UbiFi 4G Wireless Internet Reviews 2020
Pricing & Packages | Modem & Router | Features | Customer Service | Recommendation
UbiFi is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) offering high-speed internet to rural residents via 4G LTE using the AT&T cell towers. Their coverage is vast and they offer signal-boosting equipment and tests before you buy anything to ensure you get a good signal. What makes them stand out is that unlike other MVNOs, they have a fairly acceptable monthly fee as well as no data caps or throttling.
Pros:
- No data caps
- No hidden fees
- Great coverage
- Comparatively reasonable monthly pricing
Cons:
- Very expensive hardware costs
- Lack of options for hilly areas with a weak signal
- Deprioritization in case of excessive use
Packages and Pricing
Simply Unlimited Plan
UbiFi only has a single plan for their internet services known as the ‘Simply Unlimited plan’ at $89.99/month. It’s offered as a prepaid month-to-month option covering the whole of the US as long as there is 4G LTE signal.
UbiFi doesn’t guarantee speeds, but they will do a preliminary check to give you an estimate before you buy. The speeds and stability of the network will depend on tower proximity, network coverage, and network traffic.
The 4G LTE connection also ensures latency remains below 100ms in most cases, and usually below the 75ms mark. This makes UbiFi’s internet a good choice for gamers too. Gamers who play on consoles might have the Strict NAT or NAT type 3 errors due to 4G LTE networks using private IP addresses with Carrier Grade NAT.
To resolve these, UbiFi urges users to subscribe to MoFi’s Cloudlink service that is available through the Mofi Network.
Network Management and Performance
The UbiFi plan appears to be fully unlimited and without caps with their FAQ stating that you can stream in 1080p resolution without having to worry about throttling or data caps.
One thing that you should be aware of, however, is that you can’t get a static IP address with UbiFi. They only allow users to have dynamic IP addresses, so local channel streaming might be a bit problematic, as the dynamically assigned IP might put you outside of the local area.
Excessive Use
It’s important to note that UbiFi have an acceptable use policy that states you might be deprioritized in the event you use their services excessively. Although there is no explanation as to what excessive use is classed as. If you’re found to be ‘excessively using’ their services UbiFi explain they can ‘adjust, suspend, terminate your account, or may request you to pay additional fees.
Fees
UbiFi only offers month-to-month, prepaid services with automatic renewal, so your fee is just your usual plan fee. There are no mention of activation fees on the website (although it’s always best to ask) and the only other fee mentioned is the restocking fee of 15% that will be taken off your refund if you cancel within the 30 days.
Your Modem and Router
The main device UbiFi offers is the MoFi SIM4 LTE Gateway which costs $314.99 and comes pre-configured and already activated, so it’s plug and play. It has:
- 4 LAN ports and Wi-Fi
- Supports over 200 devices that can be connected to it at the same time.
- The antennas you get with it are Ultra Wide Band 4G LTE antennas, meaning better signal receiving from towers.
- The maximum speed that’s supported is 300Mbps.
Note: If you already have the MoFi SIM4 V2 gateway, you don’t have to purchase it again. Instead, you can buy the BYOD SIM for the gateway that will cost $29.99. After you insert the SIM, all you have to do is update the APN and you can start browsing and streaming immediately.
UbiFi do urge those who are interested to let the team analyze the network coverage in your area to see whether you will need anything else in addition to the router.
For areas where the signal isn’t the best, they offer LTE antennas and signal booster kits that help keep connections stable and fast. Some of the options they offer include:
Antennas
The Wilson Outdoor Directional Panel Antenna is available for a $84.99 one-time charge, which can provide a signal gain of up to 10.6dB. As this is a directional antenna, it has to be aimed directly at the tower for the best reception. This antenna is best used in areas where there aren’t any obstructions and there is a clear view of the closest tower (meaning no hills or trees between).
The Wilson Wide Band Yagi Antenna is the other directional antenna option you have and also costs $84.99. It can also provide up to 10.6dB signal gain but is aimed at those who are farther away from the closest tower. It also works best in areas where there aren’t any obstructions between it and the nearest tower.
Signal Boosters
The Surecall Flare Signal Booster is an omnidirectional outdoor antenna and indoor booster combo that amplifies indoor signal coverage. It’s quite pricey at $399.99 but covers one to two rooms, capturing signal from all directions up to 2,500 square feet.
The outdoor antenna delivers the signal to the flare indoor booster via the RG-6 cable (included in the package) that amplifies and broadcasts it. The outgoing signal is also amplified (data you send from your devices) and sent back to the tower.
The weBoost Home 4G Signal Booster is the other option, and also costs $399.99. This kit can apparently boost the signal up to 60dB, which will improve upload and download speeds. With the kit, you will get the outdoor antenna with cable, window mount, a desktop (indoor) antenna with cable and the power supply, a barrel connector for the cables (in case you need it), and the installation guide.
The antennas are provided without mounts or cables, and you will have to purchase these separately. You can choose low loss cables from 10 feet to 100 feet, ranging in price from $25 to $129.99. The pole mount is also a separate purchase and will add another $25 to the final price.
Note: Installation of signal booster kits and antennas takes a bit more time, as you will have to determine the best position and location for them. The customer support team is there to help with this, however.
Features and Benefits
You can get a 30-day (from the date of delivery) trial for the service plan*, and if you’re not satisfied, you can return or exchange equipment minus a 15% restocking fee as mentioned above.
*BYOD SIM card is not eligible for returns..
Customer Service
UbiFi offers live chat, phone, and mail support (at [email protected]). Live chat, email, and phone support is available from Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST and Saturday to Sunday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM CST. You can reach them by calling (888) 240-3731.
Customers seem to be satisfied with the service, stating that it’s best to check AT&T coverage first as those are the towers UbiFi utilize. If you get bad signal or coverage, find another provider.
Ways to Save on UbiFi
UbiFi gives its customers the option to use their own modem instead of buying it which can save on the hefty hardware cost. If you happen to have the MoFi gateway that’s compatible, you can use yours and only purchase a SIM card.
You can also shop around for better deals on cables and mounts for their antennas. As these are sold separately and could add another $160 to your bill, it’s worth looking at other providers.
Our Recommendation
UbiFi is a solid choice if you live in a remote area that has a clear view of phone towers because of the competitive monthly price on their plans. The decent speeds and good latency makes UbiFi an option for gamers which is unusual among providers. Just be aware of excessive usage, and note that the hardware costs are very high, so try and shop around.
tad thompson - February 13, 2020 @ 00:48
I have shopped every where and heard everything . They had the best prices. very excited to see how well they are/
Taylor Hunt - February 29, 2020 @ 18:02
Best price. Fastest speeds. No data limitations of any kind (I’m an avid streaming user), real live people answer when you call support. Can you tell I’m happy with the service? Been with them for over a rear and can’t thing of a single issue I’ve had. I run a web development company in the middle of nowhere and Ubifi allows me to do that with zero compromise on service. Two thumbs way up from Kansas.
Best price. Fastest speeds. No data limitations of any kind (I’m an avid streaming user), real live people answer when you call support. Can you tell I’m happy with the service? Been with them for over a rear and can’t thing of a si
John - March 15, 2020 @ 20:35
I have been with UbiFi for about four months now. We live miles out in the country in Arkansas where the cell signal was weak outside and nonexistent inside. I got the Wilson Amplifiers panel antenna and WeBoost system, and now have three bars of signal inside the house for the phone and somewhere around 10 Mbps data through the UbiFi service and MoFi router. I like the MoFi router – it i s a very solid and capable router that is probably overkill for my use, but good to have. The service has been excellent, with only occasional slowdowns in the late afternoon or early evening. This outfit is a real game changer!
I have been with UbiFi for about four months now. We live miles out in the country in Arkansas where the cell signal was weak outside and nonexistent inside. I got the Wilson Amplifiers panel antenna and WeBoost system, and now have three bars of s
Josh - April 30, 2020 @ 21:34
It’s not often that you hear of someone who is happy with their internet service. Since we’re moving out of a rural area and to a home that is serviced by a major provider, I wanted to thank UbiFi for the awesome service the past 2+ years.
Living in an area where no major providers service was rough, and trying to live with phone hotspots was a pain. Being able to make the switch to UbiFi made a huge difference. For a very reasonable rate, we were able to have unlimited (yes, we used between 150-250gb per month) LTE access with WiFi for all of our devices.
Anyone who doesn’t have access to internet, has a camper, or is always on the move, should take a look UbiFi for their services.
The only downside is the upfront cost. Going from a provider that gives free equipment to one that charges threw me off. But I’m still giving it 4 stars on the equipment because it works. Overall, very worth it.
It’s not often that you hear of someone who is happy with their internet service. Since we’re moving out of a rural area and to a home that is serviced by a major provider, I wanted to thank UbiFi for the awesome service the past 2+ years
Erik - May 10, 2020 @ 04:10
I sent a message through their website for new service and didn’t receive a callback for a week. When I called them directly and asked about data caps I was told that anything over 200Gb is to much use, sorry, and abruptly ended the call.
Just another garbage company buying bandwidth from the big 4 and reselling it under the claim that it’s unlimited data to get you to sign up. Then they sit back and watche the service provider throttle your speed or cap you and claim it’s not their problem.
There are a dozen of these companies operating, claiming to serve rural areas that otherwise would not get broadband.
I sent a message through their website for new service and didn’t receive a callback for a week. When I called them directly and asked about data caps I was told that anything over 200Gb is to much use, sorry, and abruptly ended the call.
Just
David Hackney - May 17, 2020 @ 23:49
Been a user for almost a year. Found the service as advertised and the support very good. Have also found there network provider (ATT) to be very strong in rural areas. The great thing is that you can take it with you if you work on the road or remote.
Been a user for almost a year. Found the service as advertised and the support very good. Have also found there network provider (ATT) to be very strong in rural areas. The great thing is that you can take it with you if you work on the road or re
Chris Remley - September 28, 2020 @ 23:53
I’ve been with UbiFi for about 9 months now.
I live in the country, about about 3 miles off an Interstate Highway and about 5 miles from the closest cell tower. I do have a Wilson 700-2700MHz directional antenna as well as a flat panel connected to the second “diversity” input. These two extra purchase antennas have helped my internet speed over the two included paddle antennas. With the included paddle antennas I only got the slower connection.
I do have to admit, that I really need a line of site (I go through trees in the summertime, but I get 20-25mbps download and about 2mbps upload. Since I’m getting this speed without trying to install the antennas on a pole, I’ve gotten lazy. The primary band I’m on is ATT B2. I will get Carrier Aggregation and will then get about 35 on a good day. I’m sure that if I had a clear line of site, I would get about 1.5 times the speed.
On bad days, the router/modem automatically “falls back” to band B5 and the speed then tops out around 10mpbs, but the upload then increases to 10mbps as well.
If I lived in the city, I could get 200mbps from Spectrum for about $70 a month…but that’s not gonna happen, so this is the best option. I don’t think they are a scam. I’ve been able to stream shows in Full HD (1080…’cause that’s what all my TVs are) and rarely have I had any buffering or data rate reduction. I use Amazon FireSticks as well as Google ChromeCast. I still get “full speed” at the beginning and ending of my billing cycle, so if they are slowing me down (data prioritization), I’m not seeing it. Since I’m only running 1080, I can run two streams at the same time and have enough “left over” bandwidth to surf the net on other tablets, phones, laptops before it starts to slow down.
Buying the MoFi Modem/Router is a cost you will have to eat, but if you have internet from places like Charter or Spectrum, they will rent you a low-end device that is always on your monthly bill (you would have “bought” a much better router in 12-18 months-or-so from the monthly fee). Most people with land line internet go ahead and buy their own Modem/Router/Access point and they spend from $100 to $300 on a good one. So… my point is that you would have probably wound up buying a modem/router anyway. The MoFi router they sell is top of the line and has waaaay more features that the average person would use for home WiFi. Also keep in mind that this MoFi router/modem also has QoS and other ways to make sure that any streaming you are doing can be “high” on the bandwidth priority list and when the bandwidth runs short, the streams will take priority and the tablets/other WiFi devices will then start to show signs of being slower–but it will not buffer your streams when this happens (the tablets and other WiFi devices will get slow,, but not the streams). This happens so rarely that it is not a big deal for most of the users to try to learn QoS or Packet Priority, but the option exists if you want it.
The WiFi coverage from the MoFi is excellent with the included antennas. My whole house and yard are covered with no dead spots. I don’t see any need to get any upgraded WiFi antennas for this.
One thing to keep in mind is that you will be sharing a cell tower with others. In my situation, if there is a major slowdown on the Highway next to me (where I get my cell tower connection), my overall upload/download speed will go down as there are now 100’s of users on the same tower all trying to get traffic reports and watching video while they are stopped in the traffic jam. A tower can only support so many users and the ATT engineers seem to have it figured out. Once the traffic jam clears up, I’m back to my ‘normal’ speed. The “worst” speed I have ever had with a major traffic jam is 7mbps download (still enough for one 1080 stream),
When I first signed up, I gave them my GPS coordinates so they could assist in finding me the best tower and plan (ATT, TMobile, Verizon, etc.). They found the ATT tower and gave me the location so I could point any antennas in that direction. The speed they said I should get matches what I actually receive. They were quite helpful in that regard.
Shipping was fast upon order and I received everything in three days. Setup was easy. Out of the box I connected all the antennas, powered up the MoFi router/modem, gave the SSID/WiFi a name, changed the passwords, and was up-and-running in about 20 mins. With the exception of naming the WiFi (SSID) and changing the default passwords, it truly is plug-and-play out of the box. Even if you are not technically inclined for this kind of stuff, don’t worry… it really is that easy to have unlimited internet. UbiFi has already pre-configured everything on the MoFi router before they send it to you.
I had been looking for rural internet for years. I tried the Satellite Internet and Cell Hot Spots, but they were all limited to around 15GB a month. That’s about 3 streaming movies for me. After that, the Satellite and Hot Spots would throttle back and became unusable for anything until the next billing cycle (where my data cap gets refreshed).
Another plus to this is that you can take it with you. If you have an RV or are going to places that don’t have internet, you can pack it up (takes about 18″ x 6″ x 4″) and have good internet…as long as you can connect to a cell tower. I’ve seen many reviews for people that install in their RV.
I hope that this review has helped. All I can say is that I am quite impressed with the value of this for rural internet users.
I’ve been with UbiFi for about 9 months now.
I live in the country, about about 3 miles off an Interstate Highway and about 5 miles from the closest cell tower. I do have a Wilson 700-2700MHz directional antenna as well as a flat panel connect