Testing T-Mobile Home Internet Service

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I ordered a free device through the T-Mobile Test Drive program. I look forward to T-Mobile offering home internet in my area. Currently, I am using the AT&T $20 per month unlimited plan connected through my wifi router. The speeds are generally faster than the DSL service we had and much less expensive.


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I tried but not available yet in my area. We only have spectrum so no choice. An my speed is normally between 2 up and 16-21 down. Plus cost is 65 bucks and going up. Dumped cable years ago, so internet hopefully will be next.

 

Huh? Spectrum's minimum internet is 100/10 at $65. Where are you? Or what's wrong with your equipment? Are you testing via WiFi? I have that service and it tests just as advertised via Ethernet to my PC or via WiFi to my iPhone. Via WiFi to my (old) iPad 4 it tests at least 50 down and 10 up.

 

Equipment runs great. Usually have two computers running and streaming on TV with no issues whatsoever.
Test was with wireless android tablet. I am still on a very old plan with spectrum so haven't been upgraded. But my next call to them will be to cancel. Thus the interest in T-Mobile.

 

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Why cancel Spectrum? You could get the current 100/10 plan for the same price you're paying for your old plan.

 

Spectrum internet is going up to $70....actually, $69.99. Onward and forever upward. So a $50 T-mobile internet sounds great to me.

 

You'd have to use the equipment they provide (which is included in the $50/mo price), which is a combined cellular modem+router. Although it sounds like you may have the option of also using your own router too if for whatever reason you prefer its functionality over the equipment that T-Mobile provides.

 

Velop can just be a mesh AP without being the router, and let the ISP router be the router. Most mesh systems, with the notable exception of Google WiFi can be set up that way.

 

Just FYI on current Spectrum plans the modems are furnished, and mine doesn't seem huge. They have been the only internet provider in my area also, but a fiber-to-the-home outfit named Metronet is building in and may be available next year. They offer speeds up to 1 Gbit but info I've seen so far indicates their prices for 100 Mbps are no better than Spectrum. My Spectrum internet has been very reliable and 100 is all I need, so unless competition forces prices down the new competition doesn't do me any good.

 

Since the service is 4G LTE watch out for throttling if using a hot spot.

 

Did you pull the trigger on this free trial? Just saw today that T-Mobile is now saying that they will deploy their long-range (600MHz) 5G network across the nation soon. This 5G signal should reach 200 million people by the end of this year with download speeds of 60 - 70 Mbps. The existing 600 MHz radios that the company has been placing on towers since 2017 are 5G-compatible. Apparently it's just a software upgrade to have them transmit on 4G LTE and 5G too.

Today's announcement is about mobile 5G specifically but they've said in the past that their Home Internet Service would be 5G-based too. I wonder if the 4G LTE home gateways that they're already deploying also support 600MHz 5G or if that will require a new iteration of the hardware.

 

An update now that I have had time to play with it. First, the weird speed issue I reported earlier was not an issue with the T-Mo gateway but something going on in the laptop I was using. I get 60 - 70 down and 30 - 40 up. I have been through all the menus and I saw nothing about 5G, just LTE. It does work with putting my router after it, for my use the double NAT is not really an issue other than the principle of that is not the proper way to do it. I have been told it can cause issues with some games but as I am not a gamer that is no big deal. I was nervous about the lack of a static IP and when it grabbed a new address after about 4 hours I got real nervous but it has been stable for 2 days now

 

They are actually coming out to your house? In my case they just shipped me the unit and unless you want to do special like I did setup is very straightforward

 

I noticed nobody posted a picture of the unit

 

Cool--a router could be placed on top, or this on its side (unless it's angled). And it's TiVo Bolt white!