Tag: Vodafone GigaCube Cat19

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.

 

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

 

 

FAQs for Vodafone GigaCube Cat19

Do the Vodafone GigaCube Cat19 support public IP addresses?

– No, public IP addresses are currently not supported. With the GigaCube rates, a private IP address is automatically stored.

 

Can I connect my landline telephone to the GigaCube?

– No, that will not work. The telephone connection on the GigaCube is shut down. There are no voice services for the GigaCube rate on the SIM card. You also can not use the GigaCube’s phone port with another SIM card with voice services.

 

Can I also use the GigaCube in my motorhome?

– Yes, with the Vodafone GigaCube you can even surf in the car, motorhome and camping.
You only need Vodafone mobile reception and a car converter for the cigarette lighter or 12V connection.
Or use the GigaCube external battery.

 

Does the GigaCube have voice recognition?

– No. You can only control and set it up via the GigaCube web interface.

More about this: How to set up your Vodafone Gigacube Cat19?

Huawei B818(Vodafone GigaCube Cat19) LTE Router Review

In March 2019, Huawei supplied the new LTE WiFi Router B818 to Vodafone and the B818 router got a new name “Vodafone GigaCube Cat19” as the successor to the old model Vodafone GigaCube B528. Per the description from Vodafone, the Huawei B818 router could achieve download speeds up to 1.6Gigabits per second and upload speeds up to 150Mbps based on the LTE Category 19. It’s the fastest LTE router from Huawei now. For the Vodafone GigaCube Cat19, Huawei offer the model number B818-260.

HUAWEI B818 Router

Huawei B818 Specifications and Appearance

Although the Huawei B818 GigaCube Cat19 is the successor to the first generation GigaCube Huawei B528, the appearance of B818 looks more similar to the Huawei B618 Router. The Huawei B818 router is integrated with HiSilicon Balong V7R65 modem which supports LTE Cat19 with 256QAM, and up to 8 x 8 MIMO Antenna technology. As the sayings from Vodafone, the GigaCube Cat19 B818 supports speed up to 500Mbps, but theoretically with a suitably equipped LTE network, significantly higher speeds are possible.

HUAWEI B818 Router LED indicators

The Huawei B818 router WLAN works on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and, in addition to the standard network, also enables a guest network. Thanks to 3 × 3 MIMO antenna technology, speeds of around 1.3 GBit/s can be reached via WLAN.

 

Huawei B818 Supported Frequency Bands

The Huawei B818-260 supports all the popular LTE frequency bands in Europe and Asia: Band 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38 and 42. For those who prefer to have it in MHz: 700, 800, 900, 1500, 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz are supported for FDD-LTE, 2600 and 3500 MHz for TDD-LTE. The Huawei B818 is thus very well prepared for the future!

HUAWEI B818 Gigabit Ports

Huawei B818 Interfaces

The Huawei B818 has two RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports on the back. A LAN cable is already included. There is also a USB port and two TS-9 ports for an external LTE antenna. On the bottom, the micro-SIM card is inserted. Various LEDs indicate the operating status on the front.

 

The power consumption is according to Huawei at a maximum of 24 watts. A battery is not integrated in the Huawei B818 LTE router.

HUAWEI B818 IMEI and WiFi key word

Huawei B818 Price and Avaialability

Huawei B818 is now only available for Vodafone Contract, if you need the unlocked unit, you have to wait for more time. But it would be long. The Huawei B818 price in unlocked version would be more expensive than the locked one.