Projects like on GitHub provide modern OpenWrt builds targeting MSM8916 devices, ensuring full modem, USB gadget, and Wi-Fi support. The open-source community has also created general-purpose OS images like OpenStick , which turns the dongle into a portable computing device that you can manage via Wi-Fi and SSH (using default credentials like SSID: 4G-UFI-XX and PSK: 1234567890 ). If you have a ZTE device, you can also explore tools like UFI-TOOLS , which extend the functionality of the original firmware.
Because many of these dongles use the MSM8916 SoC, there is a thriving community around modding them: 4g Ufi Dongle Firmware
Factory firmware often crashes when 10+ devices connect. Newer builds improve the Wi-Fi driver’s memory management, reducing random reboots. Projects like on GitHub provide modern OpenWrt builds