- Service Provider: Sprint
- CDMA 1X, EV-DO, WiMAX
- 850, 1900, 2600 Bands
- 802.11x
- Mac Compatible
The Novatel Wireless MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot 4082 for Sprint ($99.99) is an easy way to get laptops and other Wi-Fi devices on Sprint's 3G or 4G networks. It's slim, classy-looking, and has good battery life and performance. That makes it our current Editors' Choice for wireless hotspots on Sprint.
Physical Features, Setup and Administration
The Novatel 4082 is an attractive little gadget. At 3.5 by 2.4 by 0.5 inches (HWD) and 3 ounces, it's about the size of a deck of cards, with a soft-touch black bottom that sits on little feet, and a brushed-metal top. The Power button is on the top; turn on the unit, and a small e-ink screen lights up showing signal strength, battery status, GPS status, along with how many devices are connected. On the front edge, there's a single LED that flashes blue for 4G and green for 3G, a MicroSD card slot, and a USB connection/charging port. Just turn the hotspot on, wait about 35 seconds for the connection light to turn green or blue.
If you go to the MiFi home page (192.168.1.1), though, you'll find a range of options. There's MAC filtering along with password, channel and 802.11b/g/n mode setting, port filtering, port forwarding, and DHCP settings. Power settings let you control when the MiFi goes to sleep and activate a Stealth Mode where the display and blinking LED are always off. It's all pretty easy to use.
The 4082 runs Novatel's MiFi OS, a stripped-down version of Linux which lets you run apps on the device. Right now, it's limited to showing map and weather widgets when you load up the MiFi's home page, but I'm hoping for more ambitious ideas like VPN access in the future.
The router can also share files stored on a MicroSD card you plug into the front of the device. My 32GB SanDisk card worked fine, and I connected five Macs and PCs to the shared drive.
Performance
In my tests, the 4082 booted in about 35 seconds, and connected to Sprint's 3G or 4G network (whichever was available). I found the 4082 had no problem dropping down to 3G or even 2G, and returning to 4G when coverage became available.
Speeds were on par with a Sierra Wireless 250U USB modem (Free, 4 stars) when used with a Samsung NF310 laptop; that was a pleasant surprise, as MiFi speeds are typically lower than those from USB modems. But all of my tests may have been affected by the low 4G speeds I was getting in general; in 10 tests in our New York City office, I never saw a download speed above 3Mbps on either device.
The 4082 offers at least a 100 foot range, but I got the best speeds when I was 50 feet or less away from the hotspot. After 50 feet, speeds dropped off noticeably by 20-50 percent at 75 and 100 feet. I was able to get 4 hours, 32 minutes of solid 4G streaming on one charge of the 1500 mAh battery. That's a pretty good result.
Network and Conclusions
We're working on our big Fastest Mobile Networks story soon, which will give you a picture of Sprint's 4G nationwide speeds relative to other carriers. But Sprint's $59.99-per-month 3G/4G service plan offers one big advantage over AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Cricket: truly unlimited data usage, at least on 4G, so you can use it as an alternative to a home connection if you like. 3G usage is restricted to 5GB per month, after which you pay 5 cents per megabyte.
The Novatel Wireless MiFi 4082 is the best Sprint hotspot so far, and right now Sprint is offering a $50 rebate, lowering the total price to $49.99. But I'm left wondering what will happen when I compare it with Sierra Wireless's new Overdrive Pro ($99.99, minus another $50 rebate), which has an informative LCD screen and an optional booster dock which pumps up its reception. The MiFi is smaller, and will probably likely get better battery life; right now, it looks like the best pick for road warriors. Either way, you won't regret buying it. But if that booster dock seems intriguing for home use, check out the Overdrive Pro.
