23/10/2022
I tried out the T-Mobile Home Internet (5G) this month. While not for me, this could be a viable solution for many that want higher speeds and less headache.
The setup was pretty easy, speeds were good although slightly slower than my iPhone 13 Pro Max in the same spot doing the same exact test. I was able to get devices online in a matter of minutes after taking it out of the box and using the app to find the best location in the house.
My primary complaint is the lack of control and settings. You control the device from a smartphone app and there are almost no settings. This may be ok for some people but I need control.
I've used my own router and modem with Comcast for decades now and I upgrade my Cable Modem every 3-5 years. I use business-class networking equipment because I want a high level of control and visibility into what's happening on with my network. I have a Ubiquiti Unified Security Gateway and a number of Ubiquiti access points. Ideally I want to replace my Comcast service with a new data "pipe" and continue using my existing network setup. This is where my first issue with the T-Mobile Home Internet comes up. The device can only be used as a data access, router/gateway so I either just use this device or I can dumb down my own setup to the point that it is useless if I want to connect the two.
The second issue is connected to the one above. There are effectively no configuration or settings to access. You control the entire device through an overly-simple mobile app. that allows you to do pretty much nothing.
The third issue for me is the limit of 50 devices that can connect to it. While that is fine for the vast majority of people, if you've really jumped into the smart home space, that number can be surpassed quickly. Not to unlike Comcast saying 1TB is "more than enough" for most people for a monthly bandwidth allowance. Have they ever downloaded COD, BF4, ARK, or any other recent game? Or streamed a season of Ted Lasso in 4K to refresh before the new season?
Last, the latency for gaming is just a hard pass. I'm bad enough already, I don't need my connection to make it worse.
If you don't game, have a simple setup and are in their service area, it's worth checking out though. $50/month vs the $~150 I'm paying the thieves at Comcast to get unlimited data is a strong attraction.
Final thoughts: For the right user/household, this could be a decent option to getting high-speed internet for $50/month. For more advanced homes/users, it probably will disappoint.
Check your internet availability for T-Mobile's fast, in-home 5G internet by address. We're working hard to deliver our 5G internet across the country, so check back often!
