Verizon MIFI 2200 Review

After Disconnecting my Comcast Internet and and Cable Television and moving my television service to Dish Network, I found myself in need of internet service. I obtained a temporary use of a Verizon MIFI device. Very nice looking wireless internet device. One single button. You just connect the USB cable from the MiFi 2200 to your computer and instantly upon identifying the card, it opens as a storage device, allowing you to get the drivers right off of the MiFi 2200. Installation of the drivers is less than 3 minutes. Press the lighted button on top of the MiFi 2200 until the light on the side comes on, then open the VZ access software you just installed, and then click connect in the VZ Access manager, and you are on the internet ready to go.

Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200

Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200

Though the device allows you to connect multiple devices at one time, the 3G service, I doubt would handle much more than 1 computer. I have been seeing some very low signal reception and very slow speeds.

mifi on Verizons VZ access

mifi on Verizon

mifi bandwidth

mifi bandwidth

Though the speed test results say 1mbs, sometimes I find myself waiting like I was on dial up, for pages to load. The wait for youtube videos to load is sometimes up to 5 minutes. The monthly bandwidth cap is reached in the first week, and then this slow speed gets even worse.

For someone like me, the MIFI card is a pass. Meaning I will have to pass on getting this service.

Not much different from the results I see with my cricket phone.

Test Date: May 1, 2012 3:53:34 pm
Connection Type: EvdoA
Server: Temple, TX
Download: 2127 kbps
Upload: 794 kbps
Ping: 101 ms

External IP: xx.xxx.xxx.xx
Internal IP: xx.1xx.xx.xx
Latitude: xx.xxxxx
Longitude: -xx.xxxxx

 

Full scores:
looks: 10/10
Ease of use: 10/10
Reception: 3/10
Speeds: 2/10

Final score: 6/10

Increased cell phone signal free

Do you have bad reception with your phone like I do? Do you have issues getting a signal without holding your phone high above your head? Looking for a signal boost? Maybe this will help
We have all seen the ads for the sticker you are supposed to slap on to your battery and it looks kind of like a transformers logo, or the grid on a motherboard, and that sticker is supposed to increase your signal. The sticker usually sells for somewhere between a dollar and ten dollars.
Well. One day I got curious about alternative cell phone signal boosters.
There is the wifi antenna in my old busted up Toshiba laptop. The laptops wifi connector seems about the same size as what is in the cell phone for the external antenna.
but then. Then there is the ultimate hidden right under your nose out in the public jumping in your lap laughing at you, solution. Go buy a cd or dvd from walmart. Crack the case open and pull out the security tag. Peel it into the thin strip that has the motherboard grid looking thing on it. Take a bag tie and peel the outer strip off of it to expose the metal inside. Snip the stripped wire in 1/4.Take a small paneling nail and wrap the wire strip around that nail tightly but leave about 1/8cm sticking straight from one end. poke a pinhole in the security tag grip. Slide straight piece of the coiled sire though the security tag, from under side, then bend the newly exposed wire flat. lower your new device into the hole where the external antenna connects on your phone. Make sure the new spring of wire wraps around the antenna adapter. push all of the way down. Now either glue the new antenna down, or thin tape it, or hold it in place with the battery cover for your phone.
May not give you any reception, may increase your reception by quite a bit. For me, my signal never drops under one bar, in places where I was not getting a signal at all. and my phone usually can place calls with no signal.

Make Shift Antenna

Make Shift Antenna

I will have to try the wifi antenna and get back to you on whether it fits, or if the antenna even helps the signal or messes it up. but that will be another post. Will try and remember to link the two.

 

I love my little cricket phone, but since I am by a major radio tower, It is hard for me to get a signal, heck half the time my wifi is out for my comcast . It’s not comcast’s fault or Cricket’s fault at all. There is lots of disturbance in the area. LOTS.

 

Oh and one more thing, MAKE SURE THE SECURITY TAG IS DEACTIVATED!! You do not want to get tackled while walking out of Walmart or some other store, just after you shoved your hand in your pocket.

 

 

And now for an Android Device. In fact, a ZIO cell phone from Sanyo.

I just took a wire and untwined the metal fibers to get one metal fiber about 10 inches long and made a squiggle, then taped the metal wire to the inside of the battery backing. This actually helped stop the call drops and the internet connection is a considerable bit stronger.

When you have the backing off of the phone, note the antenna addon connectors. Bring the ends of the wire as close to those points as you can get. This should help. Well it works for me.

signal boost on ZIO

signal boost on ZIO

 

This is your Budget Tech Tip