Review of the Samsung SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot for Verizon 4G LTE
Speedtest.Net speed tests of the SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot
Tests on the LC11 using the Verizon 4G LTE network were done at different times of day, in and around metro New York. The web based Speedtest.net network speed test was used for all tests, except the two-device test that additionally used Speedtest.net App on an Apple iPhone4. All tests were based on connection to the Verizon 4G LTE network only (3G not used or considered) The connected device was an HP EliteBook Laptop PC, connected over WiFi N.
Test #1: Weekday; 1:30PM; Nassau County (Long Island)
17.12 Mbps Download / 6.62 Mbps Upload; Ping/Latency: 69 ms <<<< Highest Speed
Test #2: Saturday; 1:30PM; Nassau County (Long Island)
12.33 Mbps Download / 4.99 Mbps Upload Ping/Latency: 72 ms
Test #3: Weekday; 6:10PM; Midtown Manhattan (probably one of the most congested times of day in Manhattan)
8.72 Mbps Download / 5.12 Mbps Upload; Ping/Latency: 101 ms
Test #4: Weekday; 9:45AM; Hoboken, New Jersey
13.01 Mbps Download / 5.89 Mbps Upload; Ping/Latency: 81 ms
Test #5: Weekday; 2:40PM; Nassau County (Long Island)
Two concurrently connected devices: One Netflix streaming movie in HD on
Laptop and iPhone4 connected as second device to the SCH-LC11 Mobile
Hotspot.
Concurrent speeds as tested:
Laptop: 9.55 Mbps Download (latency & upload speed not considered)
iPhone4: 5.01 Mps Download (latency & upload speed not considered)
File Download Tests:
14 MB file downloaded from Mediafire.com ……19 seconds
10 MB file downloaded via FTP….. 11 seconds
10 MB file uploaded to DropBox.com …..24 seconds
Tracking Monthly Data Usage on the SCH-LC11
One feature that we wished the SCH-LC11 had was a more convenient way to check on the amount of data consumed in the current monthly billing cycle directly on the device itself with an onboard display panel or by using the device’s web based control panel.
The only way to track download and upload consumption is through Verizon's website. The hassle about this method is that you need to submit your account information to receive a temporary password to first access the Verizon site. The password is only sent out by e-mail or SMS, and since this hotspot does not support SMS, the only way to get it is with e-mail.
With the device it is so wicked fast, it can be tempting to download at your hearts desire, movies-music-files- big files, but obviously you need to keep in the boundaries of your monthly service agreement, so checking the download status is pretty important, especially towards the end of the month when you might be reaching the 5 GB or 10 GB limit.
Battery Life & High Temperature Device Operation.
For testing the battery life of the SCH-LC11, we utilized the LAPTOP battery test, in the “web surfing – Wi-Fi” mode. The same Laptop (HP EliteBook) was used for battery tests as was the speed tests. The LC11 mobile hotspot’s default idle battery settings were restored to factory settings. Three tests were done, each starting with a fully charged battery, ending with total battery drainage and the hotspot shutting down. The results of the three battery life test sessions were 3 hours, 33 minutes; 3 hours 39 minutes; and 3 hours 33 minutes. So it seems it’s safe to say that the LC11 has a three and a half hour battery life, based on continual use.
Based on our other tests with the MiFi 2372 and MiFi 4082 4G hotspots, the LC11 falls a bit short in battery life. Perhaps this may be attributed to the higher than average amount of heat given off by the device when in 4G LTE mode, which puts a larger strain on the battery than normal (?). The three and a half hours of battery life is based on “continual use” but using the hotspot with “normal everyday business” type of use, we never once ran out of battery charge, from the full charge at the start of the day, to the moment we put away the hotspot on the charger for the next day. We would imagine that the majority of potential owners of the LC11 hotspot would be concerned if the hotspot is going to last them the duration of their day. We are pretty sure that even though the battery life is three and half hours with continual use, for all practical purposes, most users should be able to utilize the LC11 for the duration of their workday – 8 to 12 hours with typical use that requires on-and-off access to the web. It’s hard to imagine a user who regularly and literally needs, 3 1/2 hours of nonstop, sustained downloading and/or uploading of data without break and without access to DC power. In summary, we don’t see the battery life imposing any real practical limits on the typical user.
One rather unique characteristic of the SCH-LC11 hotspot is that it puts the “HOT” in hotspot to a new, very literal way. While carrying the Samsung hotspot on a shirt pocket, the rear battery of the device would get pretty close to what we would call "hot". It was not “burning hot” by any means, its just that we’ve never seen a hotspot get this heated before. We checked some online forums and confirmed that the device does indeed run fairy hot, especially in 4G mode. We also read several threads that Samsung has apparently acknowledged this condition, and the heat issue will be lessened to some extent in an upcoming firmware updates. The good news in that any reduction in heat dissipation from a battery powered device will very likely equate to longer battery life, as the production of heat, intended or unintended is extremely draining on a lithium-ion battery. The energy spent on production of heat would hopefully be recovered in the form of more powerful device utilization or longer battery life.
Upfront and Long Term Costs of the SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot
The Samsung SCH-LC11 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot lists for $99, but can be had for under 20 dollars at some retailers when purchased with a two year service contract. Expect to pay between $250 and $350 for a brand new SCH-LC11 with a no-contract option. Another option is to grab a pre-owned (or sometimes ever brand new) device on Ebay at well below $250 – just make sure the SIM card serial number is validated by Verizon – this should be stated and guaranteed by the Ebay seller.
If you have more than one device or additional people who need to share the hotspot, a data plan cost of 50 bucks a month is a pretty reasonable way to get multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices online at blazing speeds, all at the same time. With judicious use of large downloads or file transfers, the 5 to 10 GB monthly data allowance should suffice for a large percentage of users. Final Thoughts and Summary of the SCH-LC11
Final Thoughts and Summary of the Samsung SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot
Summary of Advantages:
- The fastest 4G Mobile Hotspot for both downloads, uploads and network latency that Mobilehotspot.com has ever reviewed.
- Excellent signal strength, and dense 4G coverage with Verizon 4G LTE in about 100 metro areas in North America.
- State of the art technology: Built 4G LTE (the furture of 4G protocals) and Wireless N for maximum connectivity performance.
- Extremely easy setup and configuration; easy to use web based admin portal; little or no initial device configuration to start using the hotspot.
- The furthest distance Wi-Fi radius we’ve ever tested on any mobile hotspot: up to 169 feet outdoors with clear line-of-sight…nearly twice as much as any other mobile hotspot tested.
- Small, lightweight and durable construction; a nice “high tech”, unobtrusive look.
Summary of the SCH-LC11 Disadvantages:
- Lacks some basic features other hotspots have, including Micro-SD card slot for auxillary data storage, USB tethering and integrated GPS.
- Only two monthly data plans available: $50 for 5GB or $80 for 10GB; No unlimited data plan and no lesser priced plans for light users (for example "$30 per month for 2 GB")
- The hotspot tends to operate very hot when in 4G mode, in as much as it is definitely noticeable and somewhat uncomfortable if carried in shirt pocket
- Lack of external status panel on the hotspot inself, to report actual battery life, device settings, etc
- No way to set signal preference to 3G over 4G to conserve battery power.
Final Conclusion
The SCH-LC11 mobile hotspot is a great choice for business users who need reliable high speed data access in major metro areas. It’s also practical device for students and families , especially those with kids and teens who want to get online with their laptops or iPods, quickly and easily when out and about– just be sure to keep an eye on the monthly usage.
The Samsung SCH-LC11 mobile hotspot is a real breakthrough, and if it were not some of the absent features like an LCD status window and USB tethering, we would honestly declare this mobile hotspot a “category killer” – that how great it’s form, function, and performance speed are for all other aspects. Even with some moderately significant disadvantages, we still are able to strongly recommend this mobile hotspot to anyone desiring raw, incredibly fast 4G performance, and confidently select the Samsung SCH-LC11 Mobile Hotspot on Verizon 4G LTE as MobileHotspot.com Editors Choice for 4G Mobile Hotspots
Reviewed by Editorial Staff of MobileHotspot.com: June 2011
