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Modem zte mf 90. Setting up a zte mf90 router: step-by-step instructions

An ambiguous 4G device, slightly out of line with modern directions and trends in “router construction”. In terms of its working qualities it is quite good.

Mobile router with LTE (4G) support, manufacturer - ZTE Corporation (China), model MF90. SIM card of standard size (mini SIM). The router is designed to work in the network of any operator. The battery has a capacity of 2,300 mAh, enough for 6-7 hours of active Web surfing or 4-5 hours of downloading programs and content. Map support microSD memory up to 32 GB, access to files on the card from the Web interface and/or via USB connection.

The number of simultaneously connected users is up to 10, Wi-Fi operation in the 5 GHz band is provided. There is a mode of operation as a repeater.

The router supports LTE networks up to 100 Mbit/s for data reception and up to 50 Mbit/s for transmission. In reality, you can expect speeds of up to 73 Mbps. At the same time, in a 3G network, the router supports DC-HSPA+ technology, which gives up to 43.2 Mbit/s for reception and up to 5.76 Mbit/s for transmission.

In the settings you can select any of the standards or auto mode with priorities 4G – 3G – 2G. Combined 3G/2G mode (without 4G) is not provided. Supported bands and standards: GSM 1800 / GSM 900, UMTS 2100 / UMTS 900, LTE 1800 / LTE 2600 / LTE 800. There is no support for LTE TDD (FDD only), but this version of the standard is of interest only to some MTS subscribers in the capital.

Minuses

The range of such mobile routers is usually limited to the size of a room and a few tens of meters in open areas.
For a long time charge from a standard 1 A charger - 3.5–4 hours.
An extremely uninformative screen (compared to the same one). In fact, there is no screen, there are only three-color LEDs.

pros

You can safely count on 6–7 hours of continuous operation. And if you do not use it constantly, then the router will last a couple of days without recharging without problems. Such results were achieved due to the large and capacious battery and lack of display.
Supports three LTE bands. Might come in handy.
Supports dual Wi-Fi bands at 2.4 and 5 GHz.
There are two SMA standard connectors for connection external antenna with support for MIMO technology. In some cases this gives an increase in speed mobile internet several times and reduces ping.
You can insert a microSD card into the router. The information recorded on it can be accessed through the web interface (http://192.168.1.1) or using the ZTE WiFi Monitor application. You can record music or movies on the card and watch them on mobile device by connecting to the router.
The router can connect to other Wi-FI networks via WLAN. Those. serve as a "repeater".
MF90 has two TS-9 connectors for connecting an external antenna, incl. MIMO.
Unlike the ZTE MF90+ model, which does not have such connectors.

Sim cards are supported from all operators.

Characteristics
Type	4G/Wi-Fi access point (router)
Standard wireless communication	802.11n, frequency 2.4 / 5 GHz
Built-in 3G support	There is
Built-in LTE support	There is
MIMO support	There is
Data protection	WEP, WPA, WPA2
Advanced Features	file server
Router	There is
DHCP server	There is
Web interface	There is
Autonomous operation	There is
Dimensions (WxHxD)	100x15x58 mm
Weight	140 g
Additional Information	built-in 2300 mAh battery; support for memory cards up to 32Gb connector for connecting an external antenna

Setting up a Chinese-made ZTE MF90 4G router raises many questions for some users. The greatest difficulties arise when it is necessary to unlock the device for adequate work with any operators. Any problem associated with this device can be resolved very quickly. You just need to read the tips presented here.

ZTE MF90 is a functional and affordable router that does not require special settings

Before us is a mobile router developed by ZTE for Internet distribution. The main advantages of the device are a long-lasting battery and high reliability of the connection, especially when the initial conditions change (for example, on the road).

ZTE MF90 is designed to operate on the Beeline network; it can be found in the showrooms and offices of this operator. To connect to the World Wide Web, you will need a miniSIM SIM card. Equipment characteristics:

capacity 2300 mAh (this is enough for four to five hours of downloading content and various programs or for 6–7 hours of surfing);
repeater mode support;
USB connection to view files;
microSD card up to 32 GB;
LED indication;
support for LTE, UMTS, GSM standards;
all important parameters can be seen using the web interface;
Wi-Fi can operate in the 5 GHz band;
The maximum speed of receiving information in EDGE/GPRS mode is 236 Kbps.

Let us add that a maximum of 10 users can simultaneously connect to the device.

Design and equipment

When sold on Beeline networks, the kit includes a battery, charger, router, connecting cable, instructions and SIM card. ZTE MF90 has small dimensions and comes in a white matte case. The main part of the internal volume is occupied by the battery.

The router has 2 control buttons. During testing, it was noticed that the power button is very sensitive and can react even from an accidental touch.

Opening the back cover of the ZTE MF90 is not difficult, just slide it forward a couple of millimeters. You should move in the direction of the drawn triangle (you will be able to notice it upon careful inspection).

Indication

The router has 3 indicators: cellular network, Wi-Fi and battery. You can find out about the condition by the glow mode and its color. A two-color diode can display up to 5 states, a 3-color diode can display up to 7. It is important to emphasize that the red indicator in the device begins to blink too early, indicating discharge: blinking will begin already at 20% capacity. If the Wi-Fi indicator blinks blue, it means the network is on; if it stays on, it means WPS is on.

Router firmware

This device can be used with Beeline, which is not always convenient. In order for the ZTE MF90 to become available to all operators, it must be unlocked, that is, firmware is required. Before we get down to business, we note that by doing the manipulations described below you will lose the warranty on the product.

To unlock successfully, you need to do the following:

connect to PC via USB;
Next, install the router driver;
put the product into diagnostic mode, use dc-unlocker;
select the diagnostic port number in the device manager (in the commands we indicate the COM13 port, you may have a different value;
download the files without which you will not be able to unlock the ZTE MF90.

copy /b diag1F4E_F0AA.bin \\.\COM13
copy /b bckfrmDM.bin \\.\COM13

Disconnect the device from power, then reconnect it to the computer. Once you complete these steps correctly, you will see four new names in Device Manager. Now all that remains is to download the archive and place it on drive C.

One of the main stages in setting up a router is searching for a device with ID MI_05. You can find it if you go through the properties of all new names in the manager. The device identifier is located along the path Properties - Details. If everything is ready, you can start updating the drivers for this device. The path to the required driver is C:\823ADB\driver. The OS may protest, warning that the driver is “foreign,” but it is still important to confirm the decision.

After such manipulations, you will install the Android Composite ADB Interface driver, unlocking is almost complete.

Setting for any SIM cards

To achieve the desired result, you will have to write a number of commands for the ZTE MF90. Go to the command line:

Register cd /823ADB/adb.
Enter adv devices.
Run adb shell.
Once in the modem console in this way, enter mv /etc/init.d/zlocknetapp /etc/init.d/zlocknetapp.bak.
Reboot (type reboot in the console).

Results

The ZTE MF90 router has all the functions necessary for connecting and distributing the Internet. When using DC-HSPA+, information transmission can be carried out at a speed of 5.76 Mbit/s, reception - 42 Mbit/s. For LTE FDD technology, transmission rates are 50 Mbit/s, reception - 100. If we talk about the set of bands, then for our country it is considered standard.

The router is used as a point Wi-Fi access, type 4G. Information security is organized using WPA2, WPA, WEP protocols. There is also a DHCP server and router.

With these instructions, the device can be reflashed and configured to work with the desired operator. Write in the comments if you managed to unlock the device.

This time we will talk about a 4G router zte models mf90 produced by the Chinese high-tech corporation of the same name. In Russian spaces, this router is designed to access the Internet from the Beeline network. It has a SIM card with fairly standard characteristics and is advertised with might and main in the stores of the mentioned mobile operator.

The cost of the device is not too much for your pocket: 2500 rubles - an amount quite affordable for anyone. Among the advantages of the zte mf90, one should note the relatively high reliability of the connection and the high-capacity battery, and among the disadvantages is the lack of a clear on-screen interface.

We will be mainly interested in the possibility zte firmware mf90 for any operator, but we will also pay some attention to other issues related to this device.

Main characteristics of the router:

Standard miniSIM card.
Allows the installation of cards with a memory capacity of 32 GB (microSD type).
Battery with a capacity of 2,300 mAh.

All this is absolutely enough for continuous surfing or downloading files for 4-7 hours. Up to 10 users can be connected to the device simultaneously. There is no combined operating mode.

Prospects for the device on the market

The noticeable drop in demand for routers is quite understandable and is caused by the very rational behavior of the domestic consumer. Smartphone models are changing with kaleidoscopic speed, and as a result quite a lot of money is being collected in the hands of our fellow citizens. a large number of obsolete technology that can easily be used for wireless connection to the Internet. Old smartphone will do perfect for this purpose. Instead of throwing it away or selling it for pennies, it is better to turn it into a router that is completely normal in its characteristics.

This trend does not play into the hands of the popularity of routers, so their developers have to get out by adding additional functionality to their devices and increasing the degree of reliability of their operation. This also applies to the model we are considering. It is not for nothing that the list of options for the zte mf90 includes a repeater mode and Wi-Fi with a frequency of 5 GHz. Still, a specialized device is a specialized device.

It is difficult to explain why the developers of the zte mf90 limited themselves to only the simplest LED indication and did not build it into the router full screen. Most likely, they were guided by some internal impulse. Or they were driven by an exaggerated craving for minimalism in aesthetics.

Device controls

The course taken towards minimalism is fully compensated by the presence of a web-based management interface that provides access to all the necessary settings. The list of router controls available directly from the case comes down to a few points:

The router's on/off button responds to two types of presses: “short” and “slow”. A short click on the button wakes the device from sleep mode. Holding the button down a little longer will turn the device on or off. According to the default setting, the router goes into hibernation ten minutes after the user ceases activity.

There are three LED indicators on board: battery charge level, cellular network availability and a Wi-Fi indicator. The state of the router depending on the behavior of the indicator is explained in the figure below:

There are usually no special problems with remembering these modes. If the network user does not like this kind of “Morse code,” then he can use the zte mf90 web interface. There all the information is presented in a more visual form.

Why is unlocking needed?

Why do you need router firmware? Such, for example, as the zte mf90. Everything is explained very simply: if your router is “locked” to a specific operator (in our case, Beeline), then it is not possible to use it on the network of another operator. I would like to.

It would be even better if the networks of all operators became available. In addition, some new firmware allows you to improve the quality of the device or access previously inaccessible functionality.

Ultimately, we are talking about changing the control microprogram of the processor built into the gadget. This procedure is not fundamentally different from the same exact procedures on other equipment. Perhaps some minor nuances. You will learn how to flash zte mf90 in the next part of our presentation.

How to do it?

To change the “gibles” of the zte mf90 to work with other operators, do the following:

Download the MF90 driver. For example, from here: skysup.ru/files/MF90_Drivers.rar.
We put the router into diagnostic mode using the dc-unlocker program.
Find out the port number of the device. This can be done in Device Manager.
Download the files diag1F4E_F0AA.bin and bckfrmDM.bin from the above source.
We execute the commands to copy both files to the port: “copy /b FileName \\.\Port”.
Disconnect and re-enable the router with the power off.
For 4 unknowns that appear in the “Device Manager”, download driver 823ADB-MF90.zip.
We find unknown device with "MI_05" in the name.
We slip it the driver we just downloaded.
If the new device is recognized as “Android Composite ADB Interface”, then everything is therefore fine.
In the window command line Type “adb devices” and check the presence of the modem in the list of devices displayed.
To access the modem console, type “adb shell” and then: “mv /etc/init.d/zlocknetapp /etc/init.d/zlocknetapp.bak”, after which we reboot.

Everything is ready to work with any operator. To edit zte mf90 profiles we use the web interface.

An ambiguous 4G device, slightly out of line with modern directions and trends in “router construction”. In terms of its working qualities it is very good. Out of habit, the lack of information on the display was very annoying, but over time I came to terms with it. Still, the main thing in a mobile router is the reliability of the connection in changing conditions, plus a durable battery. And with this the MF90 is fine.

Dot the i's

Mobile router with LTE (4G) support, manufacturer - ZTE Corporation (China), model MF90. SIM card of standard size (mini SIM). The router is locked to work on the Beeline network, the price of the device is 2,950 rubles. in the operator's offices and showrooms. The battery has a capacity of 2,300 mAh, enough for 6-7 hours of active Web surfing or 4-5 hours of downloading programs and content. Supports microSD memory cards up to 32 GB, access to files on the card from the Web interface and/or via USB connection.

The number of simultaneously connected users is up to 10, Wi-Fi operation in the 5 GHz band is provided. There is a mode of operation as a repeater.

In the settings, you can select any of the standards or automatic mode with priorities 4G - 3G - 2G. Combined 3G/2G mode (without 4G) is not provided. Supported bands and standards: GSM 1800 / GSM 900, UMTS 2100 / UMTS 900, LTE 1800 / LTE 2600 / LTE 800. There is no support for LTE TDD (FDD only), but this version of the standard is of interest only to some MTS subscribers in the capital.

Lyrics

The router appeared in Beeline back in January, but I missed it, I confess. Not least because of some of the stupidity of the new site. Even now, already knowing for sure that there was a description of this device, I couldn’t find it for about five minutes. As a result, he spat and set Yandex on the Beeline website, which “will find everything.” I found it right away, and I should have started with this, but somehow it was wrong. Okay, I’ll chalk it up to my own stupidity, the end result is important. Our preview(rather, an announcement) was published in January, you can read it. But there were only the most basic characteristics.

I already wrote that the market niche for pocket routers has significantly “collapsed” due to the popularity and comparative cheapness of Android smartphones. Phones are updated quickly, sell the old one for 500 rubles. many are lazy or do not allow the famous amphibian. How to use the one that has become unnecessary smartphone? As a router, nothing else. Therefore, now either routers with 4G or devices with radically better parameters and functionality have consumer value. It's better to have both in one bottle. Manufacturers understand this as well as you and I, so they try to equip their mobile routers with all sorts of “adult” enticements such as 5 GHz Wi-Fi, repeater mode and other amenities. The path is correct, but I repeat: the main advantages remain the stability of the connection in different conditions and sufficient time battery life.

As for today’s “experimental subject,” the specimen is interesting. The device has its own face, and it is noticeably different from the popular analogues of the Huawei corporation. It can be assumed that ZTE showed conservatism and did not introduce informative displays, maintaining a simple and inexpensive LED indication, simply by adding modern modes and additional “chips”. Or, on the contrary, we took the path of minimalism in display and settings, deliberately designing a device “for blondes.” The truth is most likely somewhere in the middle.

Equipment and design

A standard set of the router itself, a battery in a separate package, a connecting cable, a charger, a SIM card and a “User Manual”. I received the kit without a “Manual”, which did not turn out to be a problem. The required “Manual” was found on the Beeline website in pdf format, another instance is embedded in the “Help” menu of the Web management interface.

As for the design, it is standard and without any frills, an ordinary boat. The color is white, no chrome-look inserts or buttons. Three LED indicators are hidden under a narrow black stripe. Personally, I like white color better, but it's a matter of taste. The bad thing is that the white matte case is quite easily soiled and easily collects all the dust and dirt.

The dimensions are quite modest, the proportions are normal. Compared to its “colleagues” from Huawei, the router is slightly narrower and longer. The dimensions of the device are determined by a 2,300 mAh battery, which occupies the bulk of the internal volume. The side edges are flat and without slope, which allows you to place the router vertically and see the indicators. Which, unlike the TFT screen, do not turn off while the router is running.

There are two control buttons on the front panel, nice. But the power button is very soft and not recessed; rather, it even protrudes by a fraction of a millimeter. Which sometimes leads to spontaneous shutdown of the device. I encountered this a couple of times with a router in the pocket of a soft backpack and was ready to swear at the glitchy electronics, but in another pocket the effect disappeared. This prompted me to search for external causes of unexpected shutdowns. Unpleasant, but not fatal if you know it and take it into account in everyday use.

Design

Almost the entire internal volume of the case is occupied accumulator battery, we’ll talk about nutritional features separately. The antennas are located at the bottom of the body. Based on the results of measurements with the router in different “poses,” I got the impression that the radio unit works somewhat better in a horizontal position. But I didn’t see a pronounced dependence and I could be wrong.

The microUSB socket is on the left side, there are also two antenna sockets (MIMO), covered with plugs. There is nothing on the other edges. On the front panel there is a power on/off button and a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Connection) button.

Inside there is a slot for a SIM card and a microSD memory card, supporting cards up to 32 GB. The design of the microSD socket is not quite the usual one; the cutout in the plastic body forms a petal with a small protrusion. When installing the card, the petal must be slightly pressed down; after installation, it will straighten, and the protrusion will securely fix the card. The solution is no worse (if not better) than the traditional sliding “lock”, but not everyone will immediately guess it. However, during the process of inserting the memory card, the required pressure on the petal occurs naturally.

To open back cover it needs to be moved forward a few millimeters, this is hinted at by the small triangle on the body. The triangle is visible only upon careful inspection, but I hope that it won’t come down to a chisel and even the not very attentive owner of the router will look at the “Manual”, in which the method of opening the case is described in detail and with a picture. It is difficult to say how reliably the lid will be fixed after months of use, but I did not see any prerequisites for rapid loosening.

Controls and display

There is almost nothing to write about external controls due to the minimal number of these controls on the router itself; most settings are available only through the Web interface. But there are some peculiarities in the operation of the two buttons.

I already wrote about the possibility of spontaneously pressing the soft power button; to turn the router on or off, you need to hold it pressed for 5 seconds. A short press on the button wakes the router from sleep mode. The default setting is 10 minutes. Good for saving energy, but inconvenient in cases where the smartphone is configured to automatically turn off Wi-Fi when there is no activity and the screen is locked. Setting it for half an hour or an hour seems more reasonable to me, but it’s a business decision. The main thing is to know about this feature, otherwise I have already seen several complaints about “unexplained” shutdowns of the device.

The WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Connection) button turns on this connection with a long press, and with a short press it turns on or off the Wi-Fi module. May be useful when cable connection router to the computer.

LED indicators three: battery, Wi-Fi and cellular network. The status and modes are indicated by the light (off - flashing - constantly on) and the color of the indicator (from one to three). In total, a three-color LED can display up to seven different states, and a two-color LED can display up to five.

In the User's Guide, most modes are described in the table (see above). In general, everything is logical and memorable without much difficulty. A few notes on the convenience of the display and “undocumented” modes:

When the charger is connected, the battery indicator may also turn red. This will happen if there is intense data transfer during charging and the battery begins to overheat. In such a situation, the controller stops charging and starts it again after the battery temperature drops. They could have written about this in the “Manual,” otherwise inexplicable redness of indicators is always scary.
During the discharge process (normal mode), the color of the indicator changes to red very early, when the charge level is about 50% of the capacity. It's not terrible, but slightly annoying. It also starts flashing red a little early, when the remaining charge is about 20%.
There is a very lack of indication of the data network type. The blue color indicates 4G, but the green color is “dedicated” to 3G and 2G, there is no difference. The third color (red) was used to indicate a failure or absence of a SIM card. And one more thing: as in other routers, the connection and data transfer indicator sometimes lies, showing normal mode when there is actually no connection to the Internet. Rarely, but it happens.

Of course I would like to see more useful information. For example, the number of connected users, the operating Wi-Fi range (2.4. or 5 GHz), the remaining battery capacity in %, the amount of transmitted and received data, the operating mode (router or repeater), SMS messages... The informative TFT display is not only more expensive, but also much more power-hungry, so it turns off and you have to click something to view information. And the LEDs are constantly on.

Almost all the necessary information can be obtained through the web interface; as an option, you can prepare a link on the smartphone screen and open it in the browser. But this is not always convenient and not everyone likes it. Mobile app- it’s already better, more on that below. The ideal solution would be an e-ink display, but in this direction of development we still see only the first, not very successful attempts. In general, there is no perfection yet and there is something to strive for.

Battery and power consumption

An important aspect that interests many. Although Beeline positions the mobile router as “Internet at home and outside the home,” the device is focused primarily on working outside the home, and battery life is one of the key parameters.

A battery with a capacity of 2,300 mAh is no longer a compromise, as in the Huawei E5372 (1,780 mAh), in our ZTE MF90 the battery capacity is 30% larger. But it doesn’t even reach the “reference” 3,000 mAh in the Huawei E271 router. It is clear that there is never too much battery, but 2,300 mAh has always been enough for me for a full day with a reserve under any operating conditions for home, work and on the road. At the same time, I diligently watched all the videos that came across “on topic”, about 6-8 per day. If you don’t download movies and don’t have fun with torrents, then the mode of use is acceptable: put it on charge before going to bed and during the day you don’t have to think about whether it’s enough or not. Unfortunately, without a battery in the case, the router will not turn on and you will not be able to save the battery in this way.

I already wrote about the energy saving mode with the router “falling asleep” after a certain period of inactivity, the default setting is 10 minutes. The second way to save the battery is a three-position Wi-Fi transmitter power switch. With active Web surfing, the savings are small, but in conjunction with a smartphone, battery life increases. I like this manual control better than the automatic power reduction when turned off external power supply, but again a matter of taste. If you need to frequently switch the transmitter power, it is more convenient to use a “proprietary” Android application.

Charger at a current of 1 A, the router’s battery charges from it in about four hours. The only advantage is its compactness; the size of the charger is not much larger than a regular power plug. If size is not critical, then it is better to use a more powerful power source.

Characteristics

The set of bands is standard for Russia; here we have nothing remarkable. If you need an “omnivorous” device for traveling around different countries and/or for the prospect of the emergence of LTE in new bands for this technology, then the Huawei E5372 looks preferable. But the fleet of mobile routers is updated quite quickly, and by then something new will probably appear. DC HSPA+ in 3G is supported, this is very important now.

I read on the forum bitter complaints about the absence Windows support 8.1 in USB connection mode to a computer. I don't think many people would need this these days, but keep it in mind. Perhaps a firmware update will be released over time.

The 5GHz Wi-Fi band is supported, which can be quite useful in office blocks and apartment buildings. Indeed, the 2.4 GHz range can be very noisy, and the free (for now) 5 GHz helps out. Simultaneous operation of Wi-Fi in the 5 and 2.4 GHz bands is not provided.

Repeater mode (named in the settings Wi-Fi Internet) exists and works. Unfortunately, switching only in manual mode via the Web interface is quite tedious. There is no "quick" switch in the Android app. Automatic switching to router mode when losing the “donor” Wi-Fi networks no, there is no reverse transition either. Which makes this function niche and of little interest to most consumers. There is, and thank God it will be useful to someone.

I should also note that the quality of the additional access point mode did not impress me at all. The speed “sags” by two and a half times, the delay time also doubles. That is, it makes sense to use it only in individual cases of urgent need, and not on an ongoing basis.

Control

I hope everyone has already understood that we cannot do without a Web interface with this router. At least for the initial setup of parameters and the successful completion of the three-level quest “starting the device after removing it from the box.” Design – of course, the “tile” that has filled all interfaces.

The included SIM card will not work just like that; the starting balance needs to be activated. The easiest way to do this is from the Web interface, which itself will offer to carry out this simple task. Next, it would be harmless to replace a strong, but completely unmemorable password for created by the router Wi-Fi networks.

I almost forgot. If you plan to use the router with another Beeline SIM card, then this is not prohibited. But you should keep in mind the possible APN mismatch. By default, the router is equipped with an Internet tariff of the “home mobile” Internet category with an access point (APN) home.beeline.ru, the same APN is initially set in the router settings. If you want to use a SIM card with the “Highway” option (for example), then do not forget to change the profile to Beeline Internet (APN internet.beeline.ru), otherwise nothing will work for you.

Then you would need to change the default “Manual” to “Automatic”, otherwise each session of interaction with the Internet through the router will begin with visiting a Web page to connect the device to the network. The “On Demand” (or “On Request”, I don’t remember exactly) mode is not provided in the interface.

The Web interface itself does not cause any feeling of rejection and almost all the necessary settings are present. The coveted information about the battery status, the number of connected devices and the current connection standard is also present right in the interface header. It shows the current data transfer speed, but unfortunately does not record information about the maximum achieved. And, what is much worse, there is no counter for the volume of transmitted and received data. An oversight or an insidious attempt to persuade the user to use the Turbo button? In any case, it's inconvenient.

We have already discussed Wi-Fi settings, here is a screenshot for reference. The interface allows you to connect only using the 802.11 n standard; you can manually select one of 13 Wi-Fi frequency channels. Firewall and router settings are also present.

The three-level menu structure is unusual and not very intuitive. After selecting a second-level item, a “checkmark” appears next to its name; clicking on it opens the third-level menu, a sort of square-nested transition route. But the menu structure is described in detail in the User's Guide. The same one into which we look only when faced with a specific insurmountable difficulty.

Easy access to the microSD memory card is implemented via a web interface, which is already a standard solution these days. You don't have to enable HTTP access (it's disabled by default), in which case the contents of the memory card will only be available when the router is connected via USB. With open HTTP access, you do not need to enter separate passwords, but the developers have taken care of additional “safeties”: you can enable read-only mode and/or open general access only to a certain section of the card.

IN Play Market for Android there is a “proprietary” ZTE application for control mobile routers this corporation. It seems that it appeared quite recently, some of even the declared functions do not work. And a lot is missing: there are no mode switches, network type indication, traffic counter, settings, access to the memory card, etc. But a number of “useful things” are present, and there is hope for development and improvement, Last update dated April 1st of this year. You can download the application (link to Play Market).

Impressions from work

I remembered the ancient proverb about “So do you want checkers or go?” The MF 90 rides very well, I was even surprised. And I’ve already had these routers... You understand.

With the speed “up” and “down” everything is fine. In the screenshot on the left is the ZTE MF90, on the right is the MR-100-1 pocket router. The location (within 5 cm accuracy), time, network and SM card are the same. There were several measurements, which showed options that roughly corresponded to the average results. Comparable, although the MF90 turned out to be slightly faster on average.

Under the same conditions and at about the same time Huawei modem The E392 consistently showed noticeably better results for data reception (“down”), which is also not surprising. And once again it confirms that as a stationary solution, a modem usually works better than a mobile router.

The speed depends on the location, time and load on a particular base station. But if the network is ready to provide decent speeds, then the router works fine. What I liked most was the stability and stability of the connection. In two weeks of active use, my router froze only three (!) times and required a reboot, of which twice in the subway. A couple more times the data transfer did not start after switching on, although all the “lights” blinked as expected, confidently demonstrating the successful connection. In some places 3G works quickly, in others not so much, the same can be said about 2G. But it works, and does not “freeze” waiting for a reboot. And it switches between networks quite quickly, without freezing in 3G after entering the LTE network coverage area.

There are no complaints about the Wi-Fi module either. In the middle position of the power control, the range is approximately the same as that of analogues; in the maximum power position, the coverage is better than average, although not much better. In the minimum power position it is slightly better than a smartphone in access point mode. In repeater mode it works frankly weakly, I already wrote about this.

The battery capacity is not ideal, but it is enough for a day of work. Perhaps the main complaints are the lack of clear indications and mode switches on the router itself; for every little thing you have to go to the Web interface and thoughtfully fiddle around there.

Summary

The definition of “ambiguous” in the first lines of the review did not appear by chance. There are inconveniences when using, not everything is thought out and not all additional functions work as we would like. On the other hand, this is just “drive or checkers”; the machine copes with its main responsibilities well and stably. If the checkered features listed above don’t bother you, then the MF90 is unlikely to disappoint.