Pocket: Tata Photon Max WiFi

During one

such deadline-hour power cut, I realised that my phone had run out of charge. I had to borrow a neighbour’s phone and use it as a WiFi hotspot to send my story. To put it mildly, the editor was not happy.

So when I used the Tata Photon Max WiFi last week, a USB dongle that lets you access the internet on up to five devices, I wished I had possessed one a year ago. The amount of hardware and software configuration needed for a broadband connection make it unfeasible for many. What if you could have a USB stick that allows you to get online even during a power outage, things would be even more convenient than having a broadband connection. And that is just what the Photon Max WiFi offers.

SETTING IT UP

The review unit we received was pre-configured, so I simply connected it to a power socket and the device started working in about 30 seconds.

We couldn’t find the installation manual on the Tata Photon website, so here is a link to help you: http://is.gd/mg1pr4. Going by these instructions, it looks like the installation process and changing WiFi passwords might prove to be difficult for some people. However, it’s a one-time hassle.

COVERAGE

As mentioned above, the device works as advertised after you configure it. It is almost identical to the Photon Max, whose coverage I’ve found to be very reliable in most big cities. The Photon Max WiFi has a blue and a green light. A stable blue light means that the device has connected to the internet, while a stable green light means that your other gadgets are connected to the Photon Max WiFi. In over a week of testing, I faced no downtime.

SPEED

Tata promises up to 6.2 Mbps speed on the Photon Max. The speed we got ranged between 1.4 Mbps and 2.6 Mbps, when tested on speed-test.net. By no means should this be considered slow. Three-four people had connected their phones and tablets to the WiFi network and were constantly browsing, chatting and updating apps. The connection did not slow down much during that test.

RANGE

The most surprising, and a little disappointing, aspect that emerged during testing was the range of the device. The Tata website states that the range is up to 100 metres. In our tests, we got a range of up to 20-30 metres in the office. As is common, the signal weakened whenever there were thick walls separating the Photon Max WiFi and my phone. It appears that the device may not be best for homes with more than two rooms. The range should be much better in offices with an open plan design.

QUICK TIP

While you’re travelling, you may not always find a power socket or working USB port. For those instances, we recommend purchasing a portable battery pack — one that lets you plug in USB devices.

Should You Buy It?

If you need a stable, portable WiFi connection at home or office, then the Tata Photon Max WiFi is a highly recommended purchase. The price is reasonable — Rs 1,999. Plans range from Rs 650 per month (up to 3 GB) to Rs 1,500 per month (up to 15 GB) excluding taxes. However, if you use more than 15 GB data per month, we recommend a broadband connection as Tata curtails the speed to 153.8 kbps once you hit the limit.