Authored by John Tafferty

Earlier this year I had an incredibly busy three-month period during which I was practically forced to find an affordable travel Internet hotspot, and luckily came across TEP Wireless.

I had started a new business, and had to travel to 5 different locations in Europe in order to secure a few valuable partnerships. Failure to do so would have meant that the sizable amount I had invested would likely have evaporated in a flash. So I was incredibly relieved to be able to travel with this portable WiFi in Europe.

Preparing for such a trip wasn’t easy, especially for a family man. Although I wasn’t going to be away for three months straight, I had to make sure I could communicate with my family at the same time as syncing my schedule with the various appointments and transportation providers I had picked out. It could have been a catastrophe, but it wasn’t – all thanks to TEP Wireless.

The Complete TEP Wireless Review

The Speed and Coverage of TEP Wireless

TEP offers a very convenient device as a travel Internet hotspot, making it possible to access a high speed Internet connection anywhere you are. As I was traveling from the US to France, I found myself no longer having to worry about finding a SIM card, as I’d done on previous occasions.

Instead, I found the best route to my hotel quite easily using Google Maps, and it took less than a second for the app to load and show me all the information on local venues, shops, attractions, and everything else I needed.

The TEP device supports both 3G and 4G networks. And although I was just using 3G on my smartphone at the time it supplied an impressive 7 Mbps for download speeds, while the network connection remained secure and stable.

In terms of coverage, TEP was perfect for all my needs at the time, supporting most European countries. It is also available in dozens of other countries throughout the world, including most of South America and Asia, all of North America, as well as places like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India.

Renting a Reliable Wi-Fi Hotspot

Before even starting on my journey I soon realized that renting my own TEP router online was quite easy, and the price was excellent as well. To make sure I had all the details covered, I also called their customer support service, and the person who answered was extremely helpful.

Here is a short list of the steps I went through to order the device:

• I first got online and headed to the official TEP website where I found the Rent button. It took me to a basic form I had to fill out with a few specific details including information about my trip.

• After I entered my destination and the start and end date of my trip, I was taken to the delivery and return page, where I had to select where I wanted them to send it to.

• Finally, after filling in the billing details, all I had to do was wait for the device to be shipped to my address.

One small issue is that I had to rent the device again after coming home from one European trip and starting another. The alternative would have been to pay for an additional 7 days when I wouldn’t have used the device at all. Or now TEP offer the option to buy the device outright and pay only for the service when needed (perfect for frequent travelers).

Battery Power

According to any TEP Wireless review, you’ll find that the battery life of the device is more than satisfactory. The router can be configured to work as a wireless Internet hotspot throughout the day, so you don’t even have to touch it again after turning it on. It will last for up to 8 hours on a single charge – a feat that I found to be extremely helpful when compared to most of the options I had used in the past.

A great thing about TEP is that it can last far longer in standby mode – up to 20 hours from the time you’ve fully charged the battery. That meant I could conveniently switch to standby when I didn’t need it, and switch back when I had to stop to look for directions, check my online banking account, or talk to one of my potential business partners on Skype.

A combo portable battery charger is also included in the package you will receive when the router is shipped to you. It may come in handy when the original battery is completely drained.

A Portable Travel Wi-Fi Hotspot

TEP Wireless offers outstanding portability and convenience – a fact that I found to be very useful on my travels on a day-to-day basis. The router can be stored easily in your pocket, seeing as it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Also, on short range distances (up to 15 meters), the signal is quite strong, so you can basically store it wherever you want to without losing signal.

As I was walking around Berlin, Paris, and Rome with the TEP device in my pocket and my smartphone conveniently accessing the 3G network at high speed, I basically felt like I was back home, accessing the Wi-Fi network made available by my highly expensive wireless modem.

Outstanding Customer Support

It’s also worth mentioning TEP’s remarkable customer service that outranks virtually any other firm I’ve worked with in the past. The company offers adequate and detailed information about the entire renting process, so you can call them to ask all the questions you may have before getting the portable Wi-Fi hotspot.

During my travels in the past few months, I had a few minor issues with the device losing signal a few times, so I called TEP to resolve the issue. They guided me through the steps of what to do – in most cases, I just had to change my location or restart the device in order to make it work again.

All in all, I had the impression that the experts behind TEP Wireless have put in a lot of work and effort to make their service one of the best in the world, and based on my own personal experience, I can certainly say that they did an excellent job.

Megan is an Australian Journalist who has been travelling and blogging since 2007, with the main aim of inspiring others to embark on their own worldwide adventure. Her husband Mike is an American travel photographer, and together they have made the world their home.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

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