Sprint Novatel MiFi 2200 Review

For the past few years, the best way to get connectivity on the go has been the mobile broadband card. Sure, many phones make it easy to tether to your laptop, but it just isn’t ideal. There are a number of manufacturers out there making cards for USB, Express or PCMCIA slots that work great for one computer on the go, but what if you have more than one device that you want connected? Enter the MiFi by Novatel Wireless. The MiFi 2200 is an intelligent mobile hotspot, allowing you to extend your Mobile Broadband (EVDO Rev A) experience beyond just your laptop to any Wi-Fi enabled device such as a camera, mobile phone, music player, personal media playes or portable game console. It supports up to 5 devices at a time, so you can share your high-speed connection with whomever you choose. The best part is, there are no cables, no software, and truly no hassle to get up and running. Just push a button and you’re ready to surf. The Sprint Novatel MiFi 2200 used for this review was provided by Sprint. The MiFi is available on Sprint for $99.99 with a 2-year contract.

In the Box

• Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200
• AC Charger
• Standard 1150mAh Lithium Ion Battery
• Carry Pouch
• Getting Started Guide

Specs

• Technology: CDMA/EVDO Rev. A
• Frequencies: 850/1900
• Weight: 2.05 oz
• Size: 3.50″ x 2.32″ x 0.35″
• Cubic Volume: 2.84”
• Talk Time: 4 hours of connectivity

Software
The MiFi does not come with any software, and all administration is done through a web interface at 192.168.1.1 once you power the device on and connect to the open network it creates. There is a printed user guide that walks the user through the activation process. From the time I turned it on until the network was secured and I was surfing was less than 5 minutes.


Hardware
There are a few different models of the MiFi currently available. Here in the US, currently, there are 2 models, one for Verizon and one for Sprint. The Sprint version that we are reviewing has a brushed metal top with a rubberized plastic bottom. Compare this to the Verizon counterpart which is a glossy plastic top (image courtesy of Slashgear).

Functionality aside, there is a definitely size benefit to this type of device vs. a PCMCIA card. Below, the Novatel Wireless Merlin S720 on top, MiFi in the middle, and Sierra Wireless Compass 597 on the bottom.

However, compare these 3 devices to each other on the side profile, and you’ll see just how small the MiFi is. At about an 1/8th of an inch taller, and the same width of a credit card, it’s .3 inch thickness is just about perfect to throw in a briefcase or shirt pocket when on the go.

When powered on, the MiFi has 3 lights that illuminate. There is a solid yellow one on top under the Sprint logo, a solid green light under the power button, and a blinking green one on the side that notes the device is sending and receiving data.

The only port on the device is the microUSB charging port on the front edge. It should be noted that the device does not come with a microUSB cable for USB charging, however, you can use any cable to do so, however, the device will then only function on the single device it is connected to.

Under the battery cover is the 1150mAh battery.

Speed
Speed was relatively consistent, and I felt speeds were consistent to those of the other Sprint cards I have used. Here is a photo of 4 speed tests that were performed. Download speeds were between 600-800kbps, and upload speeds ranged from 200-300kbps.

Experiences
I had the opportunity to travel with the MiFi while reviewing it, and found it to be very solid while in major metro areas. However, like any other Sprint device, once you leave the city, your service can drop down to the older 1XRTT network. This is where the Verizon version of this product excels. The Verizon 3G network is the largest and most widespread of any here in the US. So, if you need to ensure you have 3G coverage in the most places, the Sprint version may not be your best choice.

So when is 3G over Wi-Fi better than built-in 3G on a device? When you have an iPhone of course! The iPhone’s diverse range of applications makes it one of the most powerful handhelds on the market. However, Apple has limited many applications to only run on Wi-Fi networks in an effort to not overload the HSPA and EDGE cellular networks. Well guess what, when you connect your iPhone (or any other Wi-Fi enabled phone for that matter) you can take advantage of full application functionality. One example of this is the application SlingPlayer. Those that listen to the podcasts know that I am a fan of Sling, and have 2 boxes in family members homes in other states. This allows (among other things) for me to watch sports events of the teams that I follow both at home on my PC connected to my TV, but also on my phones wherever I go. Because SlingPlayer on the iPhone is limited to only function on Wi-Fi, the MiFi is great to have, by creating hotspots wherever you go, allowing for TV viewing anywhere. This may sound like a lot of work to go though, but if you are in a spot where you want to catch something being broadcast live, it is a functional workaround.

One thing while using the device while moving around though is that unless you have a browser window open to the configuration page, you don’t know how the service level is.  The Sprint connection manager that you can use when you have a PC card allows for easy viewing of the network connection and throughput.  Not a big deal, but something to note.

Overall
The MiFi is definitely the future of mobile broadband. If you want to choose a way that you can connect any device to the internet while on the go, the MiFi can’t be beat. The universal nature of Wi-Fi, coupled with the ability to connect up to 5 users at a time makes it attractive to a wide range of applications.

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