When the summer holidays arrive we want to maintain the possibility of connecting to the Internet via WiFi from anywhere, and a good alternative is the TP-Link MiFi M7000 , capable of creating a WiFi network to connect up to 10 devices, including computers, tablets , consoles and more.
The TP-Link MiFi M7000 gets coverage directly from the 4G mobile network , without depending on a fixed Internet connection, and shares it with up to 10 devices via WiFi , avoiding cables or cumbersome installations.
It is perfect for a second home, to take on vacation and even on excursions to the countryside or the beach, as its built-in battery provides up to 8 hours of autonomy without depending on plugs, and we can always give it extra power using an external battery.
Carrying the Internet on your mobile on vacation is simple, but many times we prefer to connect from a larger screen: a tablet to enjoy series and movies, a console to have fun with friends or a laptop for those work tasks that cannot be stopped at summer.
A MiFi device (or 4G router) like the TP-Link MiFi M7000 is a perfect solution: for a price of around 50 euros we avoid the complications and limitations of fiber or ADSL lines on vacation, and we can even use the SIM of the mobile for connection.
These are the main features of the TP-Link MiFi M7000:
- Up to 10 devices connected to your 4 (n) 2.4 GHz WiFi network.
- Internet via internal SIM with 4G FDD / TDD-LTE (up to 150 Mbps) or 3G connectivity.
- 8 hours of autonomy (2,000 mAh battery, microUSB charging).
- Simple management with the tpMiFi app for Android and iOS.
Previous steps: SIM card and data rate
The TP-Link MiFi M7000 obtains Internet from the 4G network (3G where it is not available), which in Spain has a very wide coverage. For this we have to insert a SIM card inside, the simplest option being to use the SIM of our mobile phone .
In that case we will not be able to make or receive calls, but we can read SMS and send them, so we maintain the option of reviewing the security codes that they send us through conventional text messages.
Another alternative would be to ask for a secondary SIM card associated with the same line , a service offered by the large operators under the name Multi SIM . I would share the same data rate, we would only pay a small extra for the Multi SIM, which can be one or more cards.
It is also possible to hire an independent line without permanence , since almost any operator currently offers them. After finishing the summer holidays we will cancel it, or we will keep it if we plan to continue using the TP-Link MiFi M7000 on a regular basis.
Regarding data consumption, we have to look for rates with many gigabytes, or unlimited rates , to avoid scares on the bill. If the SIM is going to be only in the TP-Link MiFi M7000, we will not be interested in the voice call bonuses, although many operators include them by default.
It is important to note that when going on vacation to the European Union or European Economic Area (it does not include Andorra, Monaco or Switzerland) , the rate data is almost always reduced compared to what we have in Spain, so we have to establish a limit of consumption to avoid additional charges, which can be very high.
In the rest of the countries, unless our operator has a specific agreement (such as Vodafone in the US), the price per gig of data in roaming becomes exorbitant, so we must review the roaming conditions in detail with the company before leaving.
Set up your WiFi on vacation, step by step
With the TP-Link MiFi M7000 at hand and having chosen the SIM card that we will use, putting it to work is a matter of a few minutes . In addition, the mobile application makes the process simple, as it guides us step by step. Let’s see how it is done:
- First of all, we download the free tpMiFi app to our mobile or tablet to carry out the initial configuration (then it is not necessary when connecting):
- Download tpMiFi for Android
- Download tpMiFi for iPhone / iPad
- After installing it, it will show us the key functions of tpMiFi, at the end of the tutorial we will press “Start” to choose the MiFi model we have, in this case it would be “M7200 / M7000” :
- The tpMiFi application will guide us step by step in the physical installation, we have to remove the cover, insert the SIM and put the battery , which is included in the sales box:
- Along with the TP-Link MiFi M7000 come adapters for nanoSIM and microSIM cards , so that we can use any format:
- Before closing the back cover we will copy the password of the pre-configured WiFi network by default, or we will take a photo of it. It is possible to modify the network name and password later, but we will need the original ones for the initial configuration:
- With the battery installed and charged, we can press the power button , we wait a few moments for the WiFi LED to stay fixed before continuing:
- From the mobile where we have installed the tpMiFi application we will connect to the WiFi network created by the TP-Link MiFi M7000, which appears on the sticker:
- Now we will enter the tpMiFi application, after having seen the configuration steps, the screen will appear where it looks for new devices , which should appear in a few seconds:
- When it detects the TP-Link MiFi M7000, it will ask us to choose the password to manage the MiFi device , which we must not forget, or we will have to reset it with the button under the back cover.
- With this we will have access to the control panel of the MiFi or 4G router , which through the tpMiFi app is very intuitive:
- By default, the configuration of the Spanish operators is automatically loaded , so we will have immediate access to the Internet through 4G or 3G, we will only have to connect the devices we want to the newly created WiFi.
- We can configure a new operator if necessary , or activate the connection in roaming (outside Spain) manually. We have to request the APN configuration from the company that provides us the SIM and enter it in this menu:
Tools -> Internet Settings -> APN Management -> +
- On the other hand, it would be a good idea to change the WiFi password for a more robust one, and we may also want to customize the network name (SSID). We will access by the following route:
Tools -> Wireless Settings -> SSID / Password
Put a mobile data limit
One last important detail when using the TP-Link MiFi M7000 during the holidays is to establish a limit of data consumed in 4G or 3G , except if we have an unlimited rate. By indicating this maximum amount, we will avoid going over the contracted gigabytes and overpaying.
It is possible to adjust the data limit from the following menu of the tpMiFi app:
Tools -> Data usage settings
It allows us to establish a total limit and a monthly one , which is restarted on the day of the month in which our rate begins to count from zero. It also lets us indicate the consumption that we have up to that moment, in case we buy the TP-Link MiFi M7000 in the middle of the month.
Other possibilities are to receive an alert when reaching a certain percentage of the limit , and to indicate hours where the data does not count (in case we have a special promotion).
When using these counters, all the devices connected to the MiFi or 4G router are considered, so we do not need to put individual limits on each of them.
The possibilities of tpMiFi are many more, for example, check the devices connected to your WiFi or block them , receive and send SMS, adjust the battery power consumption or send USSD commands, which our operator can indicate to us when performing certain steps.
As we have seen in this tutorial, the TP-Link MiFi M7000 is a great option to have WiFi on vacation . It offers us total mobility, the possibility of sharing 4G Internet access with up to 10 devices and it is very easy to configure, all at an affordable price, both the MiFi itself and the current mobile rates with dozens of gigabytes.