A closer look at the MiFi’s 5GB monthly data cap
The recent rise in popularity of MiFi and Mobile Hotspot technology has people interested in getting their own subscriptions for wireless broadband internet. The new generation of tiny pocket sized mobile hotspots has made it possible for everyone from casual to hardcore internet users to connect to the internet from anywhere and at anytime, practically wherever a cellular signal is available.
Along with this instant popularity come a few questions. Are the new generation MiFi mobile hotspots really that fast? Could these tiny, self-contained device really connect five devices to it all at once - yet deliver meaningfully high amounts of bandwidth, such as Streaming HiDef Video? And one of the most asked questions regarding this – just what exactly do these "data caps" of 5 to 10 GB mean?
For starters, the typical five gigabyte (ranging from 300MB to 10 GB) cap is imposed by all cellular networks to keep the load within their networks manageable, and allow equity for all it's users. It's easy to say "why don't they just let people download as much as they need?". The problem with this issue is that mobile broadband would loose it "congestion point" status.
Think of it this way: If the water utility gave "unlimited water" for the same price to everyone, for the first week or two everyone would think it's a bargain of a lifetime. But when everyone's water pressure drops from 50 PSI to 10 PSI, and it takes five times longer for a shower, they start to realize that maybe the"unlimited" part for everyone isn't such a great idea, especially when only 10% of the homeowners are accounting for 90% of the water use - simply because they leave every single faucet in their house running 24 hours a day. While this may be a grossly exaggerated example, we think you might get an idea of why it's important to keep the commodity-based aspect of mobile broadband intact for the greater good of all of its users.
As for 5GB, that may not sound like much but take these examples into consideration – to reach 5GB, you’d need any one of the following to eat up 5 gigs of data.
33,333 webpage visits (150KB each)
1,250 downloaded songs from iTunes (4MB each)
1,000 3-minute YouTube videos (5MB each)
200 hours of 56K audio stream (25MB per hour)
167 5-minute iTunes videos (30MB each)
25 45-minute TV show episodes from iTunes (200MB each),
97 hours of video video chat (52MB per hour bitrate),
260 hours of World of Warcraft online gaming (16MB per hour rate),
By way of comparison, 5GB is a represents a fairly overwhelming amount of digital content or duration of online experience, quite possibly more than an average internet user would consume, over even two months.
When you divide the 5GB capacity into 30 days, that’s roughly 167MB per day, and that's assuming you use the device EVERY day. For average users who frequently check their e-mail, surfs the web for a couple of hours, and watches online videos whenever something viral comes up, that’s a lot of bandwidth to spend. Even more "heavy duty" web users would need to make an effort to fill that 5GB monthly cap. Every mobile provider allows their users to check the exact usage for the month with a simple click, so actual usage can monitored real-time. The reported number is how much you’ve spent month-to-date and how much you’re under the 5GB cap for the remainder of the month.
What people are fussing about over the 5GB cap is the mere presence of it. Why is there a cap? A lot of people think that the cap is very limiting, that it doesn’t really give room for the user to do much with the internet. As discussed, 5GB is already a lot of content, and considering that wireless broadband connections are usually the secondary method of connection for most the 5GB cap is very much adequate for what the laptop or portable device is assigned to do.
Granted, 5 Gigs will not go very far when it comes to large volume downloads such as you would encounter with activities like peer-to-peer file sharing, USENET binary groups, and Bittorrent. These type of services could eat up 5 GB often within an hour, so obviously we really can't compare apples to apples with the type of activity that users would expect to do with these services.
But again, for most "typical Internet users", the amount of bandwidth that is required on the client side is actually decreasing. More often, companies are designing the web experience from the mobile perspective. What this means is that the least common denominator becomes the handheld mobile device. Unlike five years ago when the desktop PC was the dominant denominator, developers and architects of the new generation of the web take into account that mobile users will probably be the majority soon enough. By its nature, mobile users are constrained in their bandwidth availability, thus as time goes on less and less footprint is placed on the client side, but yet still achieve the same end result.
So when you hear the 5GB data cap, don’t be alarmed. It’s not something which limits your internet experience for all practical purposes.. It actually enhances it, ensuring the providers 3G and 4G back-bone can handle the load of all the connections. The 5GB cap isn’t a hindrance, but a necessity for good service to all mobile broadband and mobile hotspot users.
The MiFi 4082: A Viable Replacement for Wired Broadband in the Home?
URGENT NOTICE, OCT 23th 2011: Sprint has just announced the end of "Unlimited Data" 4G. This means that normal monthly download/upload limits of 5 to 10GB will now apply to all existing and new customers of their mobile broadband data plans (does not include sprint smartphones or iPhones). Mobilehotspot.com, understands Sprint's need to manage it's network impact, but disagrees to the across-the-line termination of "unlimited 4G data". MobileHotspot.com no longer can recommend the MiFi 4082 for Sprint WiMAX to users with high volume data bandwidth.
Can you save up to $1000 per year by swapping your existing Cable Broadband with Sprint MiFi 4G? We take a look...
A new debate arises after the release of the new generation of 4G mobile hotspots, such as the MiFi 4082 4G Mobile Hotspot . Can wireless broadband technology upstage the tried and tested wired home broadband connections? Is the MiFi 4G device a feasible replacement for your home's wired cable modem, FIOS, or DSL connection? If so, what features and benefits would be sacrificed, and what is the potential cost savings?…in other words, it may be possible, but is it “worth it”?
The MiFi 4082 4G mobile hotspot by Novatel is sold by Sprint along with their Unlimited 4G Data plan in the United States. The 4082 hotspot has an effective indoor range of about 40 feet within typical homes with wood and drywall construction. On the road, it has a battery life of up to four hours with continuous usage and forty hours in standby. In the case of the assessing the practicality of replacing an existing stationary, wired broadband connection, the battery life is not really a factor, as it will usually be AC powered.
The MiFi 4082 connects to Sprint’s 4G WiMax 4G wireless network and transforms the 4G (or 3G) signal into a standard Wi-Fi signal – exactly like the Wi-Fi access point you’re likely have in your home now. The MiFi 4082 mobile hotspot is a clear winner outside of the home where it been battle tested, so in an effort to compare "apples-to-apples" ,the merits and detractions of each solution must be carefully compared. When the question of whether or not Sprint’s 4G service can offer a viable replacement for wired broadband, the answer seem yes “on paper” as well as based on theory – but theory rarely equates to reality, so will the 4082 hold up in the real world use of a typical family?
The Need for Unlimited 4G Data Plan
The reason we chose the Sprint MiFi 4082 as a candidate that could potentially replace a wired broadband is the fact that Sprint is the only carrier that truly offers unlimited use 4G. We did not consider T-Mobile’s hotspot and data plan, as their “Unlimited” plan is actually severely limited (in our opinion), especially in regard to a possible substitute to fixed, wired broadband.
Without unlimited use high speed (4G), it would hardly be worth the effort to consider a plan with limited (such as 5GB per month) use and overage fees. For home broadband use, we’re talking about relying on the mobile hotspot to serve up it’s own “Triple Play” (Video, Voice, Internet) for the entire family. For those who are new to the term, that means a setup where we connect a VOIP Phone system like Vonage or Skype, an IP-TV solution like Netflix or Hulu Plus over Roku or Apple-TV, and finally up to three users who connect to the web directly through the MiFi 4082.
Price and Best Data Plan or Home Broadband
The data service plan for the Sprint MiFi 4082 Mobilehotspot range from $60 to $90 per month. As mentioned, 4G is served up in a “as much as you can eat” buffet each month. The difference in the data plan price points is simply for the 3G usage. For 60 bucks, you are allowed 5GB per month of 3G usage and 10GB or 3G for 90 bucks. A prerequisite for considering the 4082 Mobile Hotspot as a the virtual nucleus of your internet connected world at home is contingent on the presence of a strong and consistent 4G signal where the hotspot will be installed.
With that assumption, there’s no reason to subscribe to anything higher then the $60 plan, since you will not likely be relocating the hotspot to areas of questionable 4G coverage – in other words, for the majority of the time, the hotspot will say in a fixed location with a steady 4G signal presence – and consume a small, predictable volume of 3G bandwidth
Cost Savings vs Wired Broadband
In order to figure out the if swapping out your wired broadband for a MiFi 4082 running on Sprint’s 4G WiMax, it must be weighed against the “normalized” cost of a typical cable providers “Triple Play” offering. Cable companies are famous for getting households hooked on their TV-Phone-Web (Triple Play) packages. The reason is they almost always offer their triple-play bundle at $90 to $100 per month. The caveat is that the price is fixed at under a hundred bucks for the first year only. On month 13, the rates jump up to an average around $160 to $190 per month! For this comparison, we’ll figure $175 per month.as the normalized monthly cost for the cable operators triple play package,.
For comparable services that can be used with the MiFi 4082 4G hotspot, let’s break it down with one closely comparable bundle, with the cost factored across one year. This bundled cost assumes the upfront price of the 4082 hotspot at 150 bucks.
(Typical) Upfront cost of the MiFi 4082 hotspot $150
12 Months Sprint 4G @ $60 per month $720
12 Months Premium Skype VOIP @ $9 per month $108
12 Month Netflix Streaming or movies @ $8 per mo. $96
12 Months Hulu+ for network TV shows @$8 per mo. $96
TOTAL YEARLY COST: $1,170
Now, compared to the yearly cost of a fixed broadband triple play from a cable provider @ $175 per month = $2,100
The potential net savings from switching from wired broadband to wireless 4G with the Sprint 4082 4G Mobile Hotspot is $930 per year. Not too bad!
Advantage and Disadvantages of Wireless Broadband 4G vs. Cable/FiOS
Advantages:
- Upward of $1000 per year total savings easily possible
- Flexibility to easily move the mobile hotspot as needed and where needed.
- Take your broadband with you on vacations or trips…what good is broadband at home if you’re not there to use it?
- Data-Only (4G) plans from wireless providers are often subject to less taxes and fees than FCC imposed surcharges that are typical with voice/telephony services.
Disadvantages
- Will need to rely on digital antenna for local Live TV
- Little or no regularly scheduled TV shows, limited to streaming shows and on-demand features. Loss of cable providers own channels, such as local news.
- Slower Speeds: Sprint’s 4G WiMAX typically offers 3 to 6 Mpbs download speeds, compared with 10+ Mbps of cable broadband.
- Wireless 4G WiMAX is more susceptible to interruptions due to severe weather than wired broadband.
- Will need a patchwork of various services and companies to put your own “triple play” equivalent together. Separate billing, accounts, and setup can be a hassle.
Speed Expectations: 4G WiMAX vs. Cable
The MiFi 4G will deliver around 3 to 6 Mbps download speed, however, in dense urban areas, you may see around half that speed. Cable modems are generally 10 Mbs or more, while FIOS is around 25 Mbps. The speed winner on face value is clearly wired broadband. Though network and cable companies cringe at the contention, but the practical reality is that not everyone needs 10+ Mbps download speeds. Remember browsing in the web in the late 1990's with a 56K modem? It may sound ridiculous, but for regular, everyday "web stuff" (such as Facebook, e-mail, andTwitter) 56K (that 0.05 Mbps) is not too as slow as you might assume. Not counting video, music and multimedia related content, the average website need far less bandwidth than the typical site in 2001 did. Not that we are in any way saying the 56K is a workable speed for today’s digital lifestyle, far from it – we just wanted to make the analogy clear that you often could do with far less bandwidth than you might believe – and you may not even notice it.
This is due to the explosion of mobile devices accessing the web. Web engineers design and optimize the web’s user interactivity with the least-common-denominator of the average wireless mobile user in mind. Bottom line, you probably need far less bandwidth that you imagine.
Take this example to mind: The Sprint 4G WiMAX running at 4 Mbps can perform all of the following at the same time:
1. Steam a movie in HD to Xbox or PS3 (~1.5 Mbps rate)
2. Two way high quality phone call over Vonage (0.15 Mbps)
3. Two users surfing the web over Wi-FI (0.60 Mbps)
4. Realtime XBOX Live Call of Duty multiplayer game (0.25 Mbps)
As you can see, the whole family can keep busy, each connected to their own service or site, without any stutters, drops, and freezes. Think of bandwidth like water pressure, it works well because not every single faucet, sink, shower, or toilet is in use at once.
Factors to Consider with Wireless Broadband for the Home
If you are a person who lives on the go who prefers to always have their connection where they go, the MiFi 4GMobileHotspot may be a great alternative. After all, the MiFi device can always follow along on your ride, be it at home or on the road - It’s assuring to know you will always have access to a fast connection.
The MiFi 4G is likely NOT going to be a realistic replacement for your home broadband if you have a need for the mobile and wired environments to coexist. For example, you might have GotoMyPC.com setup on your desktop PC at home, and need the ability to reach the desktop remotely. This will require an “always on” solution that is best served by wired broadband.
A mobile broadband solution such as the MiFi 4082 is not a suitable solution for those who need the extreme speeds and massive download capabilities of cable modems or FiOS. This would be users who download tens or hundreds of gigabytes per month from Torrent sites, Usenet newsgroups, and P2P file sharing tools.
Conclusion: The MiFi 4G was never intended or marketed as a full time replacement for a wired home broadband connection, however in our opinion there is a fairly large user base that could be called the "constantly connected family" who could greatly benefit from a practical device that can provide both mobile and stationary broadband service for voice and internet at a substantial cost savings over traditional plans.
The MiFi 4082 Mobile Hotspot can save time, money,and headaches.
Does MiFi 4082 4G Mobile Hotspot + Sprint's Unlimited 4G data Usage = A Perfect Pair?
URGENT NOTICE, OCT 23th 2011: Sprint has just annouced the end of "Unlimited Data" 4G. This means that normal monthly download/upload limits of 5 to 10GB now apply to all exsiting and new customers. Miobilehotspot.com, while understanding Sprint's need to manage it's network quality, strongly objects to the across-the-line termination of unlimited 4G delivered data for it's existing customers who SIGNED CONTRACTS with the assumption of unlimited data 4G service. These customers must pay exit fees of up to $250 or more to get out their Sprint contract. For this reason and other reasons, MobileHotspot.com no longer can recommend the MiFi 4082 to users with high volume data bandwidth.
The MiFi 4082 4G mobile hotspot that Sprint released in late 2010, and to in conjunction with its manufacturing partner, Novatel Wireless, has become the hotspot and data plan that a huge number of people have been clamoring for.
The 4082 4G Hotspot weighs in at only 2.9 ounces and is roughly the size of about 9 stacked credit cards. The MiFi 4G portable hotspot is also totally Plug and Play and does not require any software installation to activate, unlike its Verizon counterpart. From the factory , the mobile router has 4 hours of running battery time (or 40 hours standby time) Several vendors have filled the niche of extended duration batteries for a mobile hotspots, including the MiFi 4082. Just about every modern mobile hotspot has an extended battery pack available, that will allow up to 12 hours of continuous, uninterrupted use of the device. One of the best retailers for mobile hotspot battery packs is 3Gstore.com
The MiFi 4082 is currently the only 4G mobile hotspot that offer TRUE unlimited and non-throttled 4G downloads and uploads. What this means is that you can do things like watch Hi-Def streaming movies and videos from Netflix, download full albums from iTunes and share large files across the web without that nagging worry that you're going to exceed your monthly download limit, an often all-to-common concern that tends to be in the back of the mind of mobile hotspot owners using the Verizon LTE 4G Network.
The Sprint MiFi 4082 utilizes the same 3G/4G data plans as Sprint’s other a mobile broadband monthly data plan that ranges from $50 to $90 per month, depending on the amount of 3G usage allowances. The MiFi 4082 Mobile Hotspot also has just about every modern robust security feature built in, such as WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS, and MAC Filtering. It is also universally compatible with every device that has Wi-Fi built in, ranging from wireless “B” all the way to wireless “N”. The MiFi 4082 supports up to 5 connected users in Wi-Fi mode, in addition to one USB/Tether connected user, for up to 6 effective concurrent users.
The MiFi 4082 mobile hotspot, when acquired in conjunction with a 2 year data plan commitment, can be had for as low as $150 (with some merchants offering the 4082 for much less than $100 when you buy the data service).
The Novatel MiFi 4082 is a prime candidate for enabling an entire world of IP based video, telephony, and voice services-will through the central 4G hotspot. Use the 4082hotspot to connect to Netflix or Hulu, as a virtual replacement for cable television. Enable Skype or Vonage as a robust VOIP phone solution for a fraction of the cost of the major network providers, and have plenty of bandwidth that for direct connection to the Internet by way of this Sprint 4G mobile hotspot.
Conclusion:
The Sprint 4082 4G mobile hotspot is a viable contender to adapt to the roles of the great number of tasks previously handled by a fixed, wired broadband solutions. With the unlimited data option that Sprint offers, it’s finally a realistic window of opportunity to enable all the real world benefits that high speed wireless mobile hotspot was to offer - something that has always been a bottleneck with monthly limits.
At an average cost of two bucks a day, the Sprint 4G data plan for the 4082 mobile hotspot is a tremendous value, especially given the fact of unlimited 4G bandwidth, coupled with the opportunity to serve up voice, video, and Internet simultaneously - it's finally a viable replacement for wired broadband in many situations
