The Vodafone R217, manufactured by ZTE, is a popular ultra-portable 4G LTE Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. While it offers reliable speeds on the Vodafone network, being "locked" prevents you from using cheaper local SIM cards when traveling or switching to a more affordable data provider. Unlocking your device is the best way to gain total mobile freedom.

What you need:

Warning: Scams are rampant. Never use a service that asks for remote access to your PC. Stick to automated IMEI code delivery websites.

3. Backup ISP Redundancy

If your home broadband goes down, you can pop a SIM from a different network (e.g., EE or O2) into your R217 to stay online. A locked Vodafone device is useless during a Vodafone network outage.