ZTE MU5001 5G Unlocked portable low cost travel WiFi, connects 32 devices, 8 hours long lasting battery with Quick Charge, touch screen, UK Spec – Black

Product Information

This is the only 5G mobile broadband option on Vodafone, though there are slower 4G options, or if you’re after home broadband there’s the Vodafone GigaCube 5G, which supports up to 64 simultaneous connections and has two Ethernet ports, but requires mains power. The Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot is actually a rebranded ZTE MU5001 5G, but that’s a common practice, with many network-branded devices actually being other gadgets with a new name.

Interfaces include a USB Type-C connector and an RJ45 Ethernet in addition to the Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, which is 2*2 MIMO dual-band compatible and able to support up to 32 users.That’s very fast, but it’s also not realistic. Rather, you’ll be limited by what Vodafone’s 5G network is capable of, which itself will vary from location to location, depending on how close you are to a 5G mast, among other factors.

So at the very least that means the Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot is future proofed. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6, and dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi. Features and software Where this has the edge over some mobile broadband devices is the addition of a touchscreen that you can interact with, further simplifying its configuration. Performance and speeds Your ZTE router isn’t giving you the speeds or reliability you need for browsing, navigating, and social media. The antenna must be mounted on the roof of your vehicle. If the standard antenna is too large for your available roof space, we also offer a slim 4G/5G 2×2 external antenna that’s suitable for smaller vehicles. Which ZTE routers work with Maxview’s external antenna? The Vodafone deal was an amazing bargain. You’d struggle to buy a basic 4G hotspot for this price, and the performance difference is considerable, both from the mobile data and WiFi 6.All in all, while the Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot doesn’t have the most exciting of designs, it looks fairly good, and importantly it’s small enough not to be too inconvenient to take out with you. Setup As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends. When this is complete you can simply connect the SMA cables to the router like this (example below). For Netgear routers, you will need to use the SMA to TS9 connectors that come with every Maxview 4G/5G antenna: With the device powered up, setting it up is reasonably simple using the touch screen. The hotspot automatically recognises the SIM, and there were no APN settings to input. In short: it’s definitely a strong option, with good battery life and competitive specs, but the competition is fierce, so it’s worth reading this review in full and considering the alternatives too. Design

Other specs include support for Wi-Fi 6, plus two ports that you can optionally attach external antennas to (if you want to improve the signal), and one Ethernet port, for if you want to use a wired connection to one of your gadgets. The Vodafone 5G Mobile Hotspot is one of a couple of 5G mobile broadband devices available on UK networks, and the only one available on Vodafone at the time of writing. If your router model isn’t listed here, please get in touch with our support team. They can advise you if your router will work with our external antenna. What type of external antenna connector is on the ZTE MC801A?That’s a lot slower than 3.8Gbps then, but it’s in line with what you’ll find on some of the UK’s other5G networks, and peak speeds will be a lot higher. Average speeds may well increase over time too, as the network infrastructure improves. With this review, I didn’t test an external antenna as I found that the Poynting XPOL-1 V2 5G I used with the Netgear didn’t offer any benefits. If your ZTE router isn’t performing, upgrading to a 5G-ready caravan router like the Roam 5G can help you get a more reliable internet connection when you’re on the road. I am not able to get 5G in my office, so most of my testing was done on 4G. I have also compared speeds with my Pixel 6 phone and the Netgear NBK752 Orbi 5G WiFi 6 Mesh System Dealing with Vodafone customer support on the phone was a nightmare. In hindsight, I would have requested a PAC code and switched to a new provider, automatically cancelling my contract.