Jul 23rd

Sprint EVO 4G Review #2 – Sprint Mobile Hotspot vs. Verizon MiFi 2200

by @nateriggs

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Sprint Mobile Hotspot vs. Verizon MiFi 2200

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This is a continuation of my reviews of the Sprint EVO 4G.  So far, so good.

I decided earlier this year that having a mobile hotspot was another business necessity.  I’m on it right now, typing to you from Lockport, New York.  Necessity.

My first try towards making this happen was with a Verizon MiFi 2200 card and their Intelligent Mobile hotspot.  It’s not a bad product at all and worked for what I needed it to.  My Sprint EVO 4G handles the mobile a bit differently, by using the built-in Sprint Mobile Hotspot.

Here’s what it’s all about:

Product Comparison

It’s important to break this down into the simplest form.

Verizon Wireless Intelligent Mobile Hotspot

  • Monthly Bill: Between $55 and $60 per month
  • Equipment Needed: Verizon MiFi 2200 card and sync cable (tethering required)
  • Connection Type: Requires user to log in to VZ Wireless application
  • Number of Devices: Up to 5
  • Upload/Download Speed: 3G at 720 kbps (average)
  • Monthly Limit: 5GB

Sprint Mobile Hotspot

  • Monthly Bill: $20 per month (additional fee)
  • Equipment Needed: Sprint HCT EVO 4G (no tethering required)
  • Connection Type: Produces typical WiFi broadcast signal
  • Number of Devices: Up to 8
  • Upload/Download Speed: 3G at 600 kbps (average); 4G at 3-6 mbps (not available in Ohio at the time this post was written)
  • Monthly Limit: Unlimited

Have you used either of these mobile hotspot providers?  What’s your take?

by @nateriggs

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Comments (13)

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  • Therictor0212

    The 4G HTC evo rules! I’ve been using this phone and its great. The only thing is – i cant seem to get a good enough connection when it comes to the hotspot feature…….its very slow and the highest its gotten to was about .10 Mbps download and .5 Mbps upload…..so yea, hope fully it gets better

  • http://nateriggs.com nateriggs

    My hotspot seems to do pretty well, as long as I’m not in a big building. Then it gets a bit slow. Still waiting for 4G in Ohio.

  • KuyaEric1968

    I’m connected to my Mifi 2200 and not connected by supplied cable. I connected by finding the Mifi by searching for a network.

  • http://nateriggs.com nateriggs

    Are you on a PC?

  • KuyaEric1968

    Laptop. It will let anything that can detect wifi. It doesn’t need to be connected by cable.

  • Ray3676

    I own the mifi. You need the cable ONLY upon first installation. After that, you NEVER need the cable ever again unless you want to look at your data usage via the Access Manager. I keep mine in my truck for my mobile business and take if out and put it in my pocket if I go too far from the truck. Anyone can connect if you give them the password. All other computers see is a wifi and that’s it.

  • http://nateriggs.com nateriggs

    It was way better when I first got the phone. Columbus just got 4G so hopefully that will improve things.

  • KentuckianaVideo

    I am a video producer that does mobile video production and live webcasting on location (such as streaming live concerts and other events on the internet).
    Sometimes we’re lucky enough that the venue has a network for us to plug into or a reliable WiFi already in place. Some locations we have to go through arranging for a the cable company to come out and set us up a broadband connection for a one time event (which is considerable cost, plus extra time hanging out at the venue days before waiting on the cable guy, hoping he shows up and has us up and running before the day of the show, even worse when the event is out of town and costs extra days in hotels, etc.)
    I have been looking at the Sprint MiFi and now also considering the EVO, but I was wondering if anyone else out there has had any experience with using these devices for live video webcasting and if you had any success with uploading a live video stream and if you also got to see how good it looked from the viewers end?

  • http://nateriggs.com nateriggs

    I can access Columbus’s 4G network from my house and have uploaded video pretty fast from that. 3G, not so much. Never have tried live streaming, but I imagine that 4G would be OK.

  • Megford20

    thanks for the article, it has helped to clarify the EVO mobile hotspot functionality a lot. Living in Phoenix, I’m still pinning for 4G access! However, on 3G I still get decent speeds, as high 1.5mbps. I’ve also connected up to 4 devices, including my Roku player and have streamed video content without much of an issue. It has worked out so well in fact, I am dumping my lousy cable company, and using Sprint’s mobile hotspot. My only fear is the “unlimited” might one day become limited due to over use. What are your thoughts? I find it difficult to believe the Evo won’t fall prey to a cap when all other mobile hotspot devices are capped.

  • scott davis

    like your review on the evo hotspot capability. want to know does the hotspot work only in close proximity with the other devices or can it work like a cable modem for wifi network. i’m receiving my new evo tommorow . what is your opinion?