(MiFi) Huawei e5830 setup guide (was my review (menu screen shots))

[wiretap_MD]

There are already several reviews on the Huawei e5830 posted on the internet, such as unboxing videos, button functions, etc. so I decided to post pictures of the menu system to give an idea to those interested (and to those who placed orders) as to how to configure the unit.

The Huawei e5830 MiFi device is intially sold as a locked device to the 3 Network in the UK. It comes with its own propriety firmware. When you purchase an unlocked unit, they upgrade the firmware to the original Huawei firmware which allows you to customize the unit. This can then be accessed via http://192.168.1.1 just like how you would normally access a regular router.

This is how the main setup screen looks like:


The basic status screen shows the actual status of the unit:


You can manually connect to your choice of carrier either through the menu or by pressing the connect button on the device. This is assuming you have already setup a carrier profile


The advanced settings area allows you to access the submenus for profile settings, basic WLAN settings including security settings, as well as some basic router functionality:


DHCP settings area:


WLAN basic settings area. My personal experience regarding configuring this for the iPad is that the iPad has problems connecting with the unit if the channel settings were set to auto. I configured the settings for channel 6 instead. There is an option for auto disconnection when a certain duration of inactivity is reached. This is a good option for those who are using prepaid simcards so your load doesn't get consumed inadvertently. I prefer to have this disabled since I want to control it manually via the dedicated connect/disconnect button on the side of the unit:


Security settings can also be setup to prevent unauthorized access:


My comments here is to limit your network key to less than 26 characters to avoid problems. See my post here for details: http://www.philmug.ph/forum/showthre...870#post767870

The network settings page allows you to configure the type of network access the unit will use. You can either choose from WCDMA preferred, WCDMA only, GSM preferred, or GSM only. In my experience, it is best to put the setting in WCDMA only so that the unit is forced to use a 3G signal. Putting it into preferred sometimes makes the unit go "hunting" between GSM and WCDMA, resulting into an intermittent connection.

The most important profile settings submenu allows you to configure your carriers for use with the unit. Since I've only tested it with Globe Tattoo and SmartBro prepaid, these are the settings:

Globe Tattoo:
APN (static): http.globe.com.ph
Authentication: CHAP
IP address: Dynamic

Smart Bro:
APN (static): smartbro (if using a smartbro simcard) or internet (if using a regular prepaid simcard)
Authentication: PAP
IP address: Dynamic



Globe Tattoo and Smart Bro prepaid simcards are available from Globe and Smart business centers respectively for P40 each. The advantage of getting a Globe Tattoo simcard itself rather than using a prepaid globe simcard is that you don't have to go through the process of activating the simcard anymore for Tattoo use (as I was told by the CSR rep). For Smart Bro prepaid cards, these can only be bought from Smart wireless centers. Accordingly, there have been reports that the "smartbro" APN is actually better than the regular "internet". I hope someone can verify this.

This is it so far. If anyone has questions, please feel free to post and I'll do my best to answer them.

[iRalph]

Can I use a regular sim, say, a smart sim to connect to the internet? or do I have to be a smartbro subscriber to use this MiFi?

[ishg]

You can use any sim with 3G capability.

Loving my E5830 as well, paired with Sun Easy Broadband Unlimited 799.

Other settings:

Globe Postpaid
APN (static): internet.globe.com.ph
Authentication: PAP
IP address: dynamic

Alternative Globe Tattoo
APN (static): http.globe.com.ph
Authentication: PAP
IP address: dynamic

Sun Broadband (prepaid)
APN (static): minternet
Authentication: PAP
IP address: dynamic

Sun Broadband (postpaid)
APN (static): fbband
Authentication: PAP
IP address: dynamic

[iRalph]

@danceyoupain

Thanks a lot! :-)

[DON2003]

how much is this? is it available locally?

am in a market to replace me PLDT dsl which is expensive & slow but stable, what I can get from my promised 2mbps is 800kbps & slower at night. kasi daw our line is not Next Gen daw according to PLDT CS

[wiretap_MD]

DON: Check out the "Wow,MIFI" thread. One of the forumers can bring in some units from Taiwan. You might want to PM him.

[HuaweiStockistUK]

@wiretap_MD

Are you using your device to send/receive text messages?

Is your software client (not the web admin page) cross platform or do you have to run it inside a virtual machine?

[wiretap_MD]

@HuaweiStocklistUK

I don't use my device for SMS. I have an iPhone for that function.

[PurpleTape]

Great review sir, i have ordered mine via ebay.ph and will probably receive the item 15 days from now. will definitely be needing this when i get mine. thanks sir.

forgot to ask, is this usable on a Postpaid Smart Bro sim? TIA

[carloople]

Hi guys! I keep getting the error "Operation is running and you cannot change network settings" when I try to change it from wcdma preferred to wcdma only. Based on what I read above, need to shift it to only to improve performance? I'm getting internet but its slow compared to me using it on sapido or as the default usb dongle. Using sun postpaid.