Answers to Seven Common Questions About MiFi Broadband

If you are looking into portable internet connections, you will have come across the concept of MiFi broadband. However, you may be unsure exactly what a MiFi device is, and you are probably wondering whether there are any significant advantages that come with investing in one.

Read on to discover the answers to the seven most common questions about MiFi broadband.

• What is MiFi Broadband?

As trademarked by Novatel, ‘MiFi’ stands for ‘My Wi-Fi’, and is pronounced ‘my-fi’. MiFi broadband is provided by small, highly portable and wireless devices that allow more than one person to share a broadband connection wherever they go (as long as there is cellular 3G network coverage).

• How does payment work?

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You can buy a MiFi broadband device that comes with a fixed monthly rate, or you can buy a ‘pay as you go’ MiFi device that allows you to top up an account when you need to use it. The former option tends to be cheaper if you plan to use MiFi on an extremely regular basis, while the latter is typically cheaper if you are planning only occasional and sporadic use.

• How does MiFi work?

When you have a MiFi broadband device, it creates a small, localized broadband signal for multiple users in the same way that a wireless router creates such a signal in the home. The users can be on laptops, tablets, games consoles or mobile phones.

• How many people can access a MiFi connection?

Most MiFi devices provide broadband access for between one and five users, and these users normally need to be within around ten meters of the device in order to pick up the wireless signal. However, newer generations of MiFi devices are capable of working at greater and greater distances and are capable of providing for increasingly large numbers of users.

• What speed can be expected when using a MiFi connection?

The average MiFi broadband speed is up to 21Mb, although the closer you are to the device then the quicker your connection will tend to be. With the arrival of faster 4G networks, you can expect speeds of up to 100Mb. However, the connection speed slows as the number of users accessing the MiFi broadband signal increases.

• How are MiFi devices installed?

Setting up a MiFi broadband connection is an extremely simple matter involving no specialized software. All you need to do is turn on the MiFi device and then refresh your computer’s list of wireless networks so that it recognizes the new signal. This should take less than a minute.

• In what ways are MiFi devices superior to dongles?

Firstly, MiFi devices do not need to be plugged into a computer (or any other device) that wants to access a broadband internet connection, so they can be placed in the area that will receive the best signal and can also be easily transported in your pocket or bag (while still providing you with broadband access).

Secondly, a MiFi broadband connection can save money in shared accommodation if you are not permitted to install a home broadband connection, as you can split the relatively low cost of the central MiFi device instead of paying for individual dongles.

   Laura

About the Guest Author:

Laura works online and depends on her MiFi connection to stay in touch with her clients when she is on the go.