't been replaced with a true VZW device yet). Better, in that I had EVDO on the cards more consistently in the sticks of Kansas and Colorado than I did on the 'berry.

Only problem I had with the Mi-Fi was in the hotel room in COS. Without the amp, it had a harder time finding an acceptable EVDO signal. Seemed to work a little better in data card mode than it did as a wi-fi access point. This was a lower floor room in an older hotel with concrete outer walls and likely had some terrain-related blockage from the nearest tower, which was to my southwest.

Oh, and concerning the 5GB limit -- I'm going to stop worrying about that, myself. Continuous streaming for 8 hours each of the three days I've been out has consumed less than 100Mb/day -- so I could be out 30 consecutive days and have data to spare. Of course, my inbound data is on the MyFi and the streaming is on the USB, so I'm not in the same situation many others are.