Which budget MIFI? (1 Viewer)

Apr 3, 2019
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Following a recent trip to the West Country where we had really poor 4G signal, I am looking for a Mifi as a back up to my Iphone for tethering to the firestick and our own phones.
Is the Huwawi 5576/5577 with an external stick aerial still a good budget option or should I be looking at something more up to date?
Thanks
 

kevenh

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Jun 1, 2019
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Huawei E5783B looks like a newer model with 300Mbps downloads (instead of 150Mbps?)

But if budget is a factor the 5577c is still a good Mifi box.

Funsters replacing older Huawei are mostly doing it to get fixed rather than portable solutions for their Motorhome.
 

irnbru

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We have The HUAWEI Mifi pro E5770, the older version to E5783 but you can pick them up online for around £50 with box unopened. We were lucky and got our two for £80, locked to o2 but o2 will unlock it for you.

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kevenh

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We have The HUAWEI Mifi pro E5770, the older version to E5783 but you can pick them up online for around £50 with box unopened. We were lucky and got our two for £80, locked to o2 but o2 will unlock it for you.
If 5G isn’t important and portable rather than permanently installed is OK, the Huawei 5783 looks well thought of for the newer 4G Mifi routers.
Twice the theoretical max upload & download speeds as the 5770 & 5577 and 5 more concurrent devices than the 5777’s 11.
 
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Howard B
Apr 3, 2019
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Just looking fir something to put on the van roof or sit on the roof blinds as a temp measure if the phone signal is poor. Prefer something i can plug an external aerial into. Only need 3 or 4 devices
 

TheBig1

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I have used the 5577 for years successfully and only recently upgraded to an unlimited account from Three, which came with a home style router, the Huawei B535. This has external aerial sockets, which I connect a MiMo puck type antenae to. Mine is mounted to a frame with suckers so I can place it on the roof or on to of the sunroof blind. The B535 comes with a mains plugtop adapter but it runs on 12v and suitable cables are easy to source on eBay. I have had a wall bracket 3d printed for the router

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Dec 6, 2011
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Howard B i have a huawei e5577 and a Poynton Puck 4g antenna with cables that I have used maybe 2 or 3 times as I mostly use satellite or tethering on the phone.
Both a like new.

If you are interested pm me and we can sort a price.
 

kevenh

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OK, the 5783 may have internal antenna only but 3 of ‘em 🤔
 
Sep 17, 2017
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In our previous panel van, we were getting really poor signals, particularly with the blinds drawn and the thermal cover on the front. I fitted a roof mounted aerial and hooked it to a 5577 and it worked really well.

Picking up a new vehicle in a few weeks. It's an a-class rather than a panel van conversion, so I'm not sure if we'll get the same issues?

Do any of the MiFis currently available have antenna sockets?

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OP
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Howard B
Apr 3, 2019
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Howard B i have a huawei e5577 and a Poynton Puck 4g antenna with cables that I have used maybe 2 or 3 times as I mostly use satellite or tethering on the phone.
Both a like new.

If you are interested pm me and we can sort a price.
PM Sent
 
Feb 28, 2016
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The reason your signal drops when you close the blinds your creating.
A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure used to block electromagnetic fields. A Faraday shield may be formed by a continuous covering of conductive material, or in the case of a Faraday cage, by a mesh of such materials. Faraday cages are named after scientist Michael Faraday, who invented them in 1836.
 
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Howard B
Apr 3, 2019
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Sugnal didn't drop the site was in a poor reception area.

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Feb 16, 2020
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Recently started to use a Huawei E5785 as I got fed up of repeatedly having to tether devices to an iphone. Just open the iphone or ipad now and you are on the internet. Use a Smarty sim only package although since getting a Roku I am having to upgrade the package to 50 gbs. There is no arial and the reception has been pretty good but not as good home wifi. Its good but could be better so I guess to get a better reception then I would need an externally mounted mifi.
We also use it with an Alexa dot which works fine. We hardly use the Sat dish now.
 
Sep 17, 2017
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The reason your signal drops when you close the blinds your creating.
A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure used to block electromagnetic fields. A Faraday shield may be formed by a continuous covering of conductive material, or in the case of a Faraday cage, by a mesh of such materials. Faraday cages are named after scientist Michael Faraday, who invented them in 1836.
And a panel van is all metal, so yeah, pulling down the blinds blocked all the holes the radio waves were using to get in and out. The question is, will we have the same issue in an a-class, or are the GRP walls radio transparent?
 

Coolcats

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Jan 24, 2019
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Following a recent trip to the West Country where we had really poor 4G signal, I am looking for a Mifi as a back up to my Iphone for tethering to the firestick and our own phones.
Is the Huwawi 5576/5577 with an external stick aerial still a good budget option or should I be looking at something more up to date?
Thanks
https://teltonika-networks.com/product/rut240/ commercial router around £120. You can then get a high gain Ariel of you choice. The rut950 is about £160 and has capacity for two sims.

if you look at the tech specs and operating manual you will see you have far more features that a standard consumer mifi unit for the money.

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Apr 18, 2009
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Not long enough!
https://teltonika-networks.com/product/rut240/ commercial router around £120. You can then get a high gain Ariel of you choice. The rut950 is about £160 and has capacity for two sims.

if you look at the tech specs and operating manual you will see you have far more features that a standard consumer mifi unit for the money.
Can you get a 12v lead for this or does it have to run off a inverter?
 

Coolcats

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Can you get a 12v lead for this or does it have to run off a inverter?
Runs off 12v ( comes with the unit) from memory it says 9-17v but it does work well 👍

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Lenny HB

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Huawei E5783B looks like a newer model with 300Mbps downloads (instead of 150Mbps?)

But if budget is a factor the 5577c is still a good Mifi box.

Funsters replacing older Huawei are mostly doing it to get fixed rather than portable solutions for their Motorhome.
No point in worrying if it's 150 or 300 mb/s when the best data connection you are likely to get is 50mb/s.

The 5577C is a good unit but make sure you get the version with the external aerial option.
 
Sep 29, 2019
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I have just replaced the MiFi sim with a different network.

All our phones are on Three as was the MiFi. No signal at all meant no signal. At least now we have a choice of network so I would recommend a different network for the sim whatever you decide.
 

Coolcats

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Does look the biz, but the next one up (RUT850) is for automotive use, so suggests it might be a better option (y)
Probably not and is about to be discontinued, not sure why you think it would be ‘better’ if your looking for the next model up try the 950 or 955 both of these have duel sim and the 955 described as ‘proffesional’. The RUt ( even the 240) has lots of features which you don’t have access to with most domestic MiFi
 

gerrym11

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Huawei E5783B looks like a newer model with 300Mbps downloads (instead of 150Mbps?)

But if budget is a factor the 5577c is still a good Mifi box.

Funsters replacing older Huawei are mostly doing it to get fixed rather than portable solutions for their Motorhome.

To be honest, you are not going to get 150Mbps form your mobile provider (unless 5g) so I wouldn't worry if it is 150 or 300 Mbps.
 
Jan 22, 2020
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No point in worrying if it's 150 or 300 mb/s when the best data connection you are likely to get is 50mb/s.

The 5577C is a good unit but make sure you get the version with the external aerial option.
Pretty much discontinued now I'm afraid Lenny.
Sent 2 non aerials ones back from Amazon. They refused my review warning others of false advertising!
I got fixed up with wifionboard who only sell the external options only. Good service and cheaper than Amazon I recommend them.
They've been selling the 5577 for 7 years but can no longer get anymore supplies.
Had to get the E5785 which is a few pennies more but I'm chuffed to bits with the performance. I've not needed an aerial yet.
Took your advice to get Huawei , so I owe you a beer Lenny HB :)

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Coolcats

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Can you get a 12v lead for this or does it have to run off a inverter?
Big apology I just checked my teltonika order I did ordered 12v lead separately its Order code: PR2AM20M. you can if you wish just order the plug (and connectors if your providing your own wiring) Order code: PR4MK04K I ordered the Rut and power lead via 4Gon I occasionally order stuff from them if you have a query they are great at answering questions before you order. The teltonika site has lots of downloads for their products
 
May 19, 2020
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Pretty much discontinued now I'm afraid Lenny.
Sent 2 non aerials ones back from Amazon. They refused my review warning others of false advertising!
I got fixed up with wifionboard who only sell the external options only. Good service and cheaper than Amazon I recommend them.
They've been selling the 5577 for 7 years but can no longer get anymore supplies.
Had to get the E5785 which is a few pennies more but I'm chuffed to bits with the performance. I've not needed an aerial yet.
Took your advice to get Huawei , so I owe you a beer Lenny HB :)
The 5577 still crops up on Ebay, I got one last week. I did check with the seller ( who replied promptly) that it had the external aerial ports first though. I agree it's looks a lottery on Amazon whether you get the correct one or not.

<Broken link removed>
 
Dec 2, 2019
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While we are at mifi ‘a, has anyone had any experience with netgear nighthawk m1? Contemplating on a upgrade to tp link.

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Jan 22, 2020
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The 5577 still crops up on Ebay, I got one last week. I did check with the seller ( who replied promptly) that it had the external aerial ports first though. I agree it's looks a lottery on Amazon whether you get the correct one or not.

<Broken link removed>
Trouble with Ebay is you end up paying the return postage and the seller often never responds to questions. Saw those Orange branded ones but streered clear cos wasnt sure how serviceable the batteries are and couldn't see the aerial sockets on the pics. Orange finished as a brand over 6 years ago, so could be buying shortened life batteries.
 
May 29, 2016
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Orange finished as a brand over 6 years ago, so could be buying shortened life batteries.
Orange is most definitely still around :ROFLMAO:, they only pulled out of the UK mobile market, still very active on other countries. These are probably imported Airboxes which have been unlocked.
 
Jan 22, 2020
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I was referring to the UK market obviously .
They've been opened (maybe to unlock them) , some poor sod got a display menu in Chinese another just got French instructions.
Having returned 3 I'm definately not taking a chance on ebay when the seller can't be bothered to answer questions or show relevant close up pics.

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