Anyone Have Virgin Mobile Mifi Wifi
Sep 14, 2010, 8:04 pm
#46
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Without Clear during CES, I'd be screwed.
Sep 17, 2010, 7:31 am
#47
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Worth a shot if you get a cheap cable to try it on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apnT_n-KD9I
Sep 17, 2010, 7:34 am
#48
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Also stumbled across this $90 battery and door replacement cover that's supposed to extend the battery life 3 times. Of course it makes the device a bit larger
http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_pa...oducts_id=2445
And an external battery for it
http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_pa...oducts_id=1476
http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_pa...oducts_id=2445
And an external battery for it
http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_pa...oducts_id=1476
Sep 19, 2010, 6:41 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 7
Charging cable success!
The "Rocketfish" mini/micro usb charging cables that can be found on Ebay work fine and don't shut down the wifi. These cables come with a micro usb adapter. Take off the adapter and they will also charge most cell phones. Reviews on Amazon knock them for the short length and the fact that they are "charging only" cables but for MiFi users they work great!
Sep 19, 2010, 7:10 pm
#50
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The "Rockfish" mini/micro usb charging cables that can be found on Ebay work fine and don't shut down the wifi. These cables come with a micro usb adapter. Take off the adapter and they will also charge most cell phones. Reviews on Amazon knock them for the short length and the fact that they are "charging only" cables but for MiFi users they work great!
I believe you mean "rocketfish", not rockfish.
Sep 29, 2010, 7:08 pm
#53
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Is the comcast mobile broadband addon available in the Bay Area? I want to add it to my comcast cable modem service, but I don't see the option to purchase online for my address. I just get redirected to bundles, which I don't want.
Oct 1, 2010, 7:48 am
#54
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MisterNice
Oct 1, 2010, 8:23 am
#55
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No thanks.
Oct 1, 2010, 9:08 am
#56
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
I love my Virgin Mobile MiFi
I bought mine right after reading the NYT article by Pogue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/te...h/02pogue.html (need free account to access NYT article)
He also posted an update here with additional info / clarifications:
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/...sq=mifi&st=cse
Anyway, I bought mine right away because I had already been looking at a Verizon aircard which had a 2 year contract @ $60.00 / Mo.
So, in 3 weeks of usage, I really have not encountered a major negative.
I have:
- Used it in 3 states on travel. No problems. Already saved $36.00 in hotel wireless charges... Also used it in all the airports I have been through (even though some have their own free wifi).
- At a family gathering, I set it up and gave everyone the password and it became the de facto hub for the weekend... Laptops, iPhone's, iPod Touches - everyone using it for their wireless access. Facetime worked no problem.
- Set it up at home with 3 laptops and 1 iPod using it as our primary internet access for the past two weeks.
- Here are my speakeasy speeds right now: .95 Mbps download, .54 Mbps
- speakeasy.net/speedtest
Comcast is my primary home wired internet right now. After this post I'll switch over to my home wireless and post the speakeasy speeds so you have complete info.
I pay Comcast $59.95 (? or so?) a month just for wireless.
At $40 / mo, the MiFi is obviously a better deal - IF, and it is a big if, the speeds it offers meet ones internet usage needs.
We do not have netflix / download movies. Using iTunes, music and podcasts download fast enough...
So far I have not cancelled my Comcast, but I am leaning in that direction...
Anyone have additional thoughts on making a MiFi your primary home internet connection?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/02/te...h/02pogue.html (need free account to access NYT article)
He also posted an update here with additional info / clarifications:
http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/...sq=mifi&st=cse
Anyway, I bought mine right away because I had already been looking at a Verizon aircard which had a 2 year contract @ $60.00 / Mo.
So, in 3 weeks of usage, I really have not encountered a major negative.
I have:
- Used it in 3 states on travel. No problems. Already saved $36.00 in hotel wireless charges... Also used it in all the airports I have been through (even though some have their own free wifi).
- At a family gathering, I set it up and gave everyone the password and it became the de facto hub for the weekend... Laptops, iPhone's, iPod Touches - everyone using it for their wireless access. Facetime worked no problem.
- Set it up at home with 3 laptops and 1 iPod using it as our primary internet access for the past two weeks.
- Here are my speakeasy speeds right now: .95 Mbps download, .54 Mbps
- speakeasy.net/speedtest
Comcast is my primary home wired internet right now. After this post I'll switch over to my home wireless and post the speakeasy speeds so you have complete info.
I pay Comcast $59.95 (? or so?) a month just for wireless.
At $40 / mo, the MiFi is obviously a better deal - IF, and it is a big if, the speeds it offers meet ones internet usage needs.
We do not have netflix / download movies. Using iTunes, music and podcasts download fast enough...
So far I have not cancelled my Comcast, but I am leaning in that direction...
Anyone have additional thoughts on making a MiFi your primary home internet connection?
Oct 1, 2010, 9:14 am
#57
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
OK, here are my Comcast stats to compare to the MiFi... As you can see, a LOT faster, which is the reason I have not (yet) decided to abandon Comcast and go exclusively with the MiFi...
www.speakeasy.net/speedtest
Comcast:
Download 3.19 Mbps, Upload 2.81 Mbps
www.speakeasy.net/speedtest
Comcast:
Download 3.19 Mbps, Upload 2.81 Mbps
Oct 1, 2010, 9:56 am
#58
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Posting this while cruising on Amtrak; WAS-NYP. Besides the couple of tunnels, I haven't dropped yet. Speed isn't terrible either. I'll see how well it holds up while in NYC, though.
Fantastic value given the big guys want you to sign your life away for two years. I've been seeing more and more articles pop up about the value of this service so we see how long it actually sticks around.
You better be pretty good with computers or know someone that is. Numerous reports online about terrible technical support over the phone.
Here's a speed test... little bit past Philly:
Download Speed: 265 kbps (33.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 228 kbps (28.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
(Server was in NYC)
Fantastic value given the big guys want you to sign your life away for two years. I've been seeing more and more articles pop up about the value of this service so we see how long it actually sticks around.
You better be pretty good with computers or know someone that is. Numerous reports online about terrible technical support over the phone.
Here's a speed test... little bit past Philly:
Download Speed: 265 kbps (33.1 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 228 kbps (28.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
(Server was in NYC)
Last edited by MM983; Oct 1, 2010 at 10:02 am
Oct 2, 2010, 1:07 am
#59
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Oct 2, 2010, 4:25 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Posts: 162
I recently added the Virgin Mobile Mifi 2200 to my Air Boss. Now I travel with an Apple Airport Express (AE) plus a shielded LAN cable and a shielded inline coupler that protects the LAN cable plugs in the bag (shielded is your friend in Europe).
So, to get online:
If the hotel offers free wireless Internet, I use that service and a virtual private network (VPN) encrypting and routing all traffic into my company server because I do not control the wireless network.
If the hotel offers free wired Internet, I use that service via the AE for general browsing and the VPN as needed.
If the hotel charges $20 per day for Internet, I unpack my Mifi, give them the finger and use the Mifi and the VPN as applicable.
........
So, to get online:
If the hotel offers free wireless Internet, I use that service and a virtual private network (VPN) encrypting and routing all traffic into my company server because I do not control the wireless network.
If the hotel offers free wired Internet, I use that service via the AE for general browsing and the VPN as needed.
If the hotel charges $20 per day for Internet, I unpack my Mifi, give them the finger and use the Mifi and the VPN as applicable.
........
Anyone found a solution for sparing the AE in that scenario?
I am currently thinking about buying somethin similar to the MiFi, but a gadget with a LAN-port would be the perfect add-on form my point of view.
As Sam wrote, there are different scenarios to cover:
- LAN in the hote room (probably free) that I want to use with WLAN devices
- pricey LAN or WLAN or no access at all that I want to cover with a UMTS device which should be mobile
Do I really need two devices for that solution?