Claro Dominican Republic offers the choice of two different routers with their internet service. The ZTE MF29 is a small desktop style router and the ZTE MF30 is a portable mobile hotspot router that can be powered by its internal battery or a power adaptor. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so, which one do you choose?

First, both offer the latest Wi-Fi security. Make sure with if you are using either one you turn this security on. If you don’t you run the risk of someone else connecting to the internet with your internet service and using up your band width, or worse, using the router connection to access your computer. Both devices allow you to share your one internet access with multiple computers. Both routers connect to computers with Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP (SP2 or later), or MAC 10.4 or later without a problem.

ZTE MF30

The ZTE MF30 is a 3G/2G mobile hotspot device. It can be run by its internal battery or by an external power supply. That means if the power goes out at your house or you want to access the internet at the beach, tour bus rides or other locations without power you are still in business. Its working time on battery is about 4 hours.

The biggest problems with this device are its speed and the distance you can have the device from the computers. The weaker Wi-Fi transmission means you will likely have problems connecting well (from the computer to the router) if the computer is not in the room.

The transmission speed between the computer and the router is also slower than the MF29. If you are planning to use WCDMA the upload and download speed is between 64kbps and 384kbps while if you are using HSPA you can get a 7.2Mbps download and 5.7Mbps upload.

If the Claro plan you are using requires you to purchase the router you will also pay about $30-$40 USD more for the MF30 than you will the MF29 router.

ZTE MF29

While the MF29 doesn’t have the advantage of the battery it makes up for it in speed. This unit can provide an upload speed of 14.4 Mbps and a download of 21 Mbps if you are using HSPA. This unit has a wider range of frequencies it can use and will likely provide a more trouble free service with less frequent problems with interference from other devices.

The MF29 supports both Voice and Data transmission. That means that in addition to using the router for your computer, you can plug a phone (using a standard phone plug) into the router for use as a cell phone using the sim chip. You can also connect to your computer with a cable instead of using the Wi-Fi.

While sometimes it is just easier to use the router provided by Claro, there is really nothing special about these routers. Personally, I use a Cradelpoint router I purchased in the states. The reason I use my own (rather expensive) router is its ability to send a stronger signal. The houses here in the DR are normally concrete block, my router has three external antennas that makes it easier for my families computers to get a good signal from anywhere in the house.

So, which router is best for you? It basically comes down to how you plan on using it. If you will normally only need it in your house then the MF30 is the better choice. If you plan on using it at resorts, beaches and other areas without access to power the MF30 is the better choice, it is pretty much that simple.