Portable 4G Mobile Devices - Any Point Getting Anything Better than The TP-Link M7000?

buckerooni on 31/10/2024 - 16:19

hi all,
we are running a market stall (for 4 days) in a remote location coming up (glenaroua, vic - 4G coverage only on telstra/optus) where we need to accept payments via shopify POS/wise pad and need internet access.

our phones are on boost/telstra but had some coverage issues last time iun the area, unsure why really I wasn't there personally. To hedge our bets, looking for a backup mobile data solution on Optus - in case we experience a similar issue again.

product here: https://www.saveonit.com.au/product/tp-link-m7000-4g-lte-mob…

it will be the backup mobile internet for one phone so we can accept card payments .

any other devices to consider - any point spending more $$??

Mobile Mobile Broadband Modem TP-Link

Comments

  • Love a bargain on 31/10/2024 - 17:03
    +1

    If any of your phones accepts dual sims & has the "smart switch" function, it might be better to put the optus SIM in that to ensure the most stable connection possible.

    • buckerooni on 31/10/2024 - 17:08

      thanks for the reply, yes that is a good idea, the only thing I could think of is if the phone (google pixel 7 pro) has an existing antenna issue this may not be the right approach. having said that, was pondering an esim along the same lines. so - boost via SIM, optus via eSIM. would that work?

  • buckerooni on 31/10/2024 - 17:25

    update, we have an existing optus mobile broadband service too (with a Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway 3 device) that also does 4G - and after a YES,NO,YES answer from optus chat - it has been confirmed, whatever that is worth…should be fine (for 4G) I think.

  • sumyungguy on 31/10/2024 - 18:54

    I don't know how to check without an IMEI but you may need to verify the TP-Link M7000 will work after the 3G shutdown. I have a Telstra 4G ZTE MF91 that stopped working this week.

    • buckerooni on 01/11/2024 - 08:48

      wow, that's crazy that it stopped working! thanks for the tip!

  • AndyC1 on 31/10/2024 - 19:57
    +1

    Make sure you can plug in a 4G external antenna and grab one before as most of the small cheap 4G modems have the same reception as phones.

    Better to grab a used Huawei B818 as it way better and you can plug in an external antenna. The Optus branded B818 works with Telstra and Vodafone SIMs. Be very careful with Optus SIMS as they lock them to the device type you buy them for, so you cannot use a phone SIM in a modem and vice versa and the mobile modem SIMS can only be used in some Optus devices…. It is a PITA, so ask at the Optus shop which SIM will work in the device you end up using.

    Telstra and VF phone SIMS worked in the Huawei B818 when I way trying to see if there mobile network was better than Optus where I am in Sydney about 5 years ago and VF sucked and Telstra was great, but the $$$$$ for the extra 50% speed did not stack up.

    • buckerooni on 01/11/2024 - 09:18

      thanks for the detailed response esp. about antennas - makes sense.

      I think I will use our 'Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway 3' (with optus broadband 4 and 5G) as the backup to our phones/Boost, and hopefully we won't have to use it. There is no provision for an external antenna however, just gonna have to risk it.

      As this is an annual event and have no other need for a dedicated 4G backup device, it's worth lugging the Fastmile up there instead of the expense of the B818 and a new SIM.

      We use the Fastmile in our business, but can survive off hotspotting for 2 days.

      thanks again, I know what path to take if I need a better form of wireless broadband backup more regularily.

      • AndyC1 on 01/11/2024 - 17:49
        +1

        Watch out as Optus may lock your Nokia to the tower closest to your home. As Optus needed your address before they would sell you the 5G broadband plan when I looked at it a few years ago.
        Take it to a friends place a few suburbs away and see if it still works.

        The specs https://www.nokia.com/sites/default/files/2022-11/fastmile-5… indicate on page 14 that there is an external antenna connector.

        • buckerooni on 05/11/2024 - 15:22

          thanks yep will do with the test. wow, I must have the fastmile 3.0 - as my unit does not have these ports indicated in the 3.2 manual :(

  • buckerooni on 12/11/2024 - 17:25

    update - did a test where I was about 10ks from home in a 4G only area - modem worked just fine on 4G with no issue.

  • masterqur on 13/11/2024 - 00:06

    One advantage of using a portable 4g is that it is much smaller and lighter than most cheap phones. I got one from aliexpress and it works well, model D623+ 2000mah battery, 2.4g wifi, compatable with optus, vodafone, telstra. speed is not too great but it works.

    • masterqur on 13/11/2024 - 00:09

      dimension is 100mm×55mm×14mm

    • buckerooni on 14/11/2024 - 14:30

      there was a comment above around the aerial of some of those small units, which I imagine is only really a problem in remote(r) areas, like where it's going.

      the device is now moved and on site - interestingly there is better optus coverage than telstra/boost and since plugging in the modem, phone calls are better - as I assume its wifi calling.

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