A home router must meet three conditions: the service must be available at the address, the unit must have a safe place, and the connection must suit your devices and tasks. If installed internet or your phone already works, you may not need another contract.
The examples here are docomo home 5G HR02 and UQ WiMAX Speed Wi-Fi HOME 5G L13. Their official documents were checked on October 10, 2026. No radio quality was measured in a particular room.
Check the address separately from the room
Write down the provider, plan, exact model, and address. Check the provider’s coverage map and contract rules. Docomo home 5G may only be used at its registered installation address. Moving the unit within a room is different from taking it to another address. Other providers can have different rules, so do not apply docomo’s condition to every router.
UQ’s coverage map differs by radio mode. A map for another mode does not prove that your current plan and settings can use that area. Mode changes may affect fees. Do not switch modes just to test reception without checking the terms.
Coverage at an address does not prove that a particular shelf or room location will work. If you cannot try the actual unit before purchase, indoor reception and task suitability remain unconfirmed.
Compare the exact model’s power and placement rules
The dimensions below describe the unit only. They do not specify required shelf clearance. Read the full manual for your model.
| Check | docomo home 5G HR02 | Speed Wi-Fi HOME 5G L13 |
|---|---|---|
| Unit size | About 170 × 95 × 95 mm | About 207 × 100 × 100 mm |
| Power | Supplied H3 adapter; household AC 100 V in Japan | Specified adapter; household AC 100 V in Japan |
| Operating environment | 5–35°C, humidity 45–85%; H3 power supply also 5–35°C | 0–40°C, humidity 5–90% |
| Ventilation | Keep upright; do not block vents or cover the upper exhaust | Keep vents open; do not cover with bedding |
| Surface and sunlight | Avoid unstable or sloping surfaces, direct sun, and trapped heat | Avoid unstable or sloping surfaces, direct sun, high heat, and a metal table |
| Distance while operating | Keep at least 20 cm from the body, with no metal in between (manual p.16) | Keep at least 20 cm from the body, with no metal in between (safety notice, first edition Nov. 2022) |
| Power cord | H3: about 1 m on both AC and DC sides | About 1.2 m |
Do not invent extra shelf clearance where the manual gives none. Give the manufacturer your exact model and shelf dimensions and ask about ventilation, access to controls, and unplugging the unit. If a safe place cannot be confirmed, do not place it there.
Compare candidate places under the same conditions
A window may be a place to test, but it is not a guarantee of better reception. The HR02 manual suggests a location with a clear view and near a window; the L13 notice also suggests a window area where radio waves are easier to receive. Check each model’s safety requirements first. Do not put the unit in direct sunlight, where it can get wet or ventilation is blocked, or on an unsuitable metal surface just to get closer to a window. Never place it outside.
The HR02 has separate signal-strength and 5G/4G indicators. Its manual says not to use a location where positioning information cannot be obtained and the 5G/4G indicator is solid red. The “installation environment check” function checks location suitability, including location information; it is not a speed test. It temporarily disconnects internet access. If you use it, follow the manual’s steps for restoring the connection and choose a time that will not interrupt anyone.
The L13 also has reception indicators on the unit. Its setup tool’s “recommended location” feature and the ZTELink JP app can compare signal strength at different places (manual pp. 10, 18, and 46). A good reception indicator on the router still does not show whether a computer at a distant desk has a reliable Wi-Fi connection. There are two separate links to consider: the mobile-radio link from the base station to the router, and the Wi-Fi link from the router to your phone or computer. A router indicator cannot establish the quality of both links or identify the cause of a problem.
For each candidate, record the address/service confirmation, model, power outlet, ventilation, stable surface, temperature, sunlight, nearby metal, cable access, and 20 cm separation. Also record date and time, router indicators, connected device and its location, Wi-Fi or wired connection, task, interruptions, and other devices using the network. A speed test is optional; if used, keep the service, device, method, and time with the result. A number alone does not prove a provider or device is faulty.
Use the comparison sheet only for equipment you are allowed to use and locations that meet the model’s safety and placement rules. Keep the device position and task as similar as possible between locations, and note what changed. Do not publish a real SSID, password, or exact address in a public support post. Compare results only when more than one location meets the safe-placement requirements; if none does, ask the property manager, provider, or manufacturer about the exact model and room conditions.
Compare common tasks such as meetings, video, and file uploads at the times you normally use them. If you cannot safely test a location or do not have the unit, mark it unconfirmed.
Use the record to choose a next step
Ask the provider about address eligibility and contract limits. Ask the property manager about permission to use a location or cable route. Ask the manufacturer about the exact model, clearance, power cord, and ventilation. Keep the details of a room test separate from coverage-map results. These checks do not establish service quality for a room that was not tested. For general connection choices, see the guide to choosing an internet connection.
If installed internet or a phone already meets your needs, keep the result and contract conditions and do not buy another device. If there is no unit to test yet, a safe location and address eligibility are only candidate checks; actual indoor service quality remains untested until the service is available. If a device you already use causes problems, give the comparison record to support rather than replacing it based only on a reception indicator.
Official sources (Japanese)
The Japanese source file records each reference’s scope and its own verification date. The sources below are in Japanese.
