Using the Virgin Mobile 2200 as a USB modem
I recently purchased the Virgin Mobile 2200 MiFi device. You can read about the device all over the ‘net, and reviews are generally favorable.
The device is primarily advertised as a wifi hotspot for up to 5 devices, but I’ve discovered that I can also tether it to my laptop. Why do that? Well, the device doesn’t have the best battery life. Connecting it to you pc or mac os x laptop will disable the wifi functionality, but it does charge the device. Sometimes you need to be online and charge the device simultaneously, and if you’re the only user, you may not really care if the hotspot wifi is disabled. In this situation, you can tether the device to your laptop, using it as a USB modem.
I used the short ~13-15″ black USB cable to connect the device to my Mac OS X laptop. When I first connected it, my laptop recognized the device and installed drivers. Once the drivers were installed, I rebooted the laptop. The installation added a Novatel Wireless Modem device in my Network settings
The “default” configuration installed the modem as an “Other” vendor, and selected the EVDO support for me.
Using the default settings, I simply clicked on the “connect” button, and I was connected to the internet. I’m typing and posting this blog using the modem functionality not the wifi connection. In fact, you can see that my settings (to the left) show that my only connectivity is my Novatel Modem.
Of course, all this functionality assumes you’ve gone through all the first steps to activate and enable your device. Don’t skip that. Instructions for initial setup are included in your purchase, so I won’t cover those instructions here.
The part that I find interesting is that NOTHING in the included documentation or online documentation will tell you about this USB modem functionality. The only thing said is that your wifi connectivity is disabled when you connect the USB cable to your laptop, which I did find out is true.
I’m generally pleased with the device so far. And it came in particularly useful for me this weekend, when my DSL service was disrupted. The $150 price tag is a bit steep, but the $40/mo unlimited data without a contract is very attractive.
In case I’ve diluted the point of my post, here’s the gist:
- Attaching the USB cable to your laptop will disable the wifi hotspot feature of the device, but does recharge the device’s battery.
- Although you can’t connect to the device wirelessly, you can use it as a USB tethered modem.
- My laptop (and probably yours too) recognized the device and installed appropriate Novatel Wireless Modem drivers.
- Nothing in the docs tells you that you now have a USB modem, but it does work and allows simultaneous recharging of its batteries while using it.
Using the Virgin Mobile 2200 as a USB modem,
Hello, Mugen Power just released the Extended Battery for for Novatel MiFi 2200, 2352 and 2372.
it should be last over 10 hours use with 1 charge!
http://mugen.hk/mugen-power-3300mah-extended-battery-for-for-novatel-wireless-mifi-2352-and-2372.html
http://mugen.hk/mugen-power-3600mah-extended-battery-for-for-novatel-verizon-wireless-mifi-2200.html
and if you visit their page on facebook, you can find a discount code:
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Good info for Macs, but do you have any info for Windows users?
In Vista the device is listed NOT as a Network Connection but as a modem. So you CAN choose to set up an internet connection as a modem, and the Novatel Wireless Modem will be listed there, but after choosing the modem, Vista will then ask you for ISP’s Dial-up phone number, User name and Password. Any ideas on how to deal with this? As you noted, there is nothing in the documentation about how to use the modem capability.
I notice the Virgin Mobile Ovation MC760 has software that it installs that gives you access to the VM network, but this device only installs drivers for the modem, with no software or settings.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
In windows no user name or password is required just hit connect.
1. Here are some instructions for Windows 7
2. Connect your Virgin Mobile using your provided USB cable, install drivers then reboot. Click on the Network Connection icon in the bottom-right hand corner of the start menu (next to the system clock). This will bring up the Network Connection window. Depending on how your computer is set up, it may look like either of the icons below:
3. Click Open Network and Sharing Center at the bottom of the Network Connection window.
4. Click Set up a new connection or network in the Network and Sharing Center.
5. Select Connect using a dial-up modem and click Next.
6. In the Dial-Up Phone number box Type #777
7. Leave all of the other boxes as they are. In the Connection Name box you can rename if you like (Optional). Click Connect.
8. To reconnect to this dial-up connection in the future, click the Network Connection icon in the bottom-right hand corner of the Taskbar, click on Dial-up Connection, and then click the connection button.
That’s it, enjoy. let me know if you want instructions for XP or Vista
Windows XP – Virgin Mobile MiFi 2200
Dialup Connection
To setup your dialup connection in Windows XP:
From the Start menu, choose Control Panel..In the Control Panel, click the Network and Internet Connections option, then choose Network Connections. Note: If the Control Panel is in Classic View, double click the Network Connections icon.
Click the File menu and choose New Connection to start the New Connection Wizard. Click Next on the first screen.
Select Connect to the Internet and click Next.
Select Set up my connection manually and click Next.
Select Connect using a dial-up modem. Click the Next button.
In the ISP Name field, enter Virgin Mobile MiFi 2200 as the name for your connection. Click Next.
.` .
Enter #777 into the Phone Number field. Click Next.
Do not alter this page. No user name or password required.
• .
Check the box to Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop to put an icon on your desktop to this dialup connection. Click Finish.
That’s it, Double click Icon on desktop, and click Dial.
@Peter Smith: THANK YOU. That is all.
(The instructions for connection in XP were exactly what I needed.)