Category: 4G LTE Mobile WiFi

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.

Huawei E5576 Mobile WiFi 3s Test

The Huawei Mobile WiFi 3s has recently become a very affordable mobile LTE router in European countries. The Huawei MiFi 3S, which is also marketed under the model name Huawei E5576-320, can be used with all SIM cards.

Of course, you shouldn’t expect high-end equipment at the very reasonable price. For example, there is no display on the front – this is often standard for more expensive 4G LTE hotspots. For this, the Huawei E5576 is very small and handy and can be perfectly carried in your pocket or in your backpack.

 

The Huawei E5576 is made entirely of plastic and available in black and white. In addition to the device itself, the scope of delivery also includes an approximately ten centimeter long USB to micro-USB cable, a 1,500 mAh battery, a quick start guide and a warranty card. There is no need for a power pack to charge the battery, but you can use any existing USB power pack.

 

Good first impression

The Huawei E5576 Mobile WiFi 3s hotspot makes a good first impression. The material used feels good and the button for switching on and off on the top has a good pressure point. The back can be easily removed to insert the SIM card (Mini-SIM format, 2FF) and the battery.

 

 

 

At first glance, it is negative that Huawei has not installed any connections for an external cellular antenna and continues to rely on the micro USB standard. USB Type C would have been appropriate here in 2020.

 

Unlimited SIM cards from Telekom and O2 were used for the test. Unfortunately, the performance in the LTE network via WLAN was very poor. Tested with several end devices, the speed rarely exceeded 20 Mbit/s. In the peak, about 23 Mbit/s in the downlink and about 33 Mbit/s in the uplink could be reached via WLAN.

 

 

LTE Modem In the Test

The speeds were significantly better when the Huawei E5576 was connected via USB. Well over 100 Mbit/s in the downlink and almost 50 Mbit/s in the uplink were possible. These measurement results show that the modem can deliver high speeds, but the bottleneck is to be found in the weak WLAN module. In comparison with an expensive high-end LTE hotspot such as the Huawei E5788 and Netgear Nighthawk M2, it also shows that the LTE network can do much more than the small Huawei E5576 gets out of the connection.

 

 

The minimum latency (ping) was always well below 20 milliseconds – the small Huawei E5576 hotspot is in no way inferior to much more expensive end devices.

 

 

 

The Huawei E5576 can be used in almost every UMTS and LTE network in Europe, since all important frequency ranges are supported. Incidentally, the modem is not capable of 2G / GSM, which, given the now very good LTE networks, is no longer tragic. The following frequency ranges are supported in detail:

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

 

On other continents such as Asia, North America or South America, you have to be prepared for the fact that many LTE networks cannot be used or can only be used to a very limited extent. The Huawei E5576 does not support the frequency bands required for this.

 

WLAN in the test

The WLAN module of the Huawei E5576 Mobile WiFi 3s works exclusively in the frequency range around 2.4 GHz and can supply up to 16 devices with a WLAN connection at the same time. The WLAN name and password can of course be assigned individually.

 

 

Unfortunately, the WLAN module did not do well in the test. The connection was always stable, but as described in the LTE modem test, it was relatively slow. Often, only 73 Mbit/s gross data rate was displayed on the MacBook. The speed is sufficient for normal surfing and video streaming, but the maximum LTE speed of 150 Mbit/s cannot be reached via WLAN. The range was also quite short, there shouldn’t be more than one wall between the Huawei E5576 and the end device.

 

 

 

For example, the channel bandwidth can be set via the advanced WLAN settings. There is also the option of setting up an automatic standby mode for the WLAN network when no devices are connected. This helps to save energy.

 

 

It is easy to set up a second SSID (guest access). The name, the password and the desired duration for the guest access can be set individually. Huawei offers the options unlimited, 1 day and 4 hours for the duration of guest access.

 

 

The WiFi extender is a very interesting function. This means that you can use a different WiFi network than Internet access, for example in a hotel, at a campsite or on the train. This helps to save mobile data volume. There is no noticeable difference for the devices connected to the Huawei E5576, because the WLAN network of the E5576 will of course remain as usual. The WLAN extender is configured either via the web interface or via an app.

 

 

Operation and software

The Huawei E5576-320 LTE router can be operated either via the Huawei Smart Home app (for Android and iOS) or via the browser web interface. Right from the first setup, the software offers to change the WiFi password and admin password. Huawei has noted the standard WLAN password both under the battery cover and in the battery compartment.

 

 

Since there is no display for operation directly on the device, you have to rely on the corresponding LEDs on the front. These shine in different colors depending on the condition of the battery or depending on the reception and are easy to read. Green LEDs indicate good condition, yellow LEDs indicate poor reception or a weak battery.

 

 

Both the web interface and the Huawei Smart Home app offer an attractive, functional design and are easy to use. The web interface can be called up with a device connected to the router via the IP address 192.168.8.1 in the browser. If you use the app, you do not need to enter the IP address. The app is sufficient for most settings, only a few menu items can only be accessed via the web interface, such as the 3G-only mode.

 

The software of the Huawei mobile WiFi router can be updated via the web interface. If an update is available, the router automatically reports via the web interface.

 

 

 

Battery for up to 6 hours of operation

 

The battery has a capacity of 1,500 mAh and can be changed by the user without any problems – quite a special feature in today’s world. The operating time is specified by Huawei as about 6 hours, this value was confirmed in the test. Depending on the number of connected devices, the operating time may decrease somewhat, but if necessary you can simply buy a replacement battery and thus extend the runtime.

 

 

 

Charging the battery takes about an hour in the test. Operation without an inserted battery, i.e. only via USB power supply, was not possible in the test. The two LEDs flashed red.

 

 

Conclusion: good and cheap

The Huawei E5576 Mobile WiFi 3s is one of the cheapest mobile LTE routers. At the cheap price you get a reasonable performance. The well-designed software and simple operation were particularly convincing. The compact design and the removable battery are also positive.

 

 

You have to cut back on the weak WLAN performance and the comparatively slow LTE modem. You also have to do without comfort functions such as a display, connections for an external antenna or a memory card. If you don’t mind, the Huawei E5576 Mobile WiFi 3s is an LTE hotspot with a good price-performance ratio, which is suitable for normal surfing, checking e-mails and also for occasional video streaming.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Gigabit LTE Router

Netgear now also offers the world’s fastest mobile LTE hotspot – Netgear Nighthawk M2 with the model number MR2100. The Nighthawk M2 MR2100 allows downlink speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second. This makes it twice as fast as its predecessor Netgear Nighthawk M1 (MR1100) in 2018.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE modem

Responsible for the high speeds is the most modern and powerful LTE modem that Qualcomm currently offers: the Snapdragon X24. In addition to 2 Gbit/s in the downlink (LTE Cat20), up to 150 Mbit/s in the uplink (LTE Cat13) are supported.

The speeds are made possible by the combination of different mobile technologies. For example, up to 5 frequency bands in the downlink and up to 2 in the uplink can be bundled (carrier aggregation). The support of 256QAM modulation as well as support of 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology also contributes to the speed increase.

How fast the Netgear Nighthawk M2 is in the mobile networks, however, also depends on other factors such as network expansion and network utilization. Some network providers already offer some sites with 4 × 4 MIMO, 256QAM and multiple carrier aggregation, so that in certain situations, the modem performance can be used in any case.

Gigabit at LAN and WLAN

The Netgear Nighthawk M2 is a high-end 4G LTE router, so the price of Nighthawk M2 is higher than current 4G mobile routers. And the other technical features are also good. On the front there is a touch screen for operation; further settings can also be made via web interface.

Gigabit WLAN is available at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for connection to end devices and up to 20 devices can be connected simultaneously via WLAN. There is also a RJ45 Gigabit LAN port. If required, this can also be used as a WAN connection and thus replace the mobile radio modem.

Other connections: a USB type C port for charging the battery and for connecting to a computer and a USB type A port for charging other devices (power bank function) as well as for NAS functions.

On the side of the Netgear Nighthawk M2 are two TS-9 ports ready for an external UMTS or LTE external antenna. (If you need the 4G External antenna for Netgear Nighthawk M2, welcome to click: https://www.4gltemall.com/netgear-nighthawk-m2-external-antenna.html ). This can be very helpful in poor reception areas to improve connection quality. These features follow the predecessor Nighthawk M1 but very practical and helpful.

For world travel only partially suitable

With dimensions of 105 x 105 x 20 millimeters and a weight of around 240 grams, the Netgear LTE Hotspot is well suited for mobile use. The replaceable 5040 mAh strong battery allows a long operating time away from the power outlet.

For worldwide use of the Nighthawk M2, however, is only partially suitable, as a look at the supported frequency ranges shows. The Nighthawk M2 cannot use important LTE bands for the North American market, and the band 32 (1500 MHz), which is available in many European countries, is not supported.

Price and availability

The Netgear Nighthawk M2 is available in many online stores without a contract and without a SIM lock. The device can be ordered online from various electronics distributors such as 4gltemall.com or via the local mobile phone retailer. Here now only very few network providers such as Telstra in Australia had offered this new mobile hotspot.

 

Alcatel EE70 LTE Cat7 Mobile WiFi Router Review

Alcatel EE70 is a high-quality pocket 4G/3G WiFi router, primarily designed to work in the network of mobile operators Vodafone, Kyivstar and Lifecell for Ukraine, or other operators around the world. Full support for working in 4G/3G networks, at a maximum data transfer rate of up to 300 Mbps using 4G LTE technology and 43.2 Mbps using HSPA/HSPA+ technology. For work, it is necessary to install a SIM card of any GSM operator in the router, an Internet connection will automatically occur, without additional settings. It’s suitable for home use, trips or foreign travel, as well as for use in the countryside as a home access point.

Design and Management

The 4G Alcatel EE70 router is small, compact, lightweight, fits in your trouser or shirt pocket, and you can take it with you everywhere. The Alcatel EE70 router is made in a yellow-black combined case made of high-quality plastic (in the spirit of the company’s latest developments). On the front panel of the case are LED indicators of the device – the signal strength of the cellular network, battery level, WiFi activity and received messages. Settings are managed via the settings web interface. Above is the power button, below are a slot for charging Micro USB format. Under the back cover there is a battery, under it there is a SIM card slot.

Compatibility

The Alcatel 4G Router is very easy to configure and use. You just need to connect it via WiFi to your phone, computer, or laptop, after a few seconds you will be connected to the Internet. OS Support: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, Mac OS X, Linux. The Alcatel EE70 model with a 2150 mAh battery can last up to 8 hours without recharging. The device is charged from the 220V network using the power supply that comes with the kit. It is also possible to charge the router from a car charger or from a computer’s USB port.

Additional features

The Alcatel EE70 has a dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) Wi-Fi module 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, which provides a reliable wireless WiFi network within a range of 15 meters, which can connect up to 20 devices at the same time. All types of devices with WiFi module are supported: smartphones, tablets, laptops, set-top boxes, TV, etc.

Below you will see the general specifications of Alcatel EE70 MiFi:

* 4G LTE Mobile WiFi hotspot

* Frequencies: 2G 850/900/1800/1900MHz || 3G 900/1800/2100MHz || 4G 800/1800/2600MHz

* LTE download speed up to 300Mbps, upload speed to 50Mbps

* WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

* Technologies: GSM GPRS / EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA, HSPA +, DC-HSPA +, LTE

* WiFi support up to 20 wireless devices

* Removable battery of 2150mAh

Netgear Nighthawk M2 – Fastest LTE Router Test

Earlier this year, Netgear introduced the Nighthawk M2, a new mobile hotspot that transforms UMTS or LTE-based Internet access into a Wi-Fi hotspot to provide wireless network for multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. The successor of the Nighthawk M1 supports LTE Cat. 20 and in theory allows data transfer rates of up to 2 Gbit/s downstream and 150 Mbit/s upstream.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 LCD Screen

In practice, there are hardly any 4G networks supporting such high data transfer rates. Is still worth the purchase of the mobile hotspot, which is not a bargain with a purchase? We had the opportunity to put the heavy square device to a thorough test.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 back cover

The Netgear Nighthawk M2 mobile router comes in a convenient package. In addition to the router itself, there is the battery and a quick start guide with the power supply and connecting cable. The supplied battery has a capacity of 5040 mAh. The WLAN standards 802.11a, b and g are supported. The 4G mobile hotspot is working on 2.4 and 5 GHz. The Netgear M2 has a USB-A and USB-C as well as an Ethernet interface. There are also connection options for external antennas (Buy Netgear Nighthawk M2 External Antenna). The LAN port can be used to use a wired Internet access instead of the mobile modem and to redistribute it via WLAN.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 interfaces

 

Good workmanship and shiny surface

The processing of the Netgear 4G mobile router is impeccable. You can argue about the shiny surface. Here you can see very clear fingerprints very quickly, especially since the Nighthawk M2 has a touch screen, so it regularly gets into the embarrassment of touching the display. The complete initial setup can also be made via the touch-sensitive screen. A separate app or the web-based access to the M2 pocket WiFi router menu is possible, but not mandatory.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 external antenna connectors

We have set up the router right on the touchscreen made, which was not easy. For one thing, the virtual keyboard is quite small due to the display size. So you always catch the wrong letter when typing. In addition, the screen does not respond as well to inputs as used by higher quality smartphones. If the setup of a network identifier (SSID) and the associated password worked quite well, then setting a (somewhat complicated) administrator password was not possible on the second attempt, so we skipped this step and later have made on the configuration via the Netgear Mobile App.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 side

 

After the initial setup, the Netgear Nighthawk M2 mobile hotspot was immediately ready for use. The configuration for SIM cards is made automatically. As soon as the MiFi was set up, the availability of a firmware update was already displayed. We have installed this over the existing LTE data connection. In the process, around 160 MB of data was transferred. What changes the update brings is unknown. The internet connection via the Netgear Nighthawk M2 was very stable in the test for several hours. It did not matter if we used an Apple iPhone XS Max, a Samsung Galaxy S10+ or an Apple MacBook Pro.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 SIM card slot

 

The display of the router shows the current data consumption, the ID of the SIM card provider and the network technology used. There is also a small S-meter, which provides information about the quality of mobile reception. The battery level is also displayed. By default, you can also find the names of the Wi-Fi hotspot and the password via the touchscreen. This display can be deactivated if desired.

 

Numerous settings are possible via the touchscreen menu. First, there is a WPS function. Then the user can limit the hotspot to one of the two WLAN frequency ranges (2.4 or 5 GHz). The connected devices can be displayed and, for example, you can specify whether the hotspot is put into standby mode after a period of non-use to save battery capacity.

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 data used

Other features

Other possibilities are the restriction of Wi-Fi hotspots to a smaller reception area in order to save battery capacity or the automatic WLAN detach when USB tethering is used. The brightness of the display can be adjusted and the user can decide whether he wants to use the Internet access only in the home network or in international roaming.

 

SMS messages can be sent and received via the Netgear Nighthawk M2. As we have already mentioned regarding the initial setup: The touch screen does not always respond reliably to inputs and the virtual keyboard is quite small. Apart from that, the menu is functional and intuitive to use.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 settings options

 

Good performance even in mobile operation

With a SIM card from Vodafone, we have achieved data transfer rates of up to 110 Mbps in the downstream and 61 Mbps in the upstream. This is far from the peak speeds that the Netgear Nighthawk M2 allows, but is more or less equivalent to what the mobile telecom Internet access does with the smartphone. Even in mobile mode, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot in the car, the router performed well in the test. At speed 120Mbps on the highway, the performance of Internet access was still fine. Compared to a WLAN adapter such as the Huawei E8377 CarFi, the Netgear device earns more scores by the possibility to connect an outdoor LTE antenna. In regions with bad LTE coverage, a magnetic base antenna on the car roof provides a significant improvement in reception, which also affects the performance of Internet access.

 

 

Conclusion: Good hotspot with slight weaknesses

Although Netgear Nighthawk M2 is well-made and provides stable Internet access for up to 20 devices, flaws such as the only moderately good touchscreen provides bad experience for users. For almost half of the purchase price, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is available, which supports data transfer rates of up to 1 GBit/s via LTE, more than what the nets usually give out, so this model offers the much better price/performance ratio.

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 VS M1 MR1100

To meet the requirements from 5G network, Netgear presented a new mobile WiFi hotspot Nighthawk M2 for the Australian network provider Telstra and carriers in Europe. Netgear Nighthawk M2 is an ultra-fast portable WiFi router with next-generation Gigabit 4G LTE connectivity with a download speed of up to 2 Gbps. The Netgear Nighthawk M2 5G router is upgraded from the predecessor Nighthawk M1, so you may ask what’s the difference between Netgear Nighthawk M2 and M1?

In the table below, you will see the details specs of Netgear Nighthawk M2 unlocked and Nighthawk M1 unlocked for your reference:

Model Netgear Nighthawk M2 Netgear Nighthawk M1
Product type 5G Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
Category LTE Cat.20 LTE Cat.16
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 Qualcomm MDM9x50
Data rates DL 2Gbps/UL 150Mbps DL 1Gbps/UL 100Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands — Telstra Nighthawk M2 MR2100-1TLAUS: Band 1/3/7/8/28
— Nighthawk M2 MR2100-100EUS: Band 1/3/7/8/20/28/38/40/41
— Hong Kong Nighthawk M2: LTE Band 1/3/8/20/29/30/38/40/41		 — Telstra Nighthawk M1: Band 1/3/7/8/28
— AT&T Nighthawk M1:  Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/29/30/66
— Hong Kong Nighthawk M1: LTE Band 1/3/8/20/29/30/38/40/41
WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max support users 20 users 20 users
MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO
Connector for external antenna Two, TS-9 jacks Two, TS-9 jacks
Buy Antenna Netgear Nighthawk M2 Antenna Netgear Nighthawk M1 Antenna
App management Netgear Aircard APP Netgear Aircard APP
SIM type Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery Removable, 5040 mAh Removable, 5040 mAh
Dimensions 105.5 x 105.5 x 20.35 mm 105.5 x 105.5 x 20.35 mm
Ethernet Port * One port for LAN port(RJ-45)
* One port of USB-A
* One port of USB-C		 * One port for LAN port(RJ-45)
* One port for USB 2.0
Datasheet download Netgear Nighthawk M2 Datasheet Netgear Nighthawk M1 Datasheet
User Manual Netgear Nighthawk M2 Manual Netgear Nighthawk M1 Manual
Other features 3GPP, Rel. 14, 5 band CA, 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL, JumpBoost 3GPP, Rel. 12, 4 band CA, 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL,  JumpBoost
Firmware download Nighthawk M2 Firmware Nighthawk M1 Firmware
Drivers Nighthawk M2 Driver Nighthawk M1 Driver
Reviews Netgear Nighthawk M2 Review Netgear Nighthawk M1 Review
Price 999.00USD 459.00USD

 

Here you can check the general comparison of Nighthawk M2 and M1:

 

Nighthawk M2 Mobile Router (MR2100):

 

– LTE CAT 20, DL support up to 2Gbps speeds

– 3GPP, Rel. 14

– 5CA with 20 simultaneous Downlink layers

– 4×4 MIMO

– 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

– 11ac Dual band dual concurrent

 

 

 

Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router (MR1100):

 

– LTE CAT 16, DL support up to 1Gbps speeds

– 3GPP, Rel. 12

– 4CA with 10 simultaneous Downlink layers

– 4×4 MIMO

– 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

– 11ac Dual band dual concurrent

 

We can see that, based on the technology improvement, Netgear Nighthawk M2 is more advanced than M1, M2 can achieve download speed up to 2Gbps while M1 only half of it. And the Nighthawk M2 has larger touch screen to 2.4 inches. Other features are very similar.

 

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Review

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Mobile Hotspot is a latest LTE pocket WiFi router which not only can connect more devices than regular Wi-Fi router, but also has enough power to operate all day, and can be connected to a power outlet for a long time. The Netgear Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot has a LAN, which can make it connect with an Ethernet cable to provide WiFi network coverage, and the USB port, which can let it charge other electronic devices.

Netgear M2 is the fastest 4G LTE mobile hotspot and equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon X24 LTE Modem, it supports 5CA carrier aggregation technology, up to 2Gbps download / 150Mbps upload speed.

Up to 20 devices can be connected with the Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 at the same time, and WiFi high-speed Internet access is available at any time, whether traveling for a large group of people, or for meetings and venues.

The body of the Netgear 4G mobile router comes with a LAN socket, and you can change into a Wi-Fi transmitter when connecting with an Ethernet cable at hotel. Even if the hotel does not have free Wi-Fi, it can provide wireless Internet access only if you had a valid SIM card. It also supports VPN function to make it easier to travel.

 

Here now the Netgear Nighthawk M2 router is available in Australia and Europe and it has two variant models: MR2100-1TLAUS and MR2100-100EUS. They support different LTE frequency bands as below:

– MR2100-100EUS: LTE 700/800/900/1800/2100/2300/2500/2600 MHz

– MR2100-1TLAUS: LTE/4GX 700/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz

Netgear Nighthawk M2 Highlight Features:

  • Fastest LTE mobile WiFi hotspot
  • 5CA carrier aggregation technology, up to 2Gbps Download
  • High-speed AC WiFi 2.4/5GHz synchronous dual-band
  • High-speed Internet access for up to 20 devices
  • Easier to use LCD touch screen
  • Up to 16 hours of battery life
  • Removable battery connection indoor power supply fixed point operation
  • 1*Gigabit LAN/WAN socket
  • 1* USB-C / 1* USB-A socket
  • JumpBoost function can provide charging for mobile phones or other devices

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 Specifications:

  • LTE Modem: Qualcomm Snapdragon X24
  • LTE network speed

– support 5CA carrier aggregation

– 2Gbps down

– up to 150Mbps

  • Operation screen: 4 inch LCD touch screen
  • Connection socket

– 1*Gigabit LAN/WAN socket

– 1*USB-C / 1*USB-A socket

– 2*TS-9 external 3G/4G antenna socket

  • Battery: 5040mAh replaceable lithium battery
  • Body size: 105.5 (L) x 105.5 (W) x 20.35 (H) mm
  • Weight: 240g (with battery)

Huawei LTE Advanced Devices List

As the dominating network equipment supplier, Huawei cooperated with many network carriers worldwide and as the important part, Huawei also presented thousands of consumer end-terminals to enjoy high-speed surfing, in which includes 4G WiFi routers, LTE mobile hotspots, LTE cell phones, and LTE CPEs. Currently, the LTE networks are evolved to LTE advanced and consequently, the LTE advanced devices are becoming the mainstream for users. Since Huawei LTE advanced devices are very popular but many customers are not quite familiar with Huawei products, we summaries Huawei LTE advanced devices in below the table for you to check and compare. Hope you will find the useful information and get the satisfied LTE advanced devices:

 

Model Name Type Category Max speed Price/USD Specifications & Buy
E5175 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s 289.00 Huawei E5175 specs
E5186 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s 229.00 Huawei E5186 specs
B520 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 259.00 Huawei B520 specs
B525 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s 259.00 Huawei B525 specs
B528s-23a 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 229.00 Huawei B528 specs
B529s-23a 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 299.00 Huawei B529 specs
ME919 LTE module Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 189.00 Huawei ME919 specs
E5785 Mobile Hotspot Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 179.00 Huawei E5785 specs
E5786 Mobile Hotspot Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 179.00 Huawei E5786 specs
E5885 Mobile Hotspot Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 249.00 Huawei E5885 specs
Honor 6 / 6 Plus Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 439.00 Huawei Honor 6 specs
Ascend Mate7 Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 499.00 Huawei Mate 7 specs
MediaPad X2 Tablet Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 369.00 Huawei MediaPad X2 specs
P8/P8 max Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 369.00 Huawei P8 specs
Honor 7 Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 489.00 Huawei Honor 7 specs
Honor 8/ V8 Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 449.00 Huawei Honor V8 specs
Honor 8 Pro Smartphone Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 329.00 Honor 8x Max specs
Honor 9 Smartphone Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 489.00 Honor 9 specs
Honor 9 Lite Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 429.00 Honor 9 Lite specs
Honor Magic/ P10 Lite Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 429.00 Honor Magic specs
Mate S / Mate 8 Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 529.00 Huawei Mate 8 specs
P9/P9 Plus Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 589.00 Huawei P9 specs
MediaPad M3 8.4 Tablet Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 419.00 Huawei MediaPad M3 specs
Nova Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 449.00 Huawei Nova specs
Nova 2 plus Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 589.00 Huawei Nova 2 plus specs
Nova 2 Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 529.00 Huawei Nova 2 specs
Mate 10 Pro Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 629.00 Huawei Mate 10 specs
P smart Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 359.00 Huawei P Smart specs
P20 Lite / nova 3e Smartphone Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 359.00 Huawei Nova 3e specs
E5383 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 399.00 Huawei E5383 specs
B5338 4G Router Cat 9 450 Mbit/s (3CA) 499.00 Huawei B5338 specs
eA280 4G Router Cat 9 450 Mbit/s (3CA) 699.00 Huawei eA280 specs
eA380 4G Router Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 599.00 Huawei eA380 specs
B2368 4G Router Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (2CA)(4×4 MIMO) 699.00 Huawei B2368 specs
B2338 4G Router Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 699.00 Huawei B2338 specs
Mate 9 / 9 Pro / 9 Porsche Smartphone Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 479.00 Huawei Mate 9 specs
P10/ P10 Plus Smartphone Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 479.00 Huawei P10 specs
Nova 2s Smartphone Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 449.00 Huawei Nova 2S specs
Mate 20 Smartphone Cat 12 600 Mbit/s (3CA) 959.00 Huawei Mate 20 specs
Huawei nova 3i Smartphone Cat 12 220 Mbit/s (TDD only, 2CA) 399.00 Huawei Nova 3i specs
Mate10 Smartphone Cat 16 1024 Mbit/s (3CA) 629.00 Huawei Mate 10 specs
P20/ P20 Pro Smartphone Cat 16 1024 Mbit/s (3CA) 639.00 Huawei P20 specs
Honor 10 / Honor Play Smartphone Cat 16 1024 Mbit/s (3CA) 459.00 Honor 10 specs
Huawei nova 3 Smartphone Cat 16 1024 Mbit/s (3CA) 529.00 Huawei Nova 3 specs
Honor View 10 / V10 Smartphone Cat 18 1200 Mbit/s (3CA) 579.00 Honor V10 specs
Mate 10 Pro / 10 Porsche Smartphone Cat 18 1200 Mbit/s (3CA) 659.00 Huawei Mate 10 Pro specs
B612 4G Router Cat 6 300 Mbit/s (2CA) 199.00 Huawei B612 specs
B715 4G Router Cat 9 450 Mbit/s (3CA) 399.00 Huawei B715 specs
B618 4G Router Cat 11 600 Mbit/s (2CA) 449.00 Huawei B618 specs
E5788 Mobile Hotspot Cat 16 1024 Mbit/s (3CA) 499.00 Huawei E5788 specs
B818 5G Router Cat 19 1650 Mbit/s (6CA) 799.00 Huawei B818 specs
Mate 20 Pro / 20 Porsche Smartphone Cat 21 1732 Mbit/s (6CA) 959.00 Huawei Mate 20 Pro specs

 

TP-link M7450 VS Huawei E5885

Since Huawei 4G pocket WiFi router had been a great success in many countries, TP-link followed the steps of Huawei and also presented many 4G WiFi pocket routers. Though they are not as well-known as Huawei pocket WiFi routers, they have similar functions to provide reliable performance like TP-link WiFi routers. TP-Link M7450 is one of the 4G+ Cat6 routers. Some customers asked what the difference is between the TP-Link M7450 and Huawei E5885, and which one is better to buy. Today, we will compare the two pocket WiFi routers and see which one is better.

Huawei E5885 VS TP-Link M7450 Specifications

To know the detail functions of Huawei E5885 and TP-Link M7450, let’s have a look at the Huawei E5885 specifications comparison with TP-link M7450 Specs in the table below:

 

Model TP-Link M7450 Huawei E5885Ls-93a
Product type LTE Mobile Hotspot LTE Mobile Hotspot with Ethernet port
Category LTE Cat.6 LTE Cat.6
Chipset Qualcomm Hisilicon LTE Cat6 chipset
Data rates DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B38, B40, B41 * FDD-LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/19/20
* TDD-LTE: Band 38/40/41
WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max support users 32 users 32 users
MIMO 2 x 2 MIMO 2 X 2 MIMO
Connector for external antenna No connector No connector
Buy Antenna N/A N/A
App management tpMiFi APP Huawei Hilink APP 3.0
SIM type Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery Removable, 3000 mAh Non-removable, 6400mAh
Dimensions 112.5 x 66.5 x 16mm  112.00 x 69.20 x 23.00mm
Ethernet Port No On port for WAN/LAN port(RJ-45)
Datasheet download TP-link M7450 Datasheet Huawei E5885 Datasheet
User Manual TP-link M7450 User Manual Huawei E5885 Manual
Other features 2 band CA Power bank, CA, NFC
Firmware download TP-link M7450 Firmware Huawei E5885 Firmware
Drivers TP-link M7450 driver Huawei E5885 driver
Reviews TP-link M7450 review Huawei E5885 Review
Price 289.00USD 279.00USD

Summary

From the spec table, we can see the Huawei E5885 and TP-link M7450 are both LTE Cat6 mobile WiFi hotspot which could achieve peak download speed up to 300Mbps and upload speed to 50Mbps. They both provide WiFi 802ac on dual-bands and support up to 32 wireless devices with 2 x 2 MIMO technology. But there are many obvious differences to note:

  1. LTE Frequency Bands

Huawei E5885 and TP-link M7450 both support FDD-LTE & TDD-LTE networks, but TP-link M7450 supports mainly the frequency bands popular in Asia and Europe. Huawei E5885 supports LTE band 4, which is widely deployed in American areas, so Huawei E5885 could not only work well in Aisa and European countries, it can also work well in American countries.

 

  1. Battery

Like other TP-link LTE mobile WiFi, he TP-link M7450 battery is removable and has the capacity of 3000mAh, while the Huawei E5885 has a battery pack of 6400mAh and the battery is non-removable. The large battery of Huawei E5885 makes it work like a power bank to charge other devices, which is a very useful function. With the large battery, Huawei E5885 is a little bit thicker than common 4G pocket WiFi routers.

  1. Interface

TP-link M7450 has only a Mini USB port for charge, but Huawei E5885 has not only the Mini USB port to charge and the USB 2.0 port to charge other devices, but also one Ethernet port for both LAN & WAN, which is also a practical function if user travel to places where only Ethernet connection is available.

 

  1. Price

The TP-link M7450 price is a little bit more expensive than Huawei E5885 price, but not too much. But we don’t think the TP-link M7450 is worth this price, on this price, you can consider the higher level pocket WiFi Netgear Aircard 810s.

 

In conclusion, we think the Huawei E5885 is more powerful and practical for users. And we recommend Huawei E5885 if you would buy one pocket WiFi router from the two.

 

ZTE R218 4G Mobile WiFi Router Review

If you had known the ZTE MF920 4G MiFi router, you will know the ZTE R218 soon after we tell you the R218 comes from the ZTE MF920 with Vodafone customization. Vodafone introduced the MF920 to its product range and rename it as R218. The official name is Vodafone R218 Mobile WiFi and someone may also call it ZTE R218. Even though the ZTE R218 is newly presented by Vodafone the public, but the Vodafone R218 specs is not latest new comparing with other ZTE 4G LTE hotspots. Below you will see more details for the Vodafone R218 review.

 

First, we list the details specs and feature for the ZTE R218 in a table:

Features and Specs of the Vodafone R218
Manufacturer and model Vodafone R218 from ZTE
Chipset Qualcomm MDM9207
LTE Category Cat.4
Download rate Up to 150 Mbps
Upload rate Up to 50 Mbps
Supported LTE bands 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2600 MHz
Backward compatible with HSDPA (42.2 Mbps), EDGE, GPRS
Support for LTE-Advanced No
MIMO Support No
Connection for external antenna No
Integrated telephone system No
Network | LAN & WLAN
LAN ports no
WLAN standards 802.11 n (2.4 GHz)
5 GHz WLAN support No
Encryption WEP, WPA, WPA2
WLAN hotspot function: Yes
Others
Battery pack 2,300 mAh
Dimension 105 x 64 x 14 mm at 102 g
USB 1x micro USB
Memory card expansion No
Release time 07/01/2018
Price 129.00USD
available at: » www.4gltemall.com
Document download
Datasheet » Download Vodafone R218 datasheet
User manual » Download Vodafone R218 manual

 

 

Vodafone R218 – LTE Download Speed to 150Mbps

The Vodafone R218 was available in the summary of 2018 in Germany, but if you don’t like the customized one, you may turn to the original model ZTE MF920. Behind the Vodafone R218 branding, the model number ZTE MF920V could be seen. With a Micro SIM inserted, the Vodafone R218 could achieve download speed up to 150Mbps, which allows devices such as a smartphone, a notebook and a tablet to receive 4K movies simultaneously via Netflix. Those who want to share multimedia files with others can access a speed up to 50mbps for upload. The WiFi network itself transmits up to 300Mbps to connected devices. The removable battery is designed to provide up to 10 hours of internet access. Interestingly, the battery of Vodafone R218 comes from the competitor Huawei.

The LCD display keeps the user up to date with the operating status such as battery level, received SMS, signal strength and the WiFi status. The ZTE MF920V could be configured via a web interface or APP for mobile devices. In the manual, there is QR code for smartphones to scan and download the APP. The Vodafone R218 is compatible with all mobile devices with Android or IoS OS. The 4G wireless mobile router does not offer many configuration options, but the firewall is integrated and WEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption standards are supported. The IP assignment is either static or dynamic. And the current data consumption and the number of sent and received SMS can be seen in the web interface at any time.

 

Summary

As we said, the Vodafone R218 (also ZTE MF920V) is not a high-end mobile WiFi hotspot. So it would be enough for daily use, but don’t expect too much from it if you want to surf at very fast speed through this mobile WiFi. Actually, ZTE also presents many LTE advanced mobile WiFi models to the public, such as ZTE MF971V, ZTE MF970, ZTE MF980 etc…If you want to get faster surfing speeds, you may check the higher-level LTE MiFis.