Motorhome Wifi (the company) product issue

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Tio64

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Hi all. We have a new van and have had installed the Huawei Compact Plus 4g LTE Advanced Router with a Smarty sim card, supplied by Motorhome Wifi.
www.motorhomewifi.com

5G Ready Compact + - Motorhome WiFi

5G Ready Antenna & 4G Compact+ Router Compatibility: 2G/3G/4G/4G+ Vehicle or Portable Use Quick Mount Docking Station CAT 6 - 300Mbps Download 4G LTE+ with Carrier Aggregation 16 Wireless Devices 25-50m WiFi Range On-Screen Display WiFi Repeater Mode Easy to use smart phone app Ideal...
www.motorhomewifi.com www.motorhomewifi.com

Usage in UK was fine, but we've crossed into Europe and cannot get connected. I've been in touch with Adam over the past 10 days, I'm getting nowhere.

To use the Smarty card in Europe I need to change the APN in the router settings. To access router settings I need the Huawei app to connect to my Huawei device, and this it will not do, or I certainly can not get it to do so. I can't get to see the Huawei Smart Home Main Screen as per picture.

Can anyone advise please? Is it me? 🙂 Am I missing something obvious or has anyone else had this problem and has the solution?
I set the app to scan for the router but it cannot find or connect.

Many TIA.
 

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Jonny1953 said:
No, his problem is that the phone will not connect via the app to allow him to change the APN
Click to expand...
He may not need to change the APN if it has worked in the UK, but with WIFI extender switch on he will never be able to connect to a mobile data network to see.
 
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Tio64 said:
This is my main problem, from what I can see. Until I can get this sorted I can't see how I can go any further.
Click to expand...
Have you tried to change the settings through a laptop, connecting the Huawei via a USB and not using the app on your phone
 
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Tio64 said:
This is my main problem, from what I can see. Until I can get this sorted I can't see how I can go any further.
Click to expand...
If you can connect using a laptop the IP address is Link Removed, then click on "Settings", "Dial-up" dropdown box and then "Mobile Connection"

Should be set to this

IMG_4912.jpg

Then click on "Profile management" and this is the setting for the Smarty sim

IMG_4914.jpg

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When I first started with Smarty they made it VERY clear that if I was going to roam it was essential that I changed a setting on the APN before I left the UK. They kept reminding me for weeks about it evertime I signed in to their website even though I had already done it.
 
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You could also connect to Link Removed using your phone's browser (i.e. not the App), assuming you are connected to the WiFi which we assume you can be as it worked before and it's just the 4G to the internet via the SIM card that is not working - the WiFi router bit will work, SIM card or not and should provide a local WiFi network. Once the SIM is set up and you get a 4G signal then you have access to the internet too.
 
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Probably not a useful post but if you are ever considering changing just use Teltonika I have a Rut 240 which is an excellent bit of kit relatively cheap and robust I know many on here use Teltonika and have not seen any complaints

 
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Probably also not a useful post either but I have that Motorhome WiFi set up and when it was installed I had an EE sim from a little mifi unit i had on contract, so I put it in instead of the smarty sim card (which was NOT left with the unit when it was installed🤷‍♂️) and it works flawlessly even in France, Belgium and Germany (Bavaria) in Dec last year, with NO messing with any settings, in fact I haven’t touched it and it just works everywhere!👍
 
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One of the first mistakes I made was using our 02 pay and go sim in Europe....it doesn't work....in order to have a 02 Pay and go sim it has to be a 02 business SIM. Sometimes you just cant make it up !\
 
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Phil 748 said:
Hi Tio64 as far as i can see your main problem from your Photo is that you have WIFI Extender switch on, if you are able to change the APN you will still not be able to connect to a mobile network until you switch this off,
Click to expand...
The WiFi extender is a an additive feature to the normal operation of my Huawei E5577 Mifi.
The modes aren't one or the other.
With this model I can get cellular connection or a WiFi connection if one I’ve setup is reachable.

Maybe the one the OP has is either one or the other.
What model do you have?
 
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Hi Michael,

When I replied to your first e-mail 9 days ago about 45 minutes after you sent it, the steps I asked you to follow to enter the APN now that you are already abroad included this one:

1.) Connect to the router via WiFi - if a popup screen loads press CANCEL > USE WITHOUT INTERNET to ensure you remain connected.

I'm 99% certain this is the key to solving the issue. You are joining the WiFi network but because you have no internet connection (since you have not entered the APN) the Huawei router (as would any other router) is immediately pushing you to its 'web page' to try and highlight the fact there is an issue for you to diagnose and solve.

While you can proceed through the web interface, the app is much easier and optimised for a phone. However, you must close this 'popup' (as advised above) and you must request that you remain connected to the WiFi network to allow the app to communicate with the router.

On an iPhone this option is presented as 'Use without internet' (screenshot below) but on an Android phone there is a few manifestations of this. It may be you need to 'forget' the WiFi network entirely if you have previously set a preference to 'disconnect' and thus no longer being shown this option.

Provided you are connected and remain connected to the router via WiFi, you need only to open the app and the router will immediately be detected for you to select and begin following the reset of the steps.

I believe you have an iPhone in addition to your Android, but that it does not have 200MB left on it to download the App. Perhaps if you can find something to delete from it you can start a 'fresh' there as I'm confident doing so will resolve the issue.

use without internet.png
 
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Exact same problem we had when we took our new van over to France for the first time.

The MiFi system had been working flawlessly in the UK with the Smarty SIM. Over in France…..showed it was connected to a network but no internet connection.

I emailed Motorhome Wifi, who replied by email very quickly with a list of what to check. Not being very good with this type of tech, I was stuck and told them that.

I then received a phone call from a very helpful lady who talked me through the set up. Without her help there would have been no way I could have worked out how to do it. (y) I still don’t know how I did it now. 🤷‍♂️

It’s not the equipments fault, but the Smarty SIM. Worked flawlessly again, and as done so since. (y)
 
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kevenh said:
The WiFi extender is a an additive feature to the normal operation of my Huawei E5577 Mifi.
The modes aren't one or the other.
With this model I can get cellular connection or a WiFi connection if one I’ve setup is reachable.

Maybe the one the OP has is either one or the other.
What model do you have?
Click to expand...
I also have a E5577s, my version only lets me switch it to either or, if I switch to WIFI extender it disconnects the mobile data and have to switch back to use mobile data.
 
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Phil 748 said:
I also have a E5577s, my version only lets me switch it to either or, if I switch to WIFI extender it disconnects the mobile data and have to switch back to use mobile data.
Click to expand...
I think Huawei have too many derivatives of that device. Mine’s the 5577-320
I use WiFi extender on my drive to latch onto the home WiFi and without changing anything, drive off & later, on a pitch, it’s picking up 4G/3G. Could be something in the settings to make it be in “fixed one or the other” mode or auto, 🤷‍♂️ It’s not handy to check :doh:
 
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kevenh said:
I think Huawei have too many derivatives of that device. Mine’s the 5577-320
I use WiFi extender on my drive to latch onto the home WiFi and without changing anything, drive off & later, on a pitch, it’s picking up 4G/3G. Could be something in the settings to make it be in “fixed one or the other” mode or auto, 🤷‍♂️ It’s not handy to check :doh:
Click to expand...
Hi, yes more than likely that, mine is a E5577s-321 can't see option to make it auto just on or off, but then mine is on unlimited data so never set it to use house WIFI, may try it and see if it looses the house WIFI and see if switches back to 4G

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Jonny1953 said:
If you can connect using a laptop the IP address is Link Removed, then click on "Settings", "Dial-up" dropdown box and then "Mobile Connection"

Should be set to this

View attachment 586696

Then click on "Profile management" and this is the setting for the Smarty sim

View attachment 586697
Click to expand...
BOOM! This is the one. I'm in. AND, for the first time, my AI Life app has connected to the router so for the first time since using this router and Smarty sim, I am able to see the Huawei Smart Home Main Screen.

It was just pot luck that I'd bought my laptop along with me, I only really did so as an afterthought.

Thanks very much everyone, this forum has come up trumps once again.

Thanks for all the advice, it has been very much appreciated.
Mike.
 
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Hi all, me again.
I whistled through my 12GB "fair useage" allowed by my Smarty sim, so stopped using it. I have a bit of business to do this weekend so paid for an extra 4GB, but find I simply can't log on again.

To ask a previous question, is it me or is it always this difficult? 🤔

Anyway, I've plugged in my router to my laptop as before, but this time I'm getting nothing.

Whereas previously, IIRC I instantly got connected to the Huawei set up page, this time I'm getting nothing. I've typed in the 192.168.8.1/html etc into a browser, but nothing.

Does anyone have any further advice?
And again, is it me? What the hell am I doing wrong?
 
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Tio64 said:
Whereas previously, IIRC I instantly got connected to the Huawei set up page, this time I'm getting nothing. I've typed in the 192.168.8.1/html etc into a browser, but nothing.

Does anyone have any further advice?
And again, is it me? What the hell am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...
I think you should not add html. Just use the numbers.

Download the Huawei app (Android or iOS) and you will be able to access your mifi controls through the app once your phone is logged onto your mifi
 
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Tio64 said:
Hi all, me again.
I whistled through my 12GB "fair useage" allowed by my Smarty sim, so stopped using it. I have a bit of business to do this weekend so paid for an extra 4GB, but find I simply can't log on again.

To ask a previous question, is it me or is it always this difficult? 🤔

Anyway, I've plugged in my router to my laptop as before, but this time I'm getting nothing.

Whereas previously, IIRC I instantly got connected to the Huawei set up page, this time I'm getting nothing. I've typed in the 192.168.8.1/html etc into a browser, but nothing.

Does anyone have any further advice?
And again, is it me? What the hell am I doing wrong?
Click to expand...
If the Huawei has been turned off, when you plug it in you will get the Huawei logo and then it shows that the battery is charging, it will not connect to your laptop unless you actually switch it on, not sure if you have done this

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Upvote 0
peterc10 said:
I think you should not add html. Just use the numbers.

Download the Huawei app (Android or iOS) and you will be able to access your mifi controls through the app once your phone is logged onto your mifi
Click to expand...
Hi, I have the app on my phone, have not found it any use. Do you mean download the app onto laptop?
 
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Jonny1953 said:
If the Huawei has been turned off, when you plug it in you will get the Huawei logo and then it shows that the battery is charging, it will not connect to your laptop unless you actually switch it on, not sure if you have done this
Click to expand...
Thanks, the router has never been switched off.
 
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Tio64 said:
Hi, I have the app on my phone, have not found it any use. Do you mean download the app onto laptop?
Click to expand...
They don't do a Windows laptop app AFAIK.

You need to have the phone logged into the mifi's wifi. Just open the app and enter your user name and password from what I can remember.

But neither will work if you have run out of data on your SIM. Not sure that you can add more data to extend your air use limit on Smarty. And if you did you would have to added some credit in your "out of plan add ons" before you can order it.
 
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Ah well, returned to van this afternoon, mifi all working as it should. Frustrating, but it is what it is.

Thanks to all those offering help. (y)

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Tio64 said:
Huawei Compact Plus 4g LTE Advanced Router with a Smarty sim card, supplied by Motorhome Wifi.
Click to expand...
.
£419 squids ???££?????!!????????

I've never paid that much for a car !!!!!!!!!!!

Think I'll stick to 1pMobile SIM and using phone as a WiFi hotspot . . . . . .
 
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