4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 4510L - Can't Charge and Use?

[JaredM]

Unless I'm missing something, there appears to be a tremendous design flaw with the brand new 4510L - it's not possible to charge the device via USB and use its 4G data connection!  It looks like the WiFi radio shuts down as soon as I plug the device into a powered USB port.

This seems insane.  If my laptop is plugged into a power source, why can't I be charging the MiFi at the same time and still use the data connection?

[notpeter]

Out of the box, yes, this is true.

That said you can get a special charging only micro USB cable (with the data pins disconnected) which will let you charge via usb and connect via wifi simultaneously.  Alternatively you can charge it from a non-computer connected USB port (included AC adaptor or a 12V DC MicroUSB car adaptor).

[JaredM]

Where might I find such a charge-only micro USB cable?

[jmilford]

You can also follow this guide.  You'll just want to make sure you have another cable that can be used for firmware updates as they are released.

http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/2146

[dimap]

This is especiallly nutty as you can't tether as a single mode device via USB either. I wouldn't mind losing wi-fi so much if you could, but you can't.

I'm geussing the reason wi-fi was disabled via laptop USB is becasue of the 500 mA maximum draw from a USB port being insufficent to power the wi'fi radio. I would think a double-plug cable that uses 2 ports would be necessary for this.

[Lynn53]

I have a 4510L but do not need to charge by the usb cable I use the wall charger but I was looking at other stuff for the 4510L and found this, its the retractable. Might want to call them first and make sure. I have ordered other stuff from them and they are good to work with you. Number to call is on home page

usb cable

http://3gstore.com/category/273_529_mifi_portable_hotspot_verizon_mifi_4150l.html?sort=20a&page=2

home page

http://3gstore.com/

[Jibaro61]

Got one and it works great.  Worth the price and no splicing of cables.  Also found some sources on Ebay for 1/3 the costs, but not sure of sellers rep.

[ArnettH_VZW]

Thanks for all the input community members,

Just to add to the discussion, when you plug the mifi to a pc, you can use it like a USB modem for an individual device. The is especially helpful for when people want to access the web  with a pc that doesn't have wifi. In most cases, people who have pc without the wifi capability still buy a mifi so they can use it with their desktops with a cord and/or with with their tablets wirelessly. 

Hope this clears up any confusion...

[dimap]

@ArnettH_VZW:   Really? Here is an exerpt from a comment left by a user on the device page in the Mobile Hotopot Devices section of this site:

While I'm thrilled to be rid of the often slow VZ Access Manager, the 4G MiFi lacks something that it's 3G counterpart offered -- the ability to use as a tethered device, an important feature if you want to use on desktop computer that doesn't have built-in WiFi (most do not).

And from the device feature list itself:

• One Type–A USB port–For s/w updates ONLY.

Not srue what this means exactly, but hopefully the thing will at least CHARGE from the wall via the USB port!

[Lynn53]

I went to a Verizon store and was asking about a charge only cable and one employee said the cable that comes with it would then I told him it would not then another employee confirmed I was right that the cable that comes with the device was for software updates only. This has nothing to do with the wall charger that also comes with the device. Now I read what this Verizon employee says. Maybe we need to write the head of Verizon employee training or maybe he needs training.

[BeakerChi]

Absolutely - training is NECESSARY.  Not only can you not charge & use, but device is not 'plug N play' with non-WiFi PC.  I am furious with the Verizon sales guy that sold me this thing when I was VERY CLEAR it was to replace DSL on a PC.  Just spent 30 minutes (mostly on hold) to voice my concerns with the phone rep. . .then a Tech.  Furious.  Now I have to go into another Verizon store to bicker with someone who didn't sell me this thing to give me a wireless USB adapter Verizon probably sells for $30.

[JaredM]

@ArnettH_VZW: Please explain how this functionality (USB modem) works.  I have not seen the MiFi behave in the manner you've described.

[deloswilbur]

I think ArnettH_VZW is misstaken though I would love to be proved wrong.  I have talked to numerous support people and scoured the net for a way to use this device via USB tether, there does not appear to be anyway until someone figures out how to hack the config file.

[BenRapo]

@deloswilbur

I suppose that being able to access the internet via USB during a charge would be booby prize of the thread.  So if the VZW rep is correct, and there is no tethering, then by design this product is capable of spitting out exceptional speed for about 3 hours, then nothing while you go off and charge it, unless you happen to be near the reaches of a power plant for another few hours.

I'm banging my head on the wall here wondering what product manager thought this was a winning design.  The whole purpose of these devices to keep the customer connected while "on the go".  Recharging your MiFi on the go via a wall wort is anything but.

A question to any MiFi 2200 owners out there?  Once I modified my config so I could use my Laptop power via USB, with the WiFI router on, I found it never really held a charge.  I am guessing that making that config change caused the device to run the WiFi as the expense of have charging the battery.

If that is the case with the 4510L, then I would still live with the battery not charging while USB connected to my laptop. If that is the reason, then I would like the choice, along with the configuration parameter.

Hey another thread could be started on why GPS is disabled.

Anyone out there work for Novatel?

B

[ChaunceyM_VZW]

Thank you to the community members for your replies. I apologize for the confusion caused by  the answer previously posted to the forum. The 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi 4510L can not be connected via the USB port for tethering. Additionally, the USB cable provided is in fact used for software updates only. 

Thanks,

ChaunceyM_VZWSupport

Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[JosephMGaffney]

This is.... just stupid.

So I can get the Samsung and have vpn issues, or keep my 4510l and not be able to tether?  What genius is behind this?

Fix it.

[Custome_X]

The included cable is useless for software updates as there aren't any drivers for the 4510L - Not even on the developer's forum at Novatel.

[bill-mifi]

The solution to either make or purchase a charge-only cable works with some clarifications. 

First, the charge-only cable must have the white-green wire pair shorted on the micro-usb (device) end.  Some charge-only cables on the market are supplied with no white-green data wires installed at all.  This will not work since the MiFi unit does not recognize the cable as charge-only.  The 3g-store claims to sell a proper cable although I did not purchase this to confirm.  I made my own.

Second, the comment on the limitations of PC-USB ports with respect to power is correct.  Some PC manufacturers will supply at least one USB port that can supply the full current but the other ports will not.  Unfortunately, it depends on the manufacturer and model if the charge cable will work with the MiFi unit powered up. The unit resetting is an indication that the connected USB port is not adequate.

This is probably why Novatel decided to not support charging via a cable tethered to a computer while WiFi radio is powered up along with LTE radio. I would tend to "blame" PC manufacturers who are making cheap products.

On MacBook Pro machines, the USB port closest to the power supply typically works. I have tested this successfully on 2008 non-unibody MacBook Pros 15/17 with the port on the left next to the mag-safe power port.  I have also tested this successfully on 2010 unibody MacBook Pros 13/15/17 with the rear-most USB port (closest to  mag-safe power port although not adjacent). I have had these powered for as long as a full day at work with no issues.

My suggestion is to have others report similarly on other manufacturers and models of computers with respect to the USB port compatibility on their machines. 

I have also noticed that the MiFi sometimes stalls and this does seem related to the WiFi, not the cell connection.  I have tried the "g" setting as described elsewhere in the forum and this seems to lessen the problem.  Perhaps a firmware update will be required to completely eliminate this issue.

Other than this inconvenience, the speed rocks where LTE is available.  I was getting a download via Google for Chrome the other day that recorded 1997 kBps in my download manager which translates close to 16 mbps - like cable speeds.  

[AndyWL]

Bill-mifi,

I registered for the forums just to thank you. Your cable instructions (message 21) worked perfectly and now I can charge from the laptop while broadcasting. It's an easy job. Thanks!

[nosillacast]

Bil-mifi - 

I was inspired by your mention of simply shorting out the green/white pair on a USB cable, so for $0.65 I did it and it worked perfectly.  I created a tutorial (complete with pictures) showing how to do it, and embedded a video showing the behavior with a normal USB cable and the hacked version.  Even gave you credit and a link to this forum post in the tutorial.

enjoy:

http://www.podfeet.com/wordpress/tutorials/make-your-own-charge-only-usb-cable-for-the-novatel-mifi/

Allison SheridanNosillaCast Podcast at http://podfeet.comA technology geek podcast with an EVER so slight Macintosh bias!Follow me at http://twitter.com/podfeet

[John_Getzke]

Hello all,

As some of you may know, a Firmware update was released within the last 24 hours to resolve some of the disconnection issues mentioned in other threads.  What should appeal to this thread is that the new Firmware update also included drivers for the MiFi4510L.

Unfortunetly, the drivers have not resolved the Charge and Use issues with the USB cable and this device.  My laptop now correctly identifies the MiFi4510L when connected via USB, but the device still disables the broadcast.  It appears as though Novatel has specifically designed this device to be Wireless only, although the USB cable is required for the firmware update.

A word of caution to modifying the USB cable:

For those of you who have hacked/spliced your USB cable, installing this update may be difficult as you have now severed your Data Connection to the computer.  You will either need to re-hack your USB cable or purchase a seperate USB cable for the firmware update.  The boxwave.com adapter was wonderful for me because all I had to do was unattach it and install the firmware update.