Quick Hit: Novatel Wireless Inc.’s MiFi 4082 is an extremely compact mobile hotspot unit that provides easy access to mobile data services for multiple devices. The only downsides are those imposed by carrier partner Sprint Nextel through its rate plans and hit-or-miss network coverage.
Review: One of the greatest benefits to consumers from so-called “4G” services is the increased data speeds offered by the advanced networks. This increase typically provides network speeds multiple times faster than from current 3G technologies, along with the side benefit of lower latency.
These advances are most relevant to customers accessing the services through laptop computers where the embedded capabilities of the devices can take advantage of the increased network performance. Carriers have done an admirable job in providing devices that allow personal computers to access their data services, with the most compelling option being the mobile hotspot devices that allow multiple devices to share a single wireless connection.
One of the latest of these devices to cross our desk was the Novatel Wireless Inc. MiFi 4082 device compatible with Sprint Nextel Corp.’s CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision 3G network as well as its growing WiMAX-enabled 4G service. (It should be noted that Novatel has a trademark on the “MiFi” label that has been used by many to describe these mobile hotspot devices.)
The 4082 is a particularly small device can support up to five Wi-Fi connected devices, all sharing the 3G or 4G connection for backhaul. Sprint Nextel is currently selling the device for $80 with a two-year contract that requires a rate plan of $60 per month for unlimited usage when connected to 4G and 5 gigabytes of data transmission when connected to the carrier’s 3G service.
The device is easy to set up, sporting just a minimum of buttons and a small screen that provides network strength, battery life, GPS signal if selected and an indicator for the number of connected devices. One piece of information missing is some sort of indication as to whether the device is connected to the 3G network or 4G network, something that might be nice to know considering the variation of data provided by the required rate plans.
Thankfully the device uses a micro-USB connection to charge its battery, cutting down on the number of chargers the need to be carted around. Sprint Nextel claims four hours of battery life for the device when in use, a figure nearly matched during testing.
The 4082 also includes a slot for a microSD card, with support for up to 32 GB of memory. That memory can be shared amongst the computers connected to the device using Wi-Fi.
The device was used in both the Denver area as well as during a trip to Las Vegas, both markets where 3G coverage is abundant and 4G is offered, though more difficult to grasp. When outdoors, the device was able to pull in a 4G signal in most locations. However, when the action moved indoors, that signal strength varied greatly.
It must be noted that the MiFi device was able to pull in a 4G signal in places where a 4G-equipped smartphone was not.
When able to hold onto a steady 4G signal, the device provided network throughput speeds up to 8 megabits per second on the downlink, with more consistent speeds of around 3 Mbps. Uplink speeds peaked at around 1 Mbps, with occasional drops to around 300 kilobits per second. These speeds were consistent with what was produced by a WiMAX-equipped smartphone in the same areas.
More impressively were latency readings of less than 100 milliseconds, nearly matching wired connections.
A significantly greater percentage of the device’s usage occurred over a 3G connection where speeds ranged from 400 kbps to 1.2 Mbps on the downlink, and between 100 kbps and 400 kbps on the uplink.
Looking to stress the multiple device capabilities, we also ran a speed test with a laptop streaming live television using a Sling Media Inc. SlingBox device. Even with a HD-quality picture coming through on the laptop, the other device was still able to post download and upload speeds comparable to what was accomplished with just a single device connected to the 4082.
The only demerits for the device are related more to Sprint Nextel than the device itself. Data plans are still a bit on the high side, especially considering the data cap on 3G usage. Overage charges of .5 cents per megabyte could prove a wallet buster for some. For road warriors who are able to expense a data plan back to their employer, or for those that just need to be connected, whenever, wherever, the price plan is probably not a huge issue.
The other issue is the current unevenness of 4G coverage. While Sprint Nextel provides fairly detailed coverage maps showing where a customer should expect service, real-world experience shows those maps to be somewhat inaccurate. Throw in some usage while indoors and all bets are off.
Sprint Nextel and Clearwire have gone to lengths in touting their ability to extend coverage indoors despite the handicap of using the 2.5 GHz spectrum band for the service, but from trying to access the network in a variety of environmen
ts that appears to remain a challenge.
The Decision: Looking at the device strictly from its usability, I would give it something along the lines of a B+ top an A-.However, when factoring in the rate plan and coverage issues that come with the device, the rating would drop to a solid B.
