posted
Starting a new thread to carry on discussions of how to monitor data usage when using the Novatel Hotspot MiFi 4510L on Verizon when device/service was purchased through Millenicom.
The issue is that if you try to set up an account on verizonwireless.com, it sends a temporary password to the mobile device but being a MiFi it is not able to receive the text. Further, calling Verizon support they are not able to access the account for the mobile access number to be able to send a password via snail mail.
I contacted Millenicom support and received the following:
You may either submit a ticket to "usage" from your members account at www.millenicom.com as you did today or simply email usage@millenicom.com from time to time to obtain current usage information.
Millenicom does not have an agreement with our upstream carrier to utilize any of their resources other than their national footprint. Please do not attempt to utilize any usage information other than the two methods listed above.
Please note that you will receive an email notification if you are closely approaching or exceeding your monthly data usage allowance.
The usage cycle resets on the 2nd of the month.
This makes me feel better. I submitted an online ticket this morning and had a usage report within an hour or so. Between that and the email warning when approaching threshold should be workable.
posted
Something else you can do to augment the above approach is to watch the usage during your current session. When connected to the MiFi, enter 192.168.1.1 in the browser and log in using the device password. Go to the WWAN page and it will show you amount sent/received for the current session.
If my math is correct, 20GB monthly translates into a around 650MB per day. That is quite a bit but monitoring each session locally like this can help throw up a red flag if individual sessions routinely show in excess of this daily amount.
posted
Another and a little expensive, but fun is to use a Cradlepoint MBR1400 router. You can define each port to monitor usage and send.e-mail or shutdown that port. Comparing to verzion usage the 1400 always showed less (you can adjust it). I think verzion is padding it but cannot prove it..
posted
So, now it gets really interesting. I took the SIM card out of my Millenicom MiFi and inserted it into my "old" Pantech 290 USB air card. I was able to setup my Verizon account, receive the text message and I now have a Verizon on-line account setup. I reads that my usage is:
1.644GB of Unlimited
Here's where things get sticky. I have a WiFi Ranger. I could (in theory) keep this SIM in my Pantech, plug the Pantech into the WiFi Ranger and have lots of connections available, have the external WiFi antenna available and still have the Millenicom 20GB service. Does anyone see why this would not work or could become an issue?
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15675 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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On the other config - I think that would work - the SIM card is what determines what account the device uses when communicating with the network. The only thing I would wonder about is if the Pantech is truly a 4G device. Did you do a speed test to compare it to speeds on the MiFi?
posted
Oh yeah! It's a 3G/4G device which I have used for many years. We are current outside of LA in CA and getting about 8MB down and 5MB up with the Millenicom card in the Pantech device.
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15675 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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posted
The GOOD NEWS is here. You can now monitor your Millenicom usage from their web site.
From another blog: "I discovered that Millenicom now (at last!) displays usage reports, updated weekly, on our online account management page. Just login to your account, click ‘Products’ at the top and select your device. The last line should be your usage for the month so far, as calculated on the prior Monday from aggregated reports from Verizon that Millenicom downloads."
So although the data is a little LATE in getting to you, you can now have some idea of your monthly usage.
I have tried this with my account and it works as stated.
-------------------- Wayne Lee 2007 36' HR Endeavor | 2006 Hummer H3 Dinghy F1 Datastorm with D3 for Direct TV | Millenicom MiFi Posts: 374 | From: Out West Somewhere | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Windows 8 monitors your usage on a connection. Right click on a connection and you can set it as a metered connection. It will then give you an estimated usage over any period of time. It also can be reset. I have not compared it to what ATT says I have used so do not know how accurate it is.
-------------------- David Carr Fleetwood Discovery/Saturn F1|D3|7000|IA8|1410/30/wireless|gway laptops and all in one. Posts: 193 | From: mobile | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
David, I suspect this will only capture what goes to/from that particular computer, and not what goes through the Internet connection, thus not getting data for shared connections or devices other than that one computer. Gary
-------------------- DSL & Verizon Jetpack - formerly F1 Datastorm w/2-Watt BUC | D3 3.9.6w | HN7000s 5.8.0.82 | AMC9 - 83W/1290 H/H | 33Msps | BOW SL3 SWM HDTV | Linksys WRT54GS See my current location Posts: 1185 | From: Debary, Florida | Registered: May 2003
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