Here we are. At the first review on my list of items that I have been using in the grand vehicle that I call....Gimli. Let me start out by saying that this review is based off my experience and mine alone. I work a job in the customer service area and I have to talk to people on the phone for my job. This requires a certain level of service to make this happen. Almost a year ago I was on the road and with my old job I discovered that a "wired connection" was a loose term for what I had to use to get things done. I could use my phone as that wired connection and everything would load up correctly. I made it happen and enjoyed the freedom that life gave me with that discovery.
This new job though requires more secutiry and it became apparent that I needed another way to make this work. So I decided to go for the T Mobile Box. It was a donation and I could write it off on my taxes since I was going to use it for work purposes. After a bit of back and forth on my options, I went ahead and did it. Total costs come out to $750 for the box and unlimited Data with a wired Ethernet connection. The subscription after that is $500 and it's not required. So if you hate it or decide to take time away from the road you can hold off on the renewal. In turn this seemed to be a good solution so I went for it.
It's been about two months since I've started using it and I'm gonna list the pros and cons.
Pro
Fee is reasonable if you work from a computer all the time and don't want to be charged by GB or on a monthly basis. You can use this with wireless and wired connections to meet your desired needs.
Con
When the box is overused it has a tendency to turn off on its own and it struggles for 1 - 5 minutes at a time. In context, it turns on and off repeatedly until it quits and stays off. This mostly happens with overheating so you need ot be aware of what you are using it for and for how long. Also, it seems if you are uploading or downloading it struggles and quickly gets hot. So A fan of some kind is required if you will use it in this context
Pro
It is very small and fits in my hand so it is easy for transport and doesn't get in the way of van life. In this way, it is convenient if you are tight on space.
Con
It requires you to service. This is not a buy-one-get-all all connection. If you are like me and sometimes stay in places where there is no service or spotty service this could cause problems if you have to work. What's worse if it is in an area that is still being developed and it bounces around on connections often it will then do this dance where it will turn off and on to reestablish that connection and it won't quit. It will sit there for however long it wants just grinding away on turning on and off. So 5g Uc is best but it can go to 4g. But with 4g it is spotty and very uncertain as to how it will hold with certain tasks
Pro
When it is on 5g UC it works like a charm. There is zero issues with it and it even works with the phone. You can travel a bit away from it outside your vehicle and it still works pretty well but the biggest thing is you can take it wiht you if needed. THeres no hassel with that. Ive taken it to a table by a fire before and it worked just as well as inside my van.
Con
This one is the biggest issue I have had. With wired connection is can be unstable. At some point the wired connection became unstable. The inside of the box was not set correctly for the ethernet so when you slide in the cord, it should click and lock but it doesnt which means its loose. This has caused issues with my work (along with other cons listed) and it has caused me to think of other options for future use.
As I stated in the beginning please keep in mind that I work a job where I have to TALK to people. If I didn't have to do that I'm sure this box would be sufficient enough for most. But for my job and what I need it unfortunatley didn't pass the test and is now being used as a side piece for internet use (such as writing this post, looking up shows, ect). If you just want something like that for your ride of your trip then this is a good option but otherwise, if you need full remote access no matter where you are then this is not a good option for what you are needing.
Hope this helps some people with their decisions about having internet on the road. Stay tuned for the next review.
