Cell Phone Tower Mi-Fi for home internet

[Rusty Heap]

My home internet sucks and I'm about to disconnect off Hughes Dish due to dead slow evenning speeds and un-reliable service, been with them for 3 years and am tired of simply non-functional evenning "peak hour" speeds.

I don't have any available service like cable or DSL in the street being rural on 5 acres at the end of a private road.

I've talked with Verizon and AT&T, and they have a MI-FI puck you just keep on your desk at home. Gets you 3G speeds, I've been told about 1.5-2 mbts down and 400kbts up.

Anyone have one of these Mi-Fi pucks used through a cell phone service provider?

I don't really want a smart phone with a Wi-Fi hotspot, just something dedicated for home internet use.

5 gig data package is $50 a month. That's about 150 meg a day which is plenty as we don't stream Netflix or radio or on-line gaming.

Heck I'm paying $80 a month. And it'll go down to dial-up speed of 50-150K bps download during evenning hours, so even basic email stops working with a 1-1.5 second ping rate.

please provide pluses and minuses for this kind of portable Mi-Fi if you have experience.

[intakexhaust]

In place of tethering and when we travel, use a no-contract Virgin Mi-Fi card with 3G. Works off the Sprint network. Don't expect much for video. Decent service but they recently jammed us on the un-limited rate. They honored the $40 a month unlimited (ideal for us on vacation) for being a first year of service customer (2010) but now for the unlimited user rate, they lower the speeds. Still is worth it without getting bagged in a contract. The Mi-Fi cards initial cost around $80. One thing I get a kick out of it is no taxes in the billing. On the home billing for our other services, we have piles of line item taxes on them.

[jyl]

I carry a MiFi 2200 when I travel for work, to get Internet in airports, conferences, and to avoid paying for hotel room Internet. I carry the same MiFi on family trips, so the family can get online, e.g. daughter doing homework. This is on Verizon.

Have had it for 5 years now. It works perfectly fine. Very reliable everywhere I've gone, speed is good enough to surf Pelican and get email, I can use streaming video like Hulu, Youtube with moderate success, but I don't due to the bandwidth cap. I'm told the current MiFi is LTE-capable, which probably doesn't matter for you.

Only problem I've had is the charger died (replaced free) and the cable you use if connecting the MiFi directly to the laptop (which you might do to set it up, update software, etc) is not a standard USB cable, though it looks like one, so label it and don't lose it.

Overall I think it will work well for you as long as there is a decent cell signal, you should have a return period in case there isn't. I recommend Verizon over ATT.

[kaisen]

I use PDA Net to tether my Verizon Android phone when we're on the road (literally, use the laptop as we're rolling down the freeway)

PDA Net is nearly free, a small one-time software charge. There are no charges affiliated with Verizon. Just your normal cell bill.

With my phone, the internet is interrupted by a phone call so you don't miss anything. Texts are sent and received on your computer. Pretty neat.

This is a good way to *try* the service to see whether adding a MiFi is worth the extra line/charges.

[biosurfer1]

I have used 2 different ones (Sprint, ATT) while traveling for work. Don't expect much from either but its a lot better than dial-up. Fine for websites, pictures, etc but video is a pipe dream. I dont know which one you're looking at but the sprint mi-fi's get HOT. The battery drains fast so you'll have it plugged in a lot (which is no big deal if you're at home)

[red-beard]

I use the AT&T Mifi 2372. I use in the car for my Wifi Android Tablets and for travel where the hotels charge for Internet.

Clear uses the sprint network and has 4G speeds. IF Clear has coverage where you are, it has the better service. They also sell devices for dedicated home access, unlike the little battery powered puck.

Verison also sells a 4G system. Check coverage and costs.

[fingpilot]

Virgin/Sprint 3G here. $50 unlimited, but throttled after 2GB. Option for 2GB total for $20.

Sometimes it's a better deal if I am gone (only use the WiFi at home).

[Danimal16]

I paid the extra charges to AT&T ($20) so I can tether to my I-Phone. Email and browsing on the run work great, and I can do the phone thingy while browsing.

Dan

[LakeCleElum]

Rusty: I live in a similar area.....Dial-up only from my phone line.

Since I moved in 3.5 yrs ago, I've used a Verizon USB modem (card)...I use it in a Router and run 3 computers off it....I prefer this over the MFI "puck", as I can connect to my 2 desktops by being hardwired thru an ethernet card......My laptops are via "wireless".....

It's faster than a satellite system - Big downside is the 5GB a month limit........Costs $60/month......Before you commit, check coverage in your area......I'm good as I'm 500 ft. off an interstate freeway......YMMV

[Rusty Heap]

Can some of your Mifi cell phone internet owners run a speed test and post the results?

Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test

and list whether you're on a 3G or 4G or what plans you're on?


thanks!


I'm going to take a shotgun to my Hughesnet system and it'll feel soooooooo good just for therapy to blow it up.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

and list whether you're on a 3G or 4G or what plans you're on?

I upgraded my USB Modem from 3G to 4G and noticed no difference.....Doesn't help if no 4G where I live...Speedtest is a good idea.....

[island911]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Can some of your Mifi cell phone internet owners run a speed test and post the results?...

Old 3G Verizon phone with really horrible signal location. (showing no bars)

[red-beard]

AT&T Mifi 2372 in Northwest Houston, TX

[red-beard]

Work Cable Connection by comparison

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by red-beard

AT&T Mifi 2372 in Northwest Houston, TX

Originally Posted by red-beard

Work Cable Connection by comparison

Almost exactly the results (within 10%) I got using Verizon via PDANet, and at home using Comcast cable internet

[Rusty Heap]

f-n-aye red beard.............you had to post that last speed test didja.

damnnnnnn.

I think that AT&T 2372 mifi is discontinued too.


42 meg a second down............geezus-all-mighty-datalord-above.......screaming.

I scream when I get 420K down.

[red-beard]

Rusty, the new AT&T unit is even better. I may have to "upgrade".

[Rusty Heap]

The local store is selling the newer "Elevate" model, supposed to access 4G and LTE signals........

But I also read reviews of short battery life, and that while in use the battery won't charge.......I dunno, I try to stay pretty low-tech these days.

THANKS for all the feedback.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2393598,00.asp

[Rusty Heap]

so those with MiFi.

sorry for all the questions.

But i just got done going postal with Akmed Apu named "joe" from India for my slow internet,,,,,,,,,,saying how do I best shoot blow up and destroy your sat dish and modem of Hughesnet, ala slow-net..............oh a thousand pardens they say, we'll give you a month of super high speed free internet


so at 8:00 west coast pacific time and several speed tests later, 500K bps down is the best they can do...........

so, real question, does the MIFI slow down at all during "peak hours" after dinnertime at night, or is it rock solid 1.5 mbps or faster down load 24/7?


500K is pretty danggg slow download, if that's the best they can do for $110 a month.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

so those with MiFi.

sorry for all the questions.

But i just got done going postal with Akmed Apu named "joe" from India for my slow internet,,,,,,,,,,saying how do I best shoot blow up and destroy your sat dish and modem of Hughesnet, ala slow-net..............oh a thousand pardens they say, we'll give you a month of super high speed free internet


so at 8:00 west coast pacific time and several speed tests later, 500K bps down is the best they can do...........

so, real question, does the MIFI slow down at all during "peak hours" after dinnertime at night, or is it rock solid 1.5 mbps or faster down load 24/7?




500K is pretty danggg slow download, if that's the best they can do for $110 a month.

I expect that it is slowest during drive time. I really use mine when I'm driving, to run the e-mail and the traffic maps on my tablet.

You know, that is another option. Get a Tablet and use the "Mifi" application to share the connection.