It will depend on signal strength but if the signal is good you should get 3 to 4 hours from it during data transfers. I have a friend who has the Verizon one and that is what he said he gets from his. Standby is longer so if you are not heavily using it you will get longer. But if you are doing a lot of constant surfing that is about what you can expect.
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Pre-paid MiFi router- the ultimate iPad accessory!
- Thread starter Khurram
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It will depend on signal strength but if the signal is good you should get 3 to 4 hours from it during data transfers. I have a friend who has the Verizon one and that is what he said he gets from his. Standby is longer so if you are not heavily using it you will get longer. But if you are doing a lot of constant surfing that is about what you can expect.
VM needs to offer NON-expiring plans...
One good thing I would think is that you might be able to put the device somewhere in the room that it gets better access...and it won't have to work so hard to get a signal. With my iPad, on one side of the room, I get a 3g connection...that sometimes drops to Edge. But on he other side of the room, I don't get ANYTHING!
But regarding the notion of the VM WIFI device being something extra to LUG around vs. getting an iPad with 3g, it is not the size of the device that is a turn off...it is that it is yet another device to have to manage. GEE WIZ!!! Life is supposed to be EASIER with the iPad...kind of like...one device to rule them all...not have another device that has to be turned on and off...to worry about running out of juice...or charging up yet another device.
I think it is one thing to tether to a cell phone that you are going to already having to "manage"...but quite another to add ANOTHER device. But, really, the convenience of the built in 3g of the iPad is WORTH putting up with a few limitations. The price is right at least.
Now, when 4g comes to my smaller town (90miles east of Houston), then I may consider tethering to get faster speeds on the iPad...and drop the ipad plan down to $15/mo.
And I think it is a lack of competition that we don't have data plans like long distance calling cards. This business of data expiring at the end of the month needs to change...and it is going to take somebody being competitive and offer a data card that doesn't expire at the end of the month. Personally, I wouldn't support VM for doing it like this.
People should call and say, "Hey, I am interested in your data plan, but not if it is going to expire at the end of the month". Let em know! They will yield if enough people voice their opinion. Unacceptable things continue to happen as long as people remain quiet. So, speak up...they will listen.
I would buy one even though I have ATT unlimited 3g on my iPad, just to have a competing tower to connect to...but no way if the card is going to expire.
One good thing I would think is that you might be able to put the device somewhere in the room that it gets better access...and it won't have to work so hard to get a signal. With my iPad, on one side of the room, I get a 3g connection...that sometimes drops to Edge. But on he other side of the room, I don't get ANYTHING!
But regarding the notion of the VM WIFI device being something extra to LUG around vs. getting an iPad with 3g, it is not the size of the device that is a turn off...it is that it is yet another device to have to manage. GEE WIZ!!! Life is supposed to be EASIER with the iPad...kind of like...one device to rule them all...not have another device that has to be turned on and off...to worry about running out of juice...or charging up yet another device.
I think it is one thing to tether to a cell phone that you are going to already having to "manage"...but quite another to add ANOTHER device. But, really, the convenience of the built in 3g of the iPad is WORTH putting up with a few limitations. The price is right at least.
Now, when 4g comes to my smaller town (90miles east of Houston), then I may consider tethering to get faster speeds on the iPad...and drop the ipad plan down to $15/mo.
And I think it is a lack of competition that we don't have data plans like long distance calling cards. This business of data expiring at the end of the month needs to change...and it is going to take somebody being competitive and offer a data card that doesn't expire at the end of the month. Personally, I wouldn't support VM for doing it like this.
People should call and say, "Hey, I am interested in your data plan, but not if it is going to expire at the end of the month". Let em know! They will yield if enough people voice their opinion. Unacceptable things continue to happen as long as people remain quiet. So, speak up...they will listen.
I would buy one even though I have ATT unlimited 3g on my iPad, just to have a competing tower to connect to...but no way if the card is going to expire.
I'm just stuck and at a loss. I have a wifi iPad and a iPhone 4g. I also have a jail broken iPhone 3G that is now effectively turned off.
I "need" some device to provide Internet connectivity from time to time. So I can either buy this device (or something similar) or add my 3G phone to my family plan and use MyWi.
What do you all think?
David
I "need" some device to provide Internet connectivity from time to time. So I can either buy this device (or something similar) or add my 3G phone to my family plan and use MyWi.
What do you all think?
David
The mifi is smaller than the iPhone if that helps any. How is your sprint coverage? Better than AT&T coverage?
I don't have firsthand experience with the MiFi, but I think it's the perfect solution for someone that needs the occasional data. I was using my jailbreak 3G with MyWi and I wasn't 100% satisfied. It was nice, but not the most robust solution.
Honestly I have no experience with Sprint so I don't know. The size really doesn't matter as either device fits fine in the bag I carry my iPad in. I'm starting to at least lean towards just adding my 3G to the family plan as I think I can get by on the lower tiered data plan. $10 for adding the line and 15 for the lower plan. So that's 25 a month with no up front cost.
If I see that's not working I may go with the Virgin device.