topic Re: ZTE 4G router - very poor wi-fi signal? VPN issues? in Broadband

ZTE 4G router - very poor wi-fi signal? VPN issues?

Joe1 — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 09:36:49 GMT

I just took out a 4G home broadband contract as my FTTC is so unreliable and there's no sign of fibre to prem here anytime soon.

Initial testing looked good - around 120-140Mbps...

However, I've since run into a few issues:

Router is at back of house (strongest signal there) and PS4 is at front of house - PS4 wouldn't connect at all
...moved router to front of house, PS4 now connects but gets about 10-20Mbps, even if router is in the same room
With other devices, I get about 100Mbps in the same room as the router, but move to another room and it drops to about 20...seems the wi-fi signal from the router is very weak? I live in a standard 3-bed semi, neither of these rooms are part of any extension, the physical distance is about 10 yards.
My wife's VPN won't connect at all on her work laptop, so she can't use the 3 broadband at all.

I've tried using three.co.uk as the APN as suggested in other threads, but there was no improvement to speeds.

Just wondering if there is a fix for these problems, if anyone else has had the same experience? Otherwise I'm going to have to return it and wait for FTTP to arrive 😞

Re: ZTE 4G router - very poor wi-fi signal? VPN issues?

PeteG — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:21:54 GMT

Hello, Joe1.

Welcome to the Three Community.

It sounds like the cellualr network side of things is running OK, since you can get a good connection at 1 side of the house. The issue that sticks out here then would be the WiFi side of things.

It's unlikely that the WiFi signal strength would increase or improve as a result of anything done on Three's side. If the WiFi is at its limit, its at its limit. You could try extending the WiFi networking using a wireless or wired extender. This would allow you to increase the WiFi coverage while leaving the router in the optimal position within the house.

Pete.

Re: ZTE 4G router - very poor wi-fi signal? VPN issues?

Joe1 — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:28:34 GMT

Hi Pete,

Thanks for your reply, I thought there's probably not much to be done.

It's a bit baffling that Three ship such poor routers with a home broadband service - I can't imagine it works well for many people in an average-sized house. It's a shame because in the same room as the router, I can get 150Mbps+