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Millenicom 3G/4G Hotspot Plan questions before I pass go...

-108dB is probably not what Millenicom would consider a good signal strength. But I bet what really matters is the publicly available Verizon coverage map. If you are not surrounded by full regular Verizon LTE coverage, Millenicom probably will not indicate that you are eligible for a plan that has Verizon LTE in it. So go to the Verizon website and see what your location's LTE coverage is stated to be.

reply to dgreen80
the Millenicom Hotspot (Jetpack 4620LE) will NOT interface with your Linksys router ... you would need a Cradlepoint router to that.
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reply to davidhoffman
Coverage looks good on the Verizon Coverage map. Do you think I would still need an antenna and/or amp?

reply to Jim_in_VA
..bummer. Do you have a feel for the Wifi range on the Jetpack 4620LE?

reply to dgreen80

Thanks...I'll check it out

reply to dgreen80
I looked at the LTE coverage version of Verizon's Wireless Coverage Map and for Stockton, MD I see LTE Extended Coverage only. This means a more than 50% chance you would fall back to EVDO 3G service in that area. That is why Millenicom will not approve Verizon based LTE service if you live there.

There used to be a person, who worked at Millenicom, on the Millenicom Forum who could help get around initial disapproval, if you did got some some detailed data for him to use. I do not know if someone like that is still there. You would go and get the exact same model modem, or in this case hotspot, that Verizon and Millenicom had in common. You did this by going to Verizon and getting the device for a trial period. You then tested the device, gathering signal strength and other signal quality information at your location. If the setup worked you would provide information to convince Millenicom to authorize service. You stated what type, if any, amplifiers and antennas you used. If you used a directional antenna you could add in information on the direction, in degrees, the antenna was pointed in. You provided your location in terms of both address and the latitude and longitude location of the antenna. Antenna elevation above ground was useful also. If the setup did not work, you returned the device to Verizon before the trial period ended.

Because an amplifier, parabolic directional antenna, antenna roof mount, and long length of coaxial antenna cable would be expensive to buy, and some items would not be returnable, when I tested, I used only a small basic external omni-directional antenna with an external antenna adapter cable. It was about $60 for both items shipping included. I was testing for 3G EVDO at the time and I had about as bad a signal strength as you do. The omni antenna, when located outside above the roof by a few feet, was able to turn 0 bars into 1 solid continuous bar. Signal strength went from being in the -100dB to -110dB range to the -90dB to -100dB range. That told me that while it would be expensive, the addition of the other equipment would probably give me the equivalent of an -80dB to -90dB signal. That is usable, although not excellent performance. You could try using the basic antenna and see what results you get.

reply to Max Signal
So…I’ve been studying some more. The -108 dbm signal I referenced before I believe to be a RSRP vs the RSSI value that is associated with most readings. I’ve also read that these 4G LTE RSRP readings run about 20-23 dbm lower than comparable RSSI readings. That would mean that my -108 RSRP is roughly equivalent to -85 dbm RSSI. That makes sense as my phone also shows so called 1X readings that are in line with -85 dbm. I have been able to find -99 dbm RSRP (-76 dbm RSSI) at other locations in my house with speed tests of 20 Mbps up and 3.75 Mbps down. I am about 2.75 miles from the tower with flat land and distant tress in between. I have ventured closer to the tower and have achieved speeds of 37 Mbps up and 15 Mbps down. Therefore, the question I still have before I complete my Millencom purchase is:
Do I also purchase the antenna Millencom offers to hopefully boost signal and speed up a little?
Thanks again.

Don't know what article you read but -108 is not a good signal , Of course an antenna will help . But at -108 you need a lot of help . The antenna Millenicom offers is one of the best performers out there next to a directional. Good Luck

Thanks Max.

Here is one of the readings I referenced:
»s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entr···-primer/
From the article regarding a -102 dbm signal: "If this were measuring CDMA1X or EV-DO, then, yes, -102 dBm would be nearing the margin of usable signal. But -102 dBm is actually relatively healthy LTE signal level."

My phone is a Razr M is running Android 4.2, Jelly Bean and is giving me simultaneous CSMA1x and LTE 4G strength readings that differ by about 20 dbm. As I understand, the RAZR M LTE 4G readings are RSRP (not RSSI) and therefore are not as bad a signal as the value would indicated if it were in RSSI.

reply to davidhoffman
David ~ the connection through Millenicom is exactly the same (identical, absolutely no difference) than getting a connection directly from the upstream carrier. If you are in an Extended LTE footprint, they simply write "No" on the coverage locator for LTE (4G) out of respect for the one signing up. If you can actually get LTE you will receive LTE regardless of any action on the part of Millenicom.

reply to dgreen80
You realize how DBM readings works ? Every 3 DB is double the signal power so a difference of 6 DB is huge . Basically -108 signal is only 25% as powerful as a -102 signal

Yes...I understand that every 3 db is double the power. But remember, even though I originally referenced my -108 dbm (RSRP), I wrote that I have also been able to find -99 dbm (RSRP) inside of my house. As you point out, that is 8x more power than my original -108 dbm reading and is giving me download speeds of 20Mbps. I was just trying to decide if the antenna would boost me significantly enough to warrant its purchase.

It would boost your reception big time for a minimal investment and easy set up . As far as boosting speeds that is more dependent a lot of other factors as well.

1) How many T1 lines are run to the tower you are connected to
2) How many other users are connected to that tower
3) How are those other users using or abusing the available bandwidth
4) Overall Network traffic with your carrier

reply to student
That's right. I actually confirmed this with a Millenicom chat a couple of days ago...they confirmed that regardless of what their coverage map indicates, if I can receive LTE, it will work.

On a similar note, do you think Millenicom should read "Yes 4G" when an address is in Extended LTE and not in full LTE?

reply to dgreen80
millenicom has a 14 day return policy on their accy's. just try it and return it if no go. why keep wondering if it will work?

reply to dgreen80
RSRP is a different measurement than RSSI. It is a signal strength measurement for 4G/LTE, and you won't see it on a 3G/EVDO field test screen.

RSRP:

Better than -96dBm is a great signal
Between -97dBm and -107dBm is good
Between -108dBm and -114dBm is fair
Worse than -115dBm is poor
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Thanks for the clarification Jim.
I am planning to sign up for the Millenicom 3G/4G Hotspot Plan and order the Maximun Signal Universal 13 inch 5 db gain. Located in the right spot in my house, I’m hoping to be in the -96 dbm RSRP range for a “great” signal!
I shall report back in a couple of weeks.