American Festivals Project

“Someday, we’ll tell our grandchildren how we had to drive around town looking for a coffee shop when we needed to get online, and they’ll laugh their heads off. Every building in America has running water, electricity and ventilation; what’s the holdup on universal wireless Internet?”-David Pogue, NYTimes

If you could have seen Andrew and I on the last leg of the AFP, we would have perfectly fit the description of the desperate travelers, driving around to coffee shops looking for wireless.  This process can become exhausting.  We would often find ourselves stranded in a rural town without a way to update the blog or research our next events.  However, on this summer-leg of the AFP, we’ve been fortunate to have along a wonderful, new device called the MiFi by Novatel Wireless.   We contacted Novatel back in May to see if they would be interested in sponsoring the AFP.  Novatel’s PR specialist, Patty Zamora, was very receptive to our project, and was happy to supply us with an activated MiFi unit for the summer.  We’re very encouraged by her enthusiasm, and happy to serve as a so-called “case study” for the MiFi.

This techy product allows us to have almost constant wireless access wherever we are on the road.  It’s really quite incredible, especially when you see how small it is.  The best part is that the MiFi unit does not have to plug into a computer.  You can keep it in your pocket, inside your car, or leave it on a desk in your house.  It’s lightweight, versatile, and sleek.  The battery supplies up to 40 stand-by hours, and 4 hours of actual wireless use.  The ultra-thin unit, which costs around $100, must be activated with a Verizon or Sprint subscription for $40-$60 a month.

The MiFi is so good at providing a wireless signal that we’ve been able to check email and research new events at almost any location.  It’s proven most helpful in the truck when navigating through tiny towns.  Just two days ago we were stranded in a tiny town in Oklahoma and camped at the city campground.  In most cases, a remote location like this would have meant two days without the internet.  But in this case, we could sit right at our campsite and access the internet through the MiFi.

It even works underwater….

*We don’t recommend trying this at home*

We are very grateful for Novatel’s support of the AFP, and we highly recommend the MiFi for anyone out there who spends a considerable amount of time traveling.