Help... need a new LTE router, which one and will it help?

Tongs of Destiny

Tongs of Destiny

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I have one of these old dongles... I'm on Vodacom pay as you go, so just data.
In my house I always get 1-2 bars of signal max each time, it's useless...

Would getting a new LTE router help with the signal quality?

Search results for: 'lte router' - Incredible

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Vodafone Mobile Wifi R219h 4g 150mbps Sim Not Included | Desertcart UAE
 

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This got good reviews on TakeAlot, do you think it will be better? I can swop to say MTN or another network as it will be a data only sim, pay as you go.
 
Or can do Cheapie-Link with Mercusys same company.

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Or if no RJ45 needed but internal battery

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I wouldn't spend more than R500 on an LTE router - take a look on Bidorbuy or Gumtree for a cheap secondhand device. I have bought 3 secondhand LTE routers and all of them are still working perfectly. LTE is slowly being replaced by 5G.

I recently changed from Cell C LTE to Cool Ideas/Vodacom 5G 10Mbps Fixed Wireless for R199pm (200GB FUP) and bought a discounted unlocked ZTE G5TS router for R1499 which can also be used for LTE. If you are satisfied with a Fixed Wireless Service and are in a 5G coverage area this might also be an option.
 
Last edited:
Maybe just get a cheap second hand router and pony up for an external antenna for it?
 
Get a proper router, not a mifi. Their internal antennas aren't great, mostly because of the small size it has to be squeezed in. So in all likelihood your signal will be much better with a proper router.
But if you're ever going to go the fixed LTE route, remember there you must get a supported router, except for Telkom.
 
ja it's for my freinds granny who rents in a complex and the landlord won't allow a fibre line... so she just needs a mobile internet for the house, her little Vodacom dongle is hopeless. Now I'm also sure it's vodacom because her cell-phone signal on 4g is almost zero, I changed that to 3g and the signal was almost 100% <--- not sure if that's a good idea though.

so I agree with ajax re the bigger box with bigger antennas, I'm hoping that will help. Thought of getting a new LTE router and an MTN sim card (sim card will have to be a test to see if the signal is better than Vodacom in the area)
 
If the setting is "3G preferred" then that is OK. The phone will try to use 3G as far as possible, and if not available or very weak, only then try 4G.
 
When it comes to LTE/5G routers you definitely get what you pay for. There is a massive difference in terms of performance between a R10 000 Mikrotik Chateu 5G router and R1000 no name cheap Chinese crap router. The stronger the signal the cheaper the router you can get away with. The weaker the signal the more expensive the router you need.
 
This is the list of approved routers for the Afrihost Pure LTE service (MTN Fixed Wireless). I would try to buy either a cheap UNLOCKED Huawei B612S or an UNLOCKED ZTE MF286. You must confirm with the seller that the router is UNLOCKED otherwise you may have trouble using it on different networks.

BILLION: BiPAC 8206 AZ • HUAWEI: 5G CPE PRO 2, B2368 (-22, -57, -66), B525S (-23A,65A, -95A), B535-932, B612 (-233, -533), B612S (-25D, -51D, -52D), B618S (-22D, -65D, -66D), B818-263 • MIKROTIK: Chateu LTE12 • TP-LINK: Archer MR600 (EU) 2.0 • VIDA: CPE4000-PLUS, CPE4000-PRO • ZTE: 5G CPE MC801A, MF286 (A, C, C1, D, R) • ZYXEL: LTE7460, LTE7480-M804

Most Cashconverters usually have several different secondhand models in stock. Here are a few cheap secondhand LTE routers ...

www.cashconverters.co.za

Zte Mf286c Lte + 4G Wifi Router - Cash Converters

LTE + 4G WiFi Router Connect 64 devices High speed LTE VoLTE calls
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www.cashconverters.co.za

Zte Mf286c 4G Router - Cash Converters

Product Code: MF286C Description: ZTE MF286C-1 LTE 4G WiFi Router Supports 4G LTE CAT6 & High-Speed Ethernet 300 Mbps Download, 50Mbps Upload Connect Up To 64 Users 4 x RJ45 (GE x WAN/LAN + 3 LAN) 2 x RJ11 + 1 x USB
www.cashconverters.co.za www.cashconverters.co.za

www.gumtree.co.za

Computer Modems & Routers for Sale in Eastern Pretoria | Gumtree

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ZTE MF286C LTE 4G WiFi Router (Telkom) | bobshop.co.za

Buy ZTE MF286C LTE 4G WiFi Router (Telkom) for R649.00
www.bobshop.co.za www.bobshop.co.za
 
Jake45 said:
This is the list of approved routers for the Afrihost Pure LTE service (MTN Fixed Wireless). I would try to buy either a cheap UNLOCKED Huawei B612S or an UNLOCKED ZTE MF286. You must confirm with the seller that the router is UNLOCKED otherwise you may have trouble using it on different networks.

BILLION: BiPAC 8206 AZ • HUAWEI: 5G CPE PRO 2, B2368 (-22, -57, -66), B525S (-23A,65A, -95A), B535-932, B612 (-233, -533), B612S (-25D, -51D, -52D), B618S (-22D, -65D, -66D), B818-263 • MIKROTIK: Chateu LTE12 • TP-LINK: Archer MR600 (EU) 2.0 • VIDA: CPE4000-PLUS, CPE4000-PRO • ZTE: 5G CPE MC801A, MF286 (A, C, C1, D, R) • ZYXEL: LTE7460, LTE7480-M804

Most Cashconverters usually have several different secondhand models in stock. Here are a few cheap secondhand LTE routers ...

www.cashconverters.co.za

Zte Mf286c Lte + 4G Wifi Router - Cash Converters

LTE + 4G WiFi Router Connect 64 devices High speed LTE VoLTE calls
www.cashconverters.co.za www.cashconverters.co.za

www.cashconverters.co.za

Zte Mf286c 4G Router - Cash Converters

Product Code: MF286C Description: ZTE MF286C-1 LTE 4G WiFi Router Supports 4G LTE CAT6 & High-Speed Ethernet 300 Mbps Download, 50Mbps Upload Connect Up To 64 Users 4 x RJ45 (GE x WAN/LAN + 3 LAN) 2 x RJ11 + 1 x USB
www.cashconverters.co.za www.cashconverters.co.za

www.gumtree.co.za

Computer Modems & Routers for Sale in Eastern Pretoria | Gumtree

Find a wide selection of new and used computer modems and routers for sale in Eastern Pretoria on Gumtree online classifieds. Shop local and find secondhand Electronics from sellers in your area and throughout South Africa.
www.gumtree.co.za www.gumtree.co.za

www.bobshop.co.za

ZTE MF286C LTE 4G WiFi Router (Telkom) | bobshop.co.za

Buy ZTE MF286C LTE 4G WiFi Router (Telkom) for R649.00
www.bobshop.co.za www.bobshop.co.za
Click to expand...

Hasn't Afrihost stopped with fixed LTE sales; and adjusted this list?
 
Finhobbyist said:
Hasn't Afrihost stopped with fixed LTE sales; and adjusted this list?
Click to expand...
Many thanks for the update I wasn't aware that they had stopped Fixed LTE Sales. I'll try to update the router list. I recently bought a G5TS 5G router myself but an LTE router should still be suitable for many customers.

I think it would be better for an elderly person to use a monthly Fixed Wireless Service rather than a Prepaid bundle as the networks generally overcharge their prepaid customers. I was using Cell C prepaid up until recently and it appears that they have just quietly increased the price of their 100GB bundle by R60 !
 
This thread has some very useful suggestions regarding prepaid data that does not expire.
F

Thread 'Best once off prepaid mobile data that lasts long'

What's the best ISP for once of prepaid data you can buy with expiry of at least 6 months? I checked all Vodacom's options and they don't have anything of the sort.

Back in the day I used to buy 3GB from CellC for R299 which only expired after 12 months. So it was fine for my phone because I only needed it when there was no WiFi around (rarely).
 
Wrath of Khan MD said:
ja it's for my freinds granny who rents in a complex and the landlord won't allow a fibre line... so she just needs a mobile internet for the house, her little Vodacom dongle is hopeless. Now I'm also sure it's vodacom because her cell-phone signal on 4g is almost zero, I changed that to 3g and the signal was almost 100% <--- not sure if that's a good idea though.

so I agree with ajax re the bigger box with bigger antennas, I'm hoping that will help. Thought of getting a new LTE router and an MTN sim card (sim card will have to be a test to see if the signal is better than Vodacom in the area)
Click to expand...
here we go, should do the old girl well - you can simply screw on an ext antenna if need be

routers are a dime a dozen 2nd hand:

2025-10-29 at 03.47.28 (1).jpeg








2025-10-29 at 03.47.28.jpeg
 
The old but gold Huawei B618 is still the best 4G router by a long shot.
The only issue is they have a bug where they stop being able to save the settings, they will lose most of the settings every reboot but I found one recently that's still fine.
 
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