The Franklin R717 hotspot was released in November 2019, and is branded as the "T9" mobile hotspot for T-Mobile, replacing the CoolPad Surf. It is the hotspot that is used as part of their Test Drive program.
The R717 is also sold by Karma, a T-Mobile MVNO.
Specifications
- Model Number: R717
- # of Connected Devices: 15 via Wi-Fi
- Control Panel and Default Password:
Control Panel: http://mobile.hotspot or http://192.168.0.1
Default Password: "FranklinT9 + the last 4 digits of IMEI" - USB Tethering Support: Yes
- Supported Networks and Bands:
- LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: No
- MIMO Support: 2x2 Internal
- LTE Performance Category: 4
(Max Theoretical Speed: 150Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up) - Cellular Antenna Ports: None
- Other Ports: Micro USB
- Wi-Fi Technology / Frequencies: 802.11 b/g/n/ac - 2.4 GHz & 5 Ghz
- Battery
- Claimed Battery Life: 8hrs, 48hrs on standby
- Can Be Powered Without a Battery: Yes
- Replacement Battery: eBay
- Dimensions: 4.13” x 2.63” x “.51” (2.99oz)
- SIM Card Type: Nano
- Retail Price: $90 at T-Mobile | $79.99 at Karma | $59.95 at Amazon
News, Videos, & Status
We are not currently testing this hotspot device.
News Stories:
Potential Alternatives to Consider:
For other popular mobile hotspots on the market - here are our featured options:
This Review Contains Additional Member Exclusive Content!
We are Honored to be Member Funded! No ads, no sponsors, no selling (but may contain affiliate links)
Our members fund our in-depth independent reviews.
This entry may contain additional member exclusive content such as testing notes, field testing data, user interface tours, comparisons to alternatives, analysis, tips, videos and discounts.
Members also get interactive guidance, alerts, classroom and more.
Are you a member? Please log in above to access your member exclusive content!
Purchasing Options
Links Provided for Convenience
We do not sell any gear or equipment. These links are provided to make your shopping easier, and we do not endorse any specific vendor. Unless otherwise disclosed, only Amazon links are affiliate links (see our disclaimer).
To remain unbiased as possible, our primary source of funding comes from our premium members, and we have negotiated higher discounts from some vendors instead of accepting affiliate relationships.
Mobile hotspot devices are small, self-contained units that receive a cellular data signal and transform it into an internet connection. They are a cellular modem and router combined. Most can create their own personal Wi-Fi network.
They are typically designed with a specific cellular carrier in mind and require a suitable cellular data plan of their own to operate. You might see them called Jetpacks (Verizon's term for them) or MiFi (Inseego's name for them).
Here's a quick video going over the features of a hotspot, and what makes one better than another:
The guides below have been hand-picked to help further your education about selecting mobile hotspots and best utilizing them in your mobile internet setup.
The Mobile Internet Resource Center is brought to you by Two Steps Beyond LLC, and hosted by the technomads of