[Solved] Exploring Band Aggregation in ZTE MF286 Router: T-Mobile Logo, Huawei Apps & Web Settings

Is band aggregation possible in the ZTE MF286 router?
Router with T-Mobile logo.
Is there any application for this, I know that huawei can have phone applications.
I tried to look in the router settings on the website there is no band aggregation option.

And what version of MF286 is it? In the MF286 version, the MF286R aggregates 2 LTE QAM64 bands, the MF286D version 3 LTE bands in QAM256 modulation.

Where can I see the exact version writes MF286

On the sticker or after logging in to 192.168.0.1

On the sticker it says ZTE MF286 - A7349C
And under 192.168.0.1 I don't know where exactly he writes

Can anyone help?

MF286 version, i.e. aggregation of 2 LTE bands, what operator do you use on it, in what location, have you checked whether you can select a specific LTE band in WebUI, tab Settings-Network Settings-Band selection?

I'm in T-Mobile

And what about this? I asked specific questions. You are asking for help so cooperate, what problems do you have with this operator at home?

oh shit I found something but I can't click anything it's greyed out

Added after 3 [minutes]:

I have a completely different menu "Settings tab - Network settings - Band selection?" I didn't like what you wrote

Added after 37 [seconds]:

location Masovian Voivodeship near Warsaw

If you have to cooperate like this, unfortunately, I don't see any chance of helping you, the Band Selection tab is standard in all ZTE, easy to find, as well as the note that changing the band is possible only after disconnecting from the Internet, i.e. OFF after logging into the router and then selecting the bands is possible in it. After selecting a band or 2 bands, the selection is confirmed and manually connected to the network on ON.
The precision in giving the location is admirable, in the province There are plenty of towns in Mazowieckie near Warsaw. Unfortunately, you belong to those 99% of people who have no idea how to use the mobile internet, the results they achieve on it are poor. This is a radio technique, so it requires knowledge and specific actions. It starts with providing the location, the nearest NetWorks base stations and LTE bands on them for T-mobile are located, tests are performed, results are presented and professional solutions are applied on their basis.

I know where the BTSs are in my city, thanks for your help but maybe you will still be useful because I have already located which bts the router connects to and connects to 1800Mhz and in total after changing to other frequencies I have 0 lines so it's very strange that only with 1 antenna and only 1800Mhz works and there are 3 in the city with T-mobile The city is Mszczonów

Added after 1 [minutes]:

what's strange, the router and the phone have been connected for over 2 months with an antenna further from the place of residence, and yet there is an antenna totally in the city center and why not there.

No, I don't know, so I can't help you. You measure the operator's range in lines, I use professional LTE signal parameters, I don't know about lines. In addition, I have no idea about ZTE equipment, although it's no secret that I have been in contact with my colleagues from ZTE Polska for 3 years, and there are 4 NetWorks base stations in Mszczonów, 3 of which are licensed by T-mobile and one on ORANGE and only LTE2600+2100+1800+800 aggregation works on this one, LTE2100+1800+800 works on the other 3. The permits of T-mobile Pogorzałki and Warszawska 43 operate 5G2100 under DSS with LTE2100.
The base station at Warszawska 6 has a local range, sectors on Żyrardowska and Tarczyńska, and the third one along Rawska.
Of course, the data from which BTS NetWorks you use, what signal parameters you have on the LTE bands are known only to you, so you also have to solve the problems yourself, although no one knows what they are anyway.

Where did you get such surprising data from some website, btsearch? My router and phone connect to bts on Warszawska 43 on the 1800 band, it doesn't want to work on any other.

Added after 6 [minutes]:

signal strength -96dBm

Added after 4 [minutes]:

matek451 wrote:

Pogorzałki and Warszawska 43 operates 5G2100 as part of DSS with LTE2100.

Does that mean there is 5G in my city? Laughable

But why? T-mobile launched NSA 5G2100, i.e. on N1 and uses the 2100MHz band for this, which dynamically divides between 5g2100 and LTE2100, of course it does not achieve dizzying results on such 5G. PLUS works much better on NSA 5g2600 on N41, i.e. dedicated 40MHz band in TDD 2600MHz, has two base stations in Moszczenica with 5G.
But you don't need 5G to achieve high speeds, I have LTE with all 4 operators 150-350 Mb / s, you need to meet several conditions and of course have equipment with 4CC CA QAM256, the router from 4-5 years ago does not meet these conditions.

And because I checked these 5G and I have 40mb / s

Because it's only DSS, so it works as it works, the band is dynamically shared with LTE2100, in addition, the signal parameters at 2100MHz are probably weak, so it's hard to expect miracles, 80-100Mbps with good signal parameters at 2100MHz is the norm for 5G2100 T-mobile. That is why aggregation of LTE bands is used because they often give better results, e.g. https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/a/7710526380

so I can combine the 2100 with my 1800

Force both at once and check if this aggregation will turn on on MF286, this router was available in several versions, it differs in the LTE modem used and thus the aggregation of LTE bands.

I supposedly connected, i.e. in these settings I marked 2100 and 1800 and surprisingly the weaker result from 34 mb / s to 1800 fell by connecting and I have 20 mb / s

Added after 1 [minutes]:

only if it aggregated, I don't know, maybe it just went to 2100 because I have no information anywhere because on huawei it says "1800 + 2100" and there is nothing here

Added after 5 [minutes]:

maybe not that there is nothing, just information with which bts I am connected and that's it

Added after 35 [minutes]:

well, yes, I have the band number and now it is set to 2100 and I marked 2100 and 1800 hmm

It seems that this oldest version does not aggregate LTE2100 + 1800.

so it would be the oldest version of this model?

These were different hardware versions based on a different chipset and LTE modem, the older ones, although they have an LTE 6 KAT modem. did not aggregate in the LTE2100+1800 and LTE2600+2100 system, they aggregate LTE2600+1800, LTE2600+800, LTE1800+800 and LTE2100+800, then the MF286 versions, because MF286a, MF286r aggregate in all combinations and the MF286d version has a 12 category LTE modem and aggregates 3 bands in MIMO2X2 with QAM256.

can i see which one i have?

If it does not aggregate B1 + B3, then you have the MF286, the oldest first version, it probably also had a battery under the flap at the back.

I don't have a battery, but there is a place for it, but from what I looked, all MF286 "..." have batteries because these routers are portable and have a battery icon on the front

Not all, only one had. In subsequent versions, ZTE resigned from its presence, but in the housing there is a recess for it, the one under the flap, but there are no cable connectors for the battery to this recess, the power supply is only through the power supply. This is a stationary router, it draws a lot of current during operation. The battery was to be used as an emergency power supply in the event of a power failure, usually it was enough for about 30 minutes, but the manufacturer simply did not use this solution in subsequent versions.

It's a pity that on the zte website nothing interesting or detailed specification is written

There are only newer versions on the website, i.e. MF286R and MF286D, the manufacturer supports newer models. Yours comes from 5 years ago, on such routers it is not possible to make maximum use of modern LTE networks of Polish operators, the router is worth a maximum of PLN 100, if anyone buys it at all. There is no shortage of dealers offering antiques on Allegro, practically 90%. Prices from space and some even older ones go like fresh rolls, knowledge in this topic is practically zero among mobile users.

And what are the T-mobile tests at your home and what is the reason for switching from Play?