The SyncUp Drive is T-Mobile's Connected Car widget that plugs directly into a vehicle's OBD-II Port, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot within the vehicle powered by T-Mobile's network whenever the ignition is turned on. It also provide telematic features for tracking and vehicle diagnostics.

In January 2019 an updated version of the SyncUp Drive was released that supports band 71. It's called the SyncUp Drive 2.

A rebranded version called "SMART-ride" is available from T-Mobile's prepaid subsidiary, Metro by T-Mobile (formerly known as MetroPCS).

ZTE in the News:

ZTE is a Chinese company that produces a variety of electronics, including consumer cellular devices as well as network equipment which can potentially be used by cellular carriers and other internet service providers.

Beginning in 2018, the US government restricted the sale and support of ZTE products in the US due to security concerns and at one point, it seemed like ZTE could be forced out of business.

Currently, however, ZTE is still able to directly sell and support consumer devices in the US, but US telecommunications companies cannot use federal telecom subsidies for ZTE gear or services because the US government considers ZTE to be a security threat.

While unlikely at this point, ZTE could be subject to further US government actions that could further affect the availability of and support for ZTE consumer devices.

Members, our further analysis and detailed updates are in the Special Announcements forum:

ALERT: Future of ZTE In Doubt - Mobley, Warp, Velocity 2, other devices impacted

A T-Mobile data plan must be attached to this device in order to use data - the standard data plan is 2GB for $10/month, but more data options are available at different levels up to 22GB for $85/month. Once the high-speed data bucket is used up, the plans still offer unlimited 2G for the rest of the month. The Metro by T-Mobile plans for the SMART Ride are very similar.

Specifications

Model Number: SyncUp Drive 2
# of Connected Devices: 5 Wi-Fi
Control Panel and Default Password:
Control Panel: http://192.168.0.1
Default Password: "admin"
USB Tethering Support: None
Supported Networks and Bands:
4G/LTE: 2, 4, 5, 5, 12, 66, 71
3G: UMTS: 850, 1700/2100, 1900
LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: No
MIMO Support: Unknown
LTE Performance Category: Category 3
(Max Theoretical Speed: 100Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up)
Cellular Antenna Ports: None
Other Ports: OBD-II
Wi-Fi Technology / Frequencies: 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz)
Claimed Battery Life: N/A - No battery
Can Be Powered Without a Battery: Yes
Dimensions: 2.9" x 2.1" x 1" / 2.8 oz
SIM Card Type: 3FF / Micro SIM
Retail Price: $96

News, Videos, & Status

We do not currently plan to test this product. Data plans are pricey and limited. It's of limited appeal to our core audience seeking home internet replacement solutions in RVs and boats.

News Stories:

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