ZTE 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Archives – Page 2 of 4

ZTE MF980 4G Mobile Router Test

With the LTE network evolving to LTE-Advanced, more and more LTE gadgets are needed to support the advanced network so as to meet the requirements from end-users for faster internet speed. ZTE MF980, also named ZTE UFi MF980, is one of the new gadgets.

We got the ZTE MF980 4G mobile router for a couple of weeks and today we have time to take a test for this new LTE router. It’s in black color but much thinner than current popular models such as Huawei E5786 and Mobile WiFi Pro 2 E5885.

Appearance

The ZTE MF980 has a 1.44inch screen, but not like the high-end 4G LTE-A mobile hotspots from Netgear such as Aircard 790s and Aircard 810s, it’s not a touch screen. The ZTE and UFi are listed at two sides of the screen. On top edge, the power button and func button are there with a reset hole. At the opposite edge, two connectors for external 4G Antennas are covered by a small cap. The USB3.0 port is at the middle of the edge while the right side is SIM card slot. It uses Micro SIM. On the back of the ZTE UFi, there is only ZTE Logo. The back cover is not tight with the whole body, which makes you think it could be removed, but we tried, the back cover can’t be removed. So the battery is built-in and can’t be changed.

Operation

Long press the power button for 3 seconds on the top edge, the ZTE UFi MF980 will start working. The screen will show the signal bars, network provider’s name, users quantity connected from WiFi, battery status and the consumed data. For simple setup, users need to press the FUNC button to switch menu and power button to confirm.

In the simple menu, we can see it includes Data Connection, Device Info, WiFi QR Code, WPS, Global Roaming, Quick Boot. Click FUNC to next and click Power button to OK. Users can click to connect the data, and scan the QR code to connect to the router with the ZTELink APP. No more setup is allowed through the two buttons on ZTE UFi. If you want do more settings, you need log in the web page http://ufi.ztedevice.com or 192.168.0.1. Firstly, you need connect the WiFi from ZTE MF980 and enter WiFi key. When log in the web UI, the default password is admin. And there is PC and Mobile option per user preference.

On the head of the web page, user can shutdown the device, modify login password and logout by one click. Two languages are available: English and Chinese. In the middle of the page, there is a switch button to on and off LTE connection. Below is the setting button to click and enter into the setting options. Users can setup the connection by adding new APN, select preferred network (four options: 4G only, 3G only, 2G only and Automatic).

There are more options to setup the WiFi, user can setup the SSID name, security mode and password. If necessary, user can also enable the Guest SSID and WPS. In the WiFi advanced settings, user can select the WiFi band (2.4GHz and 5GHz available), Network mode (two options: 802.11b/g/n and 802.11 n only), Channel Bandwidth(20MHz/40MHz or 20MHz) and frequency channel. User can also select the country if necessary.

In the Advanced Settings, user can setup the power-save mode by choosing the WiFi coverage distance and WiFi Sleep time. And the router settings allow user to setup the IP address and DHCP. There are also options for firewall settings, such as Port filtering, Port mapping, UPnP and DMZ. User can also setup the firmware update check and reset or restart the router manually.

All setting for the ZTE MF980 UFI is very simple but important if you need them. User can also do the setting through the ZTELink APP, but has to install the APP in the smartphone first. We didn’t take the speed test this time, we will do the speed test by comparing it with the latest Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 in following weeks and will provide full report after test. You can follow us for coming testing report.

ZTE MF910 4G Mobile Router Test

Many people are demanding higher speed for internet connection, even when they are on the go for vacation. If the LTE network is available, user just need a reliable mobile WiFi router to fulfill this. The ZTE MiFi router MF910 would do this job well for a good network partner.

ZTE MF910

The model ZTE MF910 is the big brother of our previously tested model ZTE MF65+. It offers the same features, but it is faster and more durable. Hard data: the MF910 gadget can be used continuously for 8 hours downloading data at speeds up to 150Mbit/s, in standby mode, it can withstand almost a week, and the maximum use of its services may as many as 14 other devices.

ZTE MF910

The manufacturer does not provide any information on the overstatement. ZTE MF910 battery in fact it is difficult to unload. Internet speed is of course dependent on the extent and network environment. The router I tested using a SIM from Plus network. Even outside the city to check it perfectly, even when the coverage rate on small but readable screen does not show the five bars. Without any problems I could browse mail, Facebook, portals and watch the video on YouTube.

ZTE MF910

I was surprised how well I downloaded from the Internet file weighs about 500 MB. In fact, I did not feel the difference in speed compared with that to which I am accustomed when I use the network in your own home.

There is no any problem regarding the hardware configuration. Comparing with the ZTE MF65+ MiFi, it should be the biggest advantages of this router. Just turn the whole holding down one button. That’s enough to be able to enjoy access to the Internet. All the smartphones and tablets that “paired” with the MF910 did not have any problems with that hardware. I can only complain to the location of the SIM card slot. It is devilishly difficult to correctly add to the router.

ZTE MF910

The whole body weighs 106g and the size is similar to a candy package (65x 14.6 x 104 mm). It’s a little larger than the ZTE MF65+ caliber, but still there is nothing to prevent the router to throw in a bag or backpack, or put it in his jacket pocket.

ZTE MF910

ZTE MF910 MiFi is equipment that meets all the expectations from customer. It will provide high-speed internet in both the cottage and will save you and your closest collaborators, when the company’s network will refuse to obey. If you are looking for a good partner for outdoor activities, ZTE MF910 is highly recommended. The most important, the price is aggressive for most users.

ZTE MF910

ZTE MF65+ 3G Mobile WiFi Router

For the mobile router, users usually require two things: easy to use and high-speed data connection. To meet higher requirements for network connection, the Chinese manufacturer ZTE had presented a new 4G mobile hotspot to the market. The model number is ZTE MF65+. The name is similar to its predecessor ZTE MF65, but they had different design.

The ZTE MF65+ 3G MiFi converts a 3G mobile connection into a Wi-Fi network. To insert a SIM card in the ZTE MF65+ 3G Mifi and then the ZTE MF65 3G+ MiFi start a Wi-Fi network. You can then make your tablet, laptop or smartphone connect to this wireless network and enjoy an internet connection. For example, if you have an iPad without 3G, after connecting with the WiFi from ZTE MF65+, the iPad would be online outside the door.

And the ZTE MF65+ 3G MiFi can support up to 10 WiFi devices simultaneously, your family or friends may also possibly on the internet (of course only if you give them the password for the Wi-Fi network). Moreover, there is no software to connect required to connect with the WiFi network!

The ZTE MF65+ 3G Mifi is supplied in a white version, and has an impressive industrial design. The OLED display shows the signal type, signal strength, battery status, Wi-Fi mode and more. With ZTE Mobile WiFi app, it is very easy to manage ZTE MF65+ 3G Mifi. For example you can remotely control WiFi on or off, check the battery level and signal strength, read messages and find all connected devices.

According to the specifications from ZTE, the MF65+ allows to download data at a maximum speed 21.6Mbit/s and upload speed to 11Mbit/s. Of course, these speeds refer to “laboratory conditions”. In real network condition, you may not fulfill this speed, but you will get fast enough speed for surfing.

ZTE MF65+ has a removable battery of 1500mAh, which is charged by using cable with the micro USB (as the typical smartphone). With full battery, ZTE MF65+ can keep working for 6 hours for data transmission, while it can stand up for days up to 300hours according to the manufacturer. With occasional use of the network you do not have to worry about charging your router. When connecting the MF65+ router to your computer, you can transfer files from an SD card, which can be placed in the router. You don’t need use additional software to do that.

With simple operation and fast internet connection, ZTE MF65+ is a good 3G pocket router to recommend. If you are wondering over buying a wireless router, then ZTE MF65+ is good enough with budget price. Actually, LTE is becoming the mainstream now all over the world, if you prefer to get high internet speed, you may check 4G mobile hotspots which support much faster than 3G mobile hotspot, you can check the 4G mobile routers here for reference: https://www.4gltemall.com/ue-category/lte-category-6.html/

ZTE MF980 4G LTE Category 9 Mobile Hotspot

With the development of the LTE technology and deployment of LTE-advanced networks, the manufacturer offer new 4G mobile gadgets to meet the market required. The ZTE MF980 Hotspot is a 4G mobile hotspot that offers LTE Category 9 carrier aggregation technology. The specifications for ZTE MF980 makes it’s dominates in the mobile hotspos in the market.

ZTE MF980 front logo

Technical Specifications

This 3-band technology allows reach a download speed of 450 Mbps and 50 Mbps in upload. The bands supported in FDD are: B1 / B3 / B5 (26) / B7 / B8 / B20 / B28 / B32

For Europe area, the bands that concern in 4G are therefore B3, B7, B20 but also the B28 which supports the 700 MHz of Free Mobile.

For the rest the supported bands are:
* TDD-LTE: B40 (or B38 or B41)
* UMTS: B1 / B5 / B8 / B2
* GSM: 850/900/1800 / 1900MHz

A fairly wide coverage therefore, makes the ZTE MF980 mobile hotspot a good partner for traveling. We do not have exactly the carrier aggregation of supported 3 bands, but we remain optimistic for a support in France (B20 + B7 + B3 or B28 + B7 + B20).

ZTE MF980 back

Wireless Features

The ZTE MF980 also offers Wi-Fi 802.11 ac running dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz simultaneously. And up to 32 users can connect to the MF980 hotspot for internet access. It is of course also compatible with the 802.11b/g/n and it also offers a 2 × 2 MIMO technology.

The 1.44-inch color TFT screen allows you to view the usual information such as the operator, connection type and level, battery level, number of users connected and data consumption.

ZTE MF980 power button

The ZTE MF980 is small enough to fit easily in the pocket or in a bag. What’s more, it has 2 connectors for external antennas, which makes it possible to connect external antenna to improve the signal strength so as to get faster surfing speed. The connector type is TS-9, we recommend below the external antenna for ZTE MF980 mobile hotspot: http://www.4gltemall.com/4g-antenna-two-ts-9-connector.html

4G LTE Indoor Antenna (2 x TS-9 Connectors) for Huawei/ZTE 4G LTE Modems/dongles/mobile hotspots

It has a micro-USB port and a slot for micro-SIM. Equipped with a 2200 mAh battery, it can keep working for up to 10 hours according to the manufacturer. It is compatible with the Android application (or IOS) ZTELink APP.

Summary

With the support of LTE Cat.9 and 3 band carrier aggregation, ZTE MF980 supports fast download speed to 450Mbps while currently the LTE Cat.6 up to 300Mbps is the mainstream. Up to 32 wireless users could access internet with the ZTE MF980 and large battery of 2200mAh, which makes MF980 a powerful partner for outdoor activities. The possibility of connecting external antenna and control via ZTELINK app is also very useful for operation.

ZTE MF980 USB port

Actually, there are many LTE cat.9 and cat.11 mobile hotspots in the market now, such as the Netgear Aircard 810s hotspot etc. They already get great fame from the end-users. We suppose the ZTE MF980 would also be a good star for LTE-A networks.

ZTE MF79 WiFi Dongle VS Huawei E8372 Wingle

Since Huawei firstly released the USB Dongle with WiFi hotspot function (called Wingle), there are many 3G & 4G Wingle models in the market. The Huawei E355, E8231 are the 3G WiFi dongle. As the LTE networks are becoming the mainstream, 4G LTE WiFi dongles becomes well-known now. More and more users found they are very useful and easy to take. Here now, only three manufacturers Huawei & ZTE & Alcatel had provided such products to market. Huawei had presented the model Huawei E8278 and latest new Huawei E8372. ZTE follows the steps of Huawei and presented the 4G LTE WiFi stick ZTE MF79 and MF75. The Alcatel presents the Alcatel W800 series WiFi dongle. Today, we will have a look at the difference about the Huawei E8372 and ZTE MF79.

Appearance

The Huawei E8372 and ZTE MF79 are both in the shape of USB dongle. You can say it’s a 4G USB dongle but the real function is to work as a WiFi hotspot. Huawei E8372 has three small indicators on the body with Huawei logo. The indicators are to show the status of Signal, SMS and WiFi. ZTE MF79 only has two indicators of WiFi and signal.

The body cover can be pulled out and the SIM card slot is there. They also provide the slot for Micro SD card for users to share files through WiFi. Besides the Model number, IMEI number and S/N, there is also WiFi SSID and password available on the label. Huawei E8372 provides a QR code, which user can scan the code and get connected with the WiFi, so users don’t necessarily enter the long WiFi password. What’s more, there are two TS-9 connectors for external antenna in Huawei E8372 but ZTE MF79 doesn’t have the antenna connector.

Technical Specifications

The Huawei E8372 and ZTE MF79 can work as a mobile hotspot, the only difference between them and the 4G Mobile Hotspots is that they don’t have battery. They need get input power from PC or power adapter. Once plug in the SIM card and get connected and power on, they can automatically connect to WAN network. And they are also different from USB dongle because USB dongle must work with PC, but they can work once they get power supply, for example, they could plug into the USB power adapter and start working.

They could both support the LTE category 4 and achieve peak download speed up to 150Mbps and upload speed to 50mbps. And up to 10 wireless devices could connect to the WiFi from the two Wingle and access internet. The WiFi standard is 802.11 b/g/n with single band 2.4GHz. They both supports the LTE various band and has sub-models for different markets. Of course, the 3G UMTS and 2G GSM/GPRS networks are backward compatible.

Regarding the internet connection performance and stability, we would take test next time on different network environment. If you want to know more details, welcome to follow our blog: www.4gltemall.com .

Four LTE Category 6 Mobile Hotspots to Recommend

LTE networks are becoming the mainstream available in many countries and areas. With LTE technology, users can enjoy high speed surfing, online games or watching videos etc..The good news is that this is not the end. The LTE technologies are also evolved to LTE advanced and it’s said the 5G network is under test now.

Currently, many carriers are trying to upgrade the LTE Category 3 or 4 to the latest advanced Category 6 with carrier aggregation technology (in short: CA). With LTE-advanced technology, the LTE data rate could be improved to double faster than that of the current LTE cat4. Theoretically, the peak download speed could reach 300mbps and upload speed to 50Mbps. Here comes a question, which device could support the LTE Cat6 advanced networks and achieve this speed? Today, we would recommend a few similar mobile WiFi hotspot supporting LTE advanced carrier aggregation technology from vendors.

Huawei E5786

Huawei E5786 should be the first LTE Cat6 mobile WiFi available in the market with Huawei own Hisilicon chipset. It has three branch models: E5786s-32a, E5786s-62a, E5786s-63a. The Huawei E5786s-63a and E5786s-62a are for the network providers in Australia and they had new name “Telstra Wi-Fi 4G Advanced Pro X” and “Optu 4G WiFi modem” respectively. There are white and black colors available. But you can get the unlocked version from www.4gltemall.com for global use. Like its predecessors Huawei E5573 and E5577, the branch models could support different LTE frequency bands for different carriers and areas. Up to 10 wireless users could connect to Huawei E5786 and surf at high speed. There is a LCD screen in the front with power button. The back cover could be removed, but the 3000mAh battery is built-in. The SIM card and Micro SD card slots could be seen when back cover removed. There are two TS-9 connectors for external 4G LTE/3G antenna.

As the world’s first LTE Cat6 mobile 4G router, Huawei E5786 is the best seller in similar gadgets. If you like this mobile hotspot, you’d better to check the network frequency bands and choose the right in the branch models.

Check more specification and details about Huawei E5786:

http://www.4gltemall.com/huawei-e5786-4g-lte-cat6-mobile-wifi.html

Netgear Aircard 790s

Netgear Aircard 790s is the second LTE cat6 mobile router available in the market. Based the predecessor Netgear Aircard 782s, it looks similar to the 782s aircard. Unlike the Huawei E5786, the screen of Aircard 790s is capacitive screen, where user can operate and do simple settings for the mobile hotspot. The power button is on the top side, the bottom side has two connectors for external antenna (TS-9 type). The USB port is also special with 3.0 port, but with the device, Netgear provides the USB 2.0 cable. The back cover could also be removed, so as the battery. The battery capacity is 2930mAh. The SIM card slot could be seen after battery is pulled out. No slot for Micro SD card. With Qualcomm MDM9230 chipset, Aircard 790s could support up to 15 wireless WiFi-enabled devices. With the touchscreen, Netgear Aircard 790s is attractive for many users in practical functions.

Check more specification and details about Netgear Aircard 790s: http://www.4gltemall.com/netgear-aircard-790s-4g-mobile-hotspot.html

ZTE UFi MF970

Following the steps of the above two vendors, ZTE released the UFi MF970. It looks common like its predecessor MF910. MF970 was already available for Vodafone 4G contract. The front middle is the screen to indicate the connection status. User can do simple settings through the power and menu button. The power and menu button is on the top side. The back cover can’t be removed, so the battery can’t be changed. And there are also two connectors for external LTE/3G antenna. Like Netgear Aircard 790s, there is no slot for Micro SD card. Also with Qualcomm chipset MDM9230, ZTE UFi MF970 could support up to 14 wireless users. The battery is only 2300mAh, which is much lower than the above two similar hotspots. The design of ZTE MF970 looks cool. Other features are very similar to the competitors above.

Check more specification and details about ZTE UFi MF970:

http://www.4gltemall.com/zte-ufi-mf970-lte-cat6-mobile-wifi-hotspot.html

Alcatel One Touch Y900

Alcatel One Touch Y900, also called Alcatel Link Y900 4G+, looks special in the appearance. The signal bars on the front side looks cool but are not really interesting. In all the four LTE cat6 mobile routers, the Y900 is the only which doesn’t have a LCD display. There is only a power button on the body with the WPS button on the other side of the button. The back cover could be removed for changing the battery and inserting SIM card and SD storage card. The big battery is interesting, which has 3600mAh capacity and not only working long time, but also charge other electronics to work like a power bank. What’s amazing, the Alcatel Y900 could support up to 32 wireless users to access internet. In the four devices, Alcatel Y900 seems to be the most powerful mobile hotspot. I personally like this one more.

Check more specification and details about Alcatel One Touch Y900: http://www.4gltemall.com/alcatel-link-y900-4g-led-mobile-hotspot.html

The above four LTE 4G+ cat6 MiFi hotspot should be the most popular for LTE advanced networks. You need prefer to the vendor brands, prices, or the functions. We suppose you would choose the right one for the high-speed surfing on the go!

More images about the features:

huawei-e5786-netgear-790s-zte-mf970-alcatel-y900-antenna-connectors

Huawei E8377 CarFi VS ZTE VFi MF905

More and more people show great dependence to WiFi, even when they are on the go, especially in a car. The manufacturers in China has notice the demand and provided solution for this. We had introduced Huawei CarFi E8377 many times in the past year. You may get familiar with it. And another Chinese vendor ZTE also provide the similar product ZTE VFi MF905 for the network demand in a car. Here come the questions: What’s the difference between Huawei E8377 and ZTE MF905? Which one is better? In this article, you will find the answer for this.

Appearance

ZTE VFi MF905 comes later than Huawei E8377, but the two mobile WiFi hotspots look alike in shape and color. They are both in black color and used for cigarette cradle in a car. There is a USB port in the body, and of course there is a slot for SIM card in the two hotspots. But the SIM card slot in Huawei E8377 is covered by a small cap. The SIM card slot in MF905 is just above the USB port. On the top side, the logo and LED indicators are shown. The power button is at the center of the top.

Technical Specifications

They are both with LTE Category 4 technology, so they can achieve peak download speed to 150mbps and upload speed to 50mbps. The transmission date rates are very good for daily surfing. But whether the surfing speed could be stable when a car is in high speed driving, it still needs time to test.

As a follower, ZTE MF905 could support up to 8 wireless users to access internet while Huawei E8377 supports only 10 users. But in most cases, they are enough to use in a car. There is no official saying about the WiFi coverage distance, but we suppose there is no any problem for the WiFi to cover a whole car.

Control

If user want to do some setup in the CarFi, they can connect the tablets, smartphones or PCs with WiFi and log in the web interface to setup. But here now, Huawei and ZTE also provide a new option for users. User can download the apps to setup the two CarFi. For Huawei E8377 CarFi, you may use “Huawei Mobile WiFi” app. And for ZTE MF905, the app name ZTE Link could be used for settings.

Frankly speaking, the two Car WiFi hotspots are very similar. We cannot tell which one is better from the specifications and features. Only the real test would tell which would have more stable and better performance. We will take a test next time in real driving situation to see this result.

If you had read some review before, there is also other solution for the Car WiFi. The model number is Huawei E8372 and Alcatel W800. They are in the shape of USB dongle, not like the E8377 and MF905. But with the cigarette plug, it would be also OK to use in a car. If you want to know more details of them, welcome to check on www.4gltemall.com .

ZTE MF79 4G LTE WiFi Dongle Review

We had introduced 1&1 Mobile WLAN LTE Stick, and today we get the new ZTE MF79 LTE Dongle which is for another carrier ALTEL. On the ZTE MF79 dongle, there is the logo of ALTEL with ZTE 4G. Between them, there are two LED indicators, one for network signal and the other for WiFi.

ALTEL ZTE MF79

On the back of the USB Stick, the model number “MF79” is printed and it indicators it’s a LTE USB Modem. There is also CE number 0979 and place of origin “Made in China” with the RoHS.

The front cover with ALTEL logo could be removed, and below the cover, it’s the inner part with model number (MF79), SSID, Password and IMEI number. And of course, there is SIM card slot, the size is for standard SIM card. Beside the SIM card slot, it’s the slot for Micro SD card, where connected users can share files through WiFi. According to the official sayings, the ZTE MF79 could support the SD card maximum to 32GB. But there is no connector for external antenna.

ZTE MF79 BACK

The ZTE MF79 LTE USB Modem looks like a 4G USB dongle, but it can work like a mobile hotspot. Up to 10 WiFi enabled devices could connect to the WiFi from ZTE MF79 and access internet. Supporting LTE Category 4, ZTE MF79 could achieve peak download speed to 150Mbps and upload speed to 50Mbps. Backward with 3G UMTS and 2G GSM networks, the surfing speed could reach 43.2Mbps and upload speed to 5.76Mbps, which is good enough for most cases.

ZTE MF79 ALTEL

The functions of ZTE MF79 are very similar to the Huawei E8278 and Huawei Wingle E8372. They all look like USB Modem, but have the power to work as a mobile hotspot. Especially due to the small size, user can take them in hand or pocket easily outdoor or for business trip.

The ZTE MF79 is very easy to use. You can connect it to PC or directly to the power adapter which has USB plug port. Only if there is power supply, it can work as a WiFi hotspot. So the ZTE MF79 could work as a wireless router in a car if connecting to a USB plug in the car. In this case, it would be a good network solution for a car.

ZTE MF79 BACK COVER

After connected with the ZTE MF79 WiFi, you can setup the USB Dongle through Web UI. The address is 192.168.0.1 and the default password is admin to log in. User can setup for the language, connection, WiFi, and WPS. In most cases, the setup is unnecessary. It’s just plug and play. The connected user quantity is also showed in the web UI. The ZTE MF79 can also calculate the statistic for the data consumption. The SMS can also be read from the dongle.

ZTE MF79 SIM card slot

In summary, the ZTE MF79 is a good and smart mobile USB WiFi dongle for daily use at home or on the go. Supporting high speed surfing, ZTE MF79 can also share the internet with multiple users. And no setup and plug & play features makes it very friendly to users. It’s a great partner for network access!

ZTE MF903 4G Pocket WiFi Review

Following the steps of the competitor Huawei, the Chinese Telecom equipment vendor presents a new 4G Mobile WiFi Hotspot named ZTE MF903, which is very similar to Huawei Mobile Wifi Pro E5770. The Huawei E5770 mobile hotspot was proved to be a powerful portable 4G router with multi-functions. And ZTE MF903 copied almost all the features and comes to be a budget option for users.

ZTE MF903 LED indicators

The appearance of ZTE MF903 is not like E5770, which has a small screen to show full connection status when working. The MF903 has only a few indicators about battery, WiFi, message and signal. The left side of the indicator is ZTE logo and the right side is power button.

If you had read our introduction of Huawei E5770 hotspot, you may know the interfaces/ports are covered by a small tap, under which there are there ports for Ethernet cable, USB in and out. (If you want to know more about Huawei E5770, click here.)This design could protect the ports form dust. But the ports are open to air in ZTE MF903 hotspot. The lucky thing is the Sim and SD card slots are protected by a cover. The reset hole is at the side of SD card slot.

ZTE MF903 interfaces

ZTE MF903 is using ZX297520 while Huawei E5770 is based on Huawei Hisilicon chipset. Both of them can provide same functions. They can transfer the 4G wireless network from a SIM card to WiFi signal so that the connected devices via WiFi could access internet. This can make true of when user insert SIM cards to them. But if users connect an Ethernet cable to them, they can also transfer the network from Ethernet to WiFi, after connected with the WiFi, user can also surf freely. The only difference on this is that Huawei E5770 could support up to 11 users while MF903 support only 8 devices.

ZTE MF903 charge smartphone

The shinning point of the two mobile hotspots is the large battery capacity, which would not only keep themselves long-time working but also charge other electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, game terminals etc..

ZTE MF903 SIM and SD card slot

Regarding the technical specifications, ZTE MF903 and Huawei E5770 both support the LTE category 4 technology and could achieve download speed to 150Mbps and upload speed to 50Mbps. Both can work well on TD-LTE and FDD-LTE networks but it depends on the specific model number. And the download and upload speeds are theoretical under perfect environment, in practice, the speed can’t reach these speed due to network congestion or far distance to the cell tower. But they can also work on UMTS network if 4G LTE network is not available. What’s more, they both can be controlled by APP. For ZTE MF903 to use ZTELink while for Huawei E5770 to use Huawei mobile WiFi app. User can also manage the settings through web UI in the browsers.

ZTE MF903 back label

From the appearance and technical features, we can’t tell which one is better. But we think the Huawei E5770 would be at higher price than ZTE MF903 due to the Huawei’s brand reputation and quality trust from customers. We will do a network connection test next to see which one is better in performance.

ZTE Ufi MF970 4G LTE Cat6 Mobile Router Overview

We had known the model ZTE UFi MF970 4G Mobile Hotspot around the beginning of last year. It was first released by Chinese manufacturer ZTE almost at the same time like its competitor Huawei E5786. The Huawei E5786 was sold for one and a half year, but we still can’t get the ZTE UFi MF970 in the past year. Now we get the ZTE MF970 LTE Moible WiFi hotspot and we have the overview in this article.

ZTE MF970 Screen

Actually, when we get the ZTE MF970, we are not quite sure which model it is, because there is no model number indication on the body of the device. The ZTE UFi MF970 is in white color, and touch feel is good in hand. There is “ZTE UFi” on the front of the device and there is a little screen in the middle of the UFi.

On the back of the MF970, there are only the logos for CE, ROHS and WiFi. No more information is showed about the model number, WiFi key word, SSID and IMEI number, which should be printed on a label with the device.

ZTE MF970 Ufi Back

On the top side of the ZTE MF970, there is a USB 2.0 interface and two connectors for external antenna. The connectors are covered by a small cap, if user want to connect the external antenna, the cap has to be opened. The small caps are still connected with the ZTE UFi body. At the low side of the body, there are power button, function button (“FUNC”) and the slot for SIM card. The back cover can’t be opened because the battery is built-in. And there is no slot for MicroSD card.

ZTE MF970 USB interface

The battery capacity of the ZTE UFi MF970 is 2300mAh, which can make the device keep working for 8 hours. It’s just like other 4G mobile hotspots, and is enough for normal use, if user want to extend the working time, mobile power bank may be necessary to charge the MF970 when power is low.

ZTE MF970 external antenna connectors

ZTE UFi MF970 should be the first LTE category 6 mobile pocket router from ZTE to support LTE-advanced network. Its competitor Huawei E5786 is the first LTE Cat 6 pocket WiFi in the world. ZTE always follow the Huawei’s step to present its new products. The chipset of ZTE MF970 is Qualcomm MDM9230. Whether the processor Qualcomm MDM9230 is better or not than Huawei Hisilicon chipset, we haven’t taken such test. The ZTE MF970 could support up to 14 wireless devices to access internet through the WiFi, but Huawei E5786 could support maximum users only up to 10. But the most attractive feature for the two mobile hotspots is that they both support peak download speed to 300Mbps and upload speed to 50mbps.

ZTE MF970 Ufi power and function button

After plugging the SIM card and power on the ZTE UFi, the device quick starts in seconds. There comes Vodafone logo in red and then the screen shows the network provider’s name, network signal, network mode, WiFi signal, battery status. Press the FUNC button and it comes the options, including the “Data Connection”, “Device info”, “WiFi QR code”, and options for “Global Roaming” and “Quick Boot”. The power button is “OK” button and the “FUNC” is for Next. Press power button(Ok) when on the “Device info”, we can see the information about device name(Vodafone R226-Z), SSID, WiFi key, phone number, web URL(http://vodafonemobile.wifi), and password(admin). We can also see other features when choose other options. User can do basic settings through the two buttons “FUNC” and power button.

ZTE MF970 SIM card slot

At the beginning, we didn’t know the ZTE MF970 is the original factory model for Vodafone R226-Z, but now everything is clear. The ZTE MF970 was released and then Vodafone introduced the MF970 UFi to its product range. The Vodafone R226-Z is the same model to ZTE UFi MF970. And as we know, Vodafone R226 is the same model to Huawei E5786. Vodafone uses the two models for its own contract plans.

ZTE MF970

Just like the Huawei E5786, ZTE MF970 UFi also has two connectors for external antenna. If using the ZTE MF970 at the places with weak signal, it’s necessary to connect the external antenna. We had connected with the ZTE UFi from the smartphone, the surfing speed is good and stable. We will take a full test for the wireless connection next time.

ZTE MF970 Ufi external antenna 4g

In all, the ZTE MF970 UFi is a good pocket WiFi router which supports the latest network technology and could achieve high speed network connection wirelessly. Multiple users could connect with the ZTE MF970 pocket router. The battery is enough for common use. If user want better signal in rural area, there is ports for external antenna. And Vodafone has introduced the ZTE UFi to its product range, it proves the quality of ZT MF970 is trustful.

If you don’t like ZTE brand, you can turn to Huawei E5786. And there is better model to recommend, such as Netgear Aircard 790s, Alcatel One Touch Y900. They all could support LTE advanced Cat6 networks.