Has anyone tried MaxxFi?

[Magumba]

I saw an add on Facebook for MaxxFi a mobile internet service.
Thanks for your help.

[BeachDude]

It's a pricy bundled gimmick, "for the explorer in you"!

It's common technology used by mobile based businesses.

They utilize Cradlepoint COR IBR1100 Series hardware, (allows multiple cellular account sim cards on one router, increasing your bandwidth and COST). And they use a WiFi repeater and booster for local free long distance WiFi.

[Magumba]

Thanks for your help.

[Technomadia]

We received a MaxxFi Black in for testing & review, and will be releasing our first impressions soon on our RV Mobile Internet Resource Center.

But yes, so far.. it's a Cradlepoint router with a MaxxFi sticker on it, with their remote concierge service.

[slabman]

I'm confused. Who sets up the $80 unlimited service? If MaxxFi does this, do I nominate the carrier? Then whose name is on the account? How can one switch providers with NO termination fee? So far...the provided info doesn't seem to address these details.

[KingBiscuit]

My wife and I are planning on spending 4 months (Dec - Mar) this coming winter in our bird and traveling the South/South West. I do remote programming for hospitals so I need reliable access to the internet that will support VPN (Virtual Private Network) in order to work from the coach. Secondly, I need unlimited access so buying a 10Gig plan from Verizon, ATT or Sprint would get expensive in a hurry.

After talking to Sean at MaxxFi for an hour or so, I bit the bullet and bought a MaxxFi Standard+ Kit along with the 5 in 1 external antenna. You do need to purchase a wireless plan from one of the vendors. I chose the T-Mobile unlimited talk/text/data plan. Instead of buying a smart phone, I just bought a $15 SIM card. As far as I can tell, T-Mobile is the only carrier to offer unlimited 4G LTE data at this point in time. It's $80 a month. Sprint maybe, but I think they throttle you back after like 3 Gig.

I'm currently using the MaxxFi in my condo and will transition to my bird when we get ready to go south this winter.

Here's my experience to this point:

I received the SIM card from T-Mobile and about a week later, I got the MaxxFi Router from Sean.

1. Take the router out of the box, installed the antennas and SIM card, plug in the power then turn the router on. (Note, the 5 way external antenna is not in the mix yet)
2. The MaxxFi is sitting on the desk next to my desktop computer so I just plugged the network cable from my computer into the MaxxFi Router.
3. The router takes a few minutes to come up, but once it does, you're ready to go. I had to refresh my network connection from my computer. You can do this by restarting your computer or by issuing the command "ipconfig /release /renew"

Once your computer has connected to the MaxxFi, you're good to go.

I performed speed tests, watched video, VPN into work, etc. Everything worked as described. I had no problems with the speed at all.

A note about "Extreme Speeds" you're only going to get as fast as "slowest point" in your network. This is a true statement in any network.

Sean at MaxxFi is also correct, in that his systems offer you the ability to get those "extreme" speeds if configured properly. For example, if you are willing to spend the money for a Verizon 4G-XLTE plan, you will get amazing speeds, no doubt about it.

The MaxxFi router is all about having options to get maximum bandwidth. Another way to increase your bandwidth is to use multiple connections to the internet. For example, you can connect to an RV park's WiFi and be using your SIM card connection at the same time. Heck, you can have multiple WiFi connections defined and use them all at once. I'm amazed at the technology built into these routers. They will do a couple of different types of load balancing across multiple internet connections. If you want to get really technical you can define rules that will control routing across specific connections, etc. This is professional grade equipment. I'm guessing most of us will never want or need to get to that level.

I've been experimenting at home. I have the MaxxFi router connected to my home WiFi/Time Warner Cable modem and the T-Mobile connection both at once. I've tried pretty much every scenario I can think of. I currently have my TWC first in the priority list and the T-mobile second. If TWC get's maxed out, it will "spill over" to the T-Mobile. If the TWC goes down, it automatically switches over to T-Mobile. I can disable either of the connections and still work, get e-mails, browse the web or watch movies.

I switched my Roku to the MaxxFi network. It works great with just the T-Mobile connection OR the TWC connection or both at once. I watched movies, TV, etc. I actually had a problem where the TWC connection went down...I switched to the T-Mobile connection and kept on watching the movie...no problem.

I should note, here at the condo, I'm on the edge of the T-Mobile coverage area and I still get enough bandwidth to do whatever I want to do.

Sean at MaxxFi has been VERY supportive. He checks up to make sure things are working as they should. He's been on the phone with me while I experimented with various configurations. I can say he provides excellent support.

I won't have the router/antenna set up in the coach until probably July. I'm having the coach painted in June and I don't want to install the external antenna until after it has been painted. So, I'll give more info on the external antenna and router "in the coach" once it's all installed.

Recently another BlueBird owner purchased a MaxxFi router, a little different than mine, it supports 2 SIM cards simultaneously. He just did a trip from FL to OH to Iowa and back to FL. He said that if he has T-Mobile coverage, he's getting amazing speeds, something like 34 Mbps. As a note, his coach is all steel, just like mine. He also purchased the 5 in 1 antenna but has not installed it yet. He just sets the router on the dash next to the windshield and so far, it's working great.

Would I rather be on ATT or Verizon because of their larger 4G/LTE networks? YEP. Can I get an unlimited data plan for $80 a month from ATT or Verizon? NOPE so, I'm on T-Mobile. I'm guessing that at some point, unlimited data plans will be standard. No way you say? It wasn't that long ago that you had to pay for texts by the number of characters, roaming charges outside your "home region" of cell coverage or heaven forbid call someone that had a cell phone from a different cell carrier?

Can you get "extreme internet speed" using the MaxxFi router? If you need that kind of bandwidth, I believe it's possible to get it using this solution. For me, I'm happy to have enough speed to get my work done from the road, check my e-mail, surf the net and watch a movie now and then. So far, the MaxxFi has been able to deliver that at my condo with just the T-Mobile plan.

Hope That Helps,

Dan

[Magumba]

Thanks for your feedback on Maxxfi, it sounds life a great system. T-Mobile has unlimited 4G, I guess I've been over a rock! I'm glad to hear that.

[CampDaven]

It appears to be commercial grade stuff repackaged by Maxxfi. It is pricey, from $700 to $2000, plus expensive add ons.
And the available bandwidth/thru-put packs are in flux; have not settled down.
http://www.rvmobileinternet.com/maxx...t-interesting/

[slabman]

Well, as far as I'm concerned, it IS too good to be true. Looks like we'll have to continue to search for a better answer to our needs.

[gregbryantsr]

Originally Posted by Magumba

I saw an add on Facebook for MaxxFi a mobile internet service.
Thanks for your help.

I own a MAXXFI system.
If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer.
I am not associated with MAXXFI in anyway other than owning one.