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New Pocket WiFi - Suggestion?

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Recently, I've closed my YMobile account (formerly eMobile). The service for the price was completely unacceptable. I even had changed the hardware to see if that helped, but in the end, it did not.

Wherever I went, it had a full signal strength and even at odd times, it still would not perform in a reasonable manner. Lots of disconnects, choppy service, even for basic websites or watching a simple YouTube video.

Just wanted to see if anyone living in Japan had any feedback on a device they may be using...
  • Price
  • Stability
  • Coverage
  • Bandwidth Cap (5GB, 7GB or More?)
  • Battery Capacity
  • Which Provider
I consume about 30GB a month in PocketWifi service (very heavy user) with a few devices, so I usually have to pay a bit more to keep the speeds uncapped. I also prefer to keep my personal traffic off the company VPN or office connection, so the PocketWifi is the answer.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Couple of years ago I bought NEC Aterm MR03LN mainly to be used abroad when travelling. It has been serving fine everywhere in SE Asia but if I remember correctly it won't work with the LTE bands used in USA.

My usage has been much lighter than yours is but I have had no stability issues with this one (unlike some other cheaper ones earlier). I have also always managed a full day with the battery without recharging. The price was around 25k at the time.

I have used it sometimes in Japan too with IIJ as I had several SIMs from them already with their Family Pack (10G per month). The router can also switch to public WiFi networks when they are available to save on your data usage.

If I had to get a new device now I would take a good look at their newest one MR05 which has two SIM slots. Seems it can be had with around 20k.
 
@MikeH - Thanks! That's an option that had not come across my desk yet.

I like the dual-sim option and also the local WiFi connection to save on data charges. I don't usually take the PocketWiFi overseas, I usually have some other solution for that.

For my usage, I probably can control it better but not using some of my streaming services. I use anywhere from 700MB to 1.2GB/day on average.

I'll definitely put some research into this option, thanks again!

(still taking ideas to consider!)
 
Can't give much input regarding the price as it depends on how much you end up using, but both privately and at work, I've been using (UQ)WiMax since it emerged on the market. Been reliable even on the road, though more remote areas do suffer -naturally.
7Gb for the flat fee, ~4000yen is ok, although whenever I go on business outside of the office, maybe 4-5 times a week every location I go to have wifi so it's easy to switch back and forth. Battery is not a problem and have gone a day without having to charge. I always have a portable battery. Average use say, 20 minutes per sitting.
For me it's more of a necessity during unique situations, not something I am lost without. Checking emails, light browsing, I could probably do that just tethering with my iPhone but ease of use usually wins here. Just my two cents anyways.
 
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I ditched my pocket wifi a couple years ago when I got my new iPhone with tethering. I just keep a means of charging it with me at all times...
 
I ditched my pocket wifi a couple years ago when I got my new iPhone with tethering. I just keep a means of charging it with me at all times...

The problem with iPhone tethering is that it's not a strict pass through. Certain protocols are blocked from iOS 10 and greater. Two services I use won't work with iPhone tethering at least until they implement some updated VPN protocols.

In most other cases the tethering would work fine. I just stopped by SoftBank to see about their new 20 and 30GB plans since I'm still on a 10GB plan. I'll wait until I change phones later this year for that change.
 
I'm currently using AU WiMAX. Speed and stability is dependant on reception as one should expect.
usage is limited to 7gigs a month which they would then throttle you pretty severely.
Overall quality is quite impressive though. Can play Battlefield 1 with a ping lower than 30 on jp servers
 
Can play Battlefield 1 with a ping lower than 30 on jp servers
A+... I hope that I've popped your head off in one of the BF1 local servers. :p It's my de-stress tool.

The 7GB is a real problem. It seems to be universal and if you want more than 7GB it gets stupidly expensive.

Thank you for taking the time to give me your feedback!
 
I'll be on the lookout for rogue medics then. Ha...
Probably won't play again until the weekend. It's patch day for another game I'm in and also work sucks. :)
Patch day for which game? Just outta curiosity... :p
 
currently using wimax from biglobe with is capped at 7gb a month. looking to ditch them very soon cos of well, that data cap limit.

so i did a lit research yesterday and found a company called モバイルくん. Apparently they run on the docomo network. i applied fro their 12gb service... will see how that goes.
 
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so i did a lit research yesterday and found a company called モバイルくん. Apparently they run on the docomo network. i applied fro their 12gb service... will see how that goes.
Hey, thanks! That's at least better than 7!

Same company, right? > https://www.mobile-kun.jp/
 
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  • Which Provider
I consume about 30GB a month in PocketWifi service (very heavy user) with a few devices, so I usually have to pay a bit more to keep the speeds uncapped. I also prefer to keep my personal traffic off the company VPN or office connection, so the PocketWifi is the answer.

Thanks in advance.

Totally off topic and
Feel free to ignore this, I totally understand respect of your privacy. However reading your posts on this board always make me wonder what type of mystery man you are.

- Not a customer/ have never used p2p services, yet somehow have lots of contacts with both services and independent/non-independent providers.
- Seem to have several businesses running around.

Are you an entrepreneur somehow related to the adult industry or is this more just a side hobby for you?
 
Totally off topic and
Feel free to ignore this, I totally understand respect of your privacy. However reading your posts on this board always make me wonder what type of mystery man you are.

- Not a customer/ have never used p2p services, yet somehow have lots of contacts with both services and independent/non-independent providers.
- Seem to have several businesses running around.

Are you an entrepreneur somehow related to the adult industry or is this more just a side hobby for you?

It's not really a mystery. ;) I try to keep things ambiguous because of a few reasons.

I was tossed into this industry (P2P) because of a girl I dated a long time ago whom I learned was DH provider by accident (she didn't tell me, but admitted it after I figured it out). Ever since that first contact, I've been linked up with working girls (through the same girl) and agencies through various means over the past 10 or so years. Once TAG was running, I came into contact with many visiting and resident providers. I choose not to partake in the P2P scene because I think while operating TAG, it's vital to be seen as independent. (No offense girls, I think most of you are pretty awesome in your own way.) -- I've always been working in some online site/business as a side job or hobby, just because I enjoy doing it. TAG is nearly a full-time job given the amount of effort required to keep things in check.

The most common question I get all the time, why not have my own agency/service!? -- To be frank... it's just not worth the trouble. TAG is enough... haha.

The whole reason I'm in Japan is because of my primary job, which is a 正社員 (permanent employee) position at a large Japanese firm. However, I function independently of the company with my own projects and own budget. I only maintain this job because of the benefits and keeping the 正社員 status in case I decide to transition to another higher paying job in another company. Beyond my regular job, I operate two other businesses. One of which, is a parent to TAG from a business point of view.

At the end of all this, I'm self-made. I enjoy working, since everything that I have to do, I usually like doing. There are times (like right now) that I get irritated with work in general, but that's just part of life. As soon as I finish all my tax forms for this year, I'll be much happier.

Sooooo the issue in question -- I need a better, reasonable Pocket WiFi plan to allow me to keep my mobile office working. :) I keep a rental office in Kabukicho, but I don't keep internet service there since I'm constantly moving. I will be looking for a regular office later this year... as long as things are fine financially.
 
Sooooo the issue in question -- I need a better, reasonable Pocket WiFi plan to allow me to keep my mobile office working. :) I keep a rental office in Kabukicho, but I don't keep internet service there since I'm constantly moving. I will be looking for a regular office later this year... as long as things are fine financially.

OK!!

If you are working on the move all the time, why rent a physical office that you are not using?

Why not rent a virtual office through http://www.servcorp.co.jp/en/

As for the Pocket WiFi, why not consider Asahinet they offer the Wimax 2 using Au's Network and they have an unlimited data plan for 4,290円 per month with the first six months free.

http://asahi-net.jp/en/service/mobile/wimax2plus/
 
I can imagine, how stressful would be, when not having enough wifi environment.

I'm a very heavy pocket wifi user, and I have softbank wifi rental by the shop called "best sport". I rent through rakuten shop.

5,112 yen for 30 days, LTE 4G unlimited.

I even checked once how much I can use, I think it went over than 150MB. No extra charge!!

I listen to classical music live videos on you tube alot, lots of entire piece of symphony's, ballet, flute etc... I easily use up my 20MB plan on my iPhone itself.

My colleague used to laugh at me. She is SE but uses 1.5 MB only on her iPhone.... unbelievable...

I searched alot,.and used other service, as well, and this shop has a pretty good offer, so far. I extend every month for past 1.5 years.

I highly recommend.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/auc-bestsports/bee-fi-gl06p-30free/
 
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I too was once addicted to a constant internet connexion but I finally understood that you don't need to be connected all the time because it turns you into another smartphone zombie. After I stopped it, I finally got back enough time to think for myself, to plan short/long term projects, get more creative instead of becoming a brainless consumer. And I find it a huge waste to use internet bandwidth just for watching movies or listening to music when you currently have 256GB SD cards available in stores.
I download podcasts/music/maps at home so that I can do almost whatever I want offline.
When I need to be online, I access the free WIFI in train stations.
 
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I too was once addicted to a constant internet connexion but I finally understood that you don't need to be connected all the time because it turns you into another smartphone zombie. After I stopped it, I finally got back enough time to think for myself, to plan short/long term projects, get more creative instead of becoming a brainless consumer. And I find it a huge waste to use internet bandwidth just for watching movies or listening to music when you currently have 256GB SD cards available in stores.
I download podcasts/music/maps at home so that I can do almost whatever I want offline.
When I need to be online, I access the free WIFI in train stations.

Yeah, this is mainly job related. I don't get a lot of personal use out of it, except on weekends. I may use streaming music when I'm working, but the rest is mainly actual work that generates a revenue, which requires me to be a) mobile and b) always have a reliable connection. I'm definitely not a zombie walker, haha.
 
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anyone is using the unlimited data plan of wimax ?
http://asahi-net.jp/en/service/mobile/wimax2plus/
it says :
  • Regardless of any payment plans we execute traffic regulation to address network congestion issue (when a user exceeds accumulated total usage of 10GB in 3 full days)
I need some unlimited data without such restriction, in some week ends I need to watch many football (soccer) games via streaming and I think it will largely exceed the 10GB limit.
 
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I need some unlimited data without such restriction, in some week ends I need to watch many football (soccer) games via streaming and I think it will largely exceed the 10GB limit.
Here inlies the problem, none of the pocket wifi plans have such a system where they don't reduce your speed after a certain threshold is reached. (Note: DoCoMo has a business plan for Pocket Wifi that gives you unlimited data but it's not available to individuals.)

My current solution is using the personal hotspot on my iPhone with the Softbank 30 GB plan. I can burn 30GB easily, but I'm trying to control it so that I've used 29.9GB by the last day of the month.

If you can use some WiFi hotspots occasionally, that would help out at unless until they cut you off, lol.

I've tried working at home more to avoid using so much mobile data, which has helped. Once I'm really busy again in October, I'll be on mobile data all-day Mon-Fri.
 
Here inlies the problem, none of the pocket wifi plans have such a system where they don't reduce your speed after a certain threshold is reached. (Note: DoCoMo has a business plan for Pocket Wifi that gives you unlimited data but it's not available to individuals.)

My current solution is using the personal hotspot on my iPhone with the Softbank 30 GB plan. I can burn 30GB easily, but I'm trying to control it so that I've used 29.9GB by the last day of the month.

If you can use some WiFi hotspots occasionally, that would help out at unless until they cut you off, lol.

I've tried working at home more to avoid using so much mobile data, which has helped. Once I'm really busy again in October, I'll be on mobile data all-day Mon-Fri.
when the speed drops how slow does it become ?
 
when the speed drops how slow does it become ?
Some examples:
SoftBank sets dynamic restrctions (refer to page E-15)
UQWiMax says 1mbps

It's probably not unbearable, you could probably get by with reduced quality in those cases.
 
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