Posted by RickG/CA on 6/15/09 2:55pm
Msg #292352

Techno Gadgets: 2 Thumbs Up for Mifi

Just returned from a houseboating vacation surrounded by dense forest and steep hills (the lake is at 70% of normal). Out in the middle of nowhere my brother pulls out a MiFi personal hotspot router from Verizon. (Not a plug for any particular carrier, just sayin'). We were able to connect 4 laptops and a phone all at once. Obviously speed was a bit slower with all the devices connected, however WE WERE ON A LAKE.

This bad boy had 2-3 hour battery life and could be charged via USB or plug in. We were all quite surprised at the signal and reception, it was best on the top deck. In our little cove my Sprint reception was low and mostly using digital roam, so we were able to make and receive calls using my phone. AT&T coverage was not existant, except in the middle of the lake and at high points near the marina. No one had Verizon, other than the little mifi router.

At $60 a month, it's not very cost effective for most users. But for S&G's it was a nice little gadget to have for the quiet time during the evening. My brother had it delivered to our house the day before we left and will return it before the end of the 30 day return policy. Which leads me to thinking that this could make money by renting it out. I wouldn't want to commit to a 2-year service contact, however I would consider paying $50-75 for a week.