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Stop waiting for AT&T tethering, Sprint MiFi is rock solid in San Francisco

H

HiFiGuy528

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 24, 2008
1,876
65
I work in downtown S.F. and AT&T data service is next to unusable. I get Edge all day in the office (20th floor). Got tired of not being about to use my iPhone and MacBook pro I went ahead and got a Sprint MiFi. It's been a day now and the connection is ROCK SOLID. My iPhone and MacBook is online all day now with no drops. To my surprise, it even works on BART (underground train), all the way from home to work.
On top of that, I can now use my SlingBox app, Simpify Media 2 app (entire iTunes library on your iPhone), & Wunder Radio all day long. I got the MiFi for FREE from my local Sprint store (just ask for it and you'll get it free). No activation fee, no rebates, all I had to pay was $14 tax and I'm out the door with a new MiFi. My company get a service discount which brings the monthly service from $60 to $45. It's worth every penny! Now that I have both AT&T and Sprint for the road, I'll may not ever run into a dead zone.

Can you tell I am very happy. :) :)

SprintMobileHotspot-t.jpg
 
I'm sure it is rock solid.

Just as how AT&T signal is rock solid in NY....doesn't mean it's rock solid in the rural areas of Montana....
 
Yes there's a 5gb cap but I don't exceed that on my iPhone. Even if I had to pay full price $60 a month and $99 for the MiFi, it's worth it because I can actually use it. But I am only paying $45 and I got the MiFi for free so it is truely a deal for me. :). This is my idea for those in S.F. You New Yorkers are lucky to have good 3g but you don't have tethering without hacking.
 
DjAmTraX said:
Yes there's a 5gb cap but I don't exceed that on my iPhone. Even if I had to pay full price $60 a month and $99 for the MiFi, it's worth it because I can actually use it. But I am only paying $45 and I got the MiFi for free so it is truely a deal for me. :). This is my idea for those in S.F. You new yorkers are lucky to have good 3g but you don't have tethering without hacking.
Click to expand...

I was just worried that with the Slingbox and the other media streaming that the 5GB wouldn't be enough. These are cool though, sure better than the aircard plus an expensive router that you have to plug it into just to share it.

I assume security on that is like any other router?
 
jjk454ss said:
I was just worried that with the Slingbox and the other media streaming that the 5GB wouldn't be enough. These are cool though, sure better than the aircard plus an expensive router that you have to plug it into just to share it.

I assume security on that is like any other router?
Click to expand...

I am testing my data usage this month so I am not going to use more or less than my usual habits to see if I will hit the 5gb mark. The MiFi has an online data counter that could be reset each billing cycle to track usage. Will see if I exceed the cap.

Security is like all home routers. I do wish that it was 802.11n and not g. But you can't have it all I guess. :)
 
How large is it? How is it powered? What kind of battery life do you get? In what do you carry it?
 
Eso said:
How large is it? How is it powered? What kind of battery life do you get? In what do you carry it?
Click to expand...

Battery life is about 4 hours of use. I keep it in my laptop bag. It's completely wireless.
 

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DjAmTraX said:
But you can't connect your iPod Touch, iPhone & MacBook all at the same time. MiFi 2200 connects up to 5 devices.
Click to expand...

1) If you own both an iPod touch and an iPhone...um...
2) If you own an iPhone, you don't need an extra connection for it
3) If you've got a 3G dongle, you can make an ad hoc network
 
Michael CM1 said:
1) If you own both an iPod touch and an iPhone...um...
2) If you own an iPhone, you don't need an extra connection for it
3) If you've got a 3G dongle, you can make an ad hoc network
Click to expand...

The MacBook will have to stay on while in Adhoc.

I like having both iPod Touch & iPhone because i can listen to streaming music or Sling and send SMS, Twitter or gTalk at the same time. Can't multi-task with just the iPhone.
 
Question?

Does it come in colors (Your pic show it orange) and what iPhone case (orange) are you using. looks cool and should be very useful...:)
 
paul7218 said:
Does it come in colors (Your pic show it orange) and what iPhone case (orange) are you using. looks cool and should be very useful...:)
Click to expand...

I think that "color" you are see has more to do with the lighting condition than what it really is. Everything has that orange hue to it. The give away is look at the white headphone cable.
 
Nice, but you have data plan with iphone and mifi expense? :confused: I thought SF had tons of free hotspots?
 
Michael CM1 said:
At that price, you could get a 3G dongle from any of the big 4 cell providers.
Click to expand...

Michael CM1 said:
1) If you own both an iPod touch and an iPhone...um...
2) If you own an iPhone, you don't need an extra connection for it
3) If you've got a 3G dongle, you can make an ad hoc network
Click to expand...
So if the prices are the same, why would you not chose the MiFi? Nothing you listed above makes a good point for choosing a 3G dongle. :confused:
 
Where did you get the MiFi???

I called one Sprint dealer and they didn't know about getting it for free. Could you tell me where you got it, and maybe give a phone number. This sounds great and I want to get on board. Thanks for the cool info...:D
 
DjAmTraX said:
Can you tell I am very happy. :) :)

SprintMobileHotspot-t.jpg
Click to expand...

Could you ditch AT&T altogether and just use Skype? Could that work?
So you spend $300 early termination fee to get out of your AT&T contract, and then just use MiFi. Carry the thing in your pocket. (do you charge it at night, just like you do your iPhone?) Use Skype. Never pay another penny to the evil AT&T ever again. Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, Free at last. :)

How is the speed of the MiFi network?
 
Now that is an interesting idea! Problem, you still will need to JB touch to receive calls via skype or does skype work with push?

iphones4evry1 said:
Could you ditch AT&T altogether and just use Skype? Could that work?
So you spend $300 early termination fee to get out of your AT&T contract, and then just use MiFi. Carry the thing in your pocket. (do you charge it at night, just like you do your iPhone?) Use Skype. Never pay another penny to the evil AT&T ever again.
Click to expand...
 
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