In early 2023, I started receiving ads from T-Mobile Home Internet announcing their service availability in my area. Initially skeptical, given my disappointing experiences with T-Mobile and Sprint services in the past, I was intrigued by their $50/month price tag. At the time, Spectrum was charging $160/month for standard internet (20 Mbps) with cable, which has ballooned to around $190/month for 100 Mbps download speed, including cable.
T-Mobile promises speeds of at least 25 Mbps, with typical download speeds ranging from 72 to 245 Mbps. As mentioned in my previous blog post on Visible by Verizon, I'm always on the lookout for ways to cut costs or find better service options. I made the switch in March 2023, and after more than a year with T-Mobile Home Internet, here’s what I’ve discovered about their service.
Pros
- Price: Comparing my T-Mobile bill directly with Spectrum's is challenging because T-Mobile doesn't provide cable television, while Spectrum's advertised pricing excludes hidden taxes and fees. According to a third-party website, the regular price for internet at 100 Mbps is $59.99/month before taxes and fees with Spectrum.
- No Bait & Switch: Unlike Spectrum and other providers notorious for introductory price hikes and hidden fees, T-Mobile has maintained a consistent $50 price with no additional taxes or surprises.
- Speed: T-Mobile delivers on their promised speeds; I consistently achieve download speeds of 200 Mbps or higher and 40 Mbps upload during my work-from-home hours.
Cons
- Location Constraints: A major drawback of LTE Wireless Internet is the need to place the gateway near a window for optimal signal quality. This setup extends WiFi coverage beyond the house and isn’t centrally located, which is not ideal. In my row house, this limitation is particularly challenging due to limited window access.
- Gateway Issues: T-Mobile provides the Arcadyan KVD21 Gateway, which lacks basic router functionalities like guest network creation and DNS provider customization. Advanced settings such as IP address reservation or subnet creation are also absent. I've resorted to using an ASUS router connected via Ethernet to address these limitations, despite creating a double NAT, issues are rare. Another inconvenience is the inability to disable WiFi broadcasting, requiring a PowerShell script to manage via GitHub. I'm considering a third-party LTE Wireless Modem Router as an alternative, though cost remains prohibitive ($400 - $600 compared to standard models).
- App Dependency: Control over the gateway is restricted to the T-Mobile Internet or T Life app, rather than a more universally accessible web interface, which I find frustrating.
- Speed Variability: While daytime speeds are reliable, evenings often see noticeable decreases in download and upload rates. However, this hasn't significantly impacted my browsing or streaming activities.
- Auto-Pay Conditions: The $50/month price requires auto-pay setup, limited to debit card or bank debit—not credit card.