Which Mifi

[lorger]

Starting to prepare for our first long trip to the eu and would like to take a Mini so we can buy a local data sim, I’ve had a look at noticed some that are cat4 and cat 6 but have no idea what’s better.

I’m lucky enough to have unlimited data for roaming, although there is no limit there is a fare use policy so would just like another sim as back up.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Had this for 3 years and have pulled in a good signal in about 95% of places in UK and Europe down as far as Croatia

NetGear Nighthawk M2 MR2100, 4G LTE, Mobile Router. Preloved, Unlocked

Experience top-tier mobile connectivity with the NETGEAR Nighthawk M2 Mobile Router. High performance in a sleek, portable design. Preloved & Unlocked

tribz.co.uk

 

[Gellyneck]

Starting to prepare for our first long trip to the eu and would like to take a Mini so we can buy a local data sim, I’ve had a look at noticed some that are cat4 and cat 6 but have no idea what’s better.

I’m lucky enough to have unlimited data for roaming, although there is no limit there is a fare use policy so would just like another sim as back up.

The higher the CAT the better, Gerry.

A number of Funsters got this one recently, refurbished and they seem to be back in stock but only 1 "B" grade left! 10 "A" grades.

Pardon our interruption...

It's a CAT20 4g / 5g and works very well in 4g without the aerials attached. Aerials are for 5g only.

EDIT: if you stick MU5001 into the search bar you'll find a few threads discussing this model.

 

[Manic]

I also bought one of the eBay ZTE mu5001 , grade c but it was perfect and I’m very pleased with it.
Another eBay seller https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/22626003...pid=5339023013&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

 

[Howard B]

The higher the CAT the better, Gerry.

A number of Funsters got this one recently, refurbished and they seem to be back in stock but only 1 "B" grade left! 10 "A" grades.

Pardon our interruption...

It's a CAT20 4g / 5g and works very well in 4g without the aerials attached. Aerials are for 5g only.

EDIT: if you stick MU5001 into the search bar you'll find a few threads discussing this model.

Can you run this off a 12v charge lead?

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[RowleyBirkinQC]

Do you have a decent antenna on your van? We have one these (there are variants depending on requirements) which works well…

Solwise - MIMO-3-17 POYNTING 7-in-1 Transportation & Automotive Antenna; 410 – 3800 MHz; 4X4 LTE (MIMO), 6.2 dBi; 2X2 Wi-Fi (MIMO), 7 dBi; GPS/GLONASS, 21 dBi - A-MIMO-3-V2-17 | Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk

We use it with this router…

Solwise - RUTX50 Teltonika CAT20 5G and WiFi Router - TL-RUTX50 | Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk

There is a solwise discount code available in this (I think)…

 

[Manic]

Can you run this off a 12v charge lead?

They’re have a usb charged battery, so best not left in charge . I have usb in the cupboard above my mifi and turn it on when mifi is below 50%.

 

[Gellyneck]

Can you run this off a 12v charge lead?

As Manic says it's a standard USB C charging socket and comes with an A to C lead.
You could also use a cigarette lighter socket with an adapter cable or plug socket.
Battery lasts for a good 8-10 hours on a full charge browsing/email/etc.

 

[starquake]

Avoid cat4 in general as cannot access ANY downlink only frequency anywhere, any country.
(it requires 2 radios, which is a cat6 and higher feature).

The MU5001 above is the cheapest 5g device, and probably best value for money at present given it's cat20 4g, and also does 5g.
Competing (better) 5g routers are nearer 350-400 quid so I'd say buy the MU5001 today and upgrade in 4-5 years.

Don't however be tempted by cat4 devices, you'll only at most get 150Mbit at BEST, but in reality often you'll be on congested frequncies which are now being rolled out. 2 North norfolk sites which last year were under 2Mbit so couldn't watch TV are STILL like that on a cat4 device today, however on the cat12 we use (also a ZTE) in the van were nearer 80-150Mbit this year. That is a upgrade that happened in one year. The upgrade plans for ALL of the networks is to introduce downlink only frequencies (B32 is one example used by Voda/Three) and these requires 2 radios, as you have to be using one to send packets and one to receive.

 

[Howard B]

As Manic says it's a standard USB C charging socket and comes with an A to C lead.
You could also use a cigarette lighter socket with an adapter cable or plug socket.
Battery lasts for a good 8-10 hours on a full charge browsing/email/etc.

Thanks, Id want something could plug in full time.

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[starquake]

Thanks, Id want something could plug in full time.

You can leave it in charging all the time if you wire a pemenet feed. Our ZTE is on a perm live feed from Leisure batt.

 

[Gellyneck]

You can leave it in charging all the time if you wire a pemenet feed. Our ZTE is on a perm live feed from Leisure batt.

However it does shorten the battery life. Don't think it powers up with the battery out of it but never tried it so could be wrong.

 

[starquake]

However it does shorten the battery life. Don't think it powers up with the battery out of it but never tried it so could be wrong.

Oh yeah, it does, but it does have soem electonics (my ZTE model does so presume they added to the newer 5001) to stop it constantly charging I believe. I spotted mine the other day not charging at at all above 60% as it was "hot" and it wasn't until morning when the device was under less load and the ambient temperature lower, did it have 100%. (It actually said hot and not charging in the user interface when I logged in).

We use ours out of van ocasionally and also with the perm feed off (we have a switch) when we are driving as we have a stupid UK van so even perm live feeds go off when engine is on annoyingly. However the ZTE lasts as long as we ever likely to drive.

 

[Gellyneck]

Think the MU5001 will only start charging if less than 80% and take it to 100% and keep it there so must be on a contiual trickle charge.

 

[lorger]

The higher the CAT the better, Gerry.

A number of Funsters got this one recently, refurbished and they seem to be back in stock but only 1 "B" grade left! 10 "A" grades.

Pardon our interruption...

It's a CAT20 4g / 5g and works very well in 4g without the aerials attached. Aerials are for 5g only.

EDIT: if you stick MU5001 into the search bar you'll find a few threads discussing this model.

Glad I asked now as I thought a Cat 6 was decent, maybe I was just looking at the price

Do you have a decent antenna on your van? We have one these (there are variants depending on requirements) which works well…

Solwise - MIMO-3-17 POYNTING 7-in-1 Transportation & Automotive Antenna; 410 – 3800 MHz; 4X4 LTE (MIMO), 6.2 dBi; 2X2 Wi-Fi (MIMO), 7 dBi; GPS/GLONASS, 21 dBi - A-MIMO-3-V2-17 | Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk

We use it with this router…

Solwise - RUTX50 Teltonika CAT20 5G and WiFi Router - TL-RUTX50 | Solwise Ltd

www.solwise.co.uk

There is a solwise discount code available in this (I think)…

We have nothing just now.

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[Gellyneck]

Glad I asked now as I thought a Cat 6 was decent, maybe I was just looking at the price


We have nothing just now.

If it's in your price range as now joining the rank of coffin dodgers I would get the MU 5001 and nothing else.
It's 4g performance is good and 5g isn't widely rolled out yet.

 

[starquake]

Glad I asked now as I thought a Cat 6 was decent, maybe I was just looking at the price


We have nothing just now.

Worth noting the 5001 device only works on external antennas on 5g frequencies apparently, so it's not as urgent as buying the device at moment.

As long as you don't have a PVC you probably fine without that (PVC's act as a bit of a faraday cage so you lose signal compared with coachbuilt). If you have a PVC you may want an older cat12 or cat 18 ZTE device (4g only) that support roof antennas for the 4g side of the device. At moment my ZTE is a cat12 MF986D, however IF I was buying this year it would be a MU5001 and I'd live with the internal antenna on 4g. (the external anetnna ports on the MU5001 DO support 5g frequencies).

I wouldn't spend £400 on a router personally though on a all singing/dancing best 5g device you can get -> thats my view, I'll wait until they are discounted like the MU5001 is now.

 

[Beldea]

MU5001

Thanks for that link, Gellyneck. I bought one and it works fine with the giffgaff sim I had in my phone. I use an ee e-sim for the phone and had the gg one for back-up data boosts. V pleased

 

[starquake]

Thought I'd add something...

I've actually now got a MU5001 as wanted to test alongside some other units I have on test for distance.
At home right now, which is a poor location on most networks but not zero signal.

Antenna port number 1 does NOTHING on 4g (ie, an external antenna connected has zero improvement on 4g (only signal) from the ZTE's internal actual signal meter (you need to dig into the javascript code to get it!). However, it's notable the signal increases on 4G on any antenna connected on port 2. I was testing this with a single manual antenna being connected and the signal improvment was around 6dbi (which is close to the antenna gain out of interest).

ie, if you only have a single antenna for 4g, you SHOULD connect to port 2.

This was a test in a very low signal area where with the internal only antennas I was getting a max of 3Mbit (and -115dbi), getting -107-109dbi with the antenna in port 2.

So although external antennas may according to some do not much with this unit, I can confirm the one I have (got from ebay cheap) with a variety of external antennas does work.

I'm off up to East Yorks tmrw to compare with the latest ATL, LHG and SXT antenna from Mikrotik so I can get real gain comparisons side by side in an location where a mobile gets zero signal at all on any network (it's literally a not spot!).

I need to go to a place with 5g this weekend to test all the above too, likely will be around Hull (which has good 5g usually) on Sunday.

So if you have an older puck on roof with only one connection you are advised connecting to port 2 is your priority! So my actual testing myself of this indicates some of the findings of the MU5001 external antenna ports to not be working on 4g frequencies to be false on the hardware revision I have at least.

I'm also unable to check with a Motorhome wifi/Panorama type roof antenna for a month or so as the van is in storage!