Tesco PAYG sim in ZTE router - does it work in EU?

Kups

Kups

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Looking at my options for UK wifi sim cards in the EU this winter.
I currently use a POPIT sim but this is limited to 25Gb roaming limit.

One workaround seems to be to buy a Tesco PAYG 50Gb or 100Gb sim and just use it for the two or three months in the EU. This is their "Rocket Pack" and at £20 and £30 per month it seems a good option.
Tesco advertise no roaming charges until 2026 and that you can use 100% of the data on the sim in their "Home from Home" scheme.
The monthly pack expires automatically so I can basically junk the sim on return.

My router is a ZTE MU5001.
The APN settings for this PAYG sim seem OK, they are:
APN: prepay.tesco-mobile.com
Username: tescowap
Password: password

So it seems to be a viable option to get 50/100GB data use in the EU.

Anyone tried this - does it work?
 
Last edited:
Kups said:
Looking at my options for UK wifi sim cards in the EU this winter.
I currently use a POPIT sim but this is limited to 25Gb roaming limit.

One workaround seems to be to buy a Tesco PAYG 50Gb or 100Gb sim and just use it for the two or three months in the EU. This is their "Rocket Pack" and at £20 and £30 per month it seems a good option.
Tesco advertise no roaming charges until 2026 and that you can use 100% of the data on the sim in their "Home from Home" scheme.
The monthly pack expires automatically so I can basically junk the sim on return.

My router is a ZTE MU5001.
The APN settings for this PAYG sim seem OK, they are:
APN: prepay.tesco-mobile.com
Username: tescowap
Password: password

So it seems to be a viable option to get 50/100GB data use in the EU.

Anyone tried this - does it work?
Click to expand...
I use a Tesco unlimited SIM in all our phones and a Teltonika RUT950 for WIFI.

It worked faultlessly in France in August, used over 200GB on the WIFI, no issue.
 
Check that it works in the router in the UK first.

Tesco Sims seem to be hit and miss in routers, according to everything I have read here.
 
Only 2 months abroad then resets when back in UK.
I Will update if this actually happens as we are away upto 90 days.

Yamas🍻
 
CAB96 said:
Check that it works in the router in the UK first.

Tesco Sims seem to be hit and miss in routers, according to everything I have read here.
Click to expand...
Thanks, will do. I've always got Popit sim as a back up and my Starlink kit for long stay.

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125BEER said:
Only 2 months abroad then resets when back in UK.
I Will update if this actually happens as we are away upto 90 days.

Yamas🍻
Click to expand...
Can you clarify - is this in the Tesco Mobile T&Cs?
 
Kups said:
Looking at my options for UK wifi sim cards in the EU this winter.
I currently use a POPIT sim but this is limited to 25Gb roaming limit.

One workaround seems to be to buy a Tesco PAYG 50Gb or 100Gb sim and just use it for the two or three months in the EU. This is their "Rocket Pack" and at £20 and £30 per month it seems a good option.
Tesco advertise no roaming charges until 2026 and that you can use 100% of the data on the sim in their "Home from Home" scheme.
The monthly pack expires automatically so I can basically junk the sim on return.

My router is a ZTE MU5001.
The APN settings for this PAYG sim seem OK, they are:
APN: prepay.tesco-mobile.com
Username: tescowap
Password: password

So it seems to be a viable option to get 50/100GB data use in the EU.

Anyone tried this - does it work?
Click to expand...
I’ve just done exactly that and it’s working perfectly in France. You do need to put the sim in a phone first to activate it. And if you want to use the Tesco mobile app load it in the phone first as it sends a text to activate the app. No good if you’ve already put it in the router!!
 
Broadway said:
I’ve just done exactly that and it’s working perfectly in France. You do need to put the sim in a phone first to activate it. And if you want to use the Tesco mobile app load it in the phone first as it sends a text to activate the app. No good if you’ve already put it in the router!!
Click to expand...
I’d appreciate some help with this Tesco sim. If one needs to put it in a phone to activate it, once activated, is it just a matter of taking the sim put of the phone and into the router? I don’t want to transfer my phone to Tesco, in fact, I don’t want to use the sim in my phone at all.

I have a new Huawei router arriving today. Any guidance most welcome.
 
Ingwe said:
I’d appreciate some help with this Tesco sim. If one needs to put it in a phone to activate it, once activated, is it just a matter of taking the sim put of the phone and into the router? I don’t want to transfer my phone to Tesco, in fact, I don’t want to use the sim in my phone at all.

I have a new Huawei router arriving today. Any guidance most welcome.
Click to expand...
Yes that’s what I did, activated it, took it out of the phone and put it in the router. Worked fine.

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i would like to know if it works in a huawei as well, i am paying for smarty at £20 per month and am not sure if it works abroard.
 
Broadway said:
Yes that’s what I did, activated it, took it out of the phone and put it in the router. Worked fine.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Can I ask how you activated the sim in the phone. By calling or sending a message? What I really want to avoid transferring my mobile phone number and account to Tesco just so I can use the data only sim for internet access.
 
Ingwe said:
Thank you. Can I ask how you activated the sim in the phone. By calling or sending a message? What I really want to avoid transferring my mobile phone number and account to Tesco just so I can use the data only sim for internet access.
Click to expand...
To activate you just need to insert it into your phone and make a call to any number. I called my partners mobile number, that makes it become “live”. Then take it out and put in the router.
 
chrisandbev said:
i would like to know if it works in a huawei as well, i am paying for smarty at £20 per month and am not sure if it works abroard.
Click to expand...
If you mean a Huawei mi fi, I’ve used other SIM cards in one but not Tescos. I see no reason why it wouldn’t work though.
 
Smarty work good abroad been using abroad for a few years but their fair use is 12gb,
Could not get my Tesco sim to work in our HUAWEI router.

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Our old Huawei mifi has worked very well with Orange, Lebara, Lobster, Nos, Virgin, Popit, Superdrug, Free (possibly others now forgotten) so fingers crossed for the new Huawei.
 
Broadway said:
Yes that’s what I did, activated it, took it out of the phone and put it in the router. Worked fine.
Click to expand...
Thank you. However, when I read the Rocket Pack instructions it seems that you need to move your number to another network etc.

As we want to use the Tesco sim only in the router, I don’t wish to change my number away from my O2 network. Do you know whether it will work just putting it in the phone and then buying the Rocket pack?
 
The Tesco SIM will come with its own new number. You don't need to change it to activate it or use in a router.
 
You may need to switch European roaming on in the router

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Kups said:
Can you clarify - is this in the Tesco Mobile T&Cs?
Click to expand...
Two months in every four, however myself and some others have had three moths without issues, but it must be used in the uk as well.
 
Kups said:
Looking at my options for UK wifi sim cards in the EU this winter.
I currently use a POPIT sim but this is limited to 25Gb roaming limit.

One workaround seems to be to buy a Tesco PAYG 50Gb or 100Gb sim and just use it for the two or three months in the EU. This is their "Rocket Pack" and at £20 and £30 per month it seems a good option.
Tesco advertise no roaming charges until 2026 and that you can use 100% of the data on the sim in their "Home from Home" scheme.
The monthly pack expires automatically so I can basically junk the sim on return.

My router is a ZTE MU5001.
The APN settings for this PAYG sim seem OK, they are:
APN: prepay.tesco-mobile.com
Username: tescowap
Password: password

So it seems to be a viable option to get 50/100GB data use in the EU.

Anyone tried this - does it work?
Click to expand...
Hello,

I too have a ZTE MU5001 router and want to use a Tesco pay monthly sim (rocket pack) in it. Did you get it to work? If so, did you have to enter an APN manually into the router? I have a Tesco sim in my phone, and tried that in the router. It auto installed an APN for O2 (yes I know Tesco use the O2 network) instead of the Tesco APN I can see in my phone. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Stephen
 
You should change this to the Tesco APN, it may work in the UK using the O2 APN but may not be consistent and is unlikely to work in Europe. To change the APN you most likely need to log into the device from a PC or laptop using the IP address and administration password you should have received with your device, I have the ZTE link app on my tablet but that only shows the APN in use with no ability to add a new one, so tried with my laptop and got a different interface that allowed full access.
 
Kups said:
Looking at my options for UK wifi sim cards in the EU this winter.
I currently use a POPIT sim but this is limited to 25Gb roaming limit.

One workaround seems to be to buy a Tesco PAYG 50Gb or 100Gb sim and just use it for the two or three months in the EU. This is their "Rocket Pack" and at £20 and £30 per month it seems a good option.
Tesco advertise no roaming charges until 2026 and that you can use 100% of the data on the sim in their "Home from Home" scheme.
The monthly pack expires automatically so I can basically junk the sim on return.

My router is a ZTE MU5001.
The APN settings for this PAYG sim seem OK, they are:
APN: prepay.tesco-mobile.com
Username: tescowap
Password: password

So it seems to be a viable option to get 50/100GB data use in the EU.

Anyone tried this - does it work?
Click to expand...
I hope it does as I have the same set up with the same router.
Yes Tesco uses O2 and they are part of Telefonica a Spanish company.
I was told the sim takes care of the APN stuff so I haven’t bothered putting the ones Motorhome WIFI gave me (as detailed in your post).
So going to just going to leave the SIM settings alone.
I am in Portugal a lot and my UK mobile contract is with O2 and I have never have an issue so the principle seems to work - until it doesn’t!
 
I can't get my MU5001 to work in Spain with Tesco or Lebara sims. Only message i get on the display is Limited Service.
Both were working fine in UK . Cant see how to check the APN on the router

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Howard B said:
I can't get my MU5001 to work in Spain with Tesco or Lebara sims. Only message i get on the display is Limited Service.
Both were working fine in UK . Cant see how to check the APN on the router
Click to expand...
Using the ZTE link app will give you access to the router and allow you to see what APN you are using but you will need a PC or laptop to change it as per my post #23

Edit: also make sure you have roaming turned on.
 
Last edited:
I think were I to need to change it it will have been through this which is on my iPhone:
1746019909839.webp
Apple
https://apps.apple.com › app › ztelink




ZTELink app is provided by ZTE. It helps you to manage CPE/Ufi products and easily control wireless routers. Main features: Easily manage home network and ...
2.5(23) · Free · ‎iOS · ‎Utilities/Tools
 
ChrisL said:
Using the ZTE link app will give you access to the router and allow you to see what APN you are using but you will need a PC or laptop to change it as per my post #23

Edit: also make sure you have roaming turned on.
Click to expand...
Hi
I cant download the ZTE app on my laptop. I get a message telling me my Google account is not associated with a device. Yet when I check my profile I can see the laptop. Tried registering with my iphone. I set a username and password, yet when I try I log in, it tells me the password is incorrect. I have reset the device and tried reregistering a few times but still get the same messages.
 
Howard B said:
Hi
I cant download the ZTE app on my laptop. I get a message telling me my Google account is not associated with a device. Yet when I check my profile I can see the laptop. Tried registering with my iphone. I set a username and password, yet when I try I log in, it tells me the password is incorrect. I have reset the device and tried reregistering a few times but still get the same messages.
Click to expand...
You can just connect to the router on wifi, then enter 192.168.0.1 in browser and login that way (any web broswer on near any device).

Reset the device to factory and it'll use the username and password on the sticker, usually admin and something unique to the router.

With the ZTE's the bit not in the manual is to change the APN you first must disable mobile data. Then go to the apn page enter all the details, then click set as default. Then turn back on mobile data, and bob is your uncle. We have profiles for a French sim we use, another French one, EE and Three set on ours and we swap when we swap the sim. The default doesn't work when abroad on our Three one.

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