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.