Force your MiFi 4510L Mobile Hotspot into 3G (EVDO) or 4G (LTE) mode (WWAN Settings)

The other day, I wrote about how my Verizon MiFi 4510L Mobile Hotspot was stuck on 3G (EVDO) and was not switching to 4G (LTE). If you're experiencing similar issues, make sure to read this.

For those of you wanting to manually switch your Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot from 3G to 4G (or vice versa), here's a simple tutorial that outlines the steps that will help you do that.

• Connect to your MiFi
• Log in to your MiFi by typing this URL into your browser: http://192.168.1.1/
• Click on "Setup Wizard"
• The default password is "admin" (unless you've changed it)
• When it asks you to set up a new password, click "cancel"
• Now you'll see that you have several new menu options at the top red horizontal navigation bar: Home, Wi-Fi, LAN, WWAN, Security, Advanced

Verizon MiFi 4510L Mobile Hotspot on 3G (EVDO) & not switching to 4G (LTE)? Here's a solution.

I have a Verizon MiFi 4510L Mobile Hotspot and recently I experienced the issue where my device was stuck on 3G (EVDO) and was not switching to 4G (LTE) even though I knew that 4G service was available. The device indicator light was blinking purple/violet instead of green. This is apparently a known problem for this device. So, if your device isn't switching to 4G, it's not defective. Resetting the device won't do anything.

Here's how I got it back to 4G (LTE):

• Connect to your MiFi
• Log in to your MiFi by typing this URL into your browser: http://192.168.1.1/
• Click on "Setup Wizard"
• The default password is "admin" (unless you've changed it)
• When it asks you to set up a new password, click "cancel"
• Now you'll see that you have several new menu options at the top red horizontal navigation bar: Home, Wi-Fi, LAN, WWAN, Security, Advanced

Now, you'll want to click on WWAN -> and then go to the "WWAN Settings" at the bottom of the page.

• Under the WWAN Preferred Mode, select "LTE only"
• Then, click "apply" and the device will reboot.

My understanding is that this is a temporary fix. Therefore, you may need to do this periodically if you move into areas where you only have 3G coverage. The MiFi could have a tendency to get "stuck" in 3G mode and it needs to manually get moved back to 4G using the steps outlined above. 

Switch between 3G (EVDO) and 4G (LTE) on the HTC ThunderBolt

It would be nice if the HTC ThunderBolt had a widget or an app that would easily let you toggle between 3G and 4G. When I'm on 4G, my battery drains really quickly, even if I'm not actively using the phone. I could stop all my background processes, but that doesn't seem like it's the best option for me.

Here's how you can manually switch between 3G and 4G on your ThunderBolt:

Open the phone dialer
Dial: *#*#4636#*#*
You'll see a menu titled "Testing"
Go to "Phone information"
Scroll down until you see "CDMA + LTE/EvDo auto"

To set your ThunderBolt to stay on 3G, select: "CDMA auto (PRL)"

Then, when you want to go back to 4G, select: "CDMA + LTE/EvDo auto"

BlackBerry Tour "world phone"

The BlackBerry Tour is a "world phone" that will be coming to Sprint and Verizon Wireless. Both of these networks currently use CDMA technology. Most of Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world use GSM. As a results, to offer a "world phone," Sprint and Verizon must use a phone that works on both the CDMA network (for the U.S.) and the GSM network for the rest of the world. The BlackBerry Tour will provide EV-DO Rev A speeds on the CDMA network. When you're roaming, you'll have access to 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE as well as 2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA networks.

So, if you're locked into Sprint or Verizon and you're a world traveler because you attend international medical meetings (like the World Federation Of Neuro-Oncology or the International Association for the Study of Pain), then pick up a world phone. You'll be glad you did if you get lost in a foreign city. I just hope we see more medical software for the BlackBerry operating system.

Tethering on the road

I'm often on the road, traveling to different places for meetings. When I'm not driving, I'm often working on my laptop. I stay connected by tethering with my smartphone. It's great to have EV-DO speeds when I'm stuck in traffic because I can download large attachments and stay productive when I'm out of the office. Someday, I may eventually switch to using the built-in WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Network) that's in my laptop, but for now I will save some money by tethering when I need to get online.

Tethering on Verizon Wireless

If you use Verizon Wireless, you need VZAccess Manager to tether your smartphone to your laptop/notebook/ultra-mobile PC. Where do you go to download VZAccess Manager? You can find it here: http://www.vzam.net

Verizon used to call tethering "BroadbandAccess Connect." That phrase confused me. Now, it looks like they're using the phrase "Mobile Broadband Connect." That sounds better, but why don't they just call it what it is? Tethering. Plain and simple.

You can tether using other methods, but I'm not going to get into that right now. Verizon charges an extra "tethering fee" that doesn't always show up when you go to order a smartphone. I hope that they change that in the future.

If you're a healthcare professional, do you travel for work? If you do, tethering is an invaluable way to stay connected while you're on the road (or in the airport, hotel, park, or anywhere else). Many places now have Wi-Fi, so you may not need to use your smartphone as a wireless modem. However, if you spend time in areas that lack Wi-Fi, then tethering may become your best friend.

Sprint and the MiFi Router

So Verizon isn't the only wireless provider who is offering the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO Rev A router. You can also configure a smartphone that has built-in Wi-Fi to act as a wireless router (but you may need to make some modifications to the ROM). I don't want to say that you'd have to "hack" your phone, but that's essentially what you'll have to do if you want to use your smartphone as a Wi-Fi router.

Verizon MiFi 3G Router

What, a 3G router? EV-DO speed transmitted via Wi-Fi to your notebook, ultra-mobile PC, or netbook. Consider it wireless tethering (well, you can tether using Bluetooth, so I suppose that's wireless tethering too). However, the MiFi 3G router isn't a phone. It's specifically designed to be a router. So, if you're on Verizon Wireless, you may want to consider this as a "backup" for your current Internet connection. Or, maybe you can throw a party at the beach and host Wi-Fi through your MiFi 3G router.

EV-DO Apple iPhone Coming to Verizon Wireless?

There are many circulating rumors about an EV-DO Apple iPhone for Verizon Wireless. I know that the original plan was for the iPhone to be exclusively sold under the AT&T mobile service, but plans can change (or can they?). I think it would be truly exciting to see the iPhone on Verizon. I know many people who have recently gotten either a BlackBerry Storm or a Samsung Omnia. They'd probably switch to the iPhone in a heartbeat.