FRITZ!Box 6850 5G Home Router Released

FRITZ!Box 6850 is a latest 5G wireless router from the Germany telecommunication manufacturer AVM. According to the AVM sayings, the FRITZ!Box 6850 5G router is the world’s first all-in-one router for next generation mobile communication. The new FRITZ!Box for 5G supports 5G bands in the Sub-6 GHz range and current LTE bands in Europe. Equipped with a 5G/LTE connection, it offers users high-performance equipment with fast dual-band wireless LAN, telephone system and a variety of connection options for wired networking. Four gigabit LAN ports and a fast USB port are included. With a DECT base station and connection for analog telephones, the FRITZ!Box 6850 5G provides the user with a central exchange for a Smart Home system and cordless telephone.

Thanks to FRITZ!Box 6850 5G, the well-known home networking convenience of a FRITZ!Box as Mesh Master is available to the user in wireless LAN, telephone, Smart Home and 5G networks. In addition, the many functions such as firewall, parental control, wireless guest access and remote access can be used via the 5G/LTE port. The intelligent positioning aid in the FRITZ!Box 6850 5G helps users to find the best location for the router and ideal orientation for mobile communications antennas. The new wireless standard provides high bandwidth of more than 2 GBit/s and reduced latency. That makes the FRITZ!Box 6850 5G, in elegant and compact housing, especially attractive for use with real-time applications such as virtual reality and gaming.

 

The FRITZ!Box 6850 5G router is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2020. At the market launch, the price will be known first.

 

FRITZ!Box 6850 5G Technical specifications:

  • 5G router with 4 x 4 MIMO with Qualcomm SD X55 chipset
  • 5G band support: sub-6 GHz
  • LTE (4G) for band 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32
  • Also supports UMTS (3G)
  • Dual Band WLAN AC + N with up to 1266 MBit/s
  • Two SMA connectors for attaching external antennas
  • Four Gigabit LAN ports and 1 USB 3.0 port
  • Telephone system and DECT base for up to six telephones and smart home applications
  • Connection for analogue telephone or fax
  • FRITZ! OS: with mesh, parental control, media server, FRITZ! NAS, WLAN guest access and MyFRITZ!

 

 

The manufacturer AVM has announced that it will have additional products at this year’s IFA. In addition to the 5G-capable router model, the FRITZ! Box 5550 and the FRITZ! Box 5530 will be available with two models for all common fiber optic connections. We will follow this when there is news here.

Vodafone GigaCube 5G – Vodafone First 5G Router

Two months ago, Vodafone released its first wireless router that is compatible with the new mobile communications standard 5G. The new 5G wireless router converts the mobile Internet access into a WLAN hotspot, so that several smartphones, tablets and notebooks can connect with an Internet access. Like the predecessors Vodafone GigaCube and Gigacube Cat19, the manufacturer of the 5G router is also Huawei. The model is officially called Huawei 5G CPE Pro but for Vodafone under the name Vodafone GigaCube 5G.

 

According to Vodafone official sayings, data transmission rates of up to 2Gbps could be achieved in the 5G mobile network. This concerns the LTE access, over which most customers will initially be predominantly online, especially as 5G availability is still severely limited. The network operator does not reveal how fast users can surf via 5G. A footnote simply states that you can “surf faster” in the first 5G radio cells. Within the home network scores the bolide by using the WiFi-6 technology. This achieves data transfer rates of up to 4.8 GBit/s.

 

At the heart of the Vodafone GigaCube 5G is the Balong 5000 chipset, which is also used in the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G as a multi-mode modem. If the 5G network is not available, customers can also use the LTE, UMTS and GSM network for Internet access with the Vodafone 5G router.

Vodafone offers the 5G router along with the well-known GigaCube tariffs. “With speeds reaching up to 1Gbps,” said Vodafone at launch, “customers are able to access super-fast speeds and reliable Wi-Fi quickly. GigaCube is ideal for those waiting for their home or business broadband, who need a connection for a second home or who have a home office.”

 

It added: “The GigaCube can connect up to 64 devices at any one time and has a wifi range of 90 meters. Thanks to the low latency of 5G, this solution is perfect for small businesses who have multiple employees streaming or downloading at the same time. It is also particularly useful for businesses that don’t have a fixed location, or students and house shares.”

 

Here you can see the general Vodafone 5G GigaCube Specs:

 

  • Network:5G/LTE
  • Chipset: HiSilicon Balong 5000
  • Wi-Fi:11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax; 802.11 n22*2 MIMO for 2.4GHz and 02.11ax4*4MIMO for 5GHz
  • Ethernet Ports:2 x GE LAN (inc. 1 LAN/WAN)
  • Memory:4GB NANDFlash/8GB DDR4
  • External antenna port:2 x Ext. antenna ports (TS-9)(Buy Vodafone GigaCube 5G External Antenna)
  • SIM port:1 x NANO USIM card slot
  • Device model:Huawei 5G CPE Pro (H112-370)
  • Dimensions:99mm x 107mm x 215mm

 

You can also check the Vodafone GigaCube 5G Router Review here: https://www.4gltemall.com/blog/vodafone-gigacube-5g-router-h112-370-review/

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

 

 

HTC 5G Hub Review

HTC was one of the first manufacturers to introduce a 5G hub at MWC 2019, which was launched in the second quarter of 2019. It uses the new 5G mobile communication standard for fast data transmission and is primarily suitable for home use, but can also be used on the go. One of the main features on the front of the device is a large display. In addition, the HTC 5G hub will later support a cloud VR mode, in which a local player can be omitted.

HTC 5G Hub Specs and Features

Manufacturer and device name HTC 5G hub
Supported mobile standards 4G, 5G
5G network modes Non standalone(NSA)
chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Octa-Core with Snapdragon X50 5G modem
Maximum 5G data rate 2.63Gbps Down & 287Mbps Up
LTE frequencies Bands 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 25, 26, 66, 71
mmWave frequencies between 26 and 28 GHz
Sub 6 GHz frequencies Yes, 5G bands n41, n78
5G external antenna can be connected No

Network Feature (LAN & WiFi)

WLAN standards 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
Maximum gross data rate with WLAN HTC did not provide any information
Supported WLAN bands 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 60 GHz
WLAN guest access can be installed ?
WLAN encryption standards WPA, WPA2, WPS
Gigabit LAN yes, 1 port Gigabit Ethernet
WAN port No

Telephone

Telephone function No

Display

Size & resolution 5 inches, HD (720 x 1280 pixels)
Touch capable Yes

Other features

IPv6 support; Dual stack ??
suitable for IPTV Yes
Can be used as a media server yes (microSD up to 512 GB)
USB ports on the back No
Battery for self-sufficient operation yes (7,660 mAh)
Dimension and weight 129mm x 100mm x 43mm at 340g

More information

Datasheet for download (PDF) ” not yet available
Manual for download (PDF) » Available at HTC official site
Available at » https://www.4gltemall.com/

 

 

High data transfer rates

Inside the HTC 5G Hub is a Snapdragon 855 Octa-core chipset, a CPU with Octa-core, which is installed in the latest 5G smartphones like the ZTE Axon 10 PRO 5G phone. With the Snapdragon X50 5G modem, the HTC 5G router supports maximum data transfer rates of 2.63 Gbps in the download and up to 287 Mbps in the upload. If no 5G connection prevails, the device can also switch to and work on 4G network. A fallback to older technology such as 3G or 2G can’t be done in the HTC 5G Hub.

 

Nevertheless, a mobile application is possible. In addition to power from a power outlet, the HTC 5G Hub also has a built-in battery. The capacity of 7,260 mAh should provide enough energy for a whole day. The battery is charged either with the enclosed power supply, via USB Power Delivery on the 9 Volt rail or with Quick Charge 3.0 via USB.

WLAN for up to 20 devices

If the HTC 5G Hub has established a connection to the 5G network, it distributes the signal via WLAN in its environment. Not only the usual IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards are used, but also 802.11ax (WiFi 6). This means that the HTC 5G Hub can span not only the familiar 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies but also a 60 GHz WLAN. However, only a few devices support this new standard so far. Wifi at 60 GHz has very high data transfer rates between the 5G WLAN router and the terminal, provided that there are no obstacles such as walls in the way.

 

However, the number of maximum connector users is limited. A maximum of 20 clients can connect to the HTC 5G Hub via Wi-Fi. There are four high-speed connections via 802.11ax. This limit can be quickly exceeded today in a household with various technical devices. Other Wifi access points usually support more connections, ie 32 to 64.

 

Integrated display and speakers

Visually, the HTC 5G Hub is more like a Google smart home hub rather than a traditional router. This is mainly due to the integrated touchscreen on the front of the device. This measures 5 inches and displays the contents in HD resolution with 720 x 1,280 pixels. In addition, two speakers for stereo sound and a microphone that pays constant attention to voice commands, are integrated.

 

The HTC 5G Hub is in the dimensions of 12.9 x 10 x 4.3 cm and weights 340 g and provides 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of memory. If the internal memory space is insufficient, it can be expanded via microSD card. What exciting are the possibilities that the HTC 5G Hub can stream content to other devices such as a TV and the use of Cloud VR is also planned. A local player can then be omitted in the presentation of VR content. Instead, the data is streamed via cloud computing. This is made possible by the potentially low latencies of 5G. This requires a compatible 5G network that allows mobile edge computing.

Price and availability

The HTC 5G Hub is available for many network providers over the world. Together with the Tariff, you may get cheaper price. If you only get the single HTC 5G Hub, the price would be much higher.

 

Huawei 5G CPE PRO H112-372 VS H112-370

Huawei 5G CPE Pro Router is now available in many countries and is very popular based on the fantastic performance for internet connection. Actually, Huawei 5G CPE Pro has two variant models now. The two models numbers are H112-372 and H112-370. Somebody may ask what the difference is between the Huawei H112-372 and H112-370 5G CPE. Please check the table below the Huawei H112-372 and H112-370 Specs comparison:

 

Huawei 5G CPE Pro Models

Model Huawei H112-372 Huawei H112-370
Chipset Balong 5000 multi-mode chip, GigaHome dual-band Wi-Fi chip Balong 5000 multi-mode chipset
Type 5G LTE Router 5G LTE Router
Network Mode NSA / SA NSA / SA
5G Speeds DL 2.33Gbps /UL 1.25Gbps DL 2.33Gbps /UL 1.25Gbps
4G/LTE Speeds DL 1.6Gbps /UL 150Mbps DL 1.6Gbps /UL 150Mbps
5G Frequency Bands n41 / n77 / n78 / n79 n78
WLAN 802.11ac/a/n 2 x 2 MIMO, and 802.11b/g/n 2 x 2 MIMO 802.11ax/ac/a/n 4 x 4 MIMO, and 802.11b/g/n 2 x 2 MIMO
WiFi Speed DBDC, 1167 Mbps DBDC, 5100 Mbps
WiFi band 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz, dual-band auto-selection 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz, dual-band auto-selection
Antenna Type Dual-band Wi-Fi antenna with four signal amplifiers Dual-band Wi-Fi antenna with six signal amplifiers
Ports One Wan / Lan GE port, one Lan GE port, one SIM card slot (Nano-SIM) One Wan / Lan GE port, one Lan GE port, one TEL port, one SIM card slot (Nano-SIM)
APP HUAWEI SmartHome App HUAWEI SmartHome App
Dimensions 99 mm x 107 mm x 215 mm 99 mm x 107 mm x 215 mm
Weight About 700 g About 700 g

 

From the table, we can see the difference between the two Huawei 5G CPE variant models.

 

Announced 5G User Devices

This data is provided for information only, as a guide to current 5G ecosystem market development and trends. Some devices may be produced in different variants according to supported frequency bands, operator customization, etc. and may therefore not be available in all markets. Shipping dates/commercial availability are not indicated. The status is at April 2019.

 

5G Mobile Phones:

 

5G CPE or 5G Mobile WiFi Router:

 

5G Modules/Data Cards:

HTC Presents 5G Hub Router at MWC

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, HTC has presented a new 5G router, ​​not a new 5G smartphone, which is out of our expectation. The 5G router comes with Android user interface and is equipped with a huge screen. The 5G router chipset comes from Qualcomm.

HTC 5G router Specifications

The HTC 5G Hub is equipped with a 5 inch touch screen on the front. The resolution is quite rough with 1280 x 720 pixels, but for a router such a huge screen is still almost oversized anyway. HTC promises that the 5G router is with Android 9 operating system, and can also stream movies. The output can also be made via the built-in USB-C port on the back of a TV, so you do not necessarily rely on the screen on the router. With the microSD card slot, you can also play your own content such as photos and videos on the 5G hub.

The integrated modem comes from Qualcomm, it is the model Snapdragon X50v2. The processor uses a Snapdragon 855 with 4 GB of RAM. The internal memory of the 5G Hub is 32 GB, which is sufficient for the operating system and some apps. In addition to the USB Type C connector, there is also a RJ45 Gigabit LAN connector and a connector for a power supply. However, there is no connector for external antennas, so External antennas cannot be connected.

 

Wi-Fi is supported on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. In addition to the current WLAN ac standard, the upcoming WLAN ad / WLAN 6 standard is also supported.

HTC 5G Hub frequency ranges

The HTC 5G Hub can use 5G both in the mmWave frequency range between 26 and 28 GHz and in the C-band frequency range between 3.4 and 3.8 GHz. The C-band, also known as band n78, will be available in Europe. Whether the HTC 5g router also supports older mobile radio standards such as LTE and UMTS, is so far unclear. Since with the Snapdragon 855 a suitable modem is installed, but can be assumed.

 

HTC 5G Router Availability Time and Price

HTC brings the 5G Hub in cooperation with various network operators on the market, among other things, the 5G router is also offered in Germany at Telekom. When and at what price is still unknown. Other providers of the HTC 5G Hub are Elisa (Finland), Sunrise (Switzerland), Three (England), Telstra (Australia) and Sprint (USA). At Sprint, the 5G Hub will be available in the second quarter of 2019.

 

 

 

Huawei 5G CPE Pro Router Review

Chinese network equipment giant Huawei unveiled its first commercial 5G router at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The device is called “5G CPE Pro” and visually resembles the prototype, which Huawei already presented in 2018 for various 5G live shows.

The Huawei 5G CPE Pro Router is based on the HiSilicon Balong 5000 modem, which is Huawei’s first multimode 5G modem. Multimode means that in addition to 5G, 4G/LTE is supported and so a so-called dual-mode operation is possible. If the 5G reception is not strong enough, the unit will automatically switch to 4G mode so that the connection remains.

According to Huawei, the maximum speed in the 5G network is at 3.2 gigabits per second. The Balong 5000 chipset can bundle up to two 100 MHz wide frequency ranges (2CA). The Huawei 5G CPE Pro Router can handle both the frequency range between 3.4 and 3.8 gigahertz (C-band) and the millimeter-wave range between 26 and 28 gigahertz.

On the front, there are three LEDs and a WPS button for fast Wi-Fi encryption. On the back of the Huawei 5G CPE, there is a power adapter, power button, and SIM card slot at the bottom. Two RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet ports for LAN / WAN are also integrated. The WLAN works both on 2.4 GHz and on 5 GHz, in addition to the WLAN ac standard the new WLAN 6 is supported. In addition, there are two connectors for external 5G antennas(Buy Huawei 5G CPE Pro external antenna). The total design looks very similar to the predecessor Huawei B618s-65d router.

 

Whether and when the Huawei 5G CPE Pro Router will be launched to the market is unknown. At the MWC, Huawei also shows the 5G CPE Window Router, which uses an outdoor antenna and module, so that a good 5G connection can be guaranteed even in regions with poorer reception conditions.

Mobile 5G WiFi Router from Huawei Presented

Not only the first 5G smartphone and the first 5G router were presented at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this year, but also the first mobile 5G router was also shown. Huawei, known for many years for mobile hotspots, has already introduced the second mobile 5G WiFi router after the world’s first one Netgear Nighthawk M2 5G mobile router.

HUAWEI 5G Mobile WiFi Hotspot

The “5G Mobile WiFi“, as Huawei calls its first mobile 5G hotspot, does not seem to have a model number yet, but visitors to the MWC can already view the device at the Huawei stand. Visually, the model looks very similar to the predecessor 4G mobile hotspot Huawei E5788, but the 5G Mobile WiFi is significantly larger. This is probably due to the integrated 8,000 mAh strong battery – the battery of the E5788 is not as strong as even half. The battery is charged via USB Type C, it is also possible to connect to the computer. Optionally, the large battery is also suitable as a power bank, devices such as smartphones can even be charged via wireless charging with the Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi.

The Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi is operated either via touch screen or via an app on the smartphone. As a 5G modem, a HiSilicon Balong 5000 chipset is used, an in-house development by Huawei. The Balong 5000 can also use 4G/LTE in addition to 5G. So the mobile hotspot is backwards compatible with older mobile networks, so that the connection does not break off when you change from the 5G radio cell into an LTE cell.

 

The Huawei 5G WiFi Router can use Wi-Fi at 2.4 and 5 gigahertz and supports not only the current WLAN 802.11ac standard (WLAN 5) but also the new WiFi 6 standard. How many devices can be supplied with Internet at the same time is not yet known. Huawei advertises that it is sufficient to scan a QR code to connect to the WLAN. If required, the QR code will be shown in the display of the device.

Further technical specifications about the Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi are not yet available. Also information about the price and availability of the mobile 5G router are not yet known. The first 5G networks are expected to go into operation in mid-2019, and we suppose then the Huawei 5G mobile WiFi would be available to use.