Category: 4G LTE CPE/Router

TP-Link TL-MR6500v 4G LTE Router Test

A few days ago, TP-Link offers a new LTE router TL-MR6500v which has a special feature of the integrated telephone function including the RJ11 interface for an analog telephone. Telephony can be handled either via the SIM card via VoLTE or via classic VoIP. In the test, the TP-Link TL-MR6500v will show how well the router works in practice.

 

The TP-Link TL-MR6500v is packed in an unspectacular box. The labeling is almost entirely in English, and the quick start guide provided explains the commissioning very clearly as well. In addition to the 4G LTE WiFi router itself, the packaging also includes a power supply unit and a short LAN cable. Since the router requires a MicroSIM card, TP-Link has even included an adapter from Nano-SIM to Micro-SIM.

 

First impression of the MR6500v: for a stationary LTE router, the TP-link 4G WiFi Router is quite small and flat. This may also be due to the fact that the cellular antennas have to be screwed externally to the router and are not integrated into the device, as is the case with most other LTE routers. The advantage of the external antennas, however, is that you can also connect your own 4G LTE antennas if necessary, as these are standardized SMA connections.

 

The design of the TP-Link TL-MR6500v is rather unspectacular: There is a glossy black front with some LEDs that indicate the operating status and the reception strength. The underside has plenty of ventilation holes so that no heat can build up. All connections are on the back. There are three RJ45 LAN interfaces, an RJ11 socket, a connection for the power supply unit, a MicroSIM slot and three buttons: Power, WPS / Reset and WLAN On / Off.

 

 

 

LTE modem for up to 150 Mbit/s

TP-Link has installed a comparatively slow LTE Cat4 modem in the TL-MR6500v, which can achieve speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s in the download and up to 50 Mbit/s in the upload. In addition to 4G / LTE, 3G / UMTS is also supported, but the router cannot support 2G/GSM. The following frequency bands can be used:

  • 4G / LTE: B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B38, B40, B41
    • 3G / UMTS: B1, B8

With this frequency band support, the router can be used well and without problems in Asia, Africa and Europe.

In practice, the LTE modem left a mixed picture. The reception quality is decent, the external stub antennas deliver a good performance even with weak reception. The speeds are well below the values ​​that can be measured at the same location with other end devices. An example: where the Huawei B818 router can download around 300 Mbit/s, the TP-Link TL-MR6500v only delivers around 60 Mbit/s. On the one hand, this is due to the weak WLAN and the LAN, which is limited to 100 Mbit/s, on the other hand, the modem cannot bundle frequency bands (carrier aggregation). This means that the router can only use a small part of the capacity made available by the cellular network.

 

The maximum speed in the test was around 90 Mbit/s in the downlink and just under 50 Mbit/s in the uplink in test LTE network. The latency times were pleasantly low at well under 20 milliseconds. In addition to IPv4, the router also supports IPv6; in the test with a SIM card, addresses from both areas were assigned.

In practice, the low maximum speed of the LTE modem is not a problem for most applications. The TL-MR6500v is perfect for surfing and video streams are no problem either. The device may not be ideally suited for very large downloads or for use with many devices at the same time.

Slowly: LAN and WLAN

The TP-Link TL-MR6500v has three RJ45 100 Mbit/s LAN connections on the back, of which LAN3 can also be used as a WAN connection if required. Of course, Gigabit LAN would have been nice, but given the low price, the maximum of 100 Mbit/s is still okay.

 

TP-Link has also made savings in the WLAN with the MR6500v and relies on a radio module that works exclusively in the frequency range around 2.4 GHz. The theoretically maximum possible speed is 300 Mbit/s, but data rates of around 150 Mbit/s were mostly observed in the test.

The WiFi range was completely sufficient for an apartment with about 70 square meters in the test. However, the MR6500v cannot fully supply larger apartments or a single-family house; the use of a WiFi repeater may be advisable here.

 

TP-Link enables the configuration of a WLAN schedule in the settings of the TL-MR6500v in order to automatically switch the WLAN on and off. The schedule can be individually controlled on a daily basis if desired.

If necessary, a WLAN guest network can also be activated in the web interface. This can be provided with a password and, optionally, access to the local network is also possible.

 

Telephony via VoLTE or VoIP

The TP-Link TL-MR6500v is one of the very few LTE router models that offer a telephone function in addition to the Internet. If you have an analog phone connected to the RJ11 connection on the back of the router, you can either make calls via the SIM card and be available (Voice over LTE, VoLTE) or you can store special VoIP access data and make calls via a third-party provider.

In the test, both the telephony via the SIM card in the LTE network with VoLTE and via VoIP with Sipgate worked perfectly. The voice quality was good. Sometimes the call setup and the call signaling took significantly longer than on a cell phone, but the fault here is likely to be with the connected DECT phone. By the way: the MR6500v does not offer a DECT function, so cell phones need a suitable external DECT base.


The TP-Link TL-MR6500v offers a good and full-fledged telephone system with many important basic functions. This includes, for example, a simple address book, an answering machine, a “do not disturb” function and the ability to block phone numbers.

 

Operation and software

The TP-Link TL-MR6500v router can be easily configured via a web interface in the browser. In the test, the display was clearly structured both on a Windows PC and on the iPad and operation was very easy and clear.

The setting options on the MR6500v are quite extensive. In the network or Internet area, for example, not only the network mode (e.g. 4G preferred) can be set, but the frequency band can also be selected. This can be very helpful, especially when used with an external LTE directional antenna.

 

Further setting options in the Internet area concern, for example, a freely adjustable “data limit” for volume tariffs as well as dynamic DNS or static routing.

In the web interface, the user has the option of sending and receiving SMS. For example, messages can be received from the network operator or, if a corresponding tariff is used, SMS can be sent to top up the prepaid credit.

The LEDs on the front of the TL-MR6500v can be switched off in the web interface at certain times or completely. A firmware update is also possible in the web interface. Other functions in the web interface are, for example, child protection, a content filter, NAT and VPN settings. In addition, bandwidth prioritization of certain services and applications is possible via QoS.

 

 

Conclusion: TP-Link TL-MR6500v LTE router

The TP-Link TL-MR6500v offers an excellent price-performance ratio. If you are looking for an inexpensive LTE router with a telephone function and many setting options, the TL-MR6500v is a very good device. The ability to make calls via VoLTE in the cellular network was particularly popular in the test. The software is also implemented convincingly. There is criticism for the comparatively slow LTE modem as well as the slow LAN and WLAN.

 

TP-Link M7000 4G Mobile WiFi Hotspot Test

The TP-Link M7000 LTE router has been available in Europe since mid-2020 and is the successor to the almost identical TP-Link M7200. The 4G LTE router costs less than 100USD in online shops without a contract and is suitable for all tariffs and SIM cards (no SIM lock).

 

In addition to the router itself, the package content also includes a short USB to micro USB cable. This cable allows the battery to be charged at any USB port, such as an existing USB power supply unit or a computer. There is no power adapter included, which is understandable given the low price.

 

Furthermore, there is a printed user guide included. TP-Link has also included an adapter that enables the use of Nano SIM or Micro SIM cards in the router. In the test, however, a SIM adapter supplied by the network operator also worked without any problems.

If you pick up the TP-Link M7000, you immediately notice the compact dimensions and the low weight of only around 86 grams including the battery. As a result, the TP-Link 4G WiFi router is hardly a problem in a small handbag or in a vest pocket. 3 status LEDs on the front indicate the operating status, there is no display.

TP-Link M7000 LTE Modem

The cellular modem in the TP-Link M7000 Hotspot supports the cellular standards 3G / UMTS and 4G / LTE. 2G/GSM is not supported, which is not tragic in view of the low speeds in the 2G network.

The router can use almost all LTE frequency ranges that are important for Europe: Band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 20 but without band 28 (700 MHz). Since band 28 is used in particular in rural regions and there mostly in combination with band 20, this is probably only a critical point for a few users.

 

The theoretically maximum possible speed is 150 Mbit/s in the downlink and up to 50 Mbit/s in the uplink. This is a slow LTE modem by today’s standards, but considering the low price, that’s fine. In practice, several devices can be supplied with fast internet without any problems and several parallel video streams were also not a problem in the test.

Unfortunately, the maximum speed is limited by the weak WLAN module. In the test, a maximum of 55 Mbit/s could be measured in the download and up to 45 Mbit/s in the upload via LTE. For comparison: with a current smartphone (Apple iPhone 12 mini), around 300 Mbit/s for download and almost 200 Mbit/s for upload were possible at the same location. If TP-Link had installed a faster WLAN module, at least the maximum speed of the modem would have been possible. Unfortunately, the M7000 cannot be used as a USB modem either, so you only have to rely on WiFi.

 

 

TP-Link M7000: WLAN in the test

The TP-Link M7000 can supply up to 10 devices with a WLAN connection at the same time. The router works exclusively in the WLAN frequency band around 2.4 GHz; a connection with up to 145 Mbit/s could be established in the test. However, this is the gross data rate; in practice – as already described in the modem test – significantly lower bandwidths are achieved. The router does not offer a guest WLAN function.

 

The range is absolutely sufficient for a small apartment, a summer house or a caravan. However, a range of more than 10 meters is hardly possible if there are still obstacles such as a wall between the router and the end device. The WLAN transmission power and thus the range can be reduced in the menu, there are a total of three power levels. There is also the option to automatically switch off the WLAN after 10 minutes if no device is active in the WLAN.

 

The WLAN module cannot be used as a repeater or extender. Other mobile LTE routers partially offer this function, so that an existing WLAN network can be used for Internet access. This function, sometimes called “WLAN Offloading”, is useful to save data volume.

Operation via app and web interface

In some places the user has to forego convenience functions with the M7000, which are quite common with more expensive mobile router models such as Huawei E5788, Netgear Nighthawk M1. This definitely does not apply to the software and operation, TP-Link has done a good job here.

 

 

Most users will certainly use the “tpMiFi” app to operate and configure the TP-Link M7000. The app is available for both Android and iOS and provides quick instructions on starting up the router right from the start. The app is very clearly designed and offers all functions that are also available in the browser web interface. This is very commendable, because many other manufacturers only provide a reduced range of functions via their apps.

 

If you don’t want to install an app, you can easily operate the TP-Link M7000 via a browser web interface. The user interface is accessed via the IP address 192.168.0.1. After the first request, a new password must be set, after which you can start. Unfortunately, the web interface of the test device was only available in English.

Various status information is visible on the start page, both in the app and in the web interface. This includes statistics on data consumption, information on the WiFi connection and information on the cellular connection. Separate menus are available for more detailed information and settings.

A wide variety of things can be configured for the Internet connection, for example a data volume limit can be set, after 90% of the data used, a notification is sent and at 100% the data connection is disconnected. Data usage abroad (data roaming) can also be activated and deactivated. The router is set to “4G preferred” at the factory, but can also be set to “4G only” or “3G only” if necessary.

Battery life in the test

The battery on the TP-Link M7000 can be changed without any problems and has a capacity of 2,000 mAh. The manufacturer advertises a battery life of up to 8 hours. In the test, the battery life with activated energy-saving mode and WLAN range “medium” was checked. For the duration of the test, at least 2 devices were connected at the same time and there was a permanent internet radio stream. The battery lasted around 6 hours under these conditions. If the WLAN transmission power is set to “low” and no permanent streaming is used, the specification of TP-Link (8 hours) can even be realistically achieved.


During continuous operation, the TP-Link M7000 became slightly warm, but not hot. This is completely normal for a 4g mobile hotspot and compared to many other devices the hotspot stayed relatively cool.

Other things about the TP-Link M7000

If you are looking for a mobile router with an RJ45 Ethernet LAN connection, you will not be happy with the TP-Link M7000, because the router only has the aforementioned micro-USB connection. The Huawei E5885 may be a good hotspot for you. There are also no connections for an external cellular antenna.

In addition to SMS, USSD codes can also be sent via the web interface or the app. This is useful, for example, to check the credit of a prepaid card or to set the main card for a multi-SIM.

Test conclusion: TP-Link M7000

The TP-Link M7000 is a very inexpensive mobile LTE router, but the device made a good impression in the test. The device is small and compact, the battery life is good and operation is easy thanks to good software. You have to do without comfort features such as a LAN connection or connections for external antennas.

The biggest weak point is certainly the relatively slow WLAN module, which reduces the maximum data rate of the LTE modem from theoretically 150 Mbit/s to around 55 Mbit/s in practice. If you can live with the limitations, the TP-Link M7000 is a good mobile LTE router.

Alcatel HH71 LinkHub 4G Home Router Review

In 2020, Alcatel offers a 4G LTE router HH71, which also bears the name “LINKHUB LTE cat7 Home Station” and it has been sold at congstar since March 2020 as a “Homespot” LTE router together with the Homespot tariffs. The Alcatel 4G Router connects up to 32 devices to the LTE cellular network via WiFi.

Alcatel LinkHub HH71 Router Specifications
Manufacturer and type designation: Alcatel HH71
Chipset: Qualcomm MDM9240-1
LTE category: Cat. 7
Download rate up to: 300 Mbit/s
Upload rate up to: 150 Mbit/s
Supported LTE bands: 700, 800, 900, 1800, 1500,2100, 2600 MHz
Downward compatible with: UMTS/GSM
Support from LTE-Advanced: Yes
MIMO Support: Yes
Connection for external antenna: yes, TS-9 Connector(Buy Alcatel HH71 Antenna)
Telephone
With integrated telephone system: No; only model HH71V1
Connection for ISDN telephones: –
Connection for analog telephones: no, (only HH71V1)
DECT: No
integrated answering machine: No
Network | LAN & WLAN
LAN ports: yes, 1 port
WLAN standards: IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 + 5 GHz
5 GHz WLAN support: Yes
Encryption: WEP, WPA, WPA2
WiFi hotspot function: yes, up to 32 devices
Others
Battery pack: No
Dimension: 145 x 100 x 89.3 mm
USB: No
Memory card extension: No
Release: 1st quarter 2020
Price: 199.00USD
available at: »www.4gltemall.com
Information material
Manual as PDF »Currently not available
Datasheet PDF »

 

Speed up to 300 Mbit/s

Theoretically, the Alcatel HH71 supports download rates of up to 300 Mbit/s. Uploading via the mobile data network is possible at a speed of up to 100 Mbit/s. However, as with all devices of this type, these are only theoretical values.

 

Technically, the Alcatel HH71 supports LTE Cat 7 and the LTE bands 700, 800, 900, 1800, 1500, 2100 and 2600 MHz. Reception can be improved by connecting up to two external LTE antennas (TS-9 connector). The prerequisite for reception is that a 4G SIM card is inserted.

 

WLAN for at home

The name “LINKHUB LTE cat7 Home Station” already shows that the Alcatel HH71 router is primarily intended for use at home. It can be used wherever there is no broadband connection and the Internet is to be supplied via the LTE cellular network. It also fits that the 4G LTE WiFi router has no integrated battery, so it is always dependent on a socket nearby. The Alcatel HH71 is therefore not a mobile router that can be used anywhere as a WLAN hotspot. Instead, it opens up a WiFi connection at home. It supports IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with the two frequencies 2.4 and 5 GHz. Up to 32 devices such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, laptops and more can connect wirelessly to the LTE router. The multi-antenna technology 2 × 2 MIMO ensures a stable connection and good reception. There is also a LAN port that can theoretically be expanded via a hub. It also has an RJ11 port for connecting a telephone. However, some variant models may has not the telephone port.

Simple design

Visually, the rounded Alcatel HH71, which is only available in white, is simple. The connections already mentioned are located on the back. At the front there are four status LEDs arranged vertically one above the other for power, WiFi, network and signal. With dimensions of 145 x 100 x 89 mm, it doesn’t take up much space either. The weight is 325 g for the HH71VM and 330 g for the HH71V1. However, it does not play a decisive role in a device designed for domestic use.

 

 

 

Inside the Alcatel HH71 is the Qualcomm MDM9240-1 platform. It is supported by 2 GB of RAM and 2 GB of ROM. Alcatel offers its own app for setup and administration. Among other things, they can be used to view the status of the connection and the connected devices, change the SSID and password and much more.

 

Other competitors

Many other manufacturers already presented many 4G LTE WiFi routers to the market, such as Huawei B528, Huawei B618, Huawei B525, Huawei E5186, ZTE MF286, ZTE MF275R, ZTE MF288 etc…Their functions are very similar, the main difference is on the appearance and design. Some of them may have better price.

Vodafone Gigacube CAT19 (Huawei B818-260) Router Review

To provide significantly faster speeds for users, Vodafone updates its GigaCube and it also comes from Huawei. The current version comes to CAT19 in the LTE network and thus achieves a maximum download of up to 1.6 Gbit/s. The predecessor Vodafone Gigacube B528 ran out of air at 300 Mbit/s. Those looking for maximum performance now have another alternative; the new Vodafone Gigacube Cat19 can provide much better surfing experience. The specific model of Vodafone Gigacube Cat19 is Huawei B818-260. Let’s have a review of what has changed with the GigaCube CAT19.

Features and Specifications of the Huawei B818-260
Manufacturer and type designation: Huawei B818-260 (Gigacube CAT19)
Chipset: HiSilicon Balong V7R65
LTE category: up to LTE CAT19
Download rate to: 1,600 Mbit/s
Upload rate to: 150 Mbit/s
Supported LTE bands: 700, 800, 900, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2600, 3500 MHz
Downward compatible to: GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, DC-HSDPA
Support from LTE-Advanced: Yes
MIMO support: yes, MIMO 3×3
Connection for external antenna: yes, 2x TS-9 connectors(Buy Vodafone Gigacbue Cat19 external antenna)
Network | LAN & WLAN
LAN ports: 2 x Gbit port
WLAN standards: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz)
5 GHz WiFi support: Yes
Encryption: WPS / WPA / WPA2
WLAN hotspot function: yes, up to 32 users
Others
Telephone no connection (VOIP only via SIP)
Telephone port No
WAN port Yes
IPv6 dual stack Yes
Battery pack: No
Dimension: 105 x 103 x 225 mm at 700 g
USB: Yes
Memory card expansion: No
Release: 03/18/2019
Price: 399.00USD
available at: »WWW.4GLTEMALL.COM
Information material
Test and experience report » Vodafone Gigacube Cat19 Test
Installation Guide: » Vodafone Gigacube Cat19 User manual

New SoC for more performance

One of the disadvantages of the old GigaCube router(Huawei B528) was that it was limited to 300 Mbit/s in download with LTE-CAT6. This has now been remedied with the new GigaCube CAT19 version. As the name suggests, the new Cube is in the 4G LTE CAT19 and thus achieves a maximum download of up to 1.6 Gbit/s. The new HiSilicon Balong V7R65 SoC (System on a Chip) is responsible for this. The new centerpiece also does a lot more in uploading. Here a clear jump was made from 50 to 150 Mbit/s.

 

Significantly gained weight

The new Cube is now more angular and looks much more modern. The color is still white and is a little reminiscent of the design artists from Apple. While the predecessor only managed 366 grams, the CAT19 version with 620g is almost twice as heavy but a lightweight. However, this should not interfere in daily operation, because it is not intended as a companion for a hiking tour. Furthermore, there is no battery, so you always have to rely on an outlet.

 

Technical Specs

If you want a wide range of connectivity, you will enjoy the new edition. Naturally, WiFi is on board and works at 2.4 and 5 GHz according to 802.11 a/b/g/n and ac. The MIMO capability (multi-antenna technology) has also been improved. So 3 × 3 is used instead of 2 × 2, which significantly increases data throughput. The Gigacube CAT19 also offers more wired options. One the back, there was only one Gigabit Ethernet port before, you now have access to two. The USB port, which is now new and allows the connection of external data carriers, is very pleasing. Last but not least, the new GigaCube also offers connection options for external antennas via two TS9 ports. Internally, however, four antennas are already in service, so that 4 × 4 MIMO via LTE is possible, as specified by CAT19.

 

 

A small downgrade was made on one point. While up to 64 simultaneous devices were previously possible, the number is now reduced to 32. However, this should not play a major role in daily use. It will rarely happen that such a number of devices should be operated. If so, the two Ethernet ports are a good alternative to connect another router. By the way, this additional technology also means a slightly higher power consumption.

 

 

Difference to the predecessor Huawei B528

The new Huawei 4G WiFi router from 2019 primarily offers a more modern LTE modem, which is also well equipped for future upgrades in the 4G network from Vodafone. The first generation Gigacube, on the other hand, is “only” designed up to 300 MBit. In addition, the CAT19 box already supports LTE at 700 MHz. Otherwise, the differences are rather small. Both offer WLAN up to 802.11ac and two TS9 sockets for external antennas. The GigaCube CAT19 also provides an additional gigabit LAN port. Our later test report shows whether the successor can get more out of it in practice.

 

Huawei 4G Router 3 Prime B818 Review

Huawei B818 was introduced two years ago but recently, Huawei supplied this new 4G wireless router to the market and some network providers. Huawei B818 4G router Prime has two variant models now: Huawei B818-260 and B818-263. The Huawei B818-263 is also named Huawei 4G Router 3 Prime.

The Huawei B818 is a 5G ready router (LTE Cat. 19). The Huawei 4G WiFi router is unlocked – works without any problems with any network with a maximum download speed of up to 1600 Mbit/s, and sending up to 150 Mbit/s. The router has many languages available for web interface settings and is easy to use. The full package content includes: Huawei B818 router, power supply, RJ-45 cable, user manual, warranty card and white box.

 

Huawei B818 is a stationary router that can support up to 64 devices (32 on 2.4 and 5.0 GHz). It has a built-in Ethernet socket; you can connect two external antennas (3G and LTE) to it. You can conveniently manage the router using the HiLink application (available on Android and iOS platforms). The Huawei B818 router has a WPS button that makes it easy to pair devices with the router. Huawei B818 is the successor to the well-known Huawei B618s.

The main Specifications of the Huawei 4G Router 3 Prime:

  • SIM unlocked for global use
  • Download speed up to 1600 Mbit/s (LTE category 19)
  • WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless network
  • Support up to 64 connected devices
  • Support for every network in Poland (and Europe)
  • 2 x LAN 10/100/1000 Mbit/s
  • 1 x WAN 10/100/1000 Mbit/s
  • LTE download speed up to 150 Mbit/s
  • Management option via the Huawei HiLink application

Huawei B818-263 Applications:

  • Huawei 4G Router 3 Prime is a very fast LTE cat. 19 router. It can support up to 64 users at the same time, so it’s perfect for both home and office. Thanks to 4×4 MIMO technology that increases the throughput of your local network several times, you will get a fantastic speed of up to 1.6 Gbit/s. The device is equipped with 4 internal antennas that extend the data transmission range by 40% and guarantee you a strong and stable signal also in large, multi-level rooms.
  • Huawei 4G Router 3 Prime is very easy to use thanks to the Huawei application. It will help you find the best location for the router, and will also allow you to independently manage network traffic, parental control, network protection or guest accounts. What’s more, the router will provide you with several levels of security: encryption, network security against unauthorized persons and quick logout of unauthorized users.

Smooth operation

  • HUAWEI B818 gives you uninterrupted Internet access thanks to the combination of a mobile network and an Ethernet connection. Get access to fast internet using Wi-Fi or a network cable. You can also create your own local network.

Powerful antenna

Support up to 64 users

  • HUAWEI B818 sensationally meets the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises supporting use by up to 64 people via a Wi-Fi connection.

 

 

Here is the general Specification of Huawei 4G Router 3 Prime B818:

Supported bands: LTE Cat19 / HSPA+ / HSDPA / HSUPA / HSDPA / HSPA / UMTS / WCDMA / EDGE / GSM

Data download: up to 1600 Mbps

Data upload: up to 150 Mbps

Connectors:

  • SIM card slot
  • 2 LAN (RJ45) inputs,
  • WAN / LAN port (RJ45),
  • Entry to the telephone port (RJ11),
  • Two switches on the external antenna.

WLAN: WiFi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

LED diodes:

  • Cellular network signal strength indicators,
  • Power indicator
  • Status indicator
  • LAN indicator
  • Wi-Fi indicator
  • Mode indicator.

Functions:

  • Administrative website, full router management using a web browser from a computer or mobile device (also using the Huawei HiLink App mobile application),
  • 2 SSID,
  • WPS
  • Limit on the number of Wi-Fi devices (up to 64),
  • Choice of Wi-Fi channel width and number,
  • SMS support,
  • DHCP
  • Remembering the SIM card PIN,
  • Counter and data limit
  • List of blocked Wi-Fi devices,
  • Login Manager.

Dimensions: 102 x 103 x 225 mm

Weight: 620 g

Huawei B818 VS Huawei B618

Huawei B818 WiFi router was introduced for a long time but was recently available in the market. Perhaps because the 5G network development is delayed in many countries, the LTE advanced Pro network is still the main development trend. As the top equipment supplier, Huawei presented the Huawei B818 4G Router two years ago but until recently, the Huawei B818 is available to buy. The processor Huawei B618 was the best seller of 4G Wireless Routers in past years. The two Huawei 4G Wireless Routers looks similar, many customers want to know what the difference is between the Huawei B818 and B618 router. Today we will have a check the comparison of the two routers.

 

 

Huawei B818 VS Huawei B618 Specifications and Features

 

Model Huawei B818 Huawei B618
Product type LTE WiFi Router LTE WiFi Router
Category LTE Cat.19 LTE Cat.9/ Cat.11
Chipset HiSilicon Balong V7R65 HiSilicon Balong 750
LTE Data rates DL 1.6Gbps/UL 150Mbps DL 600Mbps/UL 100Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands Huawei B818-260: Band 1/3/7/8/20/28/32/38/42
Huawei B818-263: 1/3/5/7/8/20/26/28/32/38/40/41/42/43		 B618s-22d: Band 1/3/7/8/20/38
B618s-65d: 1/3/5/7/8/28/40
WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max supported users 64 users 64 users
MIMO 8 X 8 MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO
Antenna Two, TS-9 jacks Two, TS-9 jacks
Buy Antenna Huawei B818 External Antenna Huawei B618 Antenna
App management Huawei Hilink APP Huawei Hilink APP
SIM Size Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery NO NO
Dimensions 103 x 103 x 225mm 95 × 95 × 208mm
Interfaces * 1 x LAN port(45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (45)
* 1 x telephone port(RJ11)
* 1 x USB 2.0 port
* 2 x external LTE antenna ports		 * 1 x LAN port(45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (45)
* 1 x telephone port(RJ11)
* 1 x USB 2.0 port
* 2 x external LTE antenna ports
Datasheet Huawei B818 Datasheet Huawei B618 Datasheet
User Manual Huawei B818 User Manual Huawei B618 User Manual
Other features DHCP Server, DNS RELAY and NAT, VoLTE, IPv4 /IPv6 dual stack DHCP Server, DNS RELAY and NAT, VoLTE, IPv4 /IPv6 dual stack
Firmware download Huawei B818 firmware Huawei B618 firmware
Driver Huawei B818 driver Huawei B618 driver
Reviews Huawei B818 Review Huawei B618s-22d Review
Price/USD 499.00USD 449.00USD

 

 

From the table, we can see the upgrade model Huawei B818 supports fast LTE download speeds and it supports more LTE frequency bands. Other features are very similar on the two Huawei LTE routers. The body of Huawei B818 is larger than Huawei B618 router. Of course the latest Huawei B818 price is higher than Huawei B618 price.

 

Huawei 4G Router 3 Pro B535 Test

The new router Huawei 4G Router 3 Pro (Huawei B535-232) was available in European countries for a few months, which is integrated LTE Cat7 modem and allows speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s in the downlink. As we introducted before, Huawei B535 router has many predecessor such as the Huawei B618 or the Huawei B818, which can provide much faster link speeds, but they also cost a lot more expensive than Huawei B535.

Like other Huawei 4G WiFi routers, the Huawei B535 LTE router is packed in a simple cardboard box. In addition to the router with the model number B535-232, you will also find a power supply unit (output: 12V, 1A) and a stand dock. A multilingual quick start guide and a warranty card are also included.

 

If you already had a few LTE routers in hand, the first thing you notice about the Huawei B535 is the comparatively flat design. The body of Huawei 4G Router 3 Pro is made of gray and white plasti and visually unobtrusive. Various LEDs are located on the front, which indicate the operating status. For example, the reception strength is signaled using five bars. There are also LEDs for power, internet, WLAN and LAN.

There are two buttons for power and WPS on the top. These have a clear pressure point. All connections are on the back of the Huawei B535 4G Router 3 Pro. There are four Gigabit LAN connections, a connection for the power supply, a reset button and two SMA connections under one cover for an external cellular antenna. The Huawei B535 does not offer support for USB devices or telephone.

 

 

Huawei 4G Router 3 Pro Specifications

In theory, the modem of the Huawei B535 LTE router can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s in the downlink and up to 100 Mbit/s in the uplink (LTE Cat7). Almost all frequency bands important for Europe are supported, as the following list shows. Only the band 32 (1,500 MHz) cannot be used by the router, but there are no restrictions. Huawei does not provide any information about the possible CA combinations.

  • 4G/LTE Band: B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B28
  • 3G / UMTS: B1, B8

 

2G GSM network is not supported. In view of the now very good LTE network expansion, this is surely not be a good problem for most users.

 

In terms of LTE speeds, the Huawei B535 was able to convince in the test. Although the device was tested in the test with unlimited SIM cards from Vodafone, it was far from the theoretical maximum, but with well over 150 Mbit/s in the downlink and up to 70 Mbit/s in the uplink, you can do a good life. We also take a comparison test with the Netgear Nighthawk M2 Router and it shows that the network theoretically enables even higher speeds.

 

 

The latency was usually well below 30 milliseconds, and the peak was even less than 20 milliseconds. The reception and transmission power was very good in the test (LTE B3, B7, B20).

The Huawei B535 4G Router 3 Pro also offers the option of connecting an external cellular antenna. The effect of a 4G LTE outdoor antenna was not tested separately in the test. If the external antenna is not automatically recognized, you can manually switch to the external antenna in the web interface.

 

Fast dual band WiFi

So that the maximum LTE speed also reaches the connected end devices, a fast WLAN module is of course required. The Huawei B535 supports WLAN ac at 2.4 GHz with up to 300 Mbit/s and at 5 GHz with up to 867 Mbit/s. In the test, the 867 Mbit/s could also be reached up to 5 meters by line of sight.

As soon as a wall came between the router and the end device, the data rate dropped noticeably. Fast surfing and video streaming was also about 10 meters away from the router and was still possible without problems after two walls. The Wi-Fi range of the Huawei B535 was convincing in the test!

 

The Huawei B535 can simultaneously supply a maximum of 64 end devices with a WLAN connection. The WLAN name can be set separately for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so as the password. There is also the option of setting up a guest WLAN. The guest WLAN can either run indefinitely or be automatically switched off after one or four hours.

The Huawei B535 does not have a WLAN extender function, i.e. the use of an existing WLAN as Internet access. There is also no WLAN timer.

 

Gigabit LAN and WAN function

The four RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN connections on the back allow the connection of devices such as computers, televisions or games consoles via cable. The connections worked smoothly in the test.

 

If desired, the LAN 4 connection can also be used as a WAN connection. This means that the internal cellular modem is switched off and the Internet connection is processed via an existing LAN connection. Of course, this is particularly useful if you only occasionally use the Huawei B535 as an LTE router. For the rest of the time, the device then functions as a normal WLAN access point.

 

Software and operation

To set up and configure the Huawei B535 4G Router 3 Pro, you can either use the Huawei Smart Home app (available for Android and iOS) or the browser web interface. Both the app and the web interface have a modern, functional and clearly structured design and are easy to use.

 

 

In addition to the usual settings for WLAN and network, which were mentioned in the test, there are also some more special functions. These include, for example, the VPN function, the bridge mode and the dynamic DNS function. There is also the option of filtering IP addresses or domains.

 

In addition to an SMS function, there is also a statistics function with which the data volume used and online time can be checked. There is also an easy-to-use parental control function, which can limit the usage time (separated by days and times) for individual devices, for example.

 

Unfortunately, neither the app nor the web interface offer the option of displaying detailed information about the Internet connection, such as the frequency band used, the antenna technology used or the CA status. There are also no such settings, for example to set the router to a specific frequency band. The LTE router models from AVM, for example the FRITZ! Box 6820 LTE offers significantly better equipment in this area. After all, there is the possibility to use “only 3G” or “only 4G”. The Huawei B535 does not support GSM / 2G anyway. 

 

Test conclusion: good performance at a low price

The Huawei B535-232 4G Router 3 Pro left a very good impression in the test. The design of hardware and software is simple and functional, operation via app and web interface is simple and well thought out. In places, however, more information and setting options would be desirable.

 

 

The connection speeds via LTE and WLAN are good, and the many RJ45 Ethernet LAN connections are commendable. You have to do without a telephone system and a USB connection, but Huawei has installed connections for an external 4G LTE antenna. If you can live with the few functions described, the Huawei B535 is a very good LTE router at a fair price.

 

Vodafone GigaCube 5G Router H112-370 Review

Vodafone is the first operator in Germany to provide 5G service. To help users enjoy 5G service, Vodafone also presented the 5G data tariff with a compatible 5G router, which is named “Gigacube 5G”. We show what the super router can do, what advantages and weaknesses there are in this blog. Of course there is also a comparison to the previous model (Huawei B818 = Vodafone GigaCube Cat19) and saving tips for interested parties.

 

Vodafone Gigacube 5G Specs and Features
Manufacturer and device name Huawei CPE 5G Pro (H112-370) = Gigacube 5G
Supported mobile standards 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
5G network modes Non standalone & stand alone
chipset Huawei Balong 5000
Maximum 5G data rate 2.8 GBit/s Down & 150 MBit/s Up according to Vodafone
5G frequencies 5G band n78
mmWave frequencies no, only the H112-372 still supported n41 / n77 / n79(more about difference between Huawei H112-370 and H112-372)
LTE frequencies 700, 800, 900, 1500, 1800, 2100,  2600, 3500 MHz
External 5G antenna can be connected yes, 2 x TS9 ports(Buy Vodafone Gigacube 5G External Antenna)
WLAN Features (LAN & WiFi)
WLAN standards 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and ax(up to Wifi 6)
Maximum gross data rate with WLAN 5100 Mbps
Supported WLAN bands 2.4 and 5 GHz, 6 Wifi antennas
WLAN guest access can be installed Yes
WLAN encryption standards WPA, WPA2, WPS
Gigabit LAN yes, 2 ports
WAN port No
Telephone
Telephone Support No
Other features
IPv6 support; Dual stack Yes / Yes
NAS capable No
SIM form factor Nano SIM
Power consumption approx. <24 watts
Suitable for IPTV Yes
Can be used as a media server no, no USB
USB ports on the back No
Battery for self-sufficient operation No
Dimension and weight 99 mm x 107 mm x 215 mm and 765 grams
Files to download
Datasheet for download (PDF) not yet available online
Manual for download (PDF) not yet available online
Available »https://www.4gltemall.com/

 

 

First 5G router in Germany

The Gigacube 5G was the first 5G Router widely available in Germany, although shortly before another network provider in Germany Telekom presented a 5G gateway named HTC 5G Hub.

 

From a purely visual point of view, it looks similar to the predecessor model called “Gigacube CAT19” at first glance. Instead of the Vodafone logo emblazoned on the front now, the Huawei logo, which is actually atypical for the routers from Vodafone. In addition, the striking big “5G” was stamped on the top. Also, the number of LEDs in the front has been greatly reduced from 8 to 3 pieces.

 

Data rate, models and 5G SoC

The Vodafone 5G Router is actually the “H112-370” model from Huawei. There is, of course, another version called “H112-372“, which differs in terms of Wifi and 5G/LTE equipment. At the heart of the Gigacube 5G is the Balong 5000 chipset, which was introduced in January 2019, The SoC in itself dominated some features, such as 5G in the mmwave area, but which were obviously disabled in part in the firmware. There are also various specifications for the maximum possible data rate. While Huawei speaks of a 5G transmission rate of 2.33 GBit/s in the download and 1.25 GBit/s in the upload, Vodafone gives 2.8 GBit/s (down) and 150 MBit/s (up).

 

Frequencies for 4G & 5G

The newest version controls all nationally and internationally relevant bands. Vodafone GigaCube 5G supports LTE FDD Band 700/800/900/1500/1800/2100 and 2600 MHz. In addition, the TDD band 3500 MHz is supported. At 5G, unfortunately, only one band is supported, the so-called n78 band which includes frequencies from 3.3 to 3.8 GHz. So it could be problematic if other bands are released in the future. If you want to use the 5G router supporting more 5G frequency bands, you may check the Huawei CPE 5G PRO H112-372 which supports additional 5G at n41, n77 and n79.

Connections & WLAN

On the back there are two Gigabit LAN ports, as well as a telephone connection. It describes how to connect a telephone anyway. It is also negative that the 5G model no longer has a USB port. The use as a media server is therefore not possible.

 

The Wifi module, on the other hand, is state of the art and comes with Wifi 6. This refers to the standard 802.11ax, which again promises significantly more data rate than the best ever ac standard. This means a maximum gross data rate of 11 GBit/s. In total, up to 32 users can be supplied with WLAN.

Heavier than the previous models

Conspicuously, the newest router has again increased significantly in weight. While the first model of 2017 still came with a slim 366 grams, the Gigacube CAT19 from the beginning of 2019 already weighed 620 grams. The Gigacube 5G brings it now to stately 765 grams on the scales and has thus more than doubled to the first version.

 

Antenna connections for better reception

Fortunately, Huawei has continued to build two TS-9 ports in the router 5G Huawei, which can be connected to two antennas to improve reception if required for both LTE and 5G reception optimization. Although the internal antennas already do excellent work, but especially in remote regions or in difficult conditions, additional antennas are often absolutely necessary.

 

Other features and innovations

By the way, the 5G router only holds Nano-SIM cards. The predecessors were all still designed for micro SIMs. By the way, Vodafone has by default disabled the PIN on SIM cards. Optionally, this can be set on the router again. The Gigacube 5G also supports Huawei VPN tunnel/VPN penetration, IP penetration, IPv6 and IPv6 dual stack and multi-APN.

 

 

Differences to the predecessor Huawei B818

The following table summarizes again the most important differences to the predecessor model Vodafone GigaCube Cat19.

 

Router comparison Gigacube 5G GigaCube CAT19 (2019)
Factory Model Huawei H112-370 Huawei B818-260
5G support Yes no, defies “5G ready” label
Download Speed 2.8 GBit/s 1.6 GBit/s
Upload Speed 150 Mbps 150 Mbps
LTE Category not spec. but at least CAT19 cat19
Supported LTE Bands 700, 800, 900, 1500, 1800, 2100 and 2600MHz; 3500 TDD MHz 700, 800, 900, 1500, 1800,  2100, 2600, 3500 MHz
supported bands 5G n78 none
External antenna connectors yes, TS-9 yes, TS-9
Telephone no (only via VOIP) no (only via VOIP)
LAN ports 2 x GBit 2 x GBit
Wireless Internet Access to WLAN ax (Wifi 6) to WLAN ac (Wifi 5)
Battery pack No No
Price in USD 1299.00 799.00

 

 

Huawei WS331C WiFi Repeater/Expender User Manual

User Guide: Let Huawei WS331C work with Huawei Routers:

  • Huawei Hilink router with H or Hi button
  • Huawei 4G Router with Hilink function and WPS button

 

  1. Make sure the Huawei WS331c is new and unused (If used, make sure to reset it to factory default)
  2. Plug the Huawei WS331C WiFi extender to the power plug and keep it close to your Huawei router(Less than 1 meter)
  3. Wait for 1 minute and you will see the Huawei router blinking (Huawei 4G Router WLAN LED indicator blinking)
  4. Press the WPS button or H(Hi) button on the Huawei router to start pairing(The blinking acceleration means they are pairing)
  5. When the light on extender is always green, it connects with Huawei router successfully. But don’t plug it out immediately and wait for one minute configuration.
  6. Move the extender to the room where the WiFi signal is weak.
  7. The extender WiFi name and password is the same as the Huawei router.

 

How to reset the Huawei WS331C WiFi Extender to factory default?

  • Use a needle to press the hole beside the Ethernet port and hold for 2 seconds. Release it when the light off. When the light is red, the Huawei WS331C is reset to factory default successfully.

 

What’s the light indication?

  • Always Red: unconnected with any device such as a router
  • Always Green: Already connected with a device such as a router

TP-Link Presents a New 4G+ Cat6 Router Archer MR600

Many people may know the TP-Link Archer MR200 and Archer MR400, which were available in the market for years. They can achieve download speed up to 150Mbps through 4G wireless network. Recently, TP-link presents a new router to meet the demand of faster 4G LTE connection. The new router model is Archer MR600, following the series of MR200 and MR400.

TP-Link Archer MR600 Appearance

 

The Archer MR600 is a 4G Category 6 Router, which could achieve download speed up to 300Mbps. If you had read our blog, you may know we had introduced many 4G+ Cat6 routers from Huawei. On this point, TP-link is walking very slowly on 4G LTE products. The design of TP-link MR600 looks similar to the predecessors, but there is some difference. The Archer MR400 external antenna is non-removable, but now the Archer MR600 could do. And the original antenna with the MR600 could be unscrewed so that users can install outdoor antenna or change the antennas.

TP-Link Archer MR600 Specifications:

The technical specifications of Archer MR600 are very similar to the two predecessors. It supports 4G LTE Frequency bands as below:

* 4G FDD-LTE: B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28 (2100/1800/850/2600/900/800/700 MHz)

* 4G TDD-LTE: B38/B40/B41 (2600/2300/2500 MHz)

* 3G DC-HSPA+/HSPA/UMTS: B1/B5/B8 (2100/850/900 MHz)

The feature makes the TP-link MR600 could be used with almost all the network providers in Europe and Aisa. The Archer MR600 has a Micro SIM card slot on the back and will probably come with a format adapter. With support for 4G + Cat6 using Carrier Aggregation technology, you can maximize your 4G network at speeds up to 300 Mbps, plug in your SIM card and stream HD movies without interference or download files in no time. With the Archer MR600, you can connect up to 64 devices at the same time without having to worry about the connection.

Regarding the WLAN features, TP-link MR600 covers the current AC1200 stand:

  • IEEE 802.11a/n/ac 5GHz and IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz
  • Dual-band WiFi 2.4GHz and 5GHz
  • Signal rate: 300Mbps at 2.4GHz, 867Mbps at 5GHz
  • Support encryptions: 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK

 

The WiFi can be activated or deactivated with the possibility to activate the scheduler/daily. The Archer MR600 creates a Dual Band WiFi network that can give you speeds up to 867 Mbps. The two 2.4 and 5 GHz bands provide optimized performance and minimize interference when streaming movies, downloading files, or listening to music. Thanks to two removable and advanced antennas and the latest wireless technology, you can enjoy stable connections, high speeds and good coverage.

 

TP-Link Archer MR600 Interfaces

Archer MR600 provides 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports including a LAN/WAN port that will allow you to connect your router to your fixed network provider if necessary. In this configuration, you can designate your WAN connection as the primary connection and define your 3G/4G connection as a backup connection in case of a failover.

TP-Link Archer MR600 functions

The operating system of the MR600 remains in line with other TP-link 4G Routers, therefore we find most of the expected features:

 

  • Operating mode: 3G/4G Router, Wireless Router
  • WAN Type: Dynamic IP, IP Static, PPPoE, PPTP (Dual Access), L2TP (Dual Access)
  • DHCP: Server, Client DHCP list, Address Reservation
  • Quality of service: Bandwidth Control
  • Port forwarding: ALG, Virtual Server, Port Triggering, UPnP, DMZ
  • Dynamic DNS: DynDns, NO-IP
  • VPN Server: PPTN VPN, IPsec VPN, OpenVPN
  • Security: DoS, IPv4 SPI Firewall, IPv6 Firewall, IP and MAC Address Binding, Access Control
  • Protocols: IPv4, IPv6
  • Management: TP-link Cloud, Local Management, Remote Management
  • Administration: Upgrade Firmware, Default Factory, System Log, Diagnostic Tools
  • Network Guest: 2.4GHz Guest Network x 1, 5GHz Guest Network x 1

 

 

TP-link MR600 Installation

The Archer MR600 requires no installation or configuration with software or apps, just plug in the power cable and insert your sim card to then start the router that automatically connects to the 4G network and distributes the signal via WiFi or the four LAN ports.

 

 

The TP-link Archer MR600 is of course compatible with TP-link OneMesh networks if you have compatible equipment. The 4G LTE router allows you to quickly get started on a wireless network wherever you are. The Archer MR600 is the perfect router if you are in the cabin, in a hotel or in a remote location and need access to WiFi. With Plug-and-play, just plug it in to get started. From the exhibition center to the caravan, the MR600 gives you what you need.