MIFI and tablet
Apr 12th, 2015, 07:01 AM
#1
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MIFI and tablet
We'll be going to France for a couple weeks in the next month. We'll be renting a car to travel from Paris to Normandy and back through a couple other places. Thinking of using our Samsung tablet as our phone (using "Google Voice") and also use it as our GPS. We'd have an unlimited data MIFI (leaning towards "Travel-Wifi"). Anything wrong with my reasoning? I've downloaded a bunch of maps from MAPS.ME app into the tablet also.
Apr 12th, 2015, 12:30 PM
#2
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It sounds as though the Travel wifi device uses a French SIM card for the data connection. The rental cost of the device for two weeks would be about 110 euros. For that price you could get a cheap Android phone and a French SIM card, and maybe even cover the cost of a monthly plan for calls and data. All recent versions of Android support tethering, which essentially turns your phone into a mifi device. You have to make sure that the French data plan you get allows tethering, though. I'm not familiar with French cell services, but all the major Italian providers now allow tethering with almost all their plans, even the cheapest.
The advantage of buying a cheap phone is that it would be yours to keep and use on different trips, maybe to other countries. Also, you could use it to make calls over the cell network, which is usually better than using Google Voice. Of course, if you were making international calls, Google Voice might still be the best option.
The advantage of buying a cheap phone is that it would be yours to keep and use on different trips, maybe to other countries. Also, you could use it to make calls over the cell network, which is usually better than using Google Voice. Of course, if you were making international calls, Google Voice might still be the best option.
Apr 12th, 2015, 03:03 PM
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Personally, I think trying to use a tablet as a phone would be pretty awkward, especially if you plan to make many calls. It would be easier to get a cheap unlocked phone (Amazon has them for less than $30) and get a prepaid SIM card when you get to France. When I needed wi-fi in France, and didn't have it where I was staying, I went to McDonalds, bought a coke and spent as much time as I needed doing email and updating my blog. As far as GPS is concerned, I've used it in France, but found that nothing takes the place of good detailed regional maps.
Apr 12th, 2015, 07:33 PM
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Thanks all for the replies. Now I'm not so sure about my choice to use the tablet for 'everything'. Can I put a couple more reasons I was considering it in front of you, before I put the kibosh on it?
- the extra dollar amount for the MIFI isn't enough to be a negative in this case so only if it's NOT going to work well, will I not want to go that route. Does that change your opinion?
- my husband and I have both our current cellphone numbers (AT&T) set to ring on the tablet using Google Voice. We have been using it, Google Voice, now in the States and it's great. Shouldn't need to make many calls while in France, certainly not any lengthy ones, but must have way for people (business and family) to contact us via text and phone. I have an earpiece/mic to use for the phone calls so it's very comfortable to use.
- this would mean we would be carrying around the tablet (which hubby likes to take pictures with anyway), pocket MIFI and extra power pack. Having the larger screen for googling and more importantly the gps seemed a plus.
- the extra dollar amount for the MIFI isn't enough to be a negative in this case so only if it's NOT going to work well, will I not want to go that route. Does that change your opinion?
- my husband and I have both our current cellphone numbers (AT&T) set to ring on the tablet using Google Voice. We have been using it, Google Voice, now in the States and it's great. Shouldn't need to make many calls while in France, certainly not any lengthy ones, but must have way for people (business and family) to contact us via text and phone. I have an earpiece/mic to use for the phone calls so it's very comfortable to use.
- this would mean we would be carrying around the tablet (which hubby likes to take pictures with anyway), pocket MIFI and extra power pack. Having the larger screen for googling and more importantly the gps seemed a plus.
Apr 12th, 2015, 08:07 PM
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My question remains the same: does the MIFI-tablet combination work at home?
How are you set up to use GPS at home? Are you using A-GPS or satellite GPS only?
I presume you plan to use the Satellite GPS hardware on your tablet? Depending on the model, this can take excruciating long time to lock the coordinate and gets lost when going into weak signal areas. The A-GPS speeds up initial and subsequent coordinate locking. If your MiFi does not provide the coordinate in a way your tablet can use it, you will not have a A-GPS capability.
How are you set up to use GPS at home? Are you using A-GPS or satellite GPS only?
I presume you plan to use the Satellite GPS hardware on your tablet? Depending on the model, this can take excruciating long time to lock the coordinate and gets lost when going into weak signal areas. The A-GPS speeds up initial and subsequent coordinate locking. If your MiFi does not provide the coordinate in a way your tablet can use it, you will not have a A-GPS capability.
Apr 13th, 2015, 01:57 AM
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Greg, I just reread your response and understand what you are saying now. I don't have a mifi to check my tablet's gps quality while using it. I'll have to look into this for sure! fyi, it's a Samsung Note 10.1.
Apr 13th, 2015, 01:59 AM
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<i>Unless you are planning to take only short trips, how are you planning to power two devices?</i>
This is how: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...VZLGIPTNSFBONF
With this I can use the TomTom and charge two USB devices.
This is how: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...VZLGIPTNSFBONF
With this I can use the TomTom and charge two USB devices.
Apr 13th, 2015, 03:11 AM
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T-Mobile wouldn't be a solution in this case, because Cinbar wanted to use a mifi device, not a phone.
Anyway, I don't see the point of changing providers if you travel to Europe infrequently and would be forced to put up with T-Mobile's terrible coverage the other 350 days of the year in the US. My daughter, who travels often to Europe gave up on TMobile, which had absolutely no coverage inside her office, after struggling with bad coverage for several years. The final straw was when she couldn't connect in London, for some reason.
If you don't mind spending money on a rental instead of a purchase, I don't really see a problem with the Travel Wifi setup. Their web site says that the battery lasts 5 or 6 hours, and that you should charge it every night and turn it off when you're not using it. If you'll be making long drives, you might want to carry a back-up charging device and make sure it works with the Mifi device. You should keep your tablet plugged into the cigarette lighter when you're using it as a GPS device, because nothing runs down a battery like GPS services.
One of our cars has two cigarette lighters, to allow multiple device connections. If your rental car has two, it would allow you to keep both plugged in, if the Mifi device can be connected to a lighter.
Anyway, I don't see the point of changing providers if you travel to Europe infrequently and would be forced to put up with T-Mobile's terrible coverage the other 350 days of the year in the US. My daughter, who travels often to Europe gave up on TMobile, which had absolutely no coverage inside her office, after struggling with bad coverage for several years. The final straw was when she couldn't connect in London, for some reason.
If you don't mind spending money on a rental instead of a purchase, I don't really see a problem with the Travel Wifi setup. Their web site says that the battery lasts 5 or 6 hours, and that you should charge it every night and turn it off when you're not using it. If you'll be making long drives, you might want to carry a back-up charging device and make sure it works with the Mifi device. You should keep your tablet plugged into the cigarette lighter when you're using it as a GPS device, because nothing runs down a battery like GPS services.
One of our cars has two cigarette lighters, to allow multiple device connections. If your rental car has two, it would allow you to keep both plugged in, if the Mifi device can be connected to a lighter.
Apr 13th, 2015, 05:08 AM
#12
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I believe, after some research, my tablet WILL have a good gps connection (has Wifi Direct, A-Gps). Thank you, Greg, for bringing up that point. I'll have my phone with me on the trip so I guess I can always use it in airplane mode and get additional gps info if necessary. Hubby is always over prepared so we'll have maps, maps, and more maps anyway. I'm a gadget junkie so looking forward to seeing if tablet 'alone' can do all I need/want (phone, texting, googling, navigation). Heck, if the camera were better I'd use it for that too! But, for pictures and video I have a Sony A6000 camera. Check it out, it's amazing.
And, yes, already have a dual plug for cig lighter. Can't count on our rental having all the usb plugs, etc. that the new Amer cars have.
And, yes, already have a dual plug for cig lighter. Can't count on our rental having all the usb plugs, etc. that the new Amer cars have.
Apr 13th, 2015, 07:26 AM
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If you're okay with paying 8 Euros a day, it doesn't seem bad.
Since it's suppose to be unlimited, you might find it useful even at hotels because these days, hotels have poor Wifi or they provide basic Wifi for free but you have to pay extra to get decent speeds.
I use my iPad Mini as my Mifi, since it can get LTE anywhere in the world and it's battery is superior to any Mifi device. So in France, I've used Orange's Lets Go data SIM to get LTE speeds but the amount of data is not unlimited, only 1 or 2 GB.
You can get car cigarette lighter adapters with dual USB ports. Some even come with 2 amp outputs which would be best for tablets.
I think you'll find that a tablet is hard to mount on the dash because of its size. Also, sun reflections off that large screen would be tough.
Amazon also has these phone holders that clip into the AC vents of cars.
Since it's suppose to be unlimited, you might find it useful even at hotels because these days, hotels have poor Wifi or they provide basic Wifi for free but you have to pay extra to get decent speeds.
I use my iPad Mini as my Mifi, since it can get LTE anywhere in the world and it's battery is superior to any Mifi device. So in France, I've used Orange's Lets Go data SIM to get LTE speeds but the amount of data is not unlimited, only 1 or 2 GB.
You can get car cigarette lighter adapters with dual USB ports. Some even come with 2 amp outputs which would be best for tablets.
I think you'll find that a tablet is hard to mount on the dash because of its size. Also, sun reflections off that large screen would be tough.
Amazon also has these phone holders that clip into the AC vents of cars.
Apr 16th, 2015, 05:18 AM
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https://support.google.com/hangouts/.../6079064?hl=en
I think so much of my confusion was due to the fact that when searching for answers I found old (just 6 months is out of date) info and current info giving conflicting info. The above link gives the answer as to the capability. How well it will work will be my little experiment.
I think so much of my confusion was due to the fact that when searching for answers I found old (just 6 months is out of date) info and current info giving conflicting info. The above link gives the answer as to the capability. How well it will work will be my little experiment.
May 16th, 2015, 02:15 PM
#18
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Reporting back:
We traveled throughout France for almost two weeks and the combo worked beautifully!!!
- Used the MIFI (Travel-Wifi) day and night. Had unlimited service.
- Used my Samsung tablet, and Samsung phone (Sprint) in airplane mode.
- Setup Google voice and Hangouts (you have to download Hangouts Dialer) for our two cell phone numbers so we could make calls and receive calls through Hangouts. Used it for a week before we left and when a call would come through, it would ring on my phone AND my tablet AND my laptop (I set it up that way). I could answer or callout on any one of them.
Discovered my phone, in airplane mode, worked perfectly as phone and navigation, and halfway through trip opted to use IT over the tablet whenever walking around. I always had one of my two portable batteries in my pocketbook/purse/bag (Intocircuit® 15000mAh External Battery Portable Charger with SmartID Technology, 4.8A Output, Dual USB). Using Google Voice and Google Hangouts worked perfectly. I was even able to video chat with my two sons on Mother's Day. One was in Houston, one in Miami, we were at Château de Chenonceau ...and I heard gasps when I flipped the view around so they could take in the view of the chateau. Never had to pay for a phone call. I think it only costs money if you call a landline. A landline could call us without cost or problem.
We traveled throughout France for almost two weeks and the combo worked beautifully!!!
- Used the MIFI (Travel-Wifi) day and night. Had unlimited service.
- Used my Samsung tablet, and Samsung phone (Sprint) in airplane mode.
- Setup Google voice and Hangouts (you have to download Hangouts Dialer) for our two cell phone numbers so we could make calls and receive calls through Hangouts. Used it for a week before we left and when a call would come through, it would ring on my phone AND my tablet AND my laptop (I set it up that way). I could answer or callout on any one of them.
Discovered my phone, in airplane mode, worked perfectly as phone and navigation, and halfway through trip opted to use IT over the tablet whenever walking around. I always had one of my two portable batteries in my pocketbook/purse/bag (Intocircuit® 15000mAh External Battery Portable Charger with SmartID Technology, 4.8A Output, Dual USB). Using Google Voice and Google Hangouts worked perfectly. I was even able to video chat with my two sons on Mother's Day. One was in Houston, one in Miami, we were at Château de Chenonceau ...and I heard gasps when I flipped the view around so they could take in the view of the chateau. Never had to pay for a phone call. I think it only costs money if you call a landline. A landline could call us without cost or problem.
