If you are not aware of Jio Preview offer, you are probably living in a cave. I am assuming you are not – and we will skip the part about how this preview offer is giving you unlimited internet, unlimited HD voice calls etc.
Up until now, users needed to buy a LYF phone to access the offer for which they needed to spend minimum of Rs. 4000. However, with launch of JioFi router, now anyone can gain access to Jio Preview offer. At cost of Rs. 2899. JioFi Router allows to access internet on 31 devices.
We got our hands on JioFi router and decided to do a walk-thru of how you can setup the JioFi device and get it up and running.
Features of JioFi
JioFi allows you to create your own portable WiFi Hotspot which can connect upto 31 devices at a time for internet access. The device supports MicroSD card storage of upto 32 GB.
Apart from that, users can use Jio Voice to make calls through JioFi, which are currently free during the 3 months Jio Preview offer. According to Jio, the 2300 mAh battery has a standby time of 300 hrs and running time of around 8 hours.
Given that the device can run for nearly 8 hours without recharging, this portable WiFi Hotspot becomes indispensable when on travel or outdoors.
How to Setup JioFi Device
- Make Sure SIM card is activated
- Remove the back cover of JioFi Router
- Insert Jio SIM in the Sim Tray
- Note down the SSID and password (PWD)
- Press the Button for Few Seconds
- When the Light turns green, you can access the internet
Let’s look at each of these steps in detail
When you buy JioFi, it will be accompanied by a Jio SIM card. You will need to first ensure that the SIM card is inserted. Here is how to do it.
Remove the back cover.
Insert Jio SIM in the Sim Tray
Once you have successfully inserted the SIM card, you can put the battery and close the back cover. If you need, you can also insert the SD card at this time.
Before you insert the battery, please ensure to note down the SSID and password (PWD) which will be needed later to connect devices to the hotspot.
Once noted, you can insert the battery and close the back cover on the device. If the device is not charged, please ensure that you charge it over 50 percent using the supplied wire and adapter. After the device is charged, press the button on top for a few seconds, you will see 4 icons light up on the top.
Here are the details of various icons and lights on JioFi device.
Note: Before starting to set up the JioFi router, you need to make sure that the Jio SIM is activated and ready. It generally takes 24 hours for the SIM to get activated. ( For us, it took more than 2 days for the SIM to get activated). Instructions for activation of SIM card are given on the SIM jacket.
You can activate the SIM card in 2 ways. Call from any number to 1800-890-1977 and your data services for JioFi will start. Alternatively, you can put the SIM card in a VoLTE phone and call 1977 for data+voice services to get started. Once, you get a confirmation SMS stating your SIM is activated and ready to use, you can start using your JioFi device.
Now, from your Desktop, Laptop or mobile phone look for the SSID and password that you have noted earlier. Connect it via WiFi, and if your SIM is properly activated, you should be able to get the internet on the all the connected devices.
You can change the default SSID and password by going to the JioFi Router’s administration panel. The default login name and password to login is administrator/administrator, which you can change as well!
Your JioFi Device is now ready and you can start using it as a Hotspot.
In our testing, we consistently got a speed of around 10 to 15 Mbps. To ensure that you get good speeds, you should place the JioFi device in such a place where the reception is good. The device range is decent enough and we could get 1-2 bars with 2 rooms and 2 walls apart.
Overall, JioFi device is a great purchase, and if you are a heavy internet user, you should seriously think of picking up a JioFi device from your nearest Reliance Digital store.
If you have any questions, please do drop a comment!