Virgin Mobile MiFi

The MiFi is a credit card sized 3G wireless hotspot. Getting broadband in rural areas is a frequent topic here, so I thought I pass on my experiences with the MiFi. It's currently on sale at Target for $70, and for 50 bucks a month you get unlimited usage. Virgin Mobile uses the Sprint network. There's also a 4G version out, but since Sprint has very little 4G coverage it makes no sense to pay for the 4G version, as it has a data cap when you use it on a 3G network. The Virgin Mobile plans are all pay-as-you-go with no contract.

We live in an area where, although it's on the edge of the Detroit metropolitan region, it is tough to get broadband. For the past three years I've been using an AT&T 3G USB modem with mostly good results. But it's 60 bucks a month with a 5GB cap, so I've been looking for something cheaper. My son bought my wife a tablet computer the other day, so the need for wifi was reason enough to try the MiFi.

The good: Setup was very easy. Despite the lack of any sort of manual, I was able to get it up and running quickly. You plug it into the wall, that's pretty much it. Once my laptop was talking to it, I was able to get onto the VM site and set up an account. We had house guests, so we quickly had four wireless devices connected to the MiFi.

The bad: Performance was terrible. I went to one of the internet speed test sites and compared the MiFi with my AT&T 3G USB modem. AT&T 3G was 2900 kbps. The MiFi could only do a pitiful 200 kbps. That's still an order of magnitude faster than typical dialup connections, but noticeably slower than what I was used to.

If you've got good Sprint coverage, the MiFi is a acceptable option. At 70 bucks and no contract commitment, it's no big risk if it doesn't work out. My plan now is to leave the MiFi down at our Florida condo, so when friends stay there they can buy internet service. I'm going to stick with AT&T for the house and buy a 3G-to-WiFi router.

I'm 7.5 miles out in the country. A neighbor told me that if you are with in 1.5 miles of a fiber optic phone cable, you can have DSL. We are 1.25 miles of an ATT one.
Also there is an antenna on top of an elevator leg 1/8 mile from me, where I could on the net.
I knew nothing about these until a neighbor told me about them.
Sometimes there are things out there that one has to search out.

Dusty

I have the Verizon 4G MiFi hotspot that I upgraded to from a 3G USB modem due to the need for wireless devices. I got the 4G device even though at the time 4G wasn't available yet. The 3G was slower than my USB modem with less signal. The day the indicator light went from purple to green I new we had 4G finaly. The 4G is much faster and the signal is 4 bars now. I do have the 5 gig cap but and it is $50 per month but it is the only option where I am. I have yet to check into the data sharing options that both AT&T and Verizon are now offering, if I could get the 5 gig for my MiFi and the 5 gig on my phone combined for 10 gig between the two that would work out really well.

I have the USB 3G from Millenicom. Same USB Novatel 760 device that Verizon sells. Our's is $60 per month with 20 GBs, not 5 GBs. I can't figure how Verizon can compete charging you $60 for only 5 GB?

We use our Millenicom 3G in three rural areas. Central New York (Otsego County), Adirondacks New York (Hamilton County), and northern Michigan(Alpena and Presque Isle Counties). The 3G has worked well in all areas but in some I use a signal amp and remote antenna. No 4G available in any of those areas and NO Sprint at all. The Adirondack signal works with a signal blocked by mountains and the tower five miles away which is kind of amazing (tower in Blue Mountain Lake).

We also take our home phone with us to all those areas and it also works. That is based on Verizon 3G antennas/towers - same that Millenicom 3G data is based on.

One note. If anyone messes with antennas, the 3G data is on a different frequency then the 3G voice.

I am lucky in that our local phone company installed fiber optic lines ten years ago or more. Some federal grants helped them do the install. So I have had good high speed DSL for over ten years at the house.

I had a Verizon air card for my lap top for when we where traveling or in the semi. It used to work well but when they added this 4G network stuff it is junk now. I am usually out in the country in places that do not have 4G coverage. The stupid air card keeps looking for 4G and unhooking from the service it does have. I had the same issue with my new cell phone. I had a buddy that knows how to reprogram most of these cell phones, turn the 4G option off ( Verizon said it was not possible). My phone works good now.

With both of these devices causing problems I called Verizon to see what they could do. All I got was sales pitch about how great the 4G network was. I would tell them I did not live in an area that had it but they still would just tell me how great it was. Air head idiots!!

My solution was to cancel the air card and I am going to US Cellular just as soon as my current plan is up. Verizon is a terrible company to deal with. All they do well is BILL!!!!

This is the same as I told our friend LJD about a long time back when he asked a similar question. I have a Novatel USB 760 USB air card (bought on Flea Bay for $40) and am on the Virgin/Sprint 3G wireless network AS I SPEAK IM SOMEWHERE IN NEVADA. My plan is $40 per month unlimited but if I go over 5 Gig (which Ive never even near approached) they say they slow it down. For on the road RV use I LOVE IT........

John T in RV somewhere in Nevada headed next to Hoover Dam,,,,,,Zion,,,,,,,,,Bryce Canyon,,,,,,,Arches,,,,,,,,,,Canyonlands,,,,,,,,,,Grand Mesa,,,,,,,,,,,,Rocky Mtn National Park BACK HOME TO INDIANA

LJD, thanks for the tip about Millenicom. Looks like I can get service and the price is very good.

I can't complain. Their customer service is great. My wife and I called several times for info and always got a real person, in the USA, within a few minutes. The only problem we had at first was finding a router that was compatible with the Novatel USB stick. Once we got the proper Cradlepoint router - we run five computers all day on the one USB. When we're on the road we stick it into a laptop and use.

John T, Would you connect a chain to the rear of your RV and dray a few rain clouds with you when you return to Indiana?
George

I havent seen rain since I left Memphis,,,,,,,Austin Texas,,,,,,,,San Diego,,,,,,,,,Las Vegas,,,,,,now Zion Natl Park its hot n dry here

John T