In Nigeria, the topic of "bad networks" is never far from the minds of many country dwellers. There are many service providers, but in most cases, they are not the best everywhere you go. As a result, people frequently use multiple service providers and choose the best one based on their location.
However, there are certain locations where using multiple service providers may not be feasible or even possible, as there may just be one that's available. In such a situation, it now becomes a question of how one can get better reception for a better internet experience.
Six months ago, when I was stuck in a dilemma between two service providers (Airtel and MTN), I looked into getting this wireless router by MTN in hopes of getting a much better signal with it. With faith, I went on to purchase it because I was not guaranteed a much better signal with it. My hunch was not wrong.
It is my first wireless router, but I will say for a fact that its light weight makes it really useful. It is plastic, and that makes it lightweight.
I may need to carry it around on occasion, especially in my pockets, but not having to feel significant weight on my body is critical.Traveling light is my code, and this complies well with it.
If it had been slimmer, it would have received more accolades. Nonetheless, its dimensions are not something out of the ordinary or unbearable. It is fine just the way it is.
Another thing to appreciate about it is its shape. It's a square-shaped casing that sits balanced on flat surfaces. I like this particularly because I think it looks cool when I sit it upright on my table with its lights blinking.
It has a 2000 mAh battery capacity, which I thought was great because it should last for a long time.
With my first usage, I was surprised to find that the MiFi could only last for about 5 hours. In a way, this was disappointing, as I had assumed that it would last for about 12 hours, considering the battery size. But with my experience with a much better internet connection, I came to understand that it is probably doing more work than mobile phones to provide a stronger connection.
I am not sure if wireless routers should come with their own user interfaces, but this one came with one that allows the user to manage the router's operation and monitor its performance.
I didn't expect this, but I found it very useful to be able to monitor, control, and manage my router all on my own and even from any device that's connected to it.
When I first started, all I had to do was set everything up, which was fairly intuitive and simple.
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All I have to do every time now is simply enter the IP address of the MiFi, and I am taken to the login page. The IP address is already saved on the browsers of my devices, so I do not have to type it in every time. And if I get the password wrong a few times consecutively, that device gets blacklisted.
On the UI, I get every piece of information about the router that I need: its battery percentage, number of connected devices, selected range, how long it's been running for, and network type. I can even name particular IP addresses (devices), so I can easily identify who's connected. And also, I can restart or power off the MiFi from any device that's connected.
Speaking of range, the router comes with adjustable range, varying between three preset points: short, medium, and long. The short range allows the router to last much longer, while the long range consumes more battery.
Since I am usually around the router, I often choose the short range so that I can get more juice out of it. I only use the long range when I may need to move really far away from it for a long time, say when I am on a shooting spree or when there are more people that are going to use it; it allows up to 32 users, but that will tell on its battery.
Remember when I said my hunch was right? Yes, it most certainly was.
I've had a much better internet experience since I started using the router, as it not only provides me with a good reception most of the time, but also much faster speeds.
There have been many times that I have stood out in the midst of people with good networks when everyone else may be experiencing terrible internet, and I'll just have almost no hassle most times. This is particularly why I got it, and I am glad to be getting just what I bargained for.
The MTN Broadband MiFi may not have the nicest body or the best battery life or even an awesome user interface, but it sure satisfies in the aspect where its performance is crucial: optimal internet connectivity.
 Just me doing my regular Hive things... |
I am a sucker for tech and gadgets, and even though I am somewhat content with the performance of this router, I have my eye on the new 5G router MTN is providing. But for now, I'm going to keep loving up on the MTN Broadband MiFi.
ℍ𝕖𝕪, 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕖𝕟𝕛𝕠𝕪𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥, 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕪 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥, 𝕣𝕖𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕘, 𝕠𝕣 𝕦𝕡𝕧𝕠𝕥𝕖. 𝕀𝕥'𝕝𝕝 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕.