WiFi to Go, No Cafe Needed

[mistral blue]

I'm not technically savvy, but this looks like a cool little gizmo: the Novatel MiFi 2200.

YouTube - Verizon/Novatel MiFi Personal Hot Spot - NYTimes.com/Video

[Mrcrowley]

Originally Posted by mistral blue

I'm not technically savvy, but this looks like a cool little gizmo: the Novatel MiFi 2200.

Hey it sounds like a cell phone internet router kinda you still need cell phone signal to make it work . BUT neet idea though . Here is the review:
Review

[easyride]

I really don`t see much different from putting my Verizon modem in the machine or carrying it in my pocket,unless you have your friends over to play on the computer.
Dave

[wahoonc]

We use cellular based WiFi for our remote jobsites. The one I currently have uses a PCMIA card from Verizon. The card plugs into the router and anybody that has the WEP code can get on line. We seldom have more than a couple of us on it at time.

Aaron

[TBRich]

Interesting... We use an Alltel (recently bought by Verizon) air card now...and have been happy. I will check it out when my current contract is up...hopefully by then it will be a bit more robust and will be available through Alltel branding. Don't you just love technology??

[wahoonc]

Finally got the video to load (got a sllloooowwww connection at the motel) I basically do the same thing with my Crackberry. I hook my netbook up via Bluetooth without taking the 'berry out of it's holster, read my email, do a few quick forum checks, shut down and be on my merry way.

Aaron

[user497]

What a great little device. The difference between this and a cellular PCMCIA or USB card is that multiple laptops (or other devices) can use it at the same time. My wife and I both spend too much time on our laptops so this would be perfect for us. The other difference is that since this has its own power source, it would wouldn't darin the laptop as quickly as a PCMCIA card (and USB I imagine but I don't know for sure). If you google for reviews of this product everyone seems to praise this device. Note that there is both a Verizon and a Sprint version. The Spring version gives you more functionality (including some GPS functionality) but their plans start at $60 per month. Verizon blocked some of the extra functionality but has a plan starting at $40 per month. I'm not sure who has the better network coverage over the US though.

[mistral blue]

This post is coming to you with the assistance of my new MiFi from an area I was previously unable to access the web from. Speed is very good. So far. I also bought a vehicle charger and a home charger at about $30 each. I'm sending back the home charger because the device came with one. I wish I had known that ahead of time. I thought I would post a video to see how that works out. Try dbl clicking if it doesn't work with one click. I went with the 250MB plan @ $40.

YouTube - Jack Black and Will Ferrell "Get Off the Stage" Oscar® song

[zevrosenthal]

Just got a verizon version mifi and it works great! Getting very good reception even in areas with mediocre reception to the phone. Not cheap but allows me to work while "on the road"

[Jim Foster]

WE use an AT&T 3G air card (free at Costco with two year sign up at $60/month with 5GB per month usage, way more than enough) which plugs into any USB port on any computer. If we want to get on line with more than one computer, we plug the air card into our NetGear 3G Broadband Wireless Router MBR624GU ($119.95 at Frys) which runs on 12V and comes with a 110v adaptor. That way friends we are camped with can, when given the code, get on line as well.
We also use this setup at our home in Walnut Grove, CA, which is way out in the country. There, we have to use an outside antenna with an amplifier to enhance the cell service. The only other broadband in Walnut Grove is the local phone company, also $60 per month, and no good on the road.
Works well for us.

Looks like the MiFi would do much the same thing.