Mobile wifi for cars

Best WiFi Hotspot Devices for Internet in Your Car 2023

In this article: We’ll review 7 of our best pick WiFi hotspot devices that’ll bring internet to your vehicle, with quick reviews of each, photos, our opinion and price comparisons to help you save money.

Everyone wants to stay connected. There are emails and texts to read, videos to watch and games to play. Use your phone for these though and you’re burning through megabytes and gigabytes of data. Wouldn’t it be better if you could get on WiFi everywhere you go?

That’s the idea behind mobile hotspot devices. They let you create a WiFi network, just like the one you have at home but portable. No more lingering over a cold coffee in Starbucks while you use their WiFi: just connect instantly wherever you are.

WiFi on-the-go

The subject of this article is mobile hotspot devices. More specifically, we’re going to review eight of the best-selling such devices so you can decide which will suit you, your family or maybe your customers, best.

If you haven’t already been through our other piece on this subject, “How to get WiFi in Your Car”, you might want to take a look before reading this. It provides a more general introduction to the why’s and how’s of in-car WiFi but without the individual product reviews. Here we’ll quickly summarize the advantages before getting into the details of what to look for and why.

Recent Reviews & Articles

AudioControl Spike & Space Series Subwoofer – Unbox & Review

Amazon Prime Day 7/11-12 : Curated Car Audio Deals from CarAudioNow

Sony XM-6ES and XM-8ES Amplifier Unbox & Review

Best Safes and Lockboxes for Cars in 2023

Sony XAV-9000ES Unbox, Feature Review & Demo

JBL R4500 Unbox, Demo & Feature Overview

Infinity Marine 6001A Amplifier Unbox & Feature Review

JBL Club Marine Speakers Unbox & Feature Overview

Best WiFi Hotspot Devices For Your Car – Our Top Picks

Novatel Jetpack MiFi 7730L

Latest Prices

Novatel Jetpack MiFi 7730L Quick Review

This uses the Verizon 4G LTE network so you can expect coverage almost everywhere in the US and high speeds. (A nano-SIM card is needed to get on the network.) Real-world battery life is up to 15 hours and it weighs only 5.4oz, so it’s very portable.

The touchscreen works well and helps with initial setup. It shows data used so you can keep track of your consumption. Along the sides you’ll find a USB-A charging outlet and two antenna ports. It provides both 2.4 and 5 GHz simultaneously and users report good range.

Netgear AirCard 790S

Latest Prices

Netgear AirCard 790S Quick Review

This relatively simple devices weighs-in at 4.8 oz, connects up to 15 devices and has 2.4” color touchscreen with data usage monitor. In other words, it’s a fairly basic hotspot that’s easy to set up and use. Battery life is a claimed 11 hours. It operates on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, requires a microSIM card and provides dual TS-9 antenna ports.

Verizon Ellipsis Jetpack MHS800L

Latest Prices

Verizon Ellipsis Jetpack MHS800L Quick Review

Very small and also inexpensive, the particular one reviewed here is locked to Verizon but you may be able to find them for other networks.

About the size of a credit card and weighing under 3 oz, it allows connections to eight devices. There is a very small display that shows how many devices are connected, plus data usage, battery life & network signal strength. Battery life is up to 10 hours. It does require that you buy a SIM card separately.

Alcatel Hotspot 4G LTE

Latest Prices

Alcatel Hotspot 4G LTE Quick Review

Historically, T-Mobile has not offered a lot of hotspot options. This is device is available both on their network and unlocked.

It’s a more basic device with no display, just indicator lights to let you know it’s working, and it works only on 2.4GHz. It does allow up to 15 connections, weighs 3.7 oz and has a battery life of about six hours. A USB port makes car charging easy but there are no antenna ports. You will need to buy a separate SIM card.

ZTE Velocity 4G LTE Mobile WiFi Hotspot

Latest Prices

ZTE Velocity 4G LTE Mobile WiFi Hotspot Quick Review

This is the second generation Velocity hotspot, and reportedly much improved over the first. It provides 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi frequencies and lets you connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. Battery life is 10 hours and it charges through USB-C charger. There is an easy to use touchscreen display and the devices weighs 8 oz. It does need a microSIM card.

KuWFi 300Mbps 3G 4G LTE Car WiFi

Latest Prices

KuWFi 300Mbps 3G 4G LTE Car WiFi Quick Review

This is a little different to the other mobile devices reviewed here. It’s a big chunky box with four antennas that create a vaguely menacing appearance. It also needs more in the way of technical skills to set up. There’s a USB port plus four LAN Ethernet ports, an SD card slot and a SIM card slot. It will support AT&T, Verizon and Sprint networks with the appropriate SIM card. Weight is 1.76 lbs.

When you need a mobile WiFi device

Phones are wonderful devices in many ways but they have some limitations too. Here’s a list of ways in which mobile WiFi beats a cellular connection.

• Data caps. Unless you’re on a costly unlimited plan there’s a limit to how many hours of video and music you can download each month. WiFi overcomes that.
• Working on a big screen. Spreadsheets and graphics are just two examples of software products that are hard to use on a phone. When the boss emails that big file you want to be able to read it while you’re on the road.
• Using a keyboard and mouse. Ditto to the above.
• Connect multiple devices simultaneously. Say you’re on a family roadtrip and everyone wants to use their device: with a WiFi hotspot you can all get on the same network. The same applies to those awkward work trips colleagues are sometimes forced to make.
• Security. Public WiFi hotspots are vulnerable to attack. That might not be a concern if you’re just checking Facebook but would you bank over a connection like that? A personal mobile hotspot is far more secure.

Alternative technologies

Check the settings on your phone and you’ll probably see it has a “hotspot” function. This lets you set up a mobile WiFi network. It’s a good option when you need to connect a few devices for a short period, but over longer periods it has some negatives.

• Drains the battery – phone must be plugged in to charge
• Uses your data plan
• Cellular service providers dislike “tethering” (using your phone as a hotspot,) because it sends a lot of data through their network. Even on an unlimited plan your provider may impose penalties or speed caps.
• Limit to how many devices can be connected. (Typically three to five.)

3G versus 4G – and what about 5G?

3G, 4G and in the near future, 5G, refer to cellular network speeds. This is relevant because mobile hotspot devices send and receive data over cellular networks. 4G is faster than 3G, and 5G promises to be faster still. When shopping for a device it’s important to consider what speed you’ll need.

The two drivers behind this are: the number of devices you expect to connect and what you’ll be doing with them. If you’re investing in a mobile hotspot purely to send and receive email while out of the office a 3G connection may be fast enough. Alternatively, if you want WiFi in a RV so a small brood of kids can all watch different movies at the same time you should definitely go for 4G. (And 5G will be even better when it becomes available)

Источник

Introduction to Mobile Wi-Fi for Cars

An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking.

In This Article

Mobile Wi-Fi systems in cars consist of a local Wi-Fi network and (usually) wireless Internet connectivity. A car Wi-Fi network supports mobile personal devices like phones and portable computers. Note that car Wi-Fi is separate from the internal network automobiles use to control electronic systems like braking and lighting.

Why People Want Car Wi-Fi

Car Wi-FI systems replicate many of the same functions of a home wireless network. They’re useful for several reasons:

• Many laptop computers, tablets, and portable media players lack the hardware needed for connecting directly to cell networks. These devices usually need Wi-Fi to get onto the Internet. Carpoolers needing to do work while riding can especially benefit from having Wi-Fi access.
• Connecting phones to a Wi-Fi network allows their data traffic to flow through its internet link instead of using the phone’s cellular carrier network and its data plan. Conserving bandwidth on a phone’s data plan can save money.
• If you regularly (or even incidentally) drive to areas with no cellular service or coverage, a mobile network will let you still access the internet for driving directions or roadside assistance.

Integrated vs. Portable Wi-Fi Systems

A mobile router serves as the centerpiece of a car Wi-Fi system. Mobile broadband routers provide Wi-Fi access for clients plus mobile Internet connectivity via a cellular modem.

Integrated Wi-Fi systems use routers you permanently attach to the vehicle. Some automakers install routers in their new cars at the factory, but many new vehicles still do not have them built-in. Owners of these vehicles, plus the many older ones in use, can set up mobile Wi-Fi systems with aftermarket hardware.

Aftermarket systems go in fixed locations, like under a seat, in the trunk, or inside the front dashboard. Professional installers of integrated in-car Wi-Fi offer warranties to their customers to cover cases of improper mounting or wiring. A person can also install their own car routers; the process is not much different from installing car stereo systems.

People may prefer to use portable routers for their car Wi-Fi setup instead of an integrated one. Portable routers — which you may also know as travel routers — function the same as integrated routers. But you can also easily remove them from the vehicle. Portable routers make sense especially when you want to share the unit among multiple vehicles or for users who regularly travel and need a portable router at places they stay while on trips.

Using a Car Wi-Fi System

When installed and powered up, the hardware in an integrated car Wi-Fi system allows other clients to join its network. You can do basic file sharing between devices the same as other kinds of Wi-Fi networks.

Accessing the Internet from a car Wi-Fi system requires obtaining a subscription from the provider for that type of router. In the U.S., for example, Autonet produces the CarFi branded line of automotive routers and associated Internet subscription packages.

To use a smartphone as a car’s mobile Wi-Fi system requires that the phone be capable of functioning as a portable hotspot. Most providers require an additional subscription (and fee) to use a phone for tethering and some do not support this option at all. (Check with the phone provider for details.)

What Is OnStar?

OnStar became popular in the 1990s as an emergency service system for vehicles made by General Motors. Using integrated global positioning and wireless connectivity, OnStar systems have commonly provided roadside assistance and tracked down stolen vehicles.

The OnStar service has expanded over time to offer additional communication and entertainment services including an option for mobile Wi-Fi Internet access. Newer generations of OnStar technology incorporate 4G LTE to support mobile Wi-Fi in some new vehicles (the service is not available with older OnStar systems). Their mobile Wi-Fi requires a separate subscription with daily, monthly, and annual options available.

What Is Uconnect Web?

The Uconnect service from Chrysler enables wireless access to a car’s sound system via Bluetooth. Similar to OnStar, Uconnect has expanded over the years with additional services. The Uconnect Web subscription service enables mobile Wi-Fi for vehicles that support it.

Safety and Security of Mobile Wi-Fi Systems

Internet access in a car gives occupants more ways to stay in contact with friends and families while traveling. Although many people with mobile Wi-Fi also subscribe to separate emergency services via OnStar, Uconnect, or other providers, some prefer to use the messaging and navigation apps on their own devices.

Having Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity in a car theoretically adds another source of distraction to drivers, however. Proponents of mobile Wi-Fi can argue that these services help keep children occupied and therefore reduce driver distraction, at least indirectly.

Hackers can target mobile Wi-Fi for​ an attack just like home and business networks. Because they are normally in motion, attacks on the Wi-Fi signal itself would need to come from other nearby vehicles. Another possible vulnerability is the network’s public IP address, just like other Internet access points.

Источник