LTE 2600 MiFi

[Alf Roberts]

does anyone know which MiFi routers are LTE 2600 (4g) compatible?

 

I assume the Huawei E5332 is not, although I can't find a definitive answer.

 

further is the iPad 2 ( the one with the lightening connector) 4G compatible?

Edited February 8, 2015 by Alf Roberts

[bottle]

Huawei E 5372 is 4G compatible and has two aerial sockets.

[Alf Roberts]

yes, it's looking like that one, though a gnat's pricy at £100

[Rich]

yes, it's looking like that one, though a gnat's pricy at £100

£59.99 with IGB preloaded on payg, from Three, and it's unlocked.

[Alf Roberts]

£59.99 with IGB preloaded on payg, from Three, and it's unlocked.

now I'm tempted.

[Alf Roberts]

try getting hold of one mind. they say on the website it's £69 Payg but when you try to buy it....

[Alf Roberts]

I think it's discontinued in favour of the E5573.

 

it's not clear whether this has two aerial sockets - does anyone know?

[Richard10002]

I've just ordered the e5776. It only has one aerial socket, but we won't be needing two aerials for some time. I chose it because it has a 3000mAh battery, twice as big as the others. Paid £103

[Rich]

I've just ordered the e5776. It only has one aerial socket, but we won't be needing two aerials for some time. I chose it because it has a 3000mAh battery, twice as big as the others. Paid £103

Apparently 4G needs two antenna inputs to get the best.

 

As an aside, here in Northampton 4g on three is not bad, 4g on EE is fantastic.

[Richard10002]

Apparently 4G needs two antenna inputs to get the best.

 

 

4g is MIMO, multi in, multi out. However, at the moment the networks don't provide for multi in or out, (except in areas where they are testing it), so a dual aerial facility will be a waste.

[Drayke]

I’m using a Huawei 4332 4G WI-FI on Three network, it has 2 aerial sockets and comes unlocked. Can’t remember how much we paid for it though.

[Rich]

4g is MIMO, multi in, multi out. However, at the moment the networks don't provide for multi in or out, (except in areas where they are testing it), so a dual aerial facility will be a waste.

So Three lied to me when I asked that specific question. They didn't even ask where. I suppose if they ever get it up and running we should see a difference.

 

ETA The question was "does 4g need dual antenna to get the best result?" Yes, was the answer. No mention of anything such as "when we get it going, or perhaps or 'owt else".

Edited February 9, 2015 by Rich

[Paul C]

So Three lied to me when I asked that specific question. They didn't even ask where. I suppose if they ever get it up and running we should see a difference.

 

ETA The question was "does 4g need dual antenna to get the best result?" Yes, was the answer. No mention of anything such as "when we get it going, or perhaps or 'owt else".

 

Who did you ask, within Three? 4G connectivity is a complex area and there are many different variations of the standards. At the moment MIMO is not enabled or available on the transmitter side, but the technology is possible and I dare say there is a rolling upgrade programme to enable it across much of the 4G network eventually. So its worth buying a twin aerial Mifi for futureproofing reasons.

[Alf Roberts]

here's an interesting article on LTE;

 

http://www.solwise.co.uk/4g-lte-antenna-considerations.html

[Richard10002]

So Three lied to me when I asked that specific question. They didn't even ask where. I suppose if they ever get it up and running we should see a difference.

 

ETA The question was "does 4g need dual antenna to get the best result?" Yes, was the answer. No mention of anything such as "when we get it going, or perhaps or 'owt else".

4G, as a technology, does need a dual, or multiple, aerial for best results. So they weren't necessarily lying. In fact, they probably don't know how it works, so more likely ignorant, rather than deceitful.

 

I dont think there is enough bandwidth to provide us all with proper MIMO 4G. Three no longer offer tetherable all you can eat data because their allocation can't cope.

 

The mifi I've ordered has 2 internal aerials, but only one external adapter, so it's future proofed in that sense. I chose it for its longer battery life, which is more important to me in the short term.

[Alf Roberts]

im getting quite tempted by this; which by the time you add in the price of the aerials is not so pricey

 

http://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/3G/Proroute-GEM420-Dual-SIM-4G-Router.html

 

I need to find out whether the antennae can be mounted outdoors. I quite like the build quality. and the dual Sim bit.

 

doing some research it seems like LTE speeds are going to be down to usage sharing, good news for country dwellers, not so for suburban iPlayer babies.

 

I'm quite happy on 3-4mbps as long as it's consistent.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Alf Roberts