Most people would probably get the impression that we’re Peplink homers with their Unbreakable VPN; however, at Motion Ray’s MR•NET price point and the promise of “internet anywhere”, of course we’d take the bait and test it out. We ordered the MR•NET+ CAT-6 video-bonded router, which included:
- Three (3) bonded LTE modems to provide a redundant connection up to 100 Mbps
- PoE or AC adaptor power supply
- Optional 2.4 / 5 GHz WiFi network WAN port for existing broadband which can be set up in failover or bonding modes
- Includes shockproof travel case
Performance Test on the “Farm”
Since one of the Dudes so happens to live on a farm disconnected from any true form of high-speed internet, the Dude was excited to to put MR•NET to the test. In theory, all we needed to do was find a 120V outlet and plug-n-play…the results, seen below, speak for themselves.
Having tested Motion Ray’s device with positive results on land in relatively-isolated areas (a Midwestern farm and the community of Delavan, Wis.) where the dudes were able to achieve similar results. The Dudes were itching to get the device into even more remote areas to test its feasibility in providing events with enough of a network to stream.
Performance Test at Sea
As luck would have it, one of the Dudes has a bro with a boat in South Florida, who called looking for suggestions in providing a connection back to land, without having to invest in an expensive solution for the marine environment. The Dudes sent the Dude Bro away with the MR•NET CAT-6 device, with the instructions that although capable of it, the device ISN’T intended to provide your household yacht with internet; but provide you with internet when you need. Simple instructions: Don’t stream movies.
Ship-to-Shore Feedback: Internet Everywhere Indeed
I believe there was only radio silence until the bill came in. Now, I wasn’t personally involved with the exchange, but i did overhear the fireworks…as Dude Bro had been streaming movies in the middle of the ocean (a little too much Netflix, and absolutely no chill), racking up a bill over a few hundred USD in mere days.
Data Plans Lives Matter (DPLM)!!!
So, Dude Bro took that data plan and blew it away like a like a fart in the wind…dang. After the initial sticker shock at the cost of use (granted Dude Bro demolished the available data in the Dudes’ chosen plan), there are other options. After hearing the Dudes’ predicament, we were assured everything would be okay. The folks at Motion Ray crafted a Premium Video Service (PVS) package, to help address those concerns. The package includes cool features like: the “Spare-in-the-Air” advanced or expedited replacement; 24-7 monitored service; private network; an additional year of warranty coverage.
Data plans are simply just a cost of business these days; but it doesn’t have to be painful. The wise streamer would need to understand their wireless needs prior to making the commitment to a product and associated data plan. Thankfully, there are choices of manufacturers of bonded-cellular devices, as well as data plans, from which savvy consumers can deliberate.
