Vodafone R203-Z User Manual

User Guide
Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi
R203-Z

Designed
by Vodafone

Welcome

to the world of mobile communications

1 Welcome
2 Getting the best possible

internet connection
3 Device overview
4 Getting started: Step 1
5 Getting started: Step 2
6 Mobile Wi-Fi web

dashboard screen
7 Current network panel
8 Mobile Wi-Fi view
9 Storage view
10 SMS view
11 Account view
12 Device status screen icons
13 Hints and tips
18 Glossary

1

The Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi R203-Z creates a personal portable
Wi-Fi hotspot which allows up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices (for
example PCs, Apple® iPad or iPod touch, or mobile gaming
devices such as Nintendo® DSi, Android devices including
the Samsung® Galaxy Tab) to share a secure mobile internet
connection.

The device is battery, mains or USB powered, and this fl exibility
allows the device to be positioned for best mobile coverage
and then share this coverage between several devices via Wi-Fi.

Note: you will get better Wi-Fi performance when the device is
being charged compared to when it is running from the battery.

Advanced confi guration using a cable or Wi-Fi

To perform advanced confi guration of the device browse to the
web dashboard http://VodafoneMobile.wifi or http://192.168.0.1
from a computer running Microsoft

®

Windows® 7 (SP1
recommended), Windows Vista™ (SP2 recommended), or
Windows

®

XP (SP3 recommended), a computer running Linux
(Wi-Fi confi guration only, not cable), or an Apple Mac running Mac
OS

®

X 10.5 (Intel®), 10.6 or 10.7 (all with latest updates).

Advanced confi guration for iPad / iPod Touch / tablet users

Apple device users should use the Safari browser to browse to the
web dashboard http://VodafoneMobile.wifi or http://192.168.0.1 ,
or download the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi Monitor app. Tablet users
can check the device status by downloading the Vodafone Mobile
Wi-Fi Monitor app from the App Store in iTunes or the Android
Market/Google Play. See Page 16 for sample app screenshots.

Welcome

System
requirements

To use the Vodafone
Mobile Wi-Fi R203-Z
you need a device
with Wi-Fi capability.

2

Signal is affected by the walls of buildings and can •
vary considerably, even with the slightest movement
of your device or location. Therefore it’s a good idea

to check the signal indicator bar on the Mobile Wi-Fi and
ensure it’s placed in the best position possible. Having
a signal of only a couple of bars that is consistent gives
a much better internet experience than having varying
levels of signal. Placing the device nearer a window

often helps avoid fl uctuations.

Be aware that during peak times

• , usually 9-11 pm, you

may fi nd your connection slows a little as more people
are using the mobile internet; this will be most noticeable
when watching videos or downloading music or large

fi les. You may want to change your computer settings
so it only runs updates during quieter times or when
you’re not using the mobile broadband connection,

freeing up the mobile internet for the things you want to
do at that those peak times.

Getting the
best possible
internet
connection

3

Status Display

End User Licence Agreement (EULA)

Please ensure that you have read and accepted the software
EULA for your country before using the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi
application or device. The EULA is available here:

www.support.vodafone.com/VodafoneMobileWiFi/R203-Z

Device overview

Tip:

To save power the
display is dimmed
after 10 seconds and
switched off after a
further 5 seconds.

The screen can be
displayed by briefly
touching the power
on/off button.

The screen will
also be displayed
whenever the
status of the device
changes.

Micro USB

slot

Power
on/off

Status

display

Back cover

release

Wi-Fi status

and number

of users

Unread

messages

Network

signal

Battery

Network

operator or

additional

information

Connect duration

Roaming
indicator

Upload & download

data volume

Bearer

4

To prepare the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi R203-Z, you need to 1.
insert your SIM (and MicroSDHC card if you are using one for
fi le storage and sharing) and battery before use.

Unclip the back of the device and insert the SIM as shown. 2.
If using a MicroSD card then open the card holder, place the
card in position on the device and then lock the card holder
in place, and insert the battery. Before replacing the back
cover please make a note of your Wi-Fi security details. These
are a secure Wi-Fi network key and a Wi-Fi network name
(SSID). The Key and the SSID are unique to your device and
can be found on a label on the inside of the back cover.

The device is now ready to use - plug it into the mains or your 3.
PC. The battery will be charged in the background. Make sure
the device is fully charged (approximately 3 hours) before
using it in battery mode.

Getting
started:
Step 1 of 2

Note: Once setup
is complete, when
connected to the R203-Z
via USB (and you have
installed the software
onto your PC) you can
access the R203-Z
configuration screen by
clicking on the Mobile
Wi-Fi desktop icon

.

Alternatively, if you
are connected over
Wi-Fi, you can enter the
following addresses into
your browser:

http://VodafoneMobile.
wifi or http://192.168.0.1

You may want to save
these addresses as
favourites in your
browser so you can
access the Mobile Wi-Fi
web dashboard screen
easily.

SIM card

MicroSD

card

(if used)

Battery

5

Switch on the device by pressing and holding the power 4.
button for 3 seconds. The device will go through its start-up
sequence, and will automatically connect to the network
unless a PIN code is required. Check the display for connection
status.

Use the normal Wi-Fi application on your computer or device 5.
to connect. Select the Mobile Wi-Fi network from the list of
available Wi-Fi networks, click Connect and enter the WPA2
password (secure Wi-Fi network key) noted earlier.

Congratulations – you now have internet access via Vodafone
Mobile Wi-Fi.

When you are connected to the Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi R203-Z 6.
via Wi-Fi or a USB cable, you can access the Vodafone Mobile
Wi-Fi confi guration screen by clicking on the Mobile Wi-Fi
desktop icon

(if you have installed via USB), or by typing

either

http://VodafoneMobile.wifi or http://192.168.0.1 into

your web browser. You can change settings and check the
device and network status from this browser page.

Getting
started:
Step 2 of 2

Tip:

A double tap of the
power key will show
the current Wi-Fi
network name and
Wi-Fi network key on
the device display.

The Vodafone
Mobile Wi-Fi R203-Z
will automatically
connect to the Mobile
Broadband network
when it is powered on.

If required, this default
automatic network
connection can be
changed to a manual
connection via the
web dashboard of the
device.

6

Note: Every window in
the Mobile Wi-Fi web
dashboard has this
same standard layout.

Context-sensitive help
for each window is
always available at the
bottom of the window.

Sometimes an
additional Menu bar
will appear on the left
of the window.

Navigation tabs: Select Mobile Wi-Fi, Storage, SMS or

Account view

Navigation bar: Select an area within each view
Current network panel: Status of mobile broadband network

connection, battery and Wi-Fi status and connected devices

Content area: Content for current area
Context help: Context-sensitive help for current area
Language selection: Defaults to browser language
Login/Logout: For advanced confi guration options. Default

password is ‘admin’

Mobile Wi-Fi
web dashboard
screen

4

5

6

7

3

1

2

4

5

3

6

1

2

7