You might have heard somewhere that you need a mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot to go on international travel, but you don’t even know what it is. Well, here’s everything you need to know about mobile hotspots, how they work and what you should look for when buying one. Some of the best mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for international travel are also listed so take note and get one before you go!
What is mobile Wi-Fi hotspot?
The term (also called Mobile Wi-Fi or MiFi) refers to a relatively small device designed to allow your phone to access the internet from different locations without a SIM card.
If you know in advance that you will visit a place without free internet to connect your devices, you are probably in need of a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. Also, some people choose it to avoid looking for a Wi-Fi connection in an unknown place since it can be a slow and insecure task.
How Do Mobile Hotspots Work?
Mobile hotspots only work when there is a mobile phone network to which the device connects to create a local Wi-Fi network that enables other connected devices to access the internet.
With this in mind, you must know that mobile hotspots don’t work in every location in the world, so you’re encouraged to look for the network coverage map of the place you plan to visit to know in advance if a mobile hotspot will or not.
What To Consider When Looking For A Mobile Hotspot?
Besides considering the place you’re going to visit and the time of your stay as determinants of whether to buy a mobile hotspot or not, here are some features really important to look for when buying it.
Cellular Network and Speed – This will determine both the availability and the maximum speed supported. You can expect to find network technologies such as:
2G: 237 kbit/s for download and upload. 3G: 1. 6 Mbit/s for download and 0. 5 Mbit/s for upload. 4G: 300 Mbit/s for download and 75 Mbit/s for upload. 5G: 3 Gbit/s for download and 500 Mbit/s for upload.
Also, consider that these numbers are the ideal speed, and in a real situation, speed can be affected by different external factors.
Battery life – Sometimes traveling means enduring some inconveniences, like not being close to a source of power like you are in your home, so a device with good battery life (8-12 hours) is definitely more useful.
Security – Your mobile hotspot must have a password to guarantee that anyone without it can’t connect to your personal Wi-Fi network.
Data Allowance – Data allowance is imposed by the company from which you buy a mobile hotspot. It can be fixed either for a day or a month, but the important thing to know is what happens after you exceed the limit.
Some devices start charging you although they still allow you to use the internet. Other devices’ data is shut off after reaching the data limit; if not, their speed starts decreasing (from 4G to 2G after reaching the data limit).
The number of devices supported – This consideration depends on how many devices are you used to connect to the internet, or if you plan on traveling with your family and would like that everyone’s devices can be connected.
Global roaming support – Some mobile hotspots only support specific bands that cellular carriers use to transmit cellular data. You might want to be sure that the device you buy supports the bands or frequency used by most cellular carriers at your destiny location.
The Best Options For You
GlocalMe G4 Pro
Cellular network: 4G, 3GBattery: 18 hoursWeight: 190 gCountries covered: 140+Devices supported: 10
Solis Lite
Cellular network: 4G, 3GBattery: 12 hoursWeight: 156 gCountries covered: 130+Devices supported: 10
MightyWifi M1
Cellular network: 3GBattery: 12 hoursWeight: 190 gCountries covered: 150+Devices supported: 10
We. Stream Secure Mobile WiFi Hotspot
Cellular network: 4GBattery: 15 hoursWeight: 240 gCountries covered: 154Devices supported: 5
Travel Wi-Fi Sapphire 2
Cellular network: 4G, 3GBattery: 12 hoursWeight: 140 gCountries covered: 130+Devices supported: 5
Renting A Mobile Hotspot
Renting a mobile hotspot is probably the best option if you plan on going to a single location and, also, if it will last less than a month. Thus, renting a mobile hotspot will cost around $5-$12 (including the device and data) per day. Some companies that offer this service are mywebspot and GlocalMe.
Conclusion
Buying a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot can be a great factor of differentiation during your international travel, especially if you’re a frequent traveler and/or hope to visit multiple locations. Don’t waste time finding a place to buy a SIM card locally, instead act in advance and choose the best device for you now.
Is a mobile hotspot more expensive than a SIM card?
Yes, it is. However, a mobile hotspot enables you to connect multiple devices and also comes in handier if you’re a regular international traveler.
What does it mean that a mobile hotspot has more than one cellular network?
That they work at different speeds on different cellular bands. For example, one device may work at 4G speed on very specific bands but, on others, it works at 3G speed.
