Short version: We’ve loved the MiFi mobile router since we first laid eyes on it back at CES. After a few days of playing with the Verizon MiFi 2200, we still love it just as much – but with one hangup: the nasty monthly bill. After a trivial hiccup with the activation, we had 4 computers up and running in minutes. Speeds in our area are about average for the local EVDO Rev-A network, and we’ve had absolutely no connectivity drops in our 2 days of testing.
Long version:
As a blogger by trade, I find myself in a situation where I require mobile broadband on a weekly basis. Be it liveblogging some Apple event or just scrambling to write up a story that broke while I was out to lunch, it’s a regular thing – and I’ve always hated it. Dongles go on the fritz, carriers refuse to make drivers for my platform of choice (OS X); I’ve tried a half dozen different solutions, and these things just never, ever work for me. Until the MiFi, that is.
The MiFi seemed like an incredible idea from the very beginning. No more dongles, no more mandatory branded connection software. Just flip the switch, and bam – wireless connectivity for up to 5 people, provided by whichever carrier graced the top of the unit. Sounds great, right?
As great as it sounds in theory, it’s even better in practice. It works, consistently and dependably.
You do need to use Verizon’s provided software – but only one time, to activate the unit. The software is compatible with both Windows and OS X. The manual implies that you don’t actually need the software to activate on OS X as long as you’ve got the latest updates, but we couldn’t figure it out. Activation ended up being the only snag we’ve had with the unit thus far, as the manual wasn’t very clear on the process. Once we’d installed the software, rebooted, and attempted to connect the device, everything sorted itself out. All in all, it was about 10 minutes of set up with activation. Once activation is complete, however, setup is nearly instantaneous. You just turn it on, wait 10-20 seconds for the device to initialize, then connect to it as you would any WiFi point. You can remove the software package, and other computers that connect to the unit never need to see the software at all unless you wish to connect to the network via the microUSB port rather than WiFi.
Connectivity wise, the MiFi 2200 was averaging around 1500 kilobits per second down, 500 kilobits per second up. That barely scratches the speeds we were seeing with the 7.2Mbps HSDPA Telefónica MiFi models we saw back at MWC – but this is EVDO Rev-A we’re talking about. This is about average for Rev-A connectivity in our little notch of Central California. Speeds were about the same throughout the city, and whilst skipping down the freeway at 70 mph or so. The MiFi didn’t miss a beat.
Our only qualm with the product isn’t with the device itself, but with Verizon’s insane pricing scheme. The up-front cost of $99 bucks after $50 dollar mail in rebate isn’t too bad; we’d pay that without batting an eye. But, as with all mobile broadband plans, the monthly bill is ridiculous. You have two options: $40 per month for 250 MB of data, or $60 per month for 5 GB (5120 megabytes) of data. In other words, you have the choice of paying 16 cents per megabyte or a bit over a cent (0.011718 dollars) per megabyte. Now, that last option may sound reasonable – so much more so than the first option, in fact, that we’re going to just ignore the first one all together. A penny a meg! What a bargain! Go ahead, monitor your bandwidth for a day. On today’s video hungry, image-centric internet, you could blow through 5 gigs in a few days with moderate usage. Plug 3 or 4 guys onto the router (remember, it supports up to 5), and you’re out of data before you’ve even been rickroll’d once. Once it’s gone, you’ll be paying 5 cents a megabyte. (On an odd site note, the fee for data overages on the 250MB plan is 10 cents a megabyte – which is actually less than what you’re paying for each non-overage megabyte)
Crazy as that seems, the pricing is actually slightly better than Verizon’s standard mobile broadband pricing, wherein $40 bucks gets you 50 MB rather than 250.
Oh well – if you’re going to get mobile broadband, you essentially have to deal with the absurd monthly costs. With that in mind, we whole heartedly recommend the MiFi to anyone looking for a mobile broadband solution. It does everything right, and is the simplest and most rock solid solution we’ve seen so far.
What we like:
- Once you get the thing activated, setup couldn’t be easier.
- Speeds were consistent with, if not better than, what we generally get in our area
- Battery powered, light weight, portable
- Stays usable while charging
- No clunky proprietary software required after activation
What we don’t:
- $60 bucks a month for 5 gigabytes of data
Would be nice:
- Proper LED status indicators. The MiFi 2200 LED’s show whether it’s on and if it has signal – but not how much battery is left, nor the quality of the signal. That first one is a big thing for us, considering that the main purpose of this guy is on-the-go use.
I live in a rural area and work from home so I have to use Verizon, since there is no DSL available. The service works well but the bandwidth limits are not very realistic. I’ve spoken with their staff several times and they say that they will offer more options in the future. Customer service had the audacity to offer me a “10-Gigabyte (GB) Plan for $199.99 a month.” They seemed amazed that I did not jump on this horrible new plan, that is worse than the first two. I hope they change something soon. I like the new MiFi 2200, and will certainly take a look at it, but Verizon come on with some reasonable price plans.
@Andy: True. Everything about Verizon is good but only the price is pocket-pinching. The staff keep saying that more offers come in future. But nothing really seems to take shape.
Lets see how MiFi does in the market.
So you can get 5 gig for $50 or pay 300% more for a 100% increase? Am I reading that correctly? What in the world do these people think? It’s much cheaper just to get 2 devices, it seems. Perhaps they’d lock each payment account to only having one active device, though, to force you to the 10gig/$199 plan.
I wonder who will be the carrier for this in Canada?
It’s not even that big of a deal. Most “unlimited internet” packages are unlimited upto a point, meaning 5GB per month would be just fine.
Install a package called WMWiFiRouter on your Windows Mobile phone, and it instantly converts into a WiFi access point – much like the Verizon MiFi. It piggybacks over your data connection, which hopefully is unlimited.
I’ve been using this for about 5 months now, no hiccups. Guess how much I pay for the unlimited Internet? $15.
Only backdrop is to keep your cellphone on charge because WiFi sucks on your battery like no tomorrow.
It would seem that Verizon, like the other Baby Bells, has not mastered the ideas of a competitive marketplace. Hi speed, all you can eat, and long lock ins at a cheap price. Just like the cable companies who always think internet and voip are like cable tv (i.e., no big deal when you’re out of service), so to the Bells have that take it or leave it mentality with a cost plus percentage mark up that they had when they were regulated and guaranteed a obscene profit. Argh! Where are the internet innovators who will clear the debris and send these dinos to the dino rest home?
I wonder about the price point, I think that it’s a good start, but if you have people on the network downloading too it may tax the monthly limit, I guess the cell phone model all over again!
I will use this at my music school Denver School of Music for sure.
-R-
Denverschoolofmusic.com
If you need more than 5GB/month, you can buy two of them and use the 5GB/device per month for a total of 10GB for $120.
It’s cheaper than paying overage fees of 5c/MB or $250 for an extra 5GB
I don’t mind the 5GB limit, though it needs to have the option to automatically disable the service once you hit your quota.
They also need to have roll-over bytes.
All the other carriers impose the limit now since the unlimited plans were abused by a few.
Has there been any information regarding service providers outside of US? (Canada, especially…)
Maybe you need a raise. I currently pay for a Sprint aircard ($50/mo) and its value is priceless. Would be happy to change form factors to the MiFi to support additional/multiple devices. Looking forward to Sprint’s launch in June (since it’d cost me like $175 or something to break my contract and jump to VZW.)
All mobile internet pricing needs to change, not just this package. We are getting ripped off, bottom line.
I don’t think the device was intended to be used by a bunch of people downloading youtube clips. I have a few developers who travel on the train both in the Netherlands and here in the bay area in groups. This device would work perfect for them to work as a group and is cheaper than the price we pay for each of them to have Verizion/AT&T wifi cards.
Intriguing device, but the monthly cost does seem high. Clearwire offers a nice PC card option in my area. It is only about 1000kbs download and 150kbs upload, but at $50/month with no data transfer limitations, it seems more enticing to me.
I too use a Mac but I have a Blackberry with Verizon and I can tether it and use it only on the PC. I can use it with BootCamp or Parallels but that is a pain. I got the Cradlepoint PHS300. It does pretty much what this one you describe. For me it works even better. One thing I like is not being tied to the carrier. I used it at a friends house with his Sprint dongle and it worked just as well as my Blackberry on Verizon.
Cradlepoint PHS300
Pros:
- can use my $15/mo tether fee on my Blackberry
- connects via USB to my Blackberry
- can plug in a data dongle from almost any service
- your not locked into one carrier
- great features for a wifi router with much higher than a 5 person limit
- has a battery warning light
- powers my Blackberry when plugged in
- removable battery
http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/phs300-personal-wifi-hotspot
I was in heaven after this especially for Mac users.
Yup, this is the device I have, the cradlepoint PHS300. it gives me the flexibility of using my usb evdo card, or creating a wifi point to share..
The cellphone industry relies on wallet-rape.
Verizon’s pricing scheme is precisely why I use Sprint’s unlimited broadband plan.
I plug the Sprint USB modem into a Cradlepoint mobile router and, viola!
I actually have three Cradlepoint routers. One sits in my house and is dual-homed between Sprint broadband and my wired broadband connection. If the wired connection goes down, it automatically switches to wireless.
One of the other Cradlepoint routers always goes with me in my bag. It’s very small, portable and is my instant WiFi access point.
isn’t that very slow? I get 200-300kbps down and less for up from sprint modem. I’m about to change it to either att or verizon, and it could be verizon mifi unless att release a service making iphone work a wifi router.
This gadget is so cute!
You get a few of these together close a single tower and you won’t get the bandwidth EvDO promises.
I’d really love to use that considering I live in a rural area, but the monthly fee structuring is insane >_<
Man these little hotspots are awesome, wish they were available about a year ago though.
For my money I’d rather be on sprint’s network with this bad boy though:
http://www.intomobile.com/2009/05/13/sprint-grabs-novatel-mifi-2200-for-3g-hotspot-fun.html/comment-page-1/#comment-340125
What about the battery life ? I remember it lasts upto 4 hours according to press release and wonder if this is practical. Also, is battery removable ? It would be nice if replaceable for longer operation on travel.
We pushed this thing to just under 4 hours before it gave out, and that was near continuous use. Battery is user swappable, and batteries can be swapped while it’s plugged into USB without the device powering off. Good for charging without losing connectivity.
Not sure where to buy the secondary batteries, however – I’ll ask Novatel.
Greg,
Thanks for the information. ~4H sounds still great since I do not have to worry about battery life during the commuting. The router I use is so called Cutio(RS-LJ01) which is sold only in Japan (HSDPA) and runs only ~2H which is not sufficient. Even worse they do not offer the secondary battery right now for some reason. I will surely get this device once it gets availabe here in Japan. Take6
That is a good gadget , if you come to Tradestead you will find more such wonderful powerful gadgets , just have a look , you will like it!
Is there any thing available for the iphone / ATT? E.g. 1) iphone app OR 2) a mobile router that would take my iphone sim card and allow me to reuse 3g connectivity?
Cradlepoint and my Sprint USB offer similar features – without monthly usage limit, but, of course, I have to find a place to plug in the Cradlepoint device.
Too expensive. Here’s a better solution –
http://www.redferret.net/?p=14188
It is pretty handy. The service is a bit pricey, but not much more so than any other aircard.
The best feature is the range. I connected my iPod from well over 250 feet away with full signal strength. The connection seems to idle just a little too quickly for my preference, but I havent waded through all the menu settings to see if i can alter that yet.
All in all, a great device. It is amazingly small.
If I recall the $60 a month for their 5G a month plan is the same across the board. Be it a regular air card or the add on you purchase to get tether your existing ev-do capable phone for internet access. I’m not saying that it’s a good price, just what they charge for all of their devices, to my knowledge anyway.
Sounds like if you’re already using VZW for your mobile wireless, and you need to purchase a new aircard anyway, this is the way to go.
Can anybody tell me how much is 5 gb?