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  1. #1
    Site Sponsor Scousers's Avatar
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    MIFI 8800L...Update?

    Thanks to Second Chance we got into the unlimited Verizon MIFI plan some years ago and have generally been really happy with the coverage Verizon provides in the areas we roam.

    We just got new phones and found that the phones are giving us a full set of bars here in Colorado whereas the MIFI only gets 1 to 3. We connected an external antenna (Netgear) and saw a slight improvement.

    The MIFI is some years old, replaced two batteries and I was wondering whether anyone has experience with a newer version of the MIFI getting a better signal capture?

    Need to stick to 4G!

    Thanks

    Len

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scousers View Post
    Thanks to Second Chance we got into the unlimited Verizon MIFI plan some years ago and have generally been really happy with the coverage Verizon provides in the areas we roam.

    We just got new phones and found that the phones are giving us a full set of bars here in Colorado whereas the MIFI only gets 1 to 3. We connected an external antenna (Netgear) and saw a slight improvement.

    The MIFI is some years old, replaced two batteries and I was wondering whether anyone has experience with a newer version of the MIFI getting a better signal capture?

    Need to stick to 4G!

    Thanks

    Len
    You might want to try an external antenna on it. There should be two little dots on the top side. They pry out and you plug in the TS9 connector from the external MIMO antenna. It should increase your signal strength. The internal antennas on those things suck.
    Mark & Mary. Full-timing across the USA (and Canada)!
    Current Coach: 2021 Grand Design Reflection 320MKS
    Current Rig: 2019 Ford F350 SD Crew Cab, w/8' box, Lariat, SRW, 6.7l Diesel

  3. #3
    Site Sponsor Scousers's Avatar
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    Yes, I tried the Netgear with marginal improvement

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    Quote Originally Posted by Scousers View Post
    Yes, I tried the Netgear with marginal improvement
    The Netgear MIMO antenna is a POS.
    Mark & Mary. Full-timing across the USA (and Canada)!
    Current Coach: 2021 Grand Design Reflection 320MKS
    Current Rig: 2019 Ford F350 SD Crew Cab, w/8' box, Lariat, SRW, 6.7l Diesel

  5. #5
    Site Sponsor Scousers's Avatar
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    Do you have a better suggestion? The Netgear SEEMED to have good reviews!

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scousers View Post
    Yes, I tried the Netgear with marginal improvement
    Here is some "light" reading on how MIMO antennas work: https://www.telcoantennas.com.au/sit...does-mimo-work


    Also, MobileMustHave lists this antenna as their least expensive antenna: Parsec Falcon 2x2 MIMO LTE Lightweight Antenna. Just make sure you get the one with TS9 connectors and remember that you get what you pay for.

    Here is the link to the search for 2x2 MIMO antennas. They have 12 hits ranging from $65.00-$450.00.
    Mark & Mary. Full-timing across the USA (and Canada)!
    Current Coach: 2021 Grand Design Reflection 320MKS
    Current Rig: 2019 Ford F350 SD Crew Cab, w/8' box, Lariat, SRW, 6.7l Diesel

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scousers View Post
    Do you have a better suggestion? The Netgear SEEMED to have good reviews!
    Honestly, without spending a good amount of money, most of the cheap ones are... Cheap.

    You would be looking at an omnidirectional antenna that would mount high. Poynting has good reviews, but, you are looking at between $150.00 and $450.00 or more.
    Mark & Mary. Full-timing across the USA (and Canada)!
    Current Coach: 2021 Grand Design Reflection 320MKS
    Current Rig: 2019 Ford F350 SD Crew Cab, w/8' box, Lariat, SRW, 6.7l Diesel

  8. #8
    Site Sponsor Scousers's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MoonShadow_1911 View Post
    Honestly, without spending a good amount of money, most of the cheap ones are... Cheap.

    You would be looking at an omnidirectional antenna that would mount high. Poynting has good reviews, but, you are looking at between $150.00 and $450.00 or more.
    I was looking at the Waveform products....About $250

  9. #9
    Site Team Second Chance's Avatar
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    The 8800L is still the best 4G LTE hotspot on the market (by heads and shoulders on most of the cellular and connectivity sites). Bars are not everything. Signal strength is only one (and not the major) part of what kind of service you get with a hotspot. Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and the bandwidth on the tower are just as - if not more - important. If the 8800L is still serving you well, don't go chasing bars by throwing money at it. There a long story behind the quote, but a young British water engineer I knew in Africa would put on his best John Wayne impersonation (funny to watch) and say, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

    Rob

    Edit/PS: are you using a timer on the charger so it's not charging 24/7? I just replace the battery for the first time after 3-1/2 years by reducing the charging time.
    U.S. Army Retired
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  10. #10
    Site Team Second Chance's Avatar
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    Another afterthought... there's a firmware update available for the 8800L - have you done that? (I just did within the past couple of weeks).

    Rob
    U.S. Army Retired
    2012 F350 DRW CC LB Lariat PS 6.7
    2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes,
    Sailun LRG tires, solar, DP windows, W/D
    (Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
    Full time since 08/2015

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