MTN ZLT M30S MIFI review

Hello and welcome to my review of the MTN ZLT M30S MiFi. The MTN ZLT M30S MiFi is an entry level MiFi made by Tozed and branded for use by MTN.

It is important to note that there are several types of MTN MiFis. The ZLT M30S MiFi is one of the most popular and you are more likely to find it with consumers.

The MTN ZLT M30S is an entry level MiFi and it costs around N8000 from an MTN outlet and N13000 on Jumia. This MiFi is network restricted so it can only be used with an MTN SIM card.

Unboxing

Inside the box, you will find:

• The MiFi itself
• a SIM pack
• batteries
• a USB cable for charging and
• a user manual.

Spec sheet

This MTN ZLT M30S MiFi is an entry level MiFi and the specs show this to be so.

As a side note, I am a big advocate of people learning how to read specs. I have come across a lot of people who say that they are not important. That to me, is an abdication of personal responsibility and leaving things to trial and error.

• Brand name: MTN MiFi
• Manufacturer: Tozed
• SoC: ZTE ZX297520
• Modem: LTE Cat. 4
• Networks: 2G (E, G), 3G (H, H+), 4G LTE
• Upload speed: 50Mbps
• Download speed: 150Mbps
• Battery: 2500mAh
• No. of users: Up to 8 users
• WiFi connect: 2.4GHz
• Range: 80m
• Ports: MicroUSB port, SIM slot

The MiFi has a 2500mAh battery that lasts for around 8 hours on average (one user) and it is 4G LTE capable. The WiFi connectivity is stuck at 2.4GHz as it doesn’t offer the 5GHz band. The modem on board is Cat. 4 modem with speeds of 50Mbps (uplink) and 150Mbps (downlink). The CPU on board is made by ZTE (ZX297520).

The MiFi

The MiFI is white and rectangular with rounded edges. There are two buttons on board, one is a giant button in the middle to power it off and on whilst the second is the WPS key. The WPS key is used for fast and secure connections to other devices without needing a password.

To get the MiFI to work, simply insert the battery and power it up. There are four lights on the MiFi that indicates how it is working. On the left is the network signal, at the top is the WiFi connectivity symbol, on the right is the battery icon and at the bottom is a message notification light.

How To Set up The MTN ZLT M30S

Regardless of where you purchase this MiFi from, the first step to set this up is by registering the SIM. You should do this at an accredited MTN outlet. When that is done, you can then insert it into the MiFi and power it up.

The WiFi name and password can usually be found at the back of the device, underneath the batteries. Take note of those and use it to connect your smartphone to the MiFi. When that is done, (with the phone connected to the MiFi) log into http://192.168.0.1. Use the default login details on the MiFI (or sometimes in the manual).

When you get into the dashboard, click on the settings tab and modify them as you wish. It is that simple.

A lot of new MTN MiFis come bundled with 30GB free data and it is usually activated after set up. A lot of the time, it does so automatically but if it doesn’t, simply send ‘activate’ to 131.

Review

Ah yes, finally the review. The MiFi itself is actually very good and can support several devices at once. The more devices you have connected, the faster the battery drains. Speaking of battery, it usually lasts around 6 to 8 hours depending on the number of connected devices as well as signal strength.

You should know that it takes a while to charge, needing about 3 hours to charge satisfactorily. This charge time can be gotten by using a 10W charger. Do not attempt to speed up the process by using a fast charger. The power/charging IC is not designed to handle high voltages. All you may succeed in doing is frying the motherboard (PCB).

The network speed is capped at Cat. 4 which is actually slower than my smartphone. I have tested it and it checks out. My phone has a Cat. 15 modem and is much faster but having a MiFi saves battery. The saving battery part means that I can absolutely put up with the slower speeds and besides, most users can’t tell the difference anyway.

Other than the fact that this MiFi overheats sometimes and may need to be kept cool, it is a nice MiFi to have. If you are on a budget, this is very okay. Heavy users however should get better MiFis or WiFi routers instead.

So let me know what you think or tell me about your experience with this MiFi in the comment section.

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