MiFi - is it any good?

[Thepipdoc]

I currently use a Vodafone dongle for connection to the net but I have to say that unless I'm in the right place and standing with one leg at a 45 degree angle with my right arm pointing to the sun it doesn't work!
I've come accross a Mifi device which apparently provides good realiable wireless broadband connection. Does anyone have any experience of these things, and also would I be able to use the contract SIM card that I currently use in the useless dongle or do I need to use a SIM that's "made" for the Mifi device?

 

[dmmbruce]

I have read that these are good, but a development of them called the Wirie is considerably better.

Sorry no experience, just read it on blogs.

Mike

 

[nigelmercier]

I currently use a Vodafone dongle... I've come accross a Mifi device which apparently provides good realiable wireless broadband connection ... would I be able to use the contract SIM card that I currently use in the useless dongle ...

If you can't get a decent signal with your dongle, the MiFi won't be any better. However, it does have the advantage that you can place it in an area with a good signal.

If you get one from Vodafone, or an unlocked one, it will work with your SIM card.

Look on eBay, loads there, search for: (3G, wireless G, MiFi, Mi-Fi) (unlocked, voda*) wireless router

 

[Vara]

Have you tried putting an extension USB cable on your dongle, you can go up to 5 metres with it ( probably more) and with the addition of a freezer bag and lastic band you can usually find the optimum location.

As I understand it the MIFI is designed to give a wireless network, so if you only have one laptop, probably a waste of resource.

 

[lukedh]

mifi is good if you use Linux as it gives you a wifi connection, whereas dongles generally don't work at all. You may also get G3+ connection speed depending on your provider.

 

[Genoa]

T Mobile Pointer

Hi
I have this device and its pretty good. It also has a CR9 socket for an external aerial (you can get unidirectional ones). T Mobile do a great offer - 6 months wifi on a PAYGO contract - £20!!! so plus the device its a massive 80 for 6 months. I have only run out of "credit" once - when my son decided to watch the last spooks series on the MiFi so its a pretty decent package.
An external aerial can cost ~25 and gives you several miles offshore and means the thing can be sheltered.
Hope this helps,
P

 

[arawa]

I "upgraded" to one of these from a standard broadband dongle so that, as well as me using a laptop, my wife could use her Ipad.

Most of my cruising is on the West Coast of Scotland where mobile signals can be weak. Much of the time I could get a GPRS signal of sorts with the dongle, but I have found that there are many more blank areas with the mifi. But where there is a strong signal it works very well.

 

[Thepipdoc]

Hi
I have this device and its pretty good. It also has a CR9 socket for an external aerial (you can get unidirectional ones). T Mobile do a great offer - 6 months wifi on a PAYGO contract - £20!!! so plus the device its a massive 80 for 6 months. I have only run out of "credit" once - when my son decided to watch the last spooks series on the MiFi so its a pretty decent package.
An external aerial can cost ~25 and gives you several miles offshore and means the thing can be sheltered.
Hope this helps,
P

Do you mean this?

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobi...roadband-plus/t-mobile-wireless-pointer-payg/

I can't seem to find the offer you are referring to.

 

[charles_reed]

I currently use a Vodafone dongle for connection to the net but I have to say that unless I'm in the right place and standing with one leg at a 45 degree angle with my right arm pointing to the sun it doesn't work!
I've come accross a Mifi device which apparently provides good realiable wireless broadband connection. Does anyone have any experience of these things, and also would I be able to use the contract SIM card that I currently use in the useless dongle or do I need to use a SIM that's "made" for the Mifi device?

Don't know where you are, but I've found either of my two Nokia mobiles are far more sensitive and use less power than the Huawei (sic) dongle.

I'd suggest trying one of the HDSPA mobile phones rather than the USB modem.

 

[nigelmercier]

I have this device and its pretty good...

Which device would that be, there are dozens ...

 

[Joker]

I use a Vodaphone dongle in Germany, where wifi costs an arm and a leg.

No problem in picking up a signal, tho the software is distinctly buggy.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I currently use a Vodafone dongle for connection to the net but I have to say that unless I'm in the right place and standing with one leg at a 45 degree angle with my right arm pointing to the sun it doesn't work!
I've come accross a Mifi device which apparently provides good realiable wireless broadband connection. Does anyone have any experience of these things, and also would I be able to use the contract SIM card that I currently use in the useless dongle or do I need to use a SIM that's "made" for the Mifi device?

Is this for use anywhere or do you tend to be in a particular location? I'm wondering if it's that the Vodafone signal is particularly poor where you are? It maybe worth asking around nearby to see what sort of signal strength people get. You could probably get a portable Wi-Fi router/Mi-Fi style device that would take your SIM but that may be part of the problem.

Mi-Fi works in exactly the same way as a smartphone with a built-in W--Fi hotspot or a dongle in that they all rely on a data feed from a mobile phone network. O2 is generally not that good, Vodafone a bit better, T-Mobile better still and 3 is usually regarded as the best. Unfortunately 3 has the worst area coverage I believe with T-Mobile the second worst. Willing to be corrected on those as I haven't checked the ratings for some time.

Having said that, if the data link with the phone network is the same, later dongles are definitely faster than the older versions. The Mi-Fi is a particular product but is basically a dongle that is plugged into a small Wi-Fi router. Given that the Wi-Fi aspect is much faster than the data link from the cellular phone network will be it doesn't make much odds whether you connect via Wi-Fi or USB. You may want to consider simply changing your mobile phone for one that has the ability to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot (Android or iPhone and probably others too) and move to an unlimited data tariff. That has the advantage that you don't have carry a separate device and that you only have one airtime contract but the disadvantage that you can only use you laptop or whatever on the internet when your phone is right by it (so you can't go up the pub while the missus is on facetwitter or whatever, for example).

Dunno if any of that helps....

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I have read that these are good, but a development of them called the Wirie is considerably better.

Sorry no experience, just read it on blogs.

Mike

The Wirie's a bit different in that it's meant to allow you pick up someone else's Wi-Fi at an unfeasibly long distance. The Mi-Fi allows you to connect to the Internet via the cellphone network by creating your own little Wi-Fi access point (at cell phone data access rates of course..). Having said that something like the Wirie or similar is often a better bet if you spend a long time overseas as it avoids roaming rates.

 

[Cookee]

Iphone's will also create a WiFi hotspot ..........

 

[Thepipdoc]

You may want to consider simply changing your mobile phone for one that has the ability to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot (Android or iPhone and probably others too) and move to an unlimited data tariff. That has the advantage that you don't have carry a separate device and that you only have one airtime contract but the disadvantage that you can only use you laptop or whatever on the internet when your phone is right by it (so you can't go up the pub while the missus is on facetwitter or whatever, for example).

Dunno if any of that helps....

Indeed it does!
Beteen us, my wife and I (sounds like royalty!) have both an Iphone, Ipad2 and a couple of laptops. I need access to variouswork related program's and do so using my laptop with the dodgy Vodafone dongle. Are you telling me I can use my wife's Iphone or Ipad to act as a modem?
If so, how?
Thanks

 

[longjohnsilver]

Indeed it does!
Beteen us, my wife and I (sounds like royalty!) have both an Iphone, Ipad2 and a couple of laptops. I need access to variouswork related program's and do so using my laptop with the dodgy Vodafone dongle. Are you telling me I can use my wife's Iphone or Ipad to act as a modem?
If so, how?
Thanks

I use my Ipad on the boat in the Dart with a 3 sim card either bought direct from 3, £20 for 3 months or 1 month for a fiver from the Apple shop. Works a treat for me in Dartmouth but no reception back home just outside Exeter.

 

[Thepipdoc]

I use my Ipad on the boat in the Dart with a 3 sim card either bought direct from 3, £20 for 3 months or 1 month for a fiver from the Apple shop. Works a treat for me in Dartmouth but no reception back home just outside Exeter.

Intersestingly I'm also on the Dart and my Vodafone dongle which I've used for about 12 months is very hit and miss.
I've just looked up how to configure an Iphone as a modem and now that I realise that this can be done I'm going to give this a try this weekend.
( where are you on the Dart?)

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Intersestingly I'm also on the Dart and my Vodafone dongle which I've used for about 12 months is very hit and miss.
I've just looked up how to configure an Iphone as a modem and now that I realise that this can be done I'm going to give this a try this weekend.
( where are you on the Dart?)

FYI I was in the Dart last week and got very good 3G reception on O2 with iphone and ipad.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

mifi is good if you use Linux as it gives you a wifi connection, whereas dongles generally don't work at all. You may also get G3+ connection speed depending on your provider.

My standard Vodafone dongle works fine with Ubuntu.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Intersestingly I'm also on the Dart and my Vodafone dongle which I've used for about 12 months is very hit and miss.
I've just looked up how to configure an Iphone as a modem and now that I realise that this can be done I'm going to give this a try this weekend.
( where are you on the Dart?)

On the trots just off Darthaven, 2 up from British Steel.