Novatel MiFi 2200 gets new firmware, now stays on even when you don't need it

If you're using one of the various MiFi incarnations, you may have been slightly annoyed at the thing shutting itself down after a few minutes of inactivity. It's a lovely feature to save juice when running disconnected -- a little less desirable when running on AC. There's a new firmware in town and it does away with such bad behavior whilst also adding better compatibility with the Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve. It's not an automatic update, though, so you'll need to dig through some menus to make the magic happen, but we're sure you can figure it out. (If you get stuck, the read link has pictures.)

[ROFL Posted Oct 26th 2009 9:09AM]

I'll take 4!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2009 9:15AM]

Aaah, I'll buy it at a high price!
(Now begone!).

[Leindurstit Posted Oct 26th 2009 9:17AM]

They need to allow it to turn itself completely off after a period of inactivity, not just go into "standby."

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2009 10:19AM]

Why would this be used with a curve or any other blackberry ? I don't pay for data on my BB (does any carrier allow that?), so I pay for data and separate hardware? I don't get it.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 26th 2009 10:27AM]

I wonder if this will keep the MiFi from over heating when in use and charging a the same time.

[ran Posted Oct 26th 2009 1:48PM]

The title sounded like it was updated to turn on when it should be off.

Good thing I misread it.

[jasonlackey Posted Oct 26th 2009 2:53PM]

This is a great device. I use mine for OTA customer care software demos and it has saved me quite a bit in trade show network connection costs. Recently at Oracle OpenWorld I was trying to show some stuff on AT&T phones at the show in Moscone Center in SF, but although my AT&T phones were showing 4 or 5 bars they were not getting good data connections. With the MiFi on Verizon, not only did my laptop have a connection, but I was also able to use WiFi to connect the AT&T phones and all was well.

With this latest firmware I hope that I will not have to do a "ping -t" to set up my own keepalive. I will however second the observation that the device gets hot and a little flakey if used for a long time on the charger, almost as if it wants some sort of finned heat sink or something. That said, if I hang it by the USB cord in the open air it seems to do better.

My upgrade went well, MiFi is back up and running, management UI is better, settings were preserved.

[bukzin Posted Nov 21st 2009 5:10PM]

I just got the MiFi from Verizon.

How do I get the firmware upgrades?


Thanks!