Review on 📶 AT&T Sierra Wireless USBConnect Momentum Global 4G LTE USB Modem by Andy Mitts

Introduction. I recently bought a Momentum 4G (LTE) to upgrade my Shockwave 4G (HSPA+) without having to restart my AT&T contract. After doing my initial research, I saw a lot of good reviews for the Momentum 4G. Most of the claims related more to the service than the device itself. However, the main reason I bought the Momentum was that I got it for $150 less than AT&T was asking (no contract). I wasn't expecting much for the price but was quite surprised when I compared the speeds with my Shockwave dongle. my mobile Cradlepoint router. My previous dongle required some adjustments in the Cradlepoint modem settings to make it work at all. Surprisingly, I didn't have to touch anything for LTE to work. With the same modem settings as before, I have LTE speeds straight away! Momentum uses a standard-sized SIM card, so no modifications were necessary. I've read that some users had to get a new SIM card from AT&T in order for LTE to work, but I assume this only applies to users with devices older than 3 years. One point I would like to point out is that there was no writing on the SIM card holder as to which direction to insert the card. Because of this, it didn't work at first and I found that I had inserted the SIM card the wrong way round. I also tried installing directly on my computer. The USB dongle comes with built-in AT&T Communication Manager firmware, so the installation process starts automatically when you plug in the device. This was a pleasant surprise and made my job a lot easier since I installed it on a Macbook Air (no internal CD drive). Perfomance. Compared to my two year old Shockwave 4G device, the Momentum 4G delivers more on both uploads and downloads. However, it turned out that Momentum is very sensitive to interference from other devices. To that end, they provide a USB extension cable that you can use to extend the dongle from your computer (or router in my case) to minimize interference as much as possible. Instead of a 6 inch extension, I opted for a retractable USB extension so I can position the dongle higher than the router. I have achieved the following speeds in my home using the included 6 inch extension cord. (LTE not available): 3.80 Mbps down / 0.69 up. With the retractable cable and key strategically placed in the window, this is what I got: 4.61 Mbps down / 0.75 up. While those speeds don't sound great, compare them to my old Shockwave at the same point: 1.35 Mbps down / 0.75 up. Also, keep in mind that the download speed of 4.61 Mbps is quite high when outside of the LTE network. I also had the opportunity to test the device in Atlanta from my machine with a retractable USB extender plugged into my Cradlepoint router. LTE is available in Atlanta and I have the following speeds: 7.40 Mbps down / 4.79 up. Without the retractable extender, the average download speed was about 4 Mbps. Momentum seems to work great under optimal conditions, but falls short for the average user using the dongle directly in their laptop. For optimal speed, be sure to purchase an extension cord longer than 6 inches of a standard cord. Aesthetics/Design. The Momentum 4G dongle is mostly flat except for the aluminum USB connector. The USB connector features a unique two-piece swivel design that allows users to connect the device to almost any port on the computer with minimal effort. corresponds to slower speeds). The swiveling design, while nifty, isn't particularly practical as you'll likely get slower speeds if you place it next to a few other USB devices. Although the dongle is fairly shallow in depth, it balances the area in width and height. Without the hinge, the USB dongle would be very difficult to use in a laptop with other devices. The SIM and MicroSD slot cover is Made of durable plastic and fits snugly to the body, I couldn't see it falling off or getting lost as it snaps securely. Finally, the button seems to heat up a bit more than others during use due to the shape of the device. Due to the flat design, all components inside the key are sandwiched together, which generates more heat. The frame inside is also made of metal, which conducts more heat than plastic. General Thoughts. To be honest I wasn't expecting much from Momentum, so I gave it 4/5 stars anyway. . Bottom line, you can't go wrong for the price you're paying for this LTE-enabled device. If you want a new data plan from AT&T, this is the device you need. If you're looking to upgrade your old HSPA+ device to LTE, this is the device for you too. While not the best device in the world, I would be very surprised to see a comparable/better LTE device from AT&T (as of July 2012). With proper placement and configuration, Momentum can provide more than enough bandwidth for mobile internet.