HUAWEI 4G LTE CPE/Router Archives

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 B535 4G Router 3 Pro Review

Huawei 4G Router 3 Pro with model number B535-232 has also been available in many coutries since early 2020. The device is a 4G wireless router of the middle class and available for just under 200USD without a contract. It’s design for indoor use with reliable performance for home networking. Below are the details specifications of Huawei 4G Router 3 Pro B535:

Huawei B535 4G Router 3 Pro Specs and Features
Manufacturer and Model Number	Huawei B535 4G Router 3 Pro
Chipset:	Balong chip
LTE category:	LTE Cat7
Download rate to:	300 Mbit/s
Upload rate to:	100 Mbit/s
Supported LTE bands:	B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B28
Backward compatible with	3G
Support from LTE-Advanced	Yes
MIMO support:	not specified
Connection for external antenna:	yes, 2 SMA connectors(Buy Huawei 4G Router 3 Pro external antenna)
Network \| LAN & WLAN
LAN ports:	yes, 3 ports
WLAN standards:	802.11ac/a/n, 2 x 2 & 802.11b/g/n 2 x 2, MIMO
5 GHz WiFi support:	Yes
Encryption:	Yes
WLAN hotspot function:	yes, up to 64 devices
Others
Battery pack:	No
Dimension:	219 x 138 x 25.6 mm
USB:	No
Memory card expansion:	No
Release:	Early 2020
Price:	$ 199.00 (unlocked and without contract)
available at:	www.4gltemall.com
Information material
User Guide:	N/A
Datasheet	N/A

Up to 300 Mbit/s download rate

The “Huawei B535 4G Router 3 Pro” contains the Huawei balong chip, an LTE CAT 7 modem. It supports downloads with up to 300 Mbit/s and uploads with a maximum of 100 Mbit/s. However, these are of course only theoretical values and in practice are usually significantly lower depending on the network environment. The Huawei LTE Router supports almost all LTE frequencies represented in Asia and Europe. Bands B1, B3, B7, B8, B20 and B28 are specified by the manufacturer. Unfortunately there is no information about carrier aggregation combinations.

If no LTE network is available, the Huawei B535 Router alternatively switches to 3G/UMTS network. Here it is on the bands B1 and B8. Older standards such as GSM or 2G are not available as an alternative. Since the LTE network is already very well developed for most network operators worldwide, this should not be necessary either. The prerequisite is an inserted SIM card in micro format in the existing card slot.

No WiFi ax

To improve reception, the Huawei B535 WiFi router can be equipped with an external cellular antenna. Two connections are available for this. There is also a WAN/LAN port on the back as well as three additional Gigabit LAN connections. Various LEDs are lined up on the front to tell various connection status information, such as 4G, WLAN, LAN, signal strength and power.

Up to 64 devices can be connected wirelessly to the Huawei B535 4G Router 3 Pro via the B535’s WLAN network. The device transmits on the common frequencies 2.4 and 5 GHz, but does not support the new WLAN ax / Wifi 6. There are 802.11ac/a/n 2 x 2 and 802.11b/g/n 2 x 2 MIMO. The maximum wireless transmission rate via the dual-band WLAN antenna is 1,167 Mbit/s.

No integrated battery

In addition to the LTE router itself, the package content also includes the mandatory power supply unit and a stand to place the device. The power supply plug port is also on the back of the LTE router. The device does not offer an integrated battery, so there must always be an electrical outlet nearby.

The 219 x 138 x 25.6 mm large and approximately 325 g heavy LTE router, is primarily intended for home use. Installation is easy and takes place via the compatible Huawei SmartHome app. A multilingual quick start guide is also included for commissioning and clarifying questions. Among other things, support for password-free access to HiLink devices, changing WLAN names and much more is possible via HiLink Smart Home. Other features include SMS service, firewall, PIN protection, MAC address filtering, Wi-Fi encryption, VPN tunnel and VPN penetration, IP penetration, IPv6 and IPv6 / IPv4 dual stack, multi-APN, WeBUI, Administrator maintenance, HOTA and more. However, there is no telephone function.

Actually, similar to B535 4G Router 3 Pro, Huawei had presented many similar 4G LTE WiFi Router to the market, such as Huawei B612, Huawei B525 and Huawei E5186 etc… They had different appearance and design, but functions are very similar. They are good for home or office networking. If you are interested in Huawei 4G Router, you may select one from them.

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

The unique HUAWEI B818 antenna provides high performance and helps in full coverage in many directions. And if the signal is too weak in your location, you can amplify it by adding two 3G/4G LTE external antennas. We recommend this outdoor antenna for Huawei B818 router: http://www.4gltemall.com/4g-lte-outdoor-antenna-2-x-ts-9-connectors.html

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 B618s-66d (Telstra 4GX Modem) Router Review

The Huawei B618 was available in many countries since 2018 and now becomes one of the best LTE routers in the market. If you are familiar with Huawei B618 router, you may know there are two variant models for Huawei B618 Router: They are B618s-22d and B618s-65d. Here we get a new variant Huawei B618s-66d. Like other Huawei 4G LTE WiFi routers, the Huawei B618s-66d supports different LTE frequency bands from the two brother models.

Huawei B618s-66d Appearance

Huawei B618s-66d is a customized router from Australian network carrier Telstra, who gives it a new name “Telstra 4GX Modem”. The Telstra 4GX Modem router has same shape as the two brother model, but it has Telstra logo on the front instead of Huawei logo. The LED indicators are still there, including three antenna indicators, Power indicator, Status indicator, LAN, WiFi and data usage indicators.

On the back of the Huawei B618 Telstra, the two connectors for external antennas are available and covered by a small tap. The connector type is TS-9. Below are the power button, USB 2.0 Port and two Ethernet ports for LAN. There is no battery in the Huawei B618 router, so the Power plug for adapter is also available. However, unlike the Huawei B618s-22d, the Ethernet ports in Telstra 4GX Modem B618s-66d are both for LAN. In B618s-22d, one is for LAN and the other one is for both LAN and WAN.

The SIM card slot is at the bottom of the Telstra 4GX Modem. The Reset button is at the side of the SIM card slot. And a stick indicates the model B618s-66d, SSID, WiFi Key, IP, user name, password, WPS pin, IMEI number, S/N number, and some certificates etc… The Huawei B618s-66d uses Micro-SIM card.

Huawei B618s-66d (Telstra 4GX Modem) Specs Review

Support 4GX Cat11
Support 4G LTE Frequency Band 1/3/5/7/28 700/850/1800/2100/2600MHz
Support 4 x 4 MIMO
Support up to 20 WiFi-enabled devices simultaneously
WLAN IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz and 5GHz
SIM Type: Micro(3FF)
2 x LAN ports(RJ45), 1 X USB(2.0) port to connect a printer or storage drive
Huawei Hilink App. Easy management by smartphone or pad

On the Telstra official site, it doesn’t list the LTE Band 28. We re-checked with Telstra and get confirmation that Huawei B618s-66d Telstra 4GX Modem supports Band 28. The Huawei official site says the Huawei B618 Australia router could support maximum up to 64 users, but the Telstra 4GX Modem supports only 20 devices simultaneously.

Huawei B618s-66d (Telstra 4GX Modem) Price

Due to specs subtraction of the Telstra 4GX Modem, the price is a little cheaper than the original model B618s-22d and B618s-65d. If you want the original functions, you may use the Huawei B618s-65d which could fully replace B618s-66d to use in Australia.

Huawei B818 (Vodafone Gigacube CAT19) Router Test

Vodafone Gigacube CAT19 is a new 4G LTE WiFi router offered since March 2019. The device is manufactured by Huawei and the model name is B818-260. The B818 is by far the newest and fastest LTE router in the Huawei product range, with LTE Cat19 delivering speeds of up to 1.6 gigabits per second. Vodafone sells the router as a Gigacube CAT19 as the successor to the previous “small” Gigacube Huawei B528 and thus offers customers a very powerful alternative to choose from. If you want to know the performance of Huawei B818, you may continue reading.

Huawei B818 – First Gigabit LTE router

The Huawei B818 is Huawei’s first stationary LTE router capable of achieving speeds well above 1 Gbps in the LTE network. The device is positioned as a successor to the Huawei B618 and offers not only a very similar design but also comparable good equipment.

In addition to the Huawei B818-260 router, there is also a power adapter and a flat LAN cable. There is also a printed German-language manual and a quick-start sheet. The package contents refer to the version as Gigacube CAT19, other variants of the B818 may be delivered with a modified accessory. Vodafone is currently the only provider in Europe to offer the Huawei B818.

Huawei B818 Interfaces

The Huawei B818 has a slot for a Micro-SIM card at the bottom. All other connections are located on the back. There you will find the connection for the power supply and two RJ45 Gigabit LAN ports. One of these LAN ports can also be used as a WAN connection, so that one does not necessarily have to rely on the wireless modem integrated in the router. Furthermore, there is a USB 2.0 port, over this storage media can be shared in the network. Also two connections for an external antenna are present.

Huawei B818 Specifications

The Huawei B818-260 LTE Router supports 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology as well as carrier aggregation (channel bundling). The following LTE frequency bands are available: B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B28, B32, B38, B42. In the downlink, the maximum theoretical data rate could reach 1.6 GBit/s and up to 150 MBit/s in the uplink is possible.

In practice, the speeds were rarely over 300 MBit/s. Vodafone theoretically promises up to 500 MBit/s in the Gigacube tariff, but many sites offer only lower data rates. Nevertheless, the B818 was often slightly faster than other devices in the test, especially when several frequency ranges could be bundled by means of carrier aggregation. The latencies (ping) were usually between 20 and 25 milliseconds in the test.

Huawei B818 Test

The Huawei B818 comes with built-in cellular antennas in the device. These offer a very good reception in the LTE network, especially in comparison with many smartphones. Even with poor reception, fast speeds are still achievable. For example, in the test, a stable connection could still be established in a basement room, even though the smartphones in the room already showed no reception.

The Huawei B818 allows the connection of up to two external antennas or a MIMO antenna. For this purpose, two TS-9 connectors are available on the back. If the external antenna is not detected automatically by the router, then you can manually switch to the operation with an external antenna in the web interface.

The WLAN module of the Huawei B818 transmits by default in dual-band mode to 2.4 and 5 gigahertz. Up to 32 devices can be supported with WLAN at the same time. The maximum speed was tested by using 3 × 3 MIMO antenna technology at 1300 MBit/s, which is also the highest data rate supported by the WLAN module. The speed is at a high level compared to other Huawei 4G LTE Wireless router models. The WLAN range was also convincing in the test, a large apartment or a small family home can be supplied without additional repeaters.

The Huawei B818 provides a separate guest Wi-Fi network upon request. This can be equipped with a separate password. Unfortunately there is no timer function for the WLAN module.

Huawei B818 Software: Web Interface & App

The operation and configuration of the Huawei B818 or Gigacube CAT19 takes place either via web interface in the browser or via an app. The web interface is designed in red Vodafone design, the app comes in the original Huawei design therefore. The web interface offers significantly more options than the app, so there about the desired network technology (eg LTE-only) can be set. Overall, the web interface has left a good impression in the test.

Conclusion: Huawei B818 / Vodafone Gigacube CAT19

The Huawei B818, or Vodafone Gigacube CAT19, left a very good impression in the test. In particular, the new LTE wireless router was convincing, this offers above-average speeds and is extremely future-proof. Currently, the speed advantage of the Huawei B818 is still manageable compared to many other LTE router models. The operation and configuration was very easy in the test and if necessary, any other SIM card can be used in addition to the Vodafone SIM card.

The Vodafone Gigacube CAT19 or Huawei B818 is worthwhile for anyone who would like to have a particularly good LTE modem and would like to spend a little more. Even the Huawei B818 can provide high LTE and WLAN speeds for daily use, but probably only for the fewest users. Currently, a cheaper device such as the Vodafone Gigacube CAT6 (Huawei B528) is quite sufficient.

Vodafone GigaCube Cat19 FAQs and User Manual

As the latest Vodafone 4G LTE router, Vodafone GigaCube Cat19 is not only new in the LTE technology, but also the appearance and design. Some users may have some questions about this new LTE Advanced pro router or don’t know how to setup and use the new Huawei router. Today, we will list the FAQs and the user manual for basic functions and installation & settings.

How to restore the factory default settings for the Vodafone GigaCube CAT19?

There are two ways to reset the GigaCube to its factory settings.
Good to know: You delete all your personal modem settings, such as: Passwords, Wi-Fi names (SSID) and the Wi-Fi password.

That’s how it’s done:

Hold down the reset button on the underside of the Vodafone GigaCube CAT19 with a pointed object until the power indicator turns off.
You will restore all default settings. Then simply start and configure your GigaCube again.

Or open Settings > System via the GigaCube web interface.
Click on Factory Settings > Restore.

You will now see the information “All configurations will be reset to factory settings. Continue?”
Click on OK. The factory settings are restored …

Click to check more about Vodafone GigaCube Cat19 FAQs and User Manual

Category: HUAWEI 4G LTE CPE/Router