Huawei E355 Pocket WiFi - Setup, Configuration and Troubleshooting
Are you looking for help with initial setup and configuration of the Huawei E355 Pocket WiFi hotspot device? Read complete instructions, step by step guide and troubleshooting instructions to resolve any connectivity issues with Huawei E355.
How to get started with Configure Huawei E355
Huawei E355 pocket WiFi hotspot device is a plug and play device and will work out of the box, after you insert a SIM card with a valid 2G/3G data plan activated. To test the device I have, I took out the Airtel SIM card from my mobile phone and inserted into the device. A message appeared in the system tray indicating Windows is installing the necessary drivers for the device. It is a true plug and play device and there was no separate step involved for installing the drivers.
In a few seconds, the drivers were installed and the device was recognized by Windows. I could see the USB device in the Windows Explorer in the name of "MobileWiFi".
NOTE: Before you connect the device to your computer, remember to open the sliding cover and insert the SIM. Also, note down the WiFi Key provided above the SIM card slot. This key will be required later to connect to internet.
How to open the device and insert the SIM card in Huawei E355
First remove the cap from the device. Hold the device facing the label "Huawei" and the green window with the LED indicators facing you. Now, slide the top surface towards the USB connector by firmly holding the bottom part in your hand. The cover will slide open.Installing MobileWifi Software
Once the Huawei E355 device was recognized by the computer, it launched the setup.exe from the Autorun file in the device. I went through the simple setup wizard and completed the installation in few seconds. Here are the steps in installing the Huawei Mobile Wifi:
This is the initial welcome screen. Click on the button to proceed to the next step.
This screen shows the standard license agreement, which usually no one bother to read. Click Next to proceed.
In this screen, you can choose the location to install your Huawei E355 software. You may leave it to the default value and proceed.
In a couple of seconds, it will finish the installation and show you the final screen.
Once the installation is finished, if there is a firewall, you may be prompted how you want to share your data in the WiFi network. Choose 'Allow sharing' so that you can share your connection and access devices within the WiFi network.
After the installation is completed, look at your available WiFi hotspots. You will see the new WiFi hotspot in the name if MobileWiFi-748e, which is your Huawei E355 WiFi network. Double click on it to connect to WiFi. You will be prompted to enter the password.
What is the default password for Huawei E355
I was a bit confused when I was prompted to enter the password. I had not set any password and did not see any passwords written anywhere. I pulled out the device from the laptop and did a bit of research. Finally, I located the password under the sliding cover in the device just above the slot for the SIM card. It is written with the label "WiFi Key". I noted down the Key from there, closed the device, inserted it into the computer and waited until it connects again. I entered the password found in the device and it was accepted without a problem. 
(NOTE: If you enter the PIN wrong for 3 times consecutively, your SIM will be locked. To unlock the SIM, you will have to enter the Pin Unlock Key (PUK). The Pin Unlock Key is also provided with your device. If you enter the PUK 10 times consecutively, you will be permanently locked out and will get into trouble!)
In just a few seconds, I was connected to internet. Except for my few seconds search for the password, the initial configuration was seamless. How to configure Huawei E355 router
Being a true plug and play device, there is no sophisticated setup required for you to get connected with internet. All you need is a SIM card with a valid data plan activated. However, if you like to customize the settings and configure it according to your preferences, you can use the web based admin module and change all settings.
To configure the device, type the following url in your web browser:
http://192.168.1.1/
You will be taken to the admin screen. You will be prompted to enter the admin password to access the admin features.
The default admin password for Huawei E355 is "admin" itself
How to change admin password
To change the admin password, go to the admin screen at http://192.168.1.1/. Then click on the "Settings" tab. Expand the "System" menu on the left bar and click on the "Modify Password" link. You will be prompted to enter the old password and choose a new password. Press the "Apply" button after you enter all the details.
How to change the SSID (WiFi Hotspot name)
Follow the steps below to change the WiFi hotspot name (SSID):
1. Open the admin screen by visiting the URL http://192.168.1.1/ in your browser.
2. Click on Settings tab
3. Expand WLAN
4. Click on WLAN Basic Settings
5. On the right panel, replace the default SSID with any SSID (WiFI name) of your choice. Don't forget to press the "Apply" button.
How to change the default WiFi Key
You can locate the WPA pre-shared key in the above screen ("WLAN Basic Settings"). Change the key to any key of your choice. If you changed your authentication settings, the password/key requirements also may change accordingly.
Also Check Out: Review and specifications of Huawei Power-Fi E8221
How to restore default factory settings
If you forgot your password or want to restore your device into the default factory settings, there are couple of options:
Software reset: You can reset the device to factory settings from the admin panel. Go to Settings >> System >> Restore Defaults and click on "Restore" button. It will restore the device to the factory default configuration.
Hardware reset: If you can't access the admin panel, you can do a hardware reset from the device. Open the device by sliding the cover. Locate the small "reset hole" on one end of the device. Use a ball pen or similar device and press for few seconds. It will restore the device to default configuration.
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