HSPA+ Routers.

Barry Smalley · 8 Mar 2012 at 13:26

I currently have a Netgear MBR 624 3G (HSDPA) router which is fine, but I'm wanting to take full advantage of the 3 HSPA+ service. Maximum speed at best I am getting is about 4.5mpbs on 3 HSDPA. By experience, my router will only hit a peak of 7.2mbps even though I have a modified firmware and a HSPA dongle.

Has anybody had any experience with HSPA+ routers? I don't need a dual one which does normal broadband and mobile, but I do need it to have ethernet ports on so I can continue using my LAN. Hence, a Huawei 586 is out of the question.

Cheers.

smit101 · 8 Mar 2012 at 18:46

I'm using the ZTE MF10, it's compatible with hspa+ dongles, has 2 10/100 lan ports and supports wireless n(up to 5 devices).

I have the Huawei E367 premium dongle from Three plugged into the MF10 router (the MF10 requires a dongle to be plugged directly into it as opposed to taking just a sim card).

I don't think my mast has been upgraded to hspa+ as yet but the premium dongle seems more capable of utilizing standard hspa as speeds have significantly improved since I upgraded from Three's standard dongle. Typically I'm getting download of 6-8mbps and upload 1.5mbps, this will hopefully improve further when my local mast gets the hspa+ upgrade.

The MF10 router is a pretty good little device, be aware though that you may have trouble finding one online, even Three's customer service knew little about the MF10 when I phoned them to enquire about its availability, I eventually picked one up from my local Three shop on the high street for £40.

http://www.slashgear.com/three-wifi-hub-zte-mf10-review-22204107/

Barry Smalley · 8 Mar 2012 at 20:04

Thank you mate. I'll do a bit of research into this and it's fairly well priced. I would prefer the dongle to be plugged in separately anyway as I have an external antenna that also plugs in.
Have you unlocked yours?

EDIT: Sorry, I should say can you configure the router for other service providers? I have an unlocked E585 MiFi and can also use the Netgear one for other providers, so would need the ZTE to be able to do that also. I've found them on ebay at £50, but I think I'd better check the three shop first.

smit101 · 8 Mar 2012 at 20:38

Not too sure about other providers tbh, I've only tried mine with the Three premium dongle. Pretty much left my router settings as they were out of the box, wi-fi security was already setup to WPA.

I've got mine setup in an upstairs bedroom window with a 30ft ethernet cable connected to my PC downstairs. Signal/speeds seem to be much better the higher up you can place the dongle, I wouldn't mind trying an antenna in the future too. No fixed line broadband in my area yet, so I have to use the MBB connection as my main connection to the net.