A few days ago, I came across one of the most devastating sights to grace a remote worker’s eyes.
*gasp!* A delayed paycheck? An empty inbox??
Close, but no. Instead, I saw a red light blinking atop the words “LOS” on our modem at home. Que horror!!
Wait, what the heck does “LOS” mean? What’s the big deal? “LOS” means “loss of signal,” which implies that THERE IS NO INTERNET. I mean how fast should your internet be in the Philippines?
That’s akin to a death sentence for your remote working career because a stable connection is the lifeblood of our jobs. In my case, it was especially devastating since we’re in the midst of quarantine and my Internet provider’s supported by a skeleton staff.
I had to do something, and fast.
Fortunately, I was able to get my hands on a pocket wi-fi unit. (Thank God for online banking and delivery services!) This tided me over until our provider managed to send over a technician to fix our connection.
So, as a public service to our readers, (a good number of whom are remote workers too, no doubt), here are five pocket wi-fi options that could save your WFH butt someday:
1. ZTE MF920T 4G/LTE Wireless Pocket WiFi.
Speed: Up to 150 mbps
Price: Php2,890
Where to Buy:
VillMan Computers, reputable sellers on Shopee
How to Set Up:
Open the SIM card cover.
Insert a SIM card into the slot.
Turn on the WiFi device.
Activate your computer’s WiFi and search for available networks. You can also use the USB cable included in the package to connect your computer to the wifi device.
Choose your device’s WiFi name (SSID), which you should find on the label, and then click “Connect.”
Enter the WiFi password on the label, and then click OK.
Sit back and wait for your computer to connect to the wifi device.
How to Load Up:
This will all depend on the sim card you’re using. You should find the instructions for both Globe and Smart sim cards in the items that follow.
Notes: Up to ten (10) devices at a time can connect to this wi-fi device. Its 2,000 mAh battery can also power up to eight (8) hours of Internet browsing and 450 hours of standby.
2. TP-Link 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi.
Speed: Up to 150 mbps to a maximum of 600 mbps, depending on the model
Price: Php2,750 – Php6,350
Where to Buy:
VillMan Computers, reputable sellers on Shopee, PC Express, and Asianic
How to Set Up:
Use the USB cable to connect the WiFi device to your computer. The device’s driver will automatically install itself.
You should see “Your device is ready to use” on your screen once the driver is successfully installed. Once the network icon no longer has a red cross or yellow exclamation, you should be able to use the internet.
How to Load Up:
This will all depend on the sim card you’re using. You should find the instructions for both Globe and Smart sim cards in the items that follow.
Notes: TP-Link has about four different Wi-Fi models that cater to different needs, hence the speed and price range.
3. Smart Bro LTE Pocket WiFi.
Speed: Up to 42 mbps
Price: A one-time fee of Php1,295 for a prepaid unit/Monthly fees of Php499-Php999 for a postpaid unit.
Where to Buy:
reputable sellers on Shopee, Smart Online Store, PLDT Home Website (for existing PLDT Home subscribers only)
How to Set Up:
Insert the Smart Bro SIM card into the pocket WiFi.
Launch your browser.
In the address bar, type in the IP address from the product manual.
Enter the default password (smartbro). Click “Login.”
Choose Quick Settings. Click “Next.”
Change the SSID to your preferred WiFi name. Click “Next.” (You can skip this step, if you like.)
Choose an Encryption Mode (WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK) to protect your connection from unauthorized users.
Enter your desired password. Click “Next.”
Click the “Apply” button.
How to Load Up:
Log in to your SmartBro account on the Smart Online Store. Choose how much you’d like to load the device with (any amount from PHP 15 to PHP 1,000). You can check the tables below for reference:
Pay online using your credit card or Bancnet ATM card.
Notes: This device can provide internet access to up to five (5) devices at a time. Furthermore, the postpaid wifi device comes with 6GB/10GB/15GB monthly data and free access to iflix for 30 days.
4. Huawei E5573 Mobile WiFi.
Speed: Up to 150 mbps
Price: PHP 2,190
Where to Buy:
reputable sellers on Shopee, Poundit, Lazada
How to Set Up:
Remove the back cover and insert the SIM card and battery. Replace the cover.
Charge the unit by connecting it to your computer’s USB port or to a charger.
Press and hold the power key for 2 seconds. This turns on the device.
Enable your computer’s WiFi.
Select the right SSID and enter the WiFi keys found on the device’s label.
Wait for your computer to connect to your Wi-Fi device.
Launch your browser and enter http://192.168.1.1 into the address box.
Enter the username (“admin”) and password (“admin”).
Set the network parameters.
How to Load Up:
This will all depend on the sim card you’re using. You should find the instructions for both Globe and Smart sim cards in the items that follow.
Notes: Huawei’s pocket wi-fi devices can support up to eleven (11) devices at a time. You may also use either a Globe or Smart sim card for these.
5. Globe LTE Mobile WiFi
Speed: Up to 42Mbps
Price: PHP 999
Where to Buy:
reputable sellers on Shopee, Lazada, Globe online shop
How to Set Up:
Turn on the Globe pocket WiFi device.
Enable your computer’s WiFi or simply connect the device to it with the USB cord.
Enter the WiFi SSID and password (found on the device’s back cover).
Wait until your computer is connected to the Globe network.
Launch your web browser and enter 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.8.1.
Enter “admin” for username and password. You may also change the WiFi name and password here.
Go to Advanced Settings or WLAN Basic settings on the dashboard. Change the values as desired.
Click “Apply.”
How to Load Up:
There are five ways to top up your Globe Pocket Wi-Fi:
Download the GCash app and use the Buy Load feature.
Use the GlobeOne app.
Install the Globe At Home app.
Text your desired promo code to 8080. Check the table below for the promo code list.
Dial *143# and choose Surfing > GoSURF / SUPERSURF.
Notes: Each Globe wifi unit comes with a service warranty of eighteen (18) months and free 10GB video streaming for 30 days. They can also support up to ten (10) devices at a time.
Of course, nothing beats a stable Internet connection. There are some jobs that may require more bandwidth or speed than what most of these pocket wi-fi units can provide. Also, do check on the strength of the Globe or Smart networks in your area before you make a purchase.
However, look at these units as a back-up. They might not all be able to let you stream high-definition videos as much, but they can certainly help you stay in touch with your clients so that you can pivot as needed should an emergency arise.
And given what’s happening in the world right now, we may as well be prepared for that.
