I have bought the ZTE MU5120 portable 5G WiFi hotspot. Where I am now, there is no 5G yet. I get 4G+ coverage. I have only had it for 3 days, but I am very happy with it. Very stable as opposed to my old iPad used as a Personal Hotspot.
There is a configuration page, so I have changed:
• Base station name and wireless password
• Login password used for configuration
• Set WPA3-PSK, was WPA2(AES)-PSK
• Shorter time before it sleeps and short WiFi coverage, too use less battery
Happy to answer any question.
“Do not connect the charger while using the device for a long period or use the device and battery in non-operating temperature. Failing to do so will shorten battery life or cause battery swelling or leakage. If the battery shows signs of swelling or leakage, please stop use immediately”
This warning seems to be about the device getting too hot. I have used internet for browsing and charged for an hour now. The surface temperature is 32C (90F) while the temp in the room is 20C (68F). Could it be any problem since the temperature in the room never is above 25 C (77F)?
“Please disconnect the charger when the battery is fully charged. Overcharging may shorten the battery life.”
The second one seems strange. Do I have to be at home while charging to monitor and disconnect the device when reaching 100%? Will I even remember to disconnect it every time?
What do you think? I will not sue you if things go wrong!
The one warning is to not use or charge it in temperatures outside its operating range. Trying to charge a very cold or very hot battery is bad for it. Y rule of thumb is “if I’m comfortable the battery is comfortable “.
Yes, keeping it on the charger all the time can affect battery life. However that may mean reducing it from 4 years to 2 years. As long as the battery is easily replaced I wouldn’t worry about it. Just check the battery periodically to make sure it’s not swelling.
I have an Inseego hotspot that has a battery saver mode that only charges it to 80% when left on a charger all the time.
I’m with @glenthompson. This is a wifi hotspot. To be useful it needs to be on. So if keeping it plugged in all the time indeed shortens battery life, well then perhaps swapping a battery or even replacing the device a year earlier than otherwise I would consider just the cost of making this useful. That’s of course assuming there’s no actual fire risk which there shouldn’t be if the device is properly UL/NRTL or CE (or similar) certified and you make sure to check on the battery for swelling every once in a while (which is good practice for all our battery-powered doohickeys).
I have been using Chargie devices to keep my old phones (used for testing software and for emergency backups) and they keep them charged to a level you set without overcharging. The basic Chargie uses an app on the phone to accomplish this, but they now have a Chargie for devices that cannot run an app. That might help keep things cool and avoid the problems associated with continuous overcharging.
It might also be more cost and hassle than just replacing the battery every few years.