Unlocked MIFI Solution
#16
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
On my MiFi: not when charging from the wall wart charger. IIRC - and I haven't done this recently - it acts differently when connected to a USB jack on the computer.
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Presumably the Novotels would get support and warranty whereas the Huaweis off eBay probably would not, since they're not officially sold in the US?
#19
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,073
Problem: I use a T-Mobile modem here in the US. Unfortunately, I sit in an office that doesn't get the best signal from T-Mo using the modem.
What I'd like to do is switch out my TMobile SIM into one of these devices, place the device where there's better 'reception' and then connect to the device via Wi-Fi.
However, from what I'm reading, none of these devices support TMo's 1700 mhz (?) signal. So, at best, you get a lower (2G) speed from T-Mo. Not that I'm streaming online video or anything but to me that's useless.
Or, have I missed out on a device out there that would cover T-Mo's "faster" radio band. I'd love to here from someone if they've found one (2+ hours bouncing around Google only schooled me on my observations above).
I'd love to hear if someone has a device in mind....
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A Sub-Optimal Solution
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Buy one of the devices that allows me to plug my T-Mo USB modem into the back of the device and then hook into the device using Wi-Fi. I'm saying this is sub-optimal b/c I travel internationally and would like to use the same device abroad not with the T-Mo modem and SIM but rather with a local carrier. That'd require me to buy and carry an "unlocked" USB modem for use with local carrier's SIMs. I'd rather just have the Mi-Fi device which acts as the modem itself, plug in a local SIM and be sharing via Wi-Fi.
If everyone thinks the sub-optimal choice is the way, the truth, ... I await your humble word on a recommendation.
Champion!
What I'd like to do is switch out my TMobile SIM into one of these devices, place the device where there's better 'reception' and then connect to the device via Wi-Fi.
However, from what I'm reading, none of these devices support TMo's 1700 mhz (?) signal. So, at best, you get a lower (2G) speed from T-Mo. Not that I'm streaming online video or anything but to me that's useless.
Or, have I missed out on a device out there that would cover T-Mo's "faster" radio band. I'd love to here from someone if they've found one (2+ hours bouncing around Google only schooled me on my observations above).
I'd love to hear if someone has a device in mind....
-----
A Sub-Optimal Solution
-----
Buy one of the devices that allows me to plug my T-Mo USB modem into the back of the device and then hook into the device using Wi-Fi. I'm saying this is sub-optimal b/c I travel internationally and would like to use the same device abroad not with the T-Mo modem and SIM but rather with a local carrier. That'd require me to buy and carry an "unlocked" USB modem for use with local carrier's SIMs. I'd rather just have the Mi-Fi device which acts as the modem itself, plug in a local SIM and be sharing via Wi-Fi.
If everyone thinks the sub-optimal choice is the way, the truth, ... I await your humble word on a recommendation.
Champion!
#23
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,073
2) Doesn't really solve the problem entirely as it requires me to lug around the laptop rather than having the mifi or mifi type device only.
3) Not really $0 as the T-Mobile USB modem is SIM locked so I need to buy another SIM-unlocked USB modem for use with everyone else's SIMs.
#25
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
1) I'd love to hear how to do that with a Mac.
2) Doesn't really solve the problem entirely as it requires me to lug around the laptop rather than having the mifi or mifi type device only.
3) Not really $0 as the T-Mobile USB modem is SIM locked so I need to buy another SIM-unlocked USB modem for use with everyone else's SIMs.
2) Doesn't really solve the problem entirely as it requires me to lug around the laptop rather than having the mifi or mifi type device only.
3) Not really $0 as the T-Mobile USB modem is SIM locked so I need to buy another SIM-unlocked USB modem for use with everyone else's SIMs.
In your case, you are pretty much stuck as you already know Tmobile use 1700/2100 BandIV frequency for their 3G/4G network which no one use.
You probably better off buying a seperate 3g usb dongle/mifi for intl travel and use a cradlepoint device to work with your Tmobile dongle.
Like you, I travel to Asia every other month and currently I use the Sprint overdrive in US and an unlock AT&T usb modem when travel abroad. Works pretty well.
BTW, here is the link on sharing WIFI signal on leopard. http://gigaom.com/apple/create-a-wif...on-in-leopard/
#26
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Sweden
Posts: 195
Huawei e585
I have a Huawei e585. It is "3" branded buth Zibri unlocked it for me (via the Internet) for $5. I works quite alright as long as the cell site isn't too congested. The limit of 5 devices is quite a bother some times when people have ipods, ipads and laptops. It is very easy to reach that limit.
If you need a very portable solution I can recommend the Huawei MiFi routers, they can also work as a dongle with a micro usb cable. At home I use an Asus router which has a USB port which works with a 3g modem. That solution doesn't have the same limitation as the MiFi routers but it requires an electrical hookup.
If you need a very portable solution I can recommend the Huawei MiFi routers, they can also work as a dongle with a micro usb cable. At home I use an Asus router which has a USB port which works with a 3g modem. That solution doesn't have the same limitation as the MiFi routers but it requires an electrical hookup.
#27
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,073
I have a Huawei e585. It is "3" branded buth Zibri unlocked it for me (via the Internet) for $5. I works quite alright as long as the cell site isn't too congested. The limit of 5 devices is quite a bother some times when people have ipods, ipads and laptops. It is very easy to reach that limit.
If you need a very portable solution I can recommend the Huawei MiFi routers, they can also work as a dongle with a micro usb cable. At home I use an Asus router which has a USB port which works with a 3g modem. That solution doesn't have the same limitation as the MiFi routers but it requires an electrical hookup.
If you need a very portable solution I can recommend the Huawei MiFi routers, they can also work as a dongle with a micro usb cable. At home I use an Asus router which has a USB port which works with a 3g modem. That solution doesn't have the same limitation as the MiFi routers but it requires an electrical hookup.
http://www.zibri.org/2010/07/huawei-...-download.html
Zibri uses PayPal - non-starter
Zibri requires Windows - I have a Mac
Zibri's instructions seem complicated - risky
According to the one (?!) review at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/UNLOCKED-HUAWE...3312513&sr=8-1
the e585 only works on the slowest of slow T-Mo US networks (admittedly NOT the original thread question).
#28
Join Date: May 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1MM *G (recovered GS), SPG Nothing, Hilton Nothing, AA Nothing
Posts: 895
Zoom We3G ($149 @ amazon).
Unlocked 3G. Using it with an iPod touch to make this post.
Just got it today but seems reasonably fast and has a nice set of features. Can accept a micro sd card and uses micro USB charger.
Small and light, perhaps a bit larger than my virgin mobile mifi.
Worked fine with my Blackberry's SIM (testing only - main use will be overseas with PAYG data sim cards).
Unlocked 3G. Using it with an iPod touch to make this post.
Just got it today but seems reasonably fast and has a nice set of features. Can accept a micro sd card and uses micro USB charger.
Small and light, perhaps a bit larger than my virgin mobile mifi.
Worked fine with my Blackberry's SIM (testing only - main use will be overseas with PAYG data sim cards).
Last edited by CarlTheWebmaster; Apr 20, 2011 at 7:48 pm Reason: Add link; Finish last sentence after hitting post on tiny iPod screen!
#29
Join Date: May 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1MM *G (recovered GS), SPG Nothing, Hilton Nothing, AA Nothing
Posts: 895
Wirelessly posted (RIM BlackBerry 8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)
Zoom We3G ($149 @ amazon).
Unlocked 3G. Using it with an iPod touch to make this post.
Just got it today but seems reasonably fast and has a nice set of features. Can accept a micro sd card and uses micro USB charger.
Small and light, perhaps a bit larger than my virgin mobile mifi.
Zoom We3G ($149 @ amazon).
Unlocked 3G. Using it with an iPod touch to make this post.
Just got it today but seems reasonably fast and has a nice set of features. Can accept a micro sd card and uses micro USB charger.
Small and light, perhaps a bit larger than my virgin mobile mifi.
#30
Join Date: May 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1MM *G (recovered GS), SPG Nothing, Hilton Nothing, AA Nothing
Posts: 895
Wirelessly posted (RIM BlackBerry 8700c: Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8H7 Safari/6533.18.5)
Zoom We3G ($149 @ amazon).
Unlocked 3G. Using it with an iPod touch to make this post.
Just got it today but seems reasonably fast and has a nice set of features. Can accept a micro sd card and uses micro USB charger.
Small and light, perhaps a bit larger than my virgin mobile mifi.
Zoom We3G ($149 @ amazon).
Unlocked 3G. Using it with an iPod touch to make this post.
Just got it today but seems reasonably fast and has a nice set of features. Can accept a micro sd card and uses micro USB charger.
Small and light, perhaps a bit larger than my virgin mobile mifi.