Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Smartphone Review

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is unique: it’s the first smartphone on the market to have both sides curved display. In addition, it’s a very good technical equipment, which is second to none. Camera, processor design and feel – in almost all important features, the new Samsung smartphone presents the top craftsmanship. Of course there may also be a recent LTE Cat6 modem (up to 300 Mbit/s). We have the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge last week to test in detail and would like to report in this review about my experience with the device.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge comes in a rather unspectacular package with the standard smartphone accessories included. In the accessories, only the power supply is worth: this can load not only with 5V/2A, but also supports a rapid charger function with 9.6V/1.67A. This unit is actually charged beautiful afloat and the remaining charging time is indicated in the status bar. If you had used the previous models of Samsung smartphones, you may know the body of Samsung Galaxy S5 was made of much plastic material; the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is now glass and metal. The Galaxy S6 edge is extremely in high quality, it feels great at the sides curved.

Unfortunately, the new design of the Galaxy S6 Edge also has two disadvantages: user cannot replace the battery, as it was still possible in previous generations and also the memory expansion via memory card is no longer possible. Since the permanently installed battery is now widely used and becomes the main stream, the lack of microSD bay is still very annoying, especially since Samsung has integrated the Galaxy cheaper models with metal housing such a manhole.

Bent AMOLED display
The highlight of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is the display. It is slightly curved towards either side and looks very futuristic. The resolution is 2560 x 1440 pixels (QHD), in all the major disciplines such as sharpness, brightness and color fidelity, the display is the best thing I’ve ever seen in a smartphone. However, the interesting questions are whether it’s necessary to the curved display? What are the benefits and features?

After two weeks of intensive use I can say that the display has fascinated me every day. It is not the function. There are much more the feel and appearance that make up the curved display: the missing edge is an excellent sensation during use and it looks really great. Particularly in the presentation of images, it is an interesting, new experience. Whether the curved display is well worth the price charge, you have to decide for yourself, personally, I would pay it well!

Excellent camera
In this review, I will not imagine every single feature of the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge, but the camera deserves a separate chapter, because it is definitely one of the best smartphone cameras, which you can get at present. In my Galaxy S6 Edge, a 16 megapixel sensor from Sony IMX240 was installed, and it also provides Samsung Isocell sensors in Galaxy S6.
Overall, the camera takes very nice photos. In daylight you can achieve great defocus effects at dusk and nightfall depending on the subject and situation. The tripping time is top and to start the camera, a twofold pressure on the home button reaches. Of course, 4K videos recordings are possible in Galaxy S6 Edge. It’s not a problem.

Technology and software
on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge runs Android version 5.0 Lollipop, an update to Android 5.1 is coming shortly . Overall, the operating system looks much tidier than previous Samsung devices with TouchWiz interface, but most of the well-known and appreciated features have been retained. By the Exynos 7420 Octa-Core processor, the operating system is very fast, the energy consumption nevertheless remains limited: the 2,600 mAh strong battery lasts even with intensive use for a whole day.

The internal memory of the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge is either 32GB, 64GB or 128GB in size, with each memory level extra money to be paid. But an extension of the internal memory is unfortunately not possible, as already mentioned earlier in the test. The fingerprint reader is integrated as standard in every Galaxy S6 and usually provides a very fast and reliable way to unlock your device. If you work a lot in the garden or on the construction, you’d better not use the sensor: very light soiling, damage or moist areas on the skin may cause that the fingerprint is no longer detected.

Fast LTE Cat6
The modem of the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge could support EDGE and UMTS with the data accelerator DC-HSPA+ (up to 42.2 Mbit/s in the downlink), of course LTE network is also supported. As LTE category 6 is supported, up to 300 MBit/s can be achieved in the downlink via carrier aggregation. In practice test the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge impressed with a very good reception on LTE 800 MHz and a really good wireless reception. The speed in the LTE network achieved up to 220 Mbit/s in the downlink and 46 Mbit /s in the uplink; however, the speeds often fluctuate between 50 and 120 MBit/s. On WLAN, the speed reached up to 866 MBit/s based on AC standard.

Conclusion:


The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is a true flagship. I could write a lot more about the device, but I think with this review, I have summarized the most important experience for Galaxy S6 edge. When did you get the phone, you will see what’s really amazing!

 

Huawei Honor 6 4G Smartphone

Huawei has its smartphone series “Honor” exported from China to Europe for years. Honor smartphones have upgraded from honor 3 to Honor 3C. Now we get Honor 3C 4G version and the latest Honor 6 smartphone. You can check some technical details about Huawei Honor 6. This reflects the general selling point for Honor 6 smartphone by Chinese manufacturers: The Honor 6 provides just about everything you can expect from a top-device, at a surprisingly low price. The amazing feature is that LTE standard CAT6 the smartphone is also equipped.

Features and characteristics of Huawei Honor 6

Manufacturer and Model Huawei Honor 6
Important performance data:
CPU (cores, clock) Octa-core (8 cores) with 1.3 & 1.7 GHz
CPU name HiSilicon Kirin 920 / ARM Cortex A7 & A15
Main memory 3 GB
internal memory 16 GB (via microSD card expandable)
Operating system Android 4.4.2 KitKat with EmotionUI 2.3
Display size; Resolution 5-inch IPS display with 1,080 x 1,920 pixels (445 ppi)
Camera (back and front) 13 MP rear / 5 MP front
Data transmission:
LTE standards LTE 800 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 MHz
Support of LTE-Advanced yes
Support LTE  categories CAT6
Dominated VoLTE yes
Wireless Yes, 802.11a/b/g/n at 2.4 and 5 GHz
Bluetooth Yes, Version 4.0
Other standards GPRS; EDGE, UMTS; HSPA; HSPA +
Other data:
Features no NFC; FM radio
Memory Card | SIM format microSD | microSIM
Accumulator 3,100 mAh
Weight; Dimensions (HxWxD) 132 grams; 68.8 x 139.8 x 7.5 mm

 

Technical Features

 

The Huawei Honor 6 is equipped with a 5-inch IPS display that achieves a very high pixel density of 445 ppi according to the manufacturer, and its full HD resolution is 1,080 x 1,920 pixels. Till now, only Google Nexus 5 offers such pixels per inch. The Honor 6 is in an attractive design with a back made of glass, while the windscreen with Gorilla Glass is protected from scratches.

The network link speed of honor 6 is amazing with the latest technology. Huawei Honor 6 comes with the latest processor HiSilicon Kirin 920, an octa-core chip, which consists of a Cortex A7 1.3GHz and a Cortex A15 1.7GHz. Some benchmarks of this combination have already beaten Samsung Galaxy S5.

 

The memory of Honor 6 is dimensioned generous with 3 gigabytes. Unfortunately, only the model with 16 GB of internal storage will be available now. After all, you can increase this by micro SD card to store photos, music or apps.

 

With the support for LTE category 6 (LTE-Advanced), download speeds are theoretically up to 300 MBit/s. Bluetooth 4.0 is of course also on board as WLAN, but not the fastest way wireless ac. NFC is not supported in the new Huawei honor 6. While the model has a version with dual SIM slot in China, the most common version is with a single-SIM.

Good Camera and Strong Battery

 

The main camera is equipped with 13 megapixels and an f/2.0 aperture up-to-date; moreover, honor 6 has provided a 5-megapixel front camera for video telephone and Selfies. The battery of 3100mAh is generous. So it can standby for around two days. The Honor 6 is supplied at the beginning with Android 4.4.2 KitKat. Based on the Google operating system, Huawei creates its own user interface EmotionUI 2.3.

 

Huawei Honor 6 is now available on www.4gltemall.com without contract. It is available in black and white. You can choose the FDD version or TDD& FDD version.

 

Conclusion

 

The Huawei Honor 6 is great compared to the some top brands 5-inch smartphones: Both pixel density as well as memory, battery and LTE standard are top, especially the price is budget and great for most users. If you want to pay less money with top specifications, Huawei Honor 6 will be the first option.

 

Huawei CarFi E8377 Hotspot Test

A Wi-Fi hotspot in the car – this feature is so far available only for a few cars of the upper middle class and upper class. Huawei changed the cigarette lighter connector for new Carfì hotspot for 12V. Users can reach up to 150 MBit/s via LTE through the Huawei Carfì Hotspot, of course, the CarFi can also a fallback to 3G and 2G. But the Carfì wireless router is really as good as the expensive installation solutions from car producer? In this test, we find out the answer.

Appearance and Technology


Huawei Carfì Hotspot is conducted under the Model Number Huawei E8377 and comes in a nice package for buyers. The scope of supply is tight, next to the hotspot itself there is  a Quick Start Guide, a brochure with safety instructions and an indication of the Huawei HiLink app included. The Huawei Carfì Hotspot is kept in a matt black plastic and the front is equipped with a carbon look, which is likely to look smart in almost any car. On the front there is also the power button, which simultaneously serves as an indicator of the reception strength by the underlying LED. A yellow LED indicates poor UMTS / LTE receiver while a green LED indicates good reception.

Of course, you need a SIM card with the appropriate data plan for the operation of Huawei Carfì. The card must be in micro-SIM format and is inserted under the side cover in the Carfì hotspot. Under the cover you will find also a reset button and a connector for an external antenna. There is a integrated rechargeable battery; so user can operate Huawei router Carfì in the car and can take the CarFi in a meeting or outdoors.


The maximum speed in the LTE network is 150 Mbit/s over LTE Cat4. According to Huawei, the Huawei CarFi supports frequency bands by 800/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz. If no LTE times are available,  you can also use 3G (up to 42.2 Mbit/s) and 2G. In the test of the handover between the different network technologies, Huawei CarFi can work smoothly while driving. The reception is in both LTE and UMTS, but no better than most smartphones. Those who expect a good reception will be disappointed by Huawei Carfì or possibly should directly connect an external antenna. If you want the antenna for Huawei CarFi, click here: http://www.4gltemall.com/external-antenna-for-huawei-4g-lte-usb-modem.html 

The wireless module operates on the 802.11 b/g/n, ie on the frequency band around 2.4 GHz. The area around 5 GHz is not supported. The signal is strong enough to cover larger cars.

 

Control via App
Once you have the Huawei Carfì Hotspot connect it to a cigarette lighter connector, it must be turned on manually before use each time. Before first use you should write down or take a picture of the WLAN key, because as soon as the device is plugged in, it’s different for to read the key. Also, one should previously load the Huawei HiLink app to Android or iOS device, because that is for the establishment and the operation.

Connection parameters like APN or access numbers can’t not be stored. The Huawei Carfì can automatically recognized the SIM card from Vodafone and Orange in the test and the data stored accordingly. Only the PIN code must be entered, if enabled. The Huawei HiLink app allows various settings, for example, you can configure the name and password of the WLAN network. A wireless guest network with a separate name and password can be set up, ideal for guests in the car or for taxi drivers.

Connection information such as data consumption, connected wireless devices and the online time are displayed graphically in the app. The firmware of Huawei Carfì can easily be updated online. A major disadvantage of Huawei HiLink app: the test with Android smartphones, the program fell on extremely high energy consumption. Here Huawei should urgently provide an update for Remedy.
In the test, we can find Huawei Carfì has two major disadvantages: firstly, the device must be turned on every time manually, if you want to use it, a start on some cars are not possible, at least for a VW Golf VI, a Ford Galaxy and a Renault Scenic. Second, only the internal antenna is used in the hot spot, whereas fixed-mounted solutions always use the external antenna, thus naturally have much better reception conditions.
Nevertheless, the Huawei Carfì Hotspot is recommended as a retrofit solution definitely, because all the promised features are well met. Of course, you could also have a mobile wireless router with battery, the Carfì Hotspot is significantly more convenient.

Huawei Announced P8 P8 Max and P8 Lite

Huawei has announced the P8 series smartphone in London. In addition to the Huawei P8, which is the flagship device of the series, there will be a Huawei P8 Max with greatly enlarged display and a Huawei P8 Lite with stripped-down functionality. The Huawei P8 waived first time to lure the customers with various highlights. So far the quality of the camera is so far consistently praised in glowing terms and also Huawei has seemingly done everything right for the P8. The P8 is clear as Huawei P series device, since the design was little changed compared with the previous Ascend P7. Overall, the body is high-grade and almost completely made of a metal block.

Huawei P8


The Huawei P8 comes with a 5.2-inch display with full HD resolution, and the operating system is Android 5.0 Lollipop including Huawei EMUI 3.1 interface. The camera is one of the highlights as I said; it has a resolution of 13 megapixels, features an optical image stabilizer and is in spite of the very small dimensions. A special camera function, for example, the possibility of photos exposing long, thus allowing for light-effects such as “Light Painting”. Videos can be recorded at up to 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD). The internal memory is 16 gigabytes in size, and can be expanded via microSD card.

 

The processor of Huawei P8 uses a Kirin 930 from the house HiSilicon, which has about 8 cores. Four of them have a maximum clock speed of 2.0GHz, the other four are working with a maximum of 1.5 GHz. It’s very disappointing for the P8 flagship device that wireless only supports in the frequency range of 2.4 GHz (Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n) and LTE is in Category 4, and around 150 Mbit/s in the downlink is limited. From network suppliers such as Huawei, one might have expected LTE Cat6 and WLAN ac, especially since this is an absolute standard in 2015.

Huawei P8 Lite
The Huawei P8 Lite is only half as expensive as the big brother Huawei P8, but still offers good facilities and a similar design. With dimensions of 143.0 x 70.6 x 7.7 mm, it is quite compact, considering that on the front, a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels is installed. Huawei P8 Lite can support 16 GB of internal memory with a microSD card to expand. The camera triggers with 13 megapixels like its big P8, is likely to be different from the picture quality.

The Huawei P8 Lite comes with a HiSilicon Kirin 620 processor, which has eight cores with 1.2 GHz and offers 2 GB of memory. Huawei P8 Lite is on board LTE Cat4, so that speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s can be achieved through LTE. Whether the wireless networkof P8 Lite is also limited to 2.4 GHz, has not been announced in the press release.

Huawei P8 Max


The Huawei P8 Max is the big brother of the P8, we suppose it would be available in Europe soon. The two biggest differences to “normal” Huawei P8 are the larger display (6.8 inches instead of 5.2 inches) and the significantly stronger battery with 4360 mAh. The Huawei P8 Max also supports LTE Cat6 with up to 300 MBit/s in the mobile network, so the connection speed is twice as fast as the normal P8. Also WLAN ac to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are supported.

The processor of Huawei P8 Max comes with the HiSilicon Kirin 935, the 3 GB RAM are aside. The internal memory is 64GB in size and can be expanded via MicroSD. Unfortunately, the display is in spite of its huge size of 6.8 inches, “only” equipped with FullHD resolution, here if equipped with a QHD resolution, it would have been quite timely.

 

Huawei CarFi E8377 LTE Router Review

In the last few years, it’s the main trend to connect cars. Internet access in the car or camping Mobile is still reserved for the premium class. However, new wireless gadgets provide solution. The Huawei E8377 specially designed for the motor vehicle provides the first use and inexpensive hotspot router with LTE. We have tested the “Huawei Carfì Router” for you and share the details below.

 

With the Carfì E8377 router, user can access internet via the mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. The CarFi could work on 3G or 4G LTE and up to 150 Mbits per second download speed are possible here. The concept is not entirely new. Huawei had brought a car Stick named W5101 for the first time to the market. It’s available for Vodafone contract. But it’s an ordinary USB stick, which was connected via an adapter into the cigarette lighter. The E8377 Carfì could connect to the card through the cigarette power connector, which is a direct solution for wireless network.


The packaging looks quite classy and looks like a clock-bell. After opening the box, there is only a mini-manual next to the device. In addition, a tiny leaflet-list is available for installation. The user manual (sweet 6.5 x 5 cm) available in several languages and there are short Tips for settings.

The egg-shaped head of CarFi E8377 gives only a start switch, a notification LED and laterally a SIM card slot (Micro SIM) together with the reset button. Directly to the head connects to the cigarette 12-volt port. From a processing perspective, the device is “appropriate”. The specially adapted to use in the car shape design, the E8377 hardly looks like a foreign body in any case.

Now, let’s consider technical data. The mobile module initially supports LTE in all major bands at 800, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz. Thus, the Car-stick can easily use in Europe. Based on the LTE Cat4 modem, it can reach up to 150 Mbps for download and up to 50 MBit for upload in connection with a matching LTE tariff. In addition to LTE/4G, the CarFi still has support for more mobile phone standards. Among them are as UMTS 900 and 2100 MHz 3G Turbo DC-HSPA+ (up to 42 Mbps) and 2G (GSM, EDGE, GPRS). So even in very poor regions with weak signal, user can still have the chance of a slow connection. The WLAN module supports 802.11 b/g/n and thus can provides data rates up to 300 Mbps.

 

The router Carfì measures 5.9 x 4.9 x 8.8 inches and weighs only 50 grams according to the manufacturer. However, our weight measurement yielded 146 grams. Huawei will also indicate that the E8377 has an integrated battery, which has a capacity of 1900 mAh. However, we were able to connect Carstick for long hours of use on the current port, without connecting the CarFi to the cigarette slots. Thus, we believe that the battery only serves to maintain the operation as soon as the energy source is gone suddenly.

 

A USB port is located on the side. This port is not a data interface, but as a kind of adapter. Huawei has considered that many people use the car’s cigarette lighter as a charging station for mobile phones and other devices, when the cigarette port is used. No more space will be available without adapter for third-party devices. Through the USB port on the side, you can now connect there and load it. Beside the SIM slot, there is a TS9 connector for connecting an external antenna. However, only 1 port, users have to give up 2×2 MIMO. But at least there is a possibility! It is precisely when traveling, for example with a camper, the reception is weak and need external antenna.

To make user understand well about the color shining in Huawei CarFi, here are some codes about the colors:

  • * Flashes red: Indicates that the Carfì is started. Takes about 20 seconds;
  • * a steady red light: Indicates that no wireless network is found, or the connection was not possible (eg missing SIM);
  • * lights up yellow: Indicates that the signal strength for 3G or LTE is very weak;
  • * green: reception strength is optimal;
  • * Flashing cyan: There is just a firmware update;
  • * White: Indicates unread SMS exist.

Installation and Settings

Theoretically, the installation of the E8377 is easy and should be done in less than 3 minutes. First, the SIM card must be inserted. The slot is located under a cover with SIM icon. Then plug the Carfì directly into the cigarette lighter of your car. Turn the ignition so that a power supply is present and press the “Huawei” button on the top for a good 3 seconds. Now the border should first turn red – the CarFi router will start and automatically connects to the wireless network. This takes about 20 seconds. Now you can search the wireless SSID of CarFi E8377 in a laptop, tablet or smartphone. This begins with “Huawei CarFi-“. Both SSID and the wifi key are listed at the foot of the plug. Enter this key or scan the QR code on request with your smartphone. The WLAN connection to Carstick should now be finished. If there is a cellular connection via 2G / 3G or 4G, surfing internet is possible in the way. And up to 10 devices in and around the car could access to the internet.

Huawei-CarFi-E8377-SIDE

Huawei provides a special HiLink App for smartphone and tablet users. This can (if no network) are downloaded directly to the internal memory as required from the PlayStore or AppStore. The app provides information about the connection status, for example, the signal strength, currently used wireless standard and data usage.

Practice test

We have tested the car stick several hours on the road. The installation went really smoothly. Before setup, user must know the color code, otherwise you do not initially know what that mean the color feedback. In mobile reception there is nothing to complain about. This is comparable with other sticks. You should wonder the connection speed in remote areas. Frankly speaking, the speed is just decent, but this problem can be solved by an antenna that is mounted with enough cable on the roof through the window.

Conclusion

Huawei E8377 Carfì is ideal for those who spend hours on the car and where several inmates want to access the Internet.  The installation and handling is simple and straightforward. However, there is currently no better alternative for the car. If you want to have wireless network around in camp or have activities in a car, Huawei E8377 would be a perfect partner.

 

Speedbox LTE mini II (Huawei E5786) Review

The Telekom Speedbox LTE mini II is the first mobile wireless router with integrated modem for LTE-Advanced category 6. Up to 300 megabits per second in the downlink and 50 Mbit/s in the uplink are possible in the network of Germany Telekom. The successor of the Telekom Speedbox LTE mini also has a display easy to read, a fast Wi-Fi connection and a strong battery. The unit is packed in a cardboard box, similar to those of smartphones. In addition, there is a USB power adapter (100-240V, output 5V, 2A) and a USB cable.

The modem operates in 2G, 3G and LTE in the mode. The WLAN interface supports the current 802.11ac standard on 2.4 and 5 GHz. A bright display indicates the current operating status. The 3000 mAh battery provides strong for up to 10 hours of operation. The specs of Speedbox LTE Mini II look similar to Huawei E5786 and it comes from the original factory model E5786. After customizations by Telekom, Speedbox LTE Mini II is still a powerful router.

First impression: Small and portable

The Telekom Speedbox LTE mini II is equipped with a weight of 145 grams and small pocket size like a smartphone. The front is covered by a transparent plastic sheet while the sides and back are made of matt black plastic. On the front of the display and the underlying telecom logo, we can find the power button. The display shows all sorts of information, about the network operator, the used data volume, online time or network technology. From the power and the menu button, user can do some (few) quick settings. Below is the microUSB port for charging the battery or to connect to a computer. If you remove the cover from the back, you can find the slot for the Micro SIM card and the slot for microSD memory cards.

The battery is installed in the router and unfortunately can’t be replaceable by the user. All the other ports are found under the back cover. Right next to the MiniUSB, the two ports for an external antenna is to improve the reception. The connectors are protected by narrow plastic part. In addition, Huawei has saved some much space, so it was difficult to attach the external antennas.

The modem of Speedbox mini II LTE supports LTE 800, 850, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600 megahertz, making it work not only in Germany but also worldwide in many LTE networks overseas. The maximum speed is 300 Mbit/s in the downlink, some conditions must be met and then it can thus achieve high speeds.

Of course, the Telekom Speedbox LTE support mini II supports not only LTE but also GSM and UMTS. It works on the frequency ranges of 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz on GSM and the UMTS 850, 900, 1900 and 2100MHz. So the router could use in many UMTS networks in North America. The maximum speed in the UMTS Network could reach 42.2 Mbit/s in the downlink and 5.76 Mbit/s in the uplink, if the DC-HSPA+ technology is enabled on the network.

The reception quality of the Telekom Speedbox LTE mini II is very good both in the UMTS and the LTE network, often significantly better than that of many smartphones. Even in areas with poor reception can be surfed very quickly over LTE on the Internet.

 

The connection to the terminal device is either via a USB port or just using wireless connection. The Telekom Speedbox LTE mini II has a current wireless 802.11a/b/g/n /ac module installed, which is fast and optionally transmits on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Up to 10 devices can be connected via WiFi through Telekom Speedbox mini II LTE and the coverage of wireless network is about 10 to 15 meters.
The operation of Telecom Speedbox LTE mini II is quite simple. After inserting the SIM card, the device must be switched on to be connected (by pressing the power button for 2-3 seconds) with a computer, tablet or smartphone via Wi-Fi. The corresponding WLAN password is displayed on the router, but can also be seen under the cover on the back. Of course, other settings such as the name and password of the wireless network can still be changed. These settings can be done directly in the browser via the web interface; alternatively there is also an app for your smartphone (Android and iOS operating system). Enter the address bar192.168.8.1 (the router’s IP) in the browser to enter the menu.

The web interface is kept very simple and allows only the most important settings. More specific things such as setting the router to a particular frequency band or a detailed diagnostic function are unfortunately missing. Also information about key reception parameters, such as RSRQ or SINR is missing entirely. There is, however, a special tool, which we will continue to introduce more below. In the tab “Statistics” can be accessed information about data usage and time spent online. It is also possible to store a data plan, such as the volume values from your own mobile calling. Below you will find three selected sample screenshots of the user interface.

Conclusion: Very good mobile LTE Router

 

The Telekom Speedbox LTE mini II is a very good mobile LTE router. In particular, the good speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s and the excellent reception characteristics are convincing. And the WLAN module is fast and future proof.

Vodafone R226 4G Mobile WiFi Hotspot Review

The Vodafone R226 Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot is the first LTE router from Vodafone, which could support LTE Category 6 with up to 300 Mbit/s for downlink. Up to 10 devices can be connected wirelessly via Wi-Fi with fast Internet. A display on the front of the Vodafone R226 shows all status information such as the used data volume reliably. The built-in rechargeable battery provides an operating time of approximately 10 hours.

LTE features and characteristics of Vodafone R226

Manufacturer and type designation Huawei E5786 = Vodafone R226
Download to rate 300 Mbit/s
Upload to rate 50 Mbit/s
Compatible LTE bands 800, 850, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz
backward compatible with LTE CAT 3 & 4, DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, GSM
Support for LTE-Advanced Yes
MIMO Support: MIMO 2×2
Connector for external antenna Yes; 2 antenna connectors TS-9 available(Buy Vodafone R226 Antenna)
LTE Category LTE Category 6 (CAT6) modem
Chipset Hisilicon | HPM Coretx A9 processor
Wi-Fi standards 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (866 Mbit/s)
Wireless Internet Hotspot function yes – for up to 10 devices
Others  
Accumulator 3000 mAh – not changeable (surfing to 10 hours)
Dimensions (WxHxD) 106 x 66 x 15.9 mm 145 grams
USB standard USB 2.0
Memory card expansion Yes; MicroSD up to 32 GB
Manual PDF Refer to user manual for Huawei E5786
Test Report
Release December 2014
available at www.4gltemall.com

 

 

LTE-Advanced with 300 Mbit/s

The Vodafone R226 Router is made by the Chinese manufacturer Huawei E5786,which is the first devices for LTE Category 6 (LTE-Advanced), so that when the appropriate network available, the matching data rate speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s in the downlink and 50 Mbit/s Uplink are possible. Of course, the router is also backward compatible with older LTE expansion stages such as CAT3 (100 Mbps) and CAT4 (150 Mbps). The network technologies GSM and UMTS are supported, and in the UMTS network, up to 42.2 Mbit/s in the downlink is possible. LTE-Advanced will probably introduced from the first quarter of 2015 from Vodafone.

 

Wi Fi ac and powerful battery

Up to 10 devices can be simultaneously connected via Wi-Fi with the Vodafone R226, an eleventh device can be connected via microUSB. From the microUSB connector, the 3,000 mAh strong battery could be charged, which allows an operating time of up to 10 hours. An AC adapter and a USB cable are included, but the battery is unreplaceable. The WLAN module of the Vodafone R226 transmits both on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz on (dual band). With a maximum speed of 866 Mbit/s (WLAN ac), the WLAN of the Vodafone R226 is very fast compared to other devices of this type, up to 300 Mbit/s high-speed Internet connection can thus be easily transferred to the terminal.

 

 

 

The Vodafone R226 looks absolutely identical to “Speedport Mini II “by Telekom, just carries the Vodafone logo. On the front of the Vodafone R226 is a large display that clearly displays a variety of information in black and white format. Thus, for example, we can see about the used data volume, online time or the battery level. The operation of the Vodafone R226 is done via the smartphone app “Vodafone Mobile Wi-Fi Monitor” or a web interface. User can enter the address 192.168.8.1 in the browser. If user want to improve reception,  to connect an external antenna is possible. In addition, the Vodafone R226 provides a slot for a MicroSD memory card, so you can share files between multiple devices. The SIM card must be in micro-SIM format and is inserted under the cover on the back.

 

 

From the feedback of users, Vodafone R226 improves much than previous model such as R215 and R208. With the latest technology, Vodafone R226 would be reliable partner for travel.

 

Huawei E5770 Mobile WiFi Router with RJ45

Huawei has unveiled a new mobile LTE hotspot E5770 with integrated RJ45 LAN interface at MWC in Barcelona. The E5770 LTE router also has a very powerful battery (5,200 mAh), achieving an operating time of up to 20 hours. The Internet could be connected via the LTE cellular modem or via LAN interface.

First MiFi hotspot with LTE Cat4 and RJ45 interface
The Huawei E5770 is the first mobile wireless router from Huawei, which is combined LTE Category 4 with a RJ45 LAN interface and a powerful battery. As we know before, the fastest 3G mobile Wi-Fi hotspot was Huawei E5730, which also has an Ethernet port, but unfortunately it did not support LTE, and a maximum of 42.2 Mbit/s could be achieved on UMTS network. Huawei E5770 provide better solution with higher speed for LTE network.
The Huawei E5770 comes with a black, leather-like plastic surface and has a small 0.96 inch OLED display on the front that displays the information such as the network operator name and the used data volume. Under a cover on the side, you will find the RJ45 LAN port and the microUSB port for charging the battery. In addition, a USB with output of 5V/2A is available, so you can use the Huawei E5770 also for charging other devices such as smartphones (“Power Bank” function).

LTE and Wi-Fi
Based on the LTE Modem in Huawei E5770, it can reach speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s for the downlink and 50 Mbit/s for the uplink in the LTE network. In the UMTS network, possible speed could reach up to 42.2 Mbit/s in the downlink on DC-HSPA+. Which frequency bands are supported, Huawei didn’t indicate at MWC in Barcelona. However, it is assumed that there will be several variants for different markets like other Huawei models such as E5786.

However, it’s a pity that Huawei E5770 wireless module only works in the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band is not available in this device. Up to 10 users can be connected simultaneously with the Huawei E5770, an eleventh device can connect to the internet via the USB interface.

Huawei E5770 is a perfect pocket router for travel. It provides a wonderful solution for business journey. When user need internet at hotel or outdoor, Huawei E5770 would be a good partner. We believe Huawei E5770 will be available soon.

 

Netgear AC790S 4G LTE Cat6 Mobile Hotspot Review

Netgear AC790s LTE hotspot was presented in September 2014 and has since been introduced by Telstra to its product range in Australia. Comparing with other mobile LTE routers, the main difference is the large battery with touchscreen display and support for LTE-Advanced Cat6. In Europe area, the Netgear AC790s is not yet available, and it is doubtful that we will get the device in near future because the successor with LTE CAT9 is already waiting in the wings. Actually, the predecessor of AC790s model is the Netgear AC785s, which was very good. Luckily, we have seen the Netgear AC790s closely at MWC.


Netgear AC790s, which was exhibited at the exhibition booth of Netgear, was provided with a small branding by Australian operators Telstra. Till now, Telstra is the only provider with whom the Netgear AC790s is available. But the rest of the devices are no branding and with original Netgear, for example the software. The unit is operated by a large colorful touch screen, although a web interface is still available, but not required for operation. The touch screen is not as fast as you would expect from a smartphone, but for a mobile hotspot, it is sufficient in any case completely.


Much more important than the touch screen is the integrated modem in AC790s. This could support LTE (Cat6) with peak download speed up to 300 Mbit/s for the downlink and 50 Mbit/s for uplink. Of course the device is also backward compatible with 3G and 2G along with various data accelerator. The connection to the computer is via WiFi 802.11 ac, ie to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. It is possible to enhance the speed and the signal strength with an external antenna(Buy Netgear AC790S antenna from here: http://www.4gltemall.com/4g-antenna-two-ts-9-connector.html ). There are two connectors for the external antenna and they are protected with a sliding mechanism from dust and dirt. On the other side, it’s the power button.


A very interesting accessories for the Netgear AC790s hotspot is available, the DC112A SmartCradle. It is a docking station that not only strengthen the router signal through USB  and thus charging the battery, but also has other functions. Thus, the wireless signal is amplified and there is a Gigabit LAN port on the back of DC112A. In addition, the mobile radio is improved signal over the external antenna connections.

Huawei CarFi Hilink E8377 4G Hotspot for Car

Penetration of WiFi in vehicle infotainment system is set to become an important trend. To address this trend and tap the large potentials and opportunities, the company Huawei has cooperated with France network provider Orange to provide a wireless solution for vehicle passengers to connect 4G networks when moving. The device is named Huawei CarFi E8377 and is designed to cover up to 10 users.

The Huawei CarFi E8377 device, in compact size, gets 12 volt power from vehicle, which is designed specifically for use in these environments, either for personal use or for family members to provide connectivity while traveling, or for fleets of taxis and passenger vehicles.

 

Huawei emphasize that the essence of CARFI is the simplicity of use, because once connected to power in the vehicle, user just need press the single button for ignition and commissioning. The CarFi E8377 has a card slot to insert the SIM card from operator.

 

User can download the appropriate application for iOS and Android to manage the device, so you can modify the parameters of the wireless network name SSID and security key. Those who do not want to be complicate have these screen printed data on-device so that they can implement it without having to install any application. However, the application allows user to know the devices are connected, consumption data and other set of interesting parameters. The Huawei CARFI ensures LTE Category 4 connectivity with speeds up to 150 Mbps in the best conditions.

 

Huawei CarFi will automatically turn off when no WiFi-compatible device is identified, and can still be used to charge other electronic devices even when turned off as long as car is in use. Huawei CarFi does not contain a battery which provides protection against overheating in hot climates, and has a built-in self-regulating temperature protection function that automatically lowers the temperature of the device when necessary.

Michael Faure, director of residential mobile marketing for Orange Spain stated that it is an interesting product because more than 90 percent of tablets sold are sold with Wifi connectivity mode without 4G options. So Huawei CarFi would provide reliable wireless support for these tablets. And for more vehicles, the wireless network may be a perfect solution for the passengers, Huawei E8377 carFi is slim and easily meet the network requirement.

 

And the USB port in the Huawei E8377 would provide the channel to charge other electronics such as smartphone, tablets. With an elegant and refined look, Huawei CarFi features detailed craftsmanship incorporating superior-grade wood and carbon fiber materials for increased durability during everyday use. It comes in three color variations, fashion elite black and warm family wood, and dynamic speed red, to complement the interior of most vehicles. It’s a perfect solution for vehicle!