Huawei Onboard WiFi New Broadway

Hello 
Has anyone experienced and overcome glitches with this onboard WiFi set up?
Our newly delivered Broadway is a 2020 build. Delighted to find it has a Mifi setup using
The Huawei E5577 mobile router and docking station. 
Good news is we put a sim in and it works perfectly where there is network coverage for the 3 sim we’ve bought. However the router battery runs down in a maximum of two hours whether or not devices linked to it are being used - even just one device. If the power lead on the docking station is plugged in weirdly it runs the battery down even faster! Though new I’ve replaced the modem battery but no difference. In either case removing the router from the docking station and charging via the charge lead charges the batteries up quite quickly. Anyone any suggestions please?

Are you sure it's getting power? It should be getting permanent 12V, so it stays fully charged all the time. I'm assuming the installation looks like the one in the motorhomewifi manual:

https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81zeSMItO7S.pdf

Thanks for reply. Should be getting constant 12v input when charger from docking station plugged in. Power switch on on dock and showing red power light. Do you never have to charge yours off the dock?

Mine has only ever been off the mount briefly. Normally it just stays there all the time, and keeps itself ticking over. If the battery isn't fully charged, and you have it on the mount with the power lead plugged in, I think the battery symbol is animated to show you that it's charging.

If you do have power, then maybe try a hard reset in case it's got itself confused. if you take the battery cover off, there's a recessed reset button which you hold in for 5 or 10 seconds with a paperclip or pen. The Huawei logo will come up and it will restart. I think this works whether or not the router is powered on to start with. I had to reset mine after user error. I changed the admin password, and in the excitement of getting it working, forgot what I set it to.

This is my AS install (brand new Symbol) for reference. Is yours exactly the same?

Red power LED, you can only see it from underneath so I've never noticed it before

Interesting about battery indicator symbol on right of device. Plugged in on the dock mine only ever shows a progressive reduction in the bars shown. Plugged in off the dock on an ordinary charger lead it shows the bars moving to indicate charge being received.  Something in the set up of the dock? Have tried a hard reset once but that was with the original battery. Will have another go at the next campsite. Many thanks. If any other ideas occur. BTW my set up is exactly as in the manual you helpfully gave the link for.

Yes mine is identical to yours as pictured.

There is a permanent 12v feed to the docking station from the leisure battery, it completely bypasses all switching but does pass through the EC700 installation and is fused there. It is also the permanent 12v supply to the fridge to keep the control panel active.

If the switch on the docking station is on and the red light illuminates then the 12v is getting there. The docking unit converts 12v to 5v and powers the router via the mini usb jack. Find something else that charges that way such as a kindle to check whether the power is there.

If it is then the fault must be in the router.

Good luck. If you have definitely have power indicated by the red LED and it still doesn't charge when the flying USB lead from the mount is plugged in, then my conclusion would be that the mount is faulty internally, or the USB cable coming out of it is faulty. In the first instance I'd be tempted to phone Motorhomewifi who supply all the kit to see if they have any suggestions about that.

https://www.motorhomewifi.com/contact/

Helpful suggestions all. Very many thanks. Will report any progress.

Peter Brown’s Kindle test seems decisive.
Lead from the dock puts no charge into the kindle,
In contrast (like the modem) to charging off the dock.
Given that, I presume the fault is in the docking unit rather than
the modem. Will try Motorhomewifi.com - though I suspect they will blame the wiring in by Autosleeper. At least the modem works.
Really appreciate the help from b8holic and Peter. So helpful.

Langreed wrote:Peter Brown’s Kindle test seems decisive.
Lead from the dock puts no charge into the kindle,
In contrast (like the modem) to charging off the dock.
Given that, I presume the fault is in the docking unit rather than
the modem. Will try Motorhomewifi.com - though I suspect they will blame the wiring in by Autosleeper. At least the modem works.
Really appreciate the help from b8holic and Peter. So helpful.

Isn't it a problem for your dealer to sort under warranty?

Sure but that of course involves a 200 mile round trip before the next due service date in April 2022. Might try getting them to send me a new docking unit - unlikely but you never know.

Ah, warranty. That process where they've got your money now, and it turns out they can't fit you in for a few weeks just to have a look at it briefly. Then they have to make a claim. Then wait for that to be approved. Then order parts. Finally, wait all over again to get it into the workshop to replace said parts. My solar panel not working from new being an example of the 2021 warranty experience. That's why accurate self diagnosis might give a head start or offer alternatives. If the mount has power going in, but isn't providing it to a device via the USB, that seems quite definitive.

Warranty issues are a good reason for buying close to home but I understand exactly what you both say and, in view of our experiences with our dealer and yours seem to be the same, I would rather pay out a few quid than put myself through that hassle. Surely there's a dealer somewhere who gives prompt and efficient service?

Yet to try this dealer on warranty to be honest.
We’ll see. It can’t be worse than our experience of Marquis.
Technicians wonderful when they got the parts and were onto the job but order times were lamentable for uk sourced items like a Thetford fridge solenoid. For an Italian sourced part (it was a Mobilvetta) wait months and months. Even a warranty permission was minimum of 8 weeks from Italy. Hoping better from Autosleeper and SMC at Newark but am a realist. If I knew it was the docking unit definitely rather than the witting in I’d be tempted to just buy anew unit.

It would be good if AS would sell you one from their own stock with the promise of a refund when you send the old one back and it's found to be faulty. The problem otherwise is that you can't buy those mounts except as part of a kit including the aerial and router. So unless you can talk motorhomewifi into taking responsibility for their manufacturing fault and letting you have one (perhaps you'd have to give them the faulty one first) then you might have a long wait unfortunately. Like with my broken solar charging, you can console yourself with the fact that it's not a critical item which stops you using the van.

Wise words. And within the spectrum of faults that can emerge on a new motorhome it’s not drastic.

Added to which I’m now on a pitch overlooking Loch Lomond surrounded by mountains and the Huawei modem is picking up a signal to send this even as its battery runs down. Minor motorhome glitches and much to enjoy.

Can I ask how the Huawei is fixed to the mounting kit? Mine is arriving tomorrow and I’m going to have to fabricate a way of fixing it in the van.

Magnet on mounting . I installed the internal bit of mine on a rally,. Getting access to the permanent 12v required a bit of work but will be different in your van.

Thanks Peter, that was my top choice of mounting but I can’t find any online that aren’t silly money.
Been thinking about the permanent 12v feed earlier and unfortunately like you, it’s going to take a bit of work although I’ve been wanting to find a reason to buy one of these for ages!

https://www.screwfix.com/p/nylon-cable-flex-draw-tape-30m-98ft/75807

ive been looking at the Huawei (and possibly an external aerial...it has an internal one too which i could test/rate first...) and was wondering why the need for a mounting plate which passes 12v on and has to convert the down cable SMA fitting to the required TS9?
why cant the ariel cable be fitted with a small converter and the the 12v fit directly into the Huawei?
most aerials have this sort of converter especially for popular routers like the Huawei range.
im struggling to see the point of the mounting plate if the unit isnt going to be moved, in which case some sort of 'robust velcro?' would do the job.

Just listed a antenna for sale Chris