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ZTE MC801A Review

My version is the B04 which I thought most of us were rolled back to after the disastrous upgrade to B07(I think I was...) - I have auto updates turned off but that didn't stop the previous "upgrade".
 
It feels as though the modem is using the external XPOL antenna in addition to the modem as opposed to using it instead of, really confused.
That's exactly right. What speeds are you getting in the loft without the antenna? By the sounds of it you don't need that external antenna at all.
 
That's exactly right. What speeds are you getting in the loft without the antenna? By the sounds of it you don't need that external antenna at all.
Maybe I have misunderstood the posts then, I will read up about rolling back.

I can get between 500-700 mbps, depending where the router sits in the attic.

The point of putting the ariel in the attic is about the wiring, I don't have a plug up there and considered an electician installing a socket up there. But then I saw the external antenna as an option. I can run the coax through the same hole I made for our security cameras.

I have ordered a very long single power extension lead, but it would need to run off another 6 gang, which I am a bit dubious about.

Maybe i'll just accept fate and stick the box upstairs and run an ethernet downstairs. But in the first place I will try downgrade to B04 and see how I get on.

Is there a link on how to downgrade?

Thanks again for helping, it's much appreciated.
 
I don't know how to downgrade firmware but I wouldn't have thought it would make any difference if you're now on B09. The router draws very little power so an extension albeit a long one from a 6-gang should be just fine.
 
@Monkeyrear, what version of MC801A are you using? Three Mobile has its own firmware and is currently B04. The ones sold by Sotel have German T-Mobile firmware and its current firmware is B09 although it has previously sold B06. If you have the latter, do not attempt to upgrade or downgrade the firmware. People on this forum have tried and bricked their devices.

If you have the Three mobile version then Three is responsible for any changes in service level.

As for power extension, instead of running a long mains cable you might consider a DC 12v extension cable instead.
I used this with my Huawei for a while.
 
@Monkeyrear, what version of MC801A are you using? Three Mobile has its own firmware and is currently B04. The ones sold by Sotel have German T-Mobile firmware and its current firmware is B09 although it has previously sold B06. If you have the latter, do not attempt to upgrade or downgrade the firmware. People on this forum have tried and bricked their devices.

If you have the Three mobile version then Three is responsible for any changes in service level.

As for power extension, instead of running a long mains cable you might consider a DC 12v extension cable instead.
I used this with my Huawei for a while.
Thank you very much

I just recently signed up for three home broadband and got the 5g router as is, haven't messed with it in terms of firmware.

Managed to find a suitable place for it in the loft with the extension cable.

Interesting thing, I have found that when the router was on its own I got max 50MBs download speed, I used the xpol 1 v2 antenna close by, screwed onto a brace, and it increase download to 60MBs. So the external antenna is obviously working.

I do have firmware 0B09 out of the box. I just want to get maximum speed, as I did find one spot that got me 800mbps, but then moved it slightly and lost it, so I'm guessing it's very temperamental.

Thanks for the link to the power extension, didn't know they existed, will give it a try.

Would love to use the directional antenna xpol 2, which I bought as well, but when I tried it the modem just reverted to 4g as if it wasn't connected. I'm guessing I need line of sight to the mast, but to be honest I don't really want to go up ladders on the side of my house, prefer to avoid that risk tbh lol.

Thanks again
Ant
 
Hello all.

I Received my Three ZTE on Wednesday (8th June) - it's running B09.
My pc is connected via ethernet, my laptop (and various other devices) via Wi-Fi.

It sits on an upstairs windowsill with line-of-sight to the 5G tower around 500m away. The 'suggested position' function of the gui says the position it's in is 'perfect' and I can get between 650 to 950 Mbps (testing right now it's 887).

However, at least once a day the internet connection has been lost, but all lights on the front are still lit white. After around a minute or so, the internet connection is restored to both ethernet and Wi-Fi without any intervention from me.
Today, it dropped out at around 19:20 and I had to restart it via the GUI at 20:00.

I have looked at the 'hidden' pages but I can't seem to find any router connection log details. I was wondering - is there a log page I can view which might have some information on why this is happening?
 
Hello all.

I Received my Three ZTE on Wednesday (8th June) - it's running B09.
My pc is connected via ethernet, my laptop (and various other devices) via Wi-Fi.

It sits on an upstairs windowsill with line-of-sight to the 5G tower around 500m away. The 'suggested position' function of the gui says the position it's in is 'perfect' and I can get between 650 to 950 Mbps (testing right now it's 887).

However, at least once a day the internet connection has been lost, but all lights on the front are still lit white. After around a minute or so, the internet connection is restored to both ethernet and Wi-Fi without any intervention from me.
Today, it dropped out at around 19:20 and I had to restart it via the GUI at 20:00.

I have looked at the 'hidden' pages but I can't seem to find any router connection log details. I was wondering - is there a log page I can view which might have some information on why this is happening?
Having exactly the same problem with the same router on B09 FW (received Friday 10th), except I think it's happening about once every 15 mins, if not more frequently
 
Hi all

New to forum, moving away from dreaded slow ADSL+2 (15meg) and moving over to three 5G with the ZTE on B09 firmware, I'm not seeing any issues that you two have described, though getting goods speeds of 600 down and 40 up, so can't complain, signed up on 12 month contract waiting for toob to be active in my area sometime this year or next hopefully.
 
Don't think there is a log page unless it's in the hidden settings menu somewhere. I can't remember where the instructions for accessing the hidden menu is but it's somewhere further back in this thread I reckon. If mine was cutting out every 10 minutes I'd be phoning Three before your 14-day trial expires.
 
Hello all.

I Received my Three ZTE on Wednesday (8th June) - it's running B09.
My pc is connected via ethernet, my laptop (and various other devices) via Wi-Fi.

It sits on an upstairs windowsill with line-of-sight to the 5G tower around 500m away. The 'suggested position' function of the gui says the position it's in is 'perfect' and I can get between 650 to 950 Mbps (testing right now it's 887).

However, at least once a day the internet connection has been lost, but all lights on the front are still lit white. After around a minute or so, the internet connection is restored to both ethernet and Wi-Fi without any intervention from me.
Today, it dropped out at around 19:20 and I had to restart it via the GUI at 20:00.

I have looked at the 'hidden' pages but I can't seem to find any router connection log details. I was wondering - is there a log page I can view which might have some information on why this is happening?
I've been having similar issues. I am really happy with the connectivity, but the frequent reboots (multiple times a day) are really annoying.

Symptoms for me are slightly different as the router is obviously rebooting (only the power light showing), with WIFI being unavailable during this time.

I too been looking for sone kind of log pages, but even in the hidden menus I didn't find anything relevant.

Anyone else with a Three-branded ZTE MC801A on firmware B09 having this issue?
 
Today's disconnects so far:

Date and timeStatus
06/13/2022 12:48:22 PMOnline
06/13/2022 12:48:11 PMNo internet connection
06/13/2022 12:48:05 PMNo internet connection. Wi-Fi/Ethernet OK
06/13/2022 12:47:57 PMOnline
06/13/2022 12:47:15 PMNo internet connection
06/13/2022 12:47:14 PMNo internet connection. Wi-Fi/Ethernet OK
06/13/2022 10:30:16 AMOnline
 
Today's disconnects so far:

Date and timeStatus
06/13/2022 12:48:22 PMOnline
06/13/2022 12:48:11 PMNo internet connection
06/13/2022 12:48:05 PMNo internet connection. Wi-Fi/Ethernet OK
06/13/2022 12:47:57 PMOnline
06/13/2022 12:47:15 PMNo internet connection
06/13/2022 12:47:14 PMNo internet connection. Wi-Fi/Ethernet OK
06/13/2022 10:30:16 AMOnline
Where are you getting that data?
Manually logging it?
 
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