ZTE MF 283+ network storage and file sharing

[allanthole]

I have a somewhat frustrating issue with my new ZTE LTE router. Been trying to get this working all day now.

I got this router on a small top-up contract from MTN so I can use it with my Telkom integrated LTE sim card (This is the most awesome internet solution I have ever come across!!!! - R2,69 per gig at LTE speeds = unbelievable).

Anyway, the issue is that I would like to set up NAS using this router and my external hard drive so I can free up some space on my cramped 256gb SSD retina MacBook Pro. In the specs on websites (which I checked before I got this router!) all say this router supports USB drive storage and file sharing. It even says this on the ZTE website. However there is no mention of this in the manual provided or any other manual I can find on the net. In the manual, the diagram which explains all the ports on the router doesn't even show the USB port! Then in the router portal there is nothing regarding this either, so no way to set anything up.

Despite all leading me to believe that this is totally impossible, I still missioned on and tried to manually connect to the network drive using the routers IP address //192.168.1.1 from my mac and from a windows based PC....... NOTHING!

There is power to the external drive when I plug it onto the router. I tried rebooting the router. I tried using a flash drive, as perhaps the file system on the external is unreadable for the router. Nothing works.

Damnit this is driving me crazy. I'm beginning to think the only solution is to buy a Huawei LTE router coz I'm sure that one does support what I'm trying to achieve.

Has anyone gotten this right with this router? Or does anyone have any suggestions for me? I'd appreciate it.

By the way thanks to all you guys for all the help I've extracted from these threads over the last few years, been very helpful!


Regards,
Allan

 

[sajunky]

Put Fat32 formatted USB stick into the router first, then log to the management page. Now search through the menu and find USB mass storage option, alternatively SAMBA and enable it.

Other method on Windows select Start -> Run and type \\192.168.1.1\admin and follow prompts. It can be a different default IP address 192.168.0.1. Use command "ipconfig /all" to find default gateway IP, it will be your router.

Don't be excited by the mass storage feature. In home routers it is neither fast nor flexible. It will probably work with Fat32 formatted sticks up to 16MB or 32MB. Hard drives in addition to the larger size might draw to much power from the router as well.