Got My MIFi Today

[Dawn309]

Crossing another thing off my list. I got my Mobile MiFi today. Have it charging now. It is supposed to allow me to have Internet as long as I can at least get 3G service. Will do 4G where available for faster Internet speeds. I will be able to have up to 5 wireless devices connected to it at a time. I am so excited about it. A new toy for me. I love my techie gadgets.

[Redwahine]

Out of curiosity, what service provider did you select? and why? Red

[Sandersmr]

Good thing you got it this month, especially if it's Verizon. They are going to force 4g and tiered plans on everyone that upgrades to 4g starting in July.

[Dawn309]

It's through Millenicom. I have 10GB 4G and 10GB 3G for a total of 20GB each month. If 4G not available, I get 20GB of 3G. Since I won't be steaming video anymore, I think that will be plenty. I read the tech reviews and this was rated really well. Since it is the modem and router in one unit allowing me to connect 5 devices, I decided to go with this. There is also no contract, so if it doesn't do as well as I think it will, I can look elsewhere. It is $69 a month. You do pay for the modem and setup fees. That is less than my land line and DSL now.

[Sandersmr]

I have DBF's mifi most of the time. And I really like it when we need it - occasionally when camping and traveling.

[Dawn309]

I've got my iPad and iPhone connected to it tonight and it seems to be working really well so far. Good speed on 3G. No 4G out here in the country. Cannot see much difference from the DSL speed so far.

[oregonrambler1]

I've got a question for all you techies about MiFi ... how secure is the connection? We do a lot of financial work on the laptop but only when it's physically hooked up to the modem at the house. Is MiFi secure? can the signal be hacked if someone else is near or is the MiFi unit dedicated to the user's apparatus. I've got to get more educated about all this stuff, I'm still stuck in the early years of cell and wireless.

[JudyJB]

I just got something similar from Verizon. It is password protected, just as your home wireless modem should be, assuming you set it up that way. (Haven't had time to try mine or set it up, however, but will do so as soon as I get on the road.)

It is a lot more secure than are the wireless connections you get through places such as McDonalds, Panera, etc. or the ones you pay for in hotels and campgrounds. You are also not sharing it with anyone other than the very small group on your network, if you set it up as a network.

[Dawn309]

I agree it would be more secure than public wifi. It is password protected. Mine came programmed that way with the password. The password is alpha/numeric.

[Bethers]

Verizons mifi you must change the password and something else. Will look later although I thought there was a post about it here. After you do that your mifi with verison should be a secure as your landline. Att is supposedly secure right away. And my att phone is secure when I use it a wifi.

Do not know about the others.

Got to love our toys.

[Bethers]

Decided rather than finding the link to the older article about the Verizon MiFi being hacked to go to the Verizon forums and see what is said about the newer ones - seems they are still using the exact same methods on the new ones and it is recommended to change the password and the SSID.

Here's one of the threads I just pulled:

https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/769178

[Echo]

That sounds really interesting! I keep wondering about MIFI but haven't done any checking into it. I hate relying on free WIFI. I am NOT a techie!! Maybe I will have Kelly do some research on it.

Have been waiting until they come out with something that will work well and not cost an arm AND 1/2 a leg......

[bluepinecones]

Since you have an iPad, I'm interested in knowing why you chose to get the MiFi instead of using the iPad as a hot spot.

[Dawn309]

I use my iPhone for a hotspot for my iPad at the grocery store, for instance. I did not get 3G on this iPad because I could not see paying for data monthly since I have DSL in the house with a network. Now that I won't have the DSL, I was looking for more data than I get through AT&T with my iPhone data plan or their aircard data plan. Also wanted to be able to connect my PC and my laptop. When I get on the road, I plan on working on my websites again. Need more data for that. Also use my laptop to download embroidery designs for my embroidery machine. Again, need more data. Also, need to be able to connect Mom's iPhone and tablet. She has no concept of data usage, so I need to be able to cover her too. I will use any available WiFi in CG's if it is fast enough. I thought this would be the best solution for me to keep a good connection. So far, with both my iPhone and iPad connected at same time and using data on both devices at the same time, I have been pleased with the speed on 3G since 4G not available here at the house. I really like the size of the modem/router. It is about the size of some cell phones. Very light too.

Hope this helps. By the way, the carrier is Novatel.

[Sandersmr]

Verizon changes their plans on 6/28 but I think you can still get unlimited until then - just a thought.