Having a good internet service provider is crucial to getting the right experience. It is always annoying when you see the buffering on YouTube during live streaming, or the download speed is too low. To solve your internet speed problem today we are going to introduce you to UbiFi.
UbiFi is an ISP that brings you all the joys and happiness in the world. They provide the best customer service along with instant issue maintenance. Especially if you live in a rural area where the coverage is low from other famous ISPs, UbiFi has got you covered with high speed and reasonable pricing. It does not hurt to pay a little more if the service is great.
What is UbiFi? An Overview of the ISP.
UbiFi is your friendly neighborhood ISP that is situated in rural America specializing in providing the best internet service in those remote areas where satellite connection is the only service.
UbiFi is an alternative to your staple ISPs that are famous countrywide. There are no compromises and only constant speeds. Customer service is also one of UbiFi’s strong suits.
With UbiFi you are getting unlimited 4G home internet at a very reasonable price. The download speeds may be unsatisfactory to some people but a bufferless internet with almost no lag is what the populace wants and with UbiFI, it is what they get.
Of course, there are initial charges when applying for the system as you will have to pay for the equipment that is to be installed, but from there on it is smooth sailing.
The best part yet is that even if you are unsure about their service, there is a 30 day free trial period where you can test out their service. 30 days is a long time and internet service providers usually do not provide such delicacies as it is bad for business or some are just money hungry beasts. UbiFi on the other hand believes in true service, they are confident enough to provide you with good service and thus the trial period.
How does UbiFi work?
As you already know that UbiFi provides unlimited 4G home internet in the rural regions of America where getting good coverage is a hard task. You might be wondering how does this work? How can a small ISP supply such coverage even in remote places where other companies can barely provide any service? Well, it is simple, follow along.
Netwerk connection is available throughout the country, the phone’s network bar is how you know how good the connection is. Getting a data plan is out of the question so what UbiFi does is, takes the 4G LTE signal from nearby 4G LTE network towers wirelessly.
This signal is picked up by the 4G Gateway provided by UbiFi and then broadcasts the internet connection through WiFi or Ethernet to all your internet devices.
The process is pretty simple and since there is an abundance of network towers in America no matter the region, the signal stays strong. However, this still depends on the power of the gateway that you choose and the weather conditions.
You can upgrade and get better equipment if need be to boost your signal and get greater coverage all-around your property.
What are you getting with UbiFi?
When you are subscribing to a service with UbiFi, you will immediately be offered a 30 days trial period that lets you test the service. Along with the service, there is also a 30 days return or exchange policy for the equipment that starts from the date of delivery. You will have to pay a 15% restocking fee if the service is not to your liking and wish to return it.
That is all about the trial period but upon taking the service, UbiFi will come and install their MoFi SIM4 LTE Gateway which is like a wireless router that takes the 4G LTE signal from network towers situated nearby and broadcasts that signal in the form of an internet connection all around the house.
You can also connect up to 4 ethernet cables from the Gateway to your internet devices for raw internet speeds.
Additionally, when you subscribe to their service, you will be asked to provide them with your location. They will contact you and give you recommendations regarding the pieces of equipment that you might need depending on your location, area of coverage, and the coverage from the network towers in order to get the best unlimited 4G internet experience.
Last but not least, upon being part of the UbiFi community, you will be getting the best of the best customer service which is unlike any of the WiFi internet providers that you may have tried near you.
Having good customer service is significant and that is what most consumers look for. Till now, UbiFi has satisfied a lot of customers and is slowly taking over the rural parts all over America.
What kind of Services does UbiFi Provide?
UbiFi might not have an excessive range of services, but it surely caters to your needs. Its only plan known as the Simply Unlimited Plan should be sufficient for anyone looking for a reliable ISP.
Offering a prepaid month-to-month plan, it covers every area of the U.S. where there is a 4G LTE signal. Although UbiFi does not guarantee the speed for you, it will check out an estimate for you before you get on board with them!
Their service is a one time package that can give you an average download of about 15 Mbps to 20 Mbps. Now, this might seem a little less compared to all the other ISPs but in a rural region, getting this speed is something to dream about. Moreover, UbiFi’s WiFi internet service is one of the most reliable broadband services in rural America because of their stable, unwavering connections.
For gamers in the outreaches of America, UbiFi is good news for you all. If you are a gamer, you can forget about latency and high ping issues as UbiFi’s high-speed internet wireless internet service runs off of a 4G LTE connection, so the latency response is typically below 75 ms, which is ideal for most online games.
However, since 4G LTE networks utilize private IP address with a Carrier Grade NAT, UbiFi internet service may result in a ‘Strict NAT’ or ‘NAT Type 3’ error for online gaming on consoles such as the PS4 and XBOX.
To solve this issue, you can subscribe to MoFi’s Cloudlink Service which is available through the MoFi Network, that will resolve the NAT type restriction and prevent these errors when you are gaming online or on a console.
The Products that UbiFi sells: A look at their stuff.
UbiFi, as you already know by now is an internet service provider. They have everything that you will need to boost your internet service and WiFi signal. Since rural areas have difficulty providing coverage for better internet speed, UbiFi took it upon themselves to sell products that are aimed towards boosting your coverage area. You can get all of the products at their store for a price of course.
All their products are authentic and verified by UbiFi so you will not get a faulty product. Experts from UbiFi will come to your house, assess the area, and install the equipment at the appropriate locations for the best coverage.
Or you can install them yourself if you have the expertise and the tools for it. All of the products provided by UbiFi are described down below for a more comprehensive look.
MoFi SIM4 4G LTE Gateway:
Coming to UbiFi’s first product, the MoFi SIM4 4G LTE Gateway. This is, in simple terms, kind of like the broadband or a router that picks up the 4G LTE network signal from the network towers.
The MoFi SIM4 Gateway is a highly advanced and greatly configurable 4G LTE gateway designed to get the best out of the box signal reception. It is an easy to setup device that provides fast and stable WiFi coverage.
It comes with Ultra Wide Band 4G LTE antennas that will further enhance the experience by boosting the signal connectivity and improve the overall broadband wireless internet performance.
With the MoFi SIM4, your whole house will be covered and more. This is good enough as a starter to test the service and upon further testing, you can upgrade the rig with additional antennas for more coverage.
Furthermore, the MoFi SIM4 4G LTE Gateway 4 LAN ports for wired connections and 2.4 GHz WiFi 802.11 b/g/n for wireless connectivity. The Gateway can connect up to 200 devices wirelessly.
The product also features a USB 2.0 port, 2 Ultra Wide Band 4G LTE Antennas, 300 Mbps Downlink speed, and Manufacturers warranty, all at a reasonable price of $314.99. This is a one time payment and is needed during the first time setup process.
Product Specifications:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Wired Connections | ● 4 x SMA (2 x WiFi; 2 x 4G LTE) ● 4 x LAN ports ● USB 2.0 |
| WiFi | WiFi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz |
| Media | NAS Capabilities |
| Max Downlink Speed | 300 Mbps |
| Package Contents | ● MoFi SIMS4 LTE Gateway ● AC charger and Ethernet cable ● 2 x WiFi Antennas ● 2 x Ultra Wide Band 4G LTE Antennas ● Quick Start Guide ● Manufacturer’s warranty card |
BYOD SIM Card:
The BYOD SIM Card is a special SIM card that will not work with your mobile phone, tablets, mobile hotspots, and other cellular devices. It is strictly pre-programmed to work with the MoFi SIM4 Gateway and the Simply Unlimited Plan of UbiFi. This Sim card is the plan that you will be getting upon subscribing to UbiFi’s service plan.
Each BYOD SIM Card is registered to your specific MoFi SIM4 Gateway so upon purchasing you have to own a MoFi SIM4 4G LTE Gateway beforehand. The SIM Card will be set to the specific IMEI and Module S/N number of your gateway/router so it will not work with any other device.
UbiFi will ask for this information in the checkout if you have already purchased the router.
Now, to know how this works, it is really no rocket science. The BYOD SIM card works just like a normal SIM card in your mobile phone. It connects to the cell towers and uses your mobile data to access the internet.
Similarly, the BYOD SIM card has a similar setting except with UbiFI’s Simply Unlimited Plan. You will have to pay a reasonable cost of $99.99 per month to avail of this service and UbiFi does not offer returns, exchanges, or refunds for the SIM card.
Product Specifications:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| SIM Form Factor | 4FF - Micro Sim (with included SIM adapter) |
| Dimensions | 0.98 x 0.59 x 0.03 inches |
Wilson Outdoor Directional Panel Antenna:
If you have many obstructions around your homestead, for instance, trees or other large buildings that might cause an interference between the closes 4G LTE network tower and your house, getting a Wilson outdoor directional panel antenna is your answer. This is a device that, as advertised, enhances the signal reception with its wideband LTE compatibility.
The antennas are housed inside an ABS plastic and Aluminium housing that is rated for outdoor use. The device can boost your signal gain by 10.6 dB which is a huge upgrade from the default.
The wideband frequency is also increased to between 700 MHz to 2500 MHz, this will consequently give you better speed on the internet and low latency for gaming even in bad weather conditions as long as the network tower is functioning properly.
Within the package, you getting the device itself along with pole mounting hardware. This is especially useful if you can hoist the antennas to an elevated position. This will improve coverage greatly, however, you will have to precisely aim the antennas directly towards the network towers for increased efficiency.
The whole setup costs around $84.99 with additional charges on the length of cable and pole mount assembly.
Product Specifications:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 700 MHz to 2500 MHz |
| Antenna Gain | Up to 10.6 dB |
| Impedance | 50 Ohms |
| Dimensions | 8.27 x 7.09 x 1.73 inches |
| Weight | 1.32 lbs |
| Connector | N Female |
| Mount Type | Pole Mount |
| Material | Aluminum and ABS Plastic |
| Polarization | Vertical |
| VSRW | 01:05:01 |
| Beamwidth | 70° horizontal/ 50° to 45° vertical |
Wilson Wide Band Yagi Antenna:
This is another one of Wilson’s products sold by UbiFi. The Wilson wide band yagi antennas are unique yet similar kinds of antennas to the Wilson outdoor directional panel antenna.
Unlike the outdoor directional panel antenna, the wideband yagi antennas are used in places where the reception is low due to the distance from the nearest serviceable LTE network towers.
Having a stable signal is essential and if signal obstruction or interference is not an issue because of trees, or other large blockades, the wideband yagi antennas are the answer. This increases the signal strength and speed to up to 10.6 dB of gain.
The frequency range is the same as the outdoor directional panel antennas, i.e., 700 MHz to 2500 MHz making it ideal for gaming and streaming.
The antenna is housed inside a UV stabilized ABS plastic housing with a stainless steel backplate that ensures the durability of the product. It keeps your antennas safe from any environmental changes The antennas must be pointed towards the network tower for maximum efficiency.
The complete package costs $89.99 along with additional charges on the length of the cable and of course, the pole mount assembly. But, within the default box, you get brackets for flat surface mounting or a pole mounting.
Product Specifications:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range | 700 MHz to 2500 MHz |
| Antenna Gain | Up to 10.6 dB |
| Impedance | 50 Ohms |
| Length | 11.42 inches |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (1.7 lbs with mounting hardware) |
| Connector | N Female |
| Mount Type | Pole Mount |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Polarization | Vertical or Horizontal |
| Beamwidth | 70 - 90° horizontal/ 85 - 110° vertical |
weBoost Home 4G Signal Booster:
This is a fairly expensive product that is unnecessary but having one might prove to be beneficial for your experience. The weBoost Home 4G Signal Booster, as the name suggests, is an all in one signal booster kit that has everything you need starting from the device, to the cables, mounts, and all other equipment to increase your signal quality and WiFi strength.
The weBoost Home 4G signal booster will give you better download and upload speeds by increasing the signal strength to up to 60 dB which is considerably a lot more than you get initially.
This all in one package will increase your speeds by 32 times the normal amount. Given the numbers, the upgrade seems reasonable, and if you need a higher more stable speed, this is the package for you.
Within the box, you are getting an outside antenna for picking up the network signal, an AC/DC power supply unit, the signal booster itself, window mounts for the outside antenna, and Desktop Antenna with Ethernet Cable.
This is an all in one package and having one will eliminate all your speed issues if you might face with UbiFi. This product costs a whopping $399.99 which is a lot but anything for better internet speed.
Product Specifications:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | ● Band 17: 700 MHz ● Band 13: 700 MHz ● Band 5: 850 MHz ● Band 4: 1700/2100 MHz ● Band 2: 1900 MHz |
| Antenna Gain | 60 dB |
| Impedance | 75 Ohms |
| Dimensions | 6.3 x 1.4 x 4.2 inches (only amplifier) |
| Weight | 0.45 lbs (only amplifier) |
| Connector | SMA Female (inside connector)/ F Female (outside connector) |
Surecall Flare Signal Booster:
This is an award-winning product of the 2017 CES Innovation Awards category, the Surecall Flare Signal Booster. This product works similarly to the weBoost Home 4G signal booster.
It amplifies the incoming signal from the network towers and broadcasts it all-around your house. It covers 1 – 2 rooms of a house or office, which is up to 2500 sq. ft.
The Surecall Flare Signal Booster takes the network signal from the LTE network towers using the omnidirectional outdoor antennas. The signal is then transferred through the 50 ft of premium RG-6 cable to the all carrier booster where it is boosted.
The boosted signal is then re-broadcasted to all WiFi devices within the range. The Flare technology then amplifies the outgoing signal back to the cell tower.
The system is pretty neat and the product is attractive. You can put it on a shelf and it will not ruin the aesthetics of the house. This product costs the same as the weBoost Home 4G signal booster, $399.99, and includes everything you will need to increase your internet speed and get a better and stronger LTE connection.
Product Specifications:
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 5.125 x 7.25 x 5.625 inches |
| Weight | 4.3 lbs |
| Maximum Gain | 72 dB |
| Frequency Range | Up to 2155 MHz |
| Donor/Server Port Impedance | 75 Ohms / 50 Ohms |
| Connector | F Female |
Find the Perfect YouTube TV streaming device for your home
Why should you go for UbiFi?
UbiFi is one of the only ISPs that can compete with satellite internet services in rural America. It might not be the best internet service provider but people who live in those regions will definitely benefit from this service.
UbiFi provides the most affordable internet connection for everyone. There are no options for their service since it is based on network signals but adding additional equipment will increase the speeds significantly.
UbiFi is one of the cheapest high-speed internet service providers in the rural areas of the United States. Online gaming in those areas is a lost cause due to the lack of coverage from other ISPs. With UbiFi, you will get the lowest latency and no lagging issues. Games will run smoothly and the internet download speed remains consistent throughout.
Having a cheap alternative to the satellite internet is truly a blessing and the best thing yet is that UbiFi provides its services nationwide so you do not necessarily have to be in the rural regions to experience their service.
Additionally, UbiFi also has the most efficient and incredible customer service, any issues will be immediately checked and resolved upon request. Moreover, you will also be notified of any maintenance or speed issues beforehand.
Points for Praise of UbiFi:
- There is little to no buffering or resolution issues when streaming over the internet like watching Netflix or Hulu.
- Gaming is smooth and there are no high ping issues. Latency is around 40 – 60 ms which is great compared to a satellite connection where latency can reach up to 500 ms and more.
- Easy installation almost like plug and play. If you have any issues, customer care is just a call away.
- There are no speed caps or speed throttling after using a certain amount of data. It is truly an unlimited plan.
- Cheaper than Satellite and other ISPs.
- The Internet stays stable even in bad weather conditions.
Points for Improvement that UbiFi can take:
- The upfront cost is too much for most people as you have to pay for the gateway/router and that costs a lot.
- May have NAT type restriction which can show errors while playing online games like Call of Duty Warzone, or console online gaming.
- If you are farther away from a network tower, you will have to pay extra for additional expensive equipment to boost your signal strength for better speeds.
- Runs exclusively off of AT&T, so if their coverage is low, you are out of luck.
Which Game streaming device is perfect for your home NVIDIA Shield or Steam Link
How to apply for a subscription at UbiFi?
Applying for a subscription is as easy as ABC. Go to their website and place an order. Put in your contact information, address and UbiFi will contact you almost immediately. They will give you suggestions as to which equipment will be best for your location but if all conditions are met, the subscription will cost you $99.99 per month.
If you are unsure about the service, you can test it out using their 30 days trial process but you will have to pay 15% of the installation fees if you wish to not take the service after the trial period.
How to get UbiFi for yourself?
Aside from communicating with UbiFi Customer service, you can manually get your service from their website as well. As long as you have some knowledge of networking which is also not necessary but having some is a plus point, you are good to go. Also, UbiFi Customer care is always a call away if you face any issues during installation.
First, you will have to buy the MoFi SIM4 4G LTE Gateway/Router. This is the device that will receive the network signal and broadcast it as WiFi in your house. After purchasing the product, you will have to buy the BYOD SIM card that, when checking out will ask for the IMEI and Module S/N number of the router/gateway that you purchased earlier as the SIM will only be registered to that specific device.
After this, you can set up your connection however you want by following the manual or the step by step guide in the UI, and your internet will be up and running in no time. On the first-time installation, your total will be around $413.98 which is a big sum but if you get the 30 day trial period, you can test out the system before paying the full amount.
UbiFi in comparison with other Internet Service Providers:
When compared to other internet service providers, UbiFI definitely excels in speed in the rural region. There are many alternatives to UbiF such as 4gdata.net, HughesNet, and ViaSat, all of which are unable to either deliver the speed required or have very high latency. Worst of all, all of these services have an unsatisfactory and inefficient customer care service, unlike UbiFi.
With UbiFi, you are getting great and consistent speeds even in rough conditions. Download and uploads may not be up to standards when compared to ISPs in the non-rural parts of America but for this price, in a remote region, UbiFi provides more than what all other ISPs have provided combined. And, last but not least, UbiFi is cheaper and has a larger coverage than other ISPs making it one of the cheapest high-speed internet services in the rural regions.
Find out which one has more feature and benefit Nvidia Shield or Fire TV
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs):
This FAQ is based on real-life problems and their solutions, so, you might find the solution that you were looking for a long time.
Where is the service available?
The service is available throughout the US. As long as you have a 4G LTE signal and an LTE network tower, UbiFi should be able to get you connected.
Are there any data caps or usage limits?
Fortunately no, there are no data caps or usage limits. The subscription is completely unlimited as mentioned so you can stream, download, and game as you please.
Can I test run the service before subscribing?
Yes sure, you are welcome to test the service. UbiFi offers a 30 day free trial for the service plan along with a 30-day return/exchange policy for the equipment that starts from the date of delivery. You will be charged a 15% restocking fee on return.
How complicated is it to install?
Installation is pretty simple and straightforward. Just follow the guidelines and the steps shown and you will be up and running in no time. If you face any issues, contact UbiFi customer care and they will assist you throughout the installation procedure.
How long does it take to ship?
Shipping takes around 3 – 5 business days however currently it is delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic as manpower is shortened, and following the safety, protocols are a must.
Final Thoughts on UbiFi and its services:
UbiFi is a great service, for rural areas, this is advantageous to everyone in those regions. Although the upfront cost is high and depending on your location it might increase, the service they provide is ecstatic. Consistency is key and UbiFi follows that beautifully. Also, if a service takes into account their customer’s needs efficiently, it doesn’t hurt to pay a little extra sometimes.
Related Article:
What is the difference between Nvidia Shield and Roku?
Comparison between Tablo and HDHomeRun
Engineer and Tech Journalist.Read More
