MiFi 2200 Battery life and charging

[Jaypse]

I've had my MiFi for about 3 weeks.  Here is what I am seeing:

- about 3.5 hours wireless with light usage (some surfing, email)

- The Power button light is never Amber, only solid green or flashing red (when battery is critically low and beginning to recharge)

The reason I ask is that I hear tech luminaries like Andy Ihnatko contnue to talk about 6-7 hour battery life.  Do i have a bad unit or what?

Any info is appreciated?

Thanks

[PDCLarry]

I get 3-4 hours, which is the claimed life for light usage (2 hours for heavy). Today's (6/10) Wall Street Journal had an article on the MiFi that also confirmed 4 hours in their tests. It is a little annoying that it doesn't warn you of low battery until it's too late, and also doesn't tell you when it is fully charged.

You can get intermediate state of charge by logging on the the MiFi itself via a wireless connection. Just point a browser to http://192.168.1.1. If you have never done this before the password is "admin". You should change it immediately, of course. 

[Jaypse]

Thanks.  I do use the admin page to manage security etc. and yes that is the only battery indicator, such as it is, that I've seen anywhere.  

A couple more questions:

-  Does your device charge via USB?  Is there any trick to this?  I use both a Mac and PC with it and I heard that you muct be using the admin software (presumably the VZAccess) to charge via USB.  I don't have VZAccess on the MAC because it wasn't required but regardless, neither seems to put much of a charge into the device, though it does work indefinitely when tethered.

-  Also, how's the heat coming off that thing?  I don't think it can stay packed away in a bag while in use. 

[PDCLarry]

My MiFi charges via USB. However, USB ports are only required to supply 1/2 amp, while the MiFi charger supplies 1 amp. So it may take longer using a computer port. Many newer computers also supply 1 amp, so this is not a hard and fast rule. If you are using a hub that does not have its own power that 1/2 (or 1) amp is divided among the ports, so if you use a hub only use one that has its own power supply.

On a Mac the keyboard USB port cannot supply power, so don't use that one (unless it is the newer aluminum keyboard). On a PC desktop if there are ports on the front they are most likely an unpowered hub under the covers, so only use ports on the back. 

On a laptop all ports are usually separate.

You don't have to use VZaccess to get it to charge.

[dave1812]

Charging thru the included charger/cable should take up to 2.5 hours.  Charging via USB may take as long as 8 hours.

I complained to Verizon today about the lack of a charging indicator and they are escalating the issue to Novatel.  I expect to hear back from Verizon by early next week.  I have had 2 units and neither EVER shows an amber light for charging--just green.  The first unit sporadically flashed red even with a fully charged battery.  I've had the second unit less than 24 hours so it's too soon to know if it will also begin flashing red when it shouldn't.  Apparently Novatel rushed these units to market, not fully tested.

[dave1812]

UPDATE:  I finally got a call from Novatel and they are researching the problem with the status light.  I should know more tomorrow (the 12th)

[Jaypse]

I'll be interested to hear.  I'm an early adopter to be sure but I didn't expect this sort of stuff.  I wonder if it can be firmware fixed?  Also, I hit my 30 days next week so I'm wondering if I should try another unit.  I let it charge via AC last night for at least 2.5 hours and it still only gave me about 2 hours today before flashing red.  :- /

[dave1812]

2 hours is quite short.  even after 2.5 hours of continuous usage, mine is still in the green.  it's rated at 4 hours of average usage, with 2 hours being heavy usage, IIRC, or what you'd expect with several clients.  I would at least try another unit.  Be aware, that when I had a problem with mine, they sent me ONLY the MiFi unit!  No battery or any other items.  Just a bare MiFi wrapped in bubble wrap and tossed into a large box for Fed Ex delivery.

I've got until the 28th, but my patience is wearing thin with the status light issue.  If, by next week it isn't resolved, I'm getting a refund.  Too much hassle trying to keep track of the charging the way it is now.

[Jaypse]

Always good to compare notes so I really appreciate your feedback.  I bought mine at a Verizon Store while traveling so I was thinking of going to another store locally.  Did you get yours replaced over the phone? 

[dave1812]

Yes, I was on vacation in LA, and called the Verizon support number.  They offered to send one to my hotel the next day.  It arrived by 10AM the next day and I picked it up in the evening (I was out all day) and placed it into service.  The new unit SEEMS to have resolved the intermittent flashing red light, but I still don't get an amber light when charging, so I've escalated the issue and am now dealing with Novatel directly.  Verizon will not want to contact Novatel on your behalf unless you make a huge stink.  I ended up emailing Novatel twice, AND left them a detailed message at their corporate headquarters in San Diego.  I suggest you might want to start with a replacement unit first, then see what happens.  But, like I said, I didn't get a new battery, so be sure to let them know you suspect the battery itself may be the culprit.

FYI: you will need to activate a new unit, but of course if all you get is a battery, you won't have to go through that routine.  My replacement MiFi hadn't been registered with Verizon before it was shipped, so I had to call tech support in order to activate it--another small hassle.

Message Edited by dave1812 on 06-11-2009 04:23 PM

Message Edited by dave1812 on 06-11-2009 04:24 PM

[dave1812]

I just got an email from the tech at Novatel.  He claims the units should show amber when charging.  He sent me a picture of a unit with it's status light amber.  Therefore, the only conclusion I can draw is that I got TWO defective units in a row.  Not a good sign.  I asked him to provide some practical solution before it's time for me to return the unit before the 30 day eval period is up.  No way am I going to keep the MiFi if it can't indicate whether or not it is charging.  I told the guy several times that I'm not the only one with this problem, so it seems we have a disconnect between what his sample unit is doing and what we customers are experiencing.  It's a shame, because the unit works well as a wifi hotspot, but the charging issue and obvious lack of quality control makes me too wary of the MiFi to keep it for the next 2 years.  I was hoping he'd said the issue was a software one; one that would be rectified soon with an update.  I asked him point blank, on the phone yesterday, if there was an update and he said there hasn't been one yet, but one was under development. He went on further to say there has been only one software release.  From that comment, I must presume the sample he tested has the identical s/w release as the two units I received.

Message Edited by dave1812 on 06-12-2009 09:00 PM

[rimbaud]

I've got one that is working as it's supposed to:

1.  The light flashes red when the battery is low.

2.  The light turns amber when it is charging (it does not turn amber right away, but after a minute).

3.  It charges to full in about 2.5 hours.

4.  The charge lasts about 4 hours.

[PDCLarry]

Well I guess mine is working, then. It turns red about a minute before it shuts off. Not terribly useful. It shows amber when charging, but turns green LONG before it reaches full charge - after about 30 minutes into the 2.5 hour charge cycle. If that's the way it is supposed to work it's poorly designed.

[dave1812]

Thanks for the info.  I was pretty sure I had a bad unit, and now  I know I've had TWO bad units.  I'm going to take the second one back for a refund.  Failure rate is too great for me.

[dave1812]

For grins I ran the mifi for 4 hours 20 minutes (no load) until it turned red.  plugged it into the charger-- it stayed blinking red.  shut off the mifi.  it restarted automatically, as always, when charging, and IMMEDIATELY TURNED GREEN.   How lame is that?  Monday morning, I'll be in line at Verizon, returning the dumb thing.  I can't forgive having 2 in a row being defective and no one at VZN or Novatel knows diddly squat about the problem.   ("never heard of that problem", they say).  right...

[dave1812]

UPDATE:  I FINALLY (after 12 days of using 2 MiFi's and LOTS of charging) got an amber indication!!  It just switched to amber after about 15 minutes or so of charging, which as noted above, I began after getting a blinking red light.  I'll try to keep track of this sucker to see how long it remains amber.  There's hope yet!  LOL!  Isn't it bizarre that of the more than 12-15 times I've charged this unit (and the first one) I've never seen an amber light before, and I've usually had the unit in a location where I can see it while it charges.  I'm guessing it has to be depleted to the red flashing light mode, before the amber indicator will be seen.  Typically I charge it when it is between roughly 20 and 60% charged, as I don't want it to run out just when I want to use it away from an outlet.

[dave1812]

UPDATE 2:  After about 35 minutes or less, the light turned green...not very useful, since a full charge is supposed to take 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours.  $720/year, plus $100 + tax for unit, this thing should work more reliably, IMO.

[rimbaud]

The amber light is close to accurate on mine:  it may charge to full (and go green), from a partial discharge, faster than you want to believe is possible.  If you want it to stay amber longer, try using it while it is charging. Also, to get the battery meter calibrated, use it until it fully discharges and then charge it for a full 3 hours, to guarantee you got a full charge, once or twice.  You will get a better idea of how long the battery lasts (and the battery meter will, too)!

Message Edited by rimbaud on 06-13-2009 09:01 PM

Message Edited by rimbaud on 06-13-2009 09:02 PM

Message Edited by rimbaud on 06-13-2009 09:02 PM

{please keep your posts courteous}

Message Edited by BradC on 06-14-2009 08:50 AM

[dave1812]

I was appreciative of your post, right up to the part about "cry babies".  I think you gave yourself a black eye by including that bit of tackiness in your post.  What a shame.

[rimbaud]

Yeah, I added that as an afterthought, coming off a political blog, where everyone calls each other names! Take the wheat and ignore the crass chaff. 

Message Edited by rimbaud on 06-13-2009 09:11 PM

[dave1812]

   I wouldn't dare get myself involved in a political forum!  I've enough trouble with far less controversial topics like high tech toys.  <g>

The "wheat" was great.  Thanks!