I Said, OK - Latest Comments

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

Steve — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:58:13 -0000

I have had the same issues. I got it a few months ago. It would loose signal but even more irritating was the unit just shutting off completely. Many phone calls to verizon later, they sent me a new one. Then it didn't shut off, but did loose signal and just freezes up. Many more phone calls later, after having tried many things they suggested, like removing the battery and sim card and restarting, they eventually sent me a new sim card. Many more phone calls later and they want me to buy a $200 some dallor devise that boosts the signal. I am told that if the device does not see 4G, it then goes to 3G, which when it does, seems to work ok, slower, but does not freeze up. I am also told that they are not allowed to help us do the manual over ride to set it to 3G when 4G is acting up. So basically, you are stuck paying every month, for something that does not always work. They tell me, "Well look at your bill, you see, you used this many Gigs last month, and this many before that, so it must be working". But its like this, you can get to work with your car every day, and every one can see your car in the parking lot, and you at your desk. But if you had to get out and push the fucking car a couple of blocks ever once in a while because it kept shutting off, you wouldn't be too fucking happy. But hey, whats the problem, your at work, and your car got you there (sort of) right? I don't blame the actual customer care people who are as polite as they can be, literally, they get rated by follow up calls asking if we had good service, so they do what they can, but they can't do anything except try to be as nice as they can so they don't get a bad review. Some where up the chain of comand, someone needs to have the chain wrapped around their neck and dragged around a bit until they say uncle. Fix the fucking problem, or stop selling crap. They must figure it a bit like Micro Soft, sell it and fix the bugs as we go. Patches, firmware updates, what ever you call it, most people can't run a business that way, At least at Wallmart, if it doesn't work, you just bring it back. Here, 2year contract, gotcha sucker! So typing this right at the moment, is a bit like looking out the window at my car in the parking lot, its there all right. yep.

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

Jasonfrench1993 — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:53:07 -0000

Mines been doing the same thing.... in fact I can't get it to stay on while charging. I think it shuts down while it charges to prevent damage. It heats up when its on and charging it seems

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

Onecv — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:04:03 -0000

MiFi is a scam!!!I just called and cancelled my service. I strongly believe that the performance issues are being intentionally caused by Verizon. They have a threshold assigned to each user and one you reach it they will disconnect you. Now here is the issue, I tried to watch a movie on Netflix and it took me 3 days because of all the disconnects; however even the dead, unusable downloads and disconnects counts against my threshold. What a scam.
Oh well I will give my $60/month ($720/year) to somebody else.

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

Alb457 — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:42:39 -0000

Hi. I just followed your instructions to visit the SCH IP page and change the Power configuration to "none." So far, it doesn't seem to have made a difference. I'm about ready to smash this thing with a hammer. I hit "Apply" and the status choice ("none") seems to have been set. . . but the damn thing is still shutting off every 3-5 minutes while fully charged.

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

jacob — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 22:53:47 -0000

that worked for me!

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

SirMichael — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:13:13 -0000

Yeah, the support is lacking. A lot. What I've found is that you need to get in the control panel and make sure that you switch the sleep option off. That helps. Secondly, what I've found that it runs into a lot of trouble when you're moving around and it has to switch between networks from LTE to 3G and back. It tends to stall a lot then.

I returned the Samsung for the LTE Novatel MiFi. The Novatel version is much better.

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

Plopsujj — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:59:16 -0000

I have the auto-shut down problem. It works for a while, then if I haven't used it in a while it starts nodding off. Support from Verizon is non-existent. Samsung, after jumping through a bunch of hoops asked for a bunch of info I don't have. Essentially I feel like driving my truck over it.

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

SirMichael — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:16:15 -0000

That worked for me too.

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

legman — Thu, 12 May 2011 21:03:19 -0000

goto http://192.168.1.1
enter the password for your device (located inside the battery cover)

go to power and select none...default is to switch off every 30 min.

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

akj — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:52:56 -0000

mine keeps shutting down too...anyone found a fix?

Re: Verizon’s new Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot

Evelyn — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:50:55 -0000

WOW! That is so cool!! We don't even have it here in Singapore yet. Wait...gahmen knows they are headed for a slaughter in the polls on May 7th...4G roll-out has to wait.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

DanK — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:06:18 -0000

Agreed on the wall charger...stupid that there is no way to determine if it's fully charged. The only way that can guess so is when the unit no longer is warm from the charging process...stupid. As for the use time, I seem to have experienced that it drops faster as you are sending and receiving more and more data/files through the modem...not certain if this is the case, but it seems to make sense at some level.

Re: A Brief Visit

Ian — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:29:22 -0000

You'll be missed, Michael. Thanks for everything!

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

Shawn Chittle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:29:13 -0000

Just bought this to carry with my when I have my iPad. I don't have a laptop and I could not activate it. I called the 800 number, they told me to go to the store. I goto the store, they told me to call the 800 number. I found the manager who sympathized with the catch-22 I was in, and he made it happen.

Verizon gets 2/10 for Customer Service. A simple 800 number should be all you need to get up and running.

Having said all that, my first few hours with the service seems to be excellent as far as throughput.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

SirMichael — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:46:24 -0000

That's the hook with the wireless service providers. They'll say that they discount the cost of the device (sometimes to the point that it's free) in exchange for you committing to the contract. The thinking is that they'll eventually recoup the cost of the device over time, as you pay for the service.

You'd have to pay 'retail' to get the MiFi before the contract is up. Sucks. I'm in that position now with my Droid. I really want the HTC Droid Incredible (costs $529 retail but only $199 for upgrade) but have 13 months to go on my Motorola Droid.

I totally agree with you though re: the Grandfather clause. I'm all for Seniors using the internet.

Do you have cable? Why not get your internet via your cable at home?

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

Shar — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:35:10 -0000

Problem: I am only half way thru my UM 175 two yr Contract, so was told by Verizon that I can not upgrade to a MiFi, until a yr from now. Thus my husband can not get 'his own first pc', until he is nearly 79. I think Verizon needs a "Grandfather" clause (or ??) for extreme Seniors who wish to learn to use the internet? What does it matter which USB device I use, as long as I keep paying the $59.99 /mo fee??
Shar

Re: What’s Next in Social Media?

SirMichael — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:35:30 -0000

Hey Alan -- Nice to see you here! As you can tell, I don't write much, but occasionally I have a thought or two that needs a place to live.

I think you're right about the stalking and not seeming creepy. The systems that are in place have to be above board and consumers need to have control (unlike with Facebook...).

Ultimately though, consumers need to feel as though they're getting value out of it. Not that they'd put up with intrusive or creepy behavior, but, if it's relevant and something they care about, I'm guessing many will OK with it.

Speak soon!

Re: What’s Next in Social Media?

Alan Wolk — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:43:46 -0000

Awesome that you are blogging - had not realized that.

I think you are spot on in identifying what's next.

But I think the biggest challenge is the "making it not seem creepy" one. It's the loss of anonymity that's going to hit people hard when predictive logic comes into play. The fist time you walk into a store and get a text asking what you thought of that sweater you bought here two months ago. it's going to seem uncomfortably like stalking.

Marketers are not a shy bunch, however, and are going to want to use all that information they have, so I suspect that there will by many missteps before we get it right.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

SirMichael — Tue, 11 May 2010 12:49:24 -0000

First, congrats to your husband. Everyone should have their own.

That's pretty easy to do. Just go to the Verizon store and have them upgrade you to the MiFi. Once you've done that, you can share the MiFi on your laptop and your husband's. It's pretty simple to set up as it works off the WiFi network. You just need to configure your laptops' WiFi to connect. I'm sure the Verizon store people can help with that.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

Shar — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:08:18 -0000

I am presently using the USB Verizon UM-175 aircard. on my Laptop. My husband will be 78 yrs this year and would also like his own laptop. So that my he can fulfill his dream of having his own laptop, I need to switch/upgrade from the UM-175 to the MiFi. How can I accomplish this? Thank you.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

SirMichael — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:42:58 -0000

Getting your MiFi to work with your iPhone is pretty simple, it's nothing more than a WiFi connection. I'm not sure about Slingbox though. Don't know if iPhone supports that.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

JOHN KALLAS — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 07:30:45 -0000

COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IN PLANE ENGLISH HOW TO GET MY MIFI TO WORK WITH MY IPHONE SO I CAN WATCH SLINGBOX ON IT PLEASE HELP JOHN

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

Robb — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:32:39 -0000

yeah, my AT&T stick is no gem. perhaps i'll switch.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

SirMichael — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:29:08 -0000

Hey Joe -- I agree with you as to why anyone wouldn't go with the MiFi if they're getting a Verizon Wireless Broadband account.

I haven't clocked the speed on the Acela but I will. It definitely doesn't deliver consistent bandwidth through the route. In fact it can really vary. My measure is, does it allow me to do basic things like surf the web, email and use applications like Google Docs, reliably. It's yes on all accounts. Maybe my expectations are a bit low but for the 2.5-3 hours from NYC to DC or Boston, I can live with it.

I've tried streaming a NetFlix movie and the experience fell short. Every few minutes it would rebuffer and interrupt the experience. For me, that's a nice to have at this point.

Re: I Love My Verizon MiFi

Joe — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:37:00 -0000

I'm curious about your observed speeds on the Acela. While I do see speeds exceeding 1 megabit while stationary at home, I pretty much only see 200-500k while riding the train in the northeast corridor. I don't see many dropouts per se though it often drops out of EVDO to the slower speed connection. I'm kind of surprised as I thought that traveling this route would provide solid high speed coverage. Guess not.

All in all, I'm happy with the device, I like the convenience and don't why anyone would go any other way at this point when buying a new device. No advantage with a dedicated USB device.