Author: Maureen

Cradlepoint has announced their first 5G-capable router to be available in the U.S., the R1900.

Ruggedized and optimized for vehicle deployments, the R1900 includes an embedded 5G modem with Cat 20 LTE failback and also features 4×4 WiFi 6 and POE. Accessories that expand its capabilities to support additional POE ports or a second cellular modem make it even more versatile and adaptable for demanding applications.

The R1900 will start at $1999 with a 1-year Netcloud package and is expected to be available on May 31.

Key features:

• Deploy the ultimate 5G NR / Cat 20 LTE mobile networking solution
• Add a second cellular modem for simultaneous dual-carrier connectivity
• Take advantage of Wi-Fi 6 for the best possible connections
• Integrate into AVL systems with discrete GNSS and dead reckoning
• Extend your deployment with powerful edge compute capabilities and container support
• Enable unified edge security with application aware multizone firewalls, IDS/IPS, and Internet security
• Define policies through centralized cloud-based management for easy deployment at scale

Learn more about the R1900 at 5Gstore

5G promises amazing speeds and lower latency than LTE, which is understandably very attractive to anyone in the market for a cellular-capable router for their home, business, or vehicle – and now that Peplink has launched a few 5G routers (and other manufacturers will be following suit soon), it may seem that considering only 5G routers is an obvious choice. However, the availability of 5G routers does not mean that LTE routers are obsolete! It will be years before LTE is truly “outdated,” and in fact an LTE router remains the best choice for many users. If you own an LTE router, in most cases there’s no need to rush to upgrade. And if you’re researching and shopping for a new router, there are some important factors to take into consideration before investing in a 5G router:

• Carrier support: none of the currently available 5G routers are certified with any US carrier. This means that it’s not possible to activate a 5G router on a new line of service, and even if you have an existing SIM you plan to swap over, there is no guarantee that the carrier will allow the new router to work on your current plan. This is a showstopper for most users.
• Real-world performance: Speedtests done by manufacturers and reviewers showcase extremely impressive peak 5G speeds, but in practice, with lots of user load, the max speeds most 5G users are seeing are not significantly better than an LTE modem. Unless you need to provide service to hundreds of users via your router, LTE is likely sufficient.
• Coverage: The frequencies currently used by the major 5G networks does not penetrate inside buildings well, and there aren’t yet any 5G signal boosters available to buy. This means that a 5G router may not even be able to pick up the 5G signal well enough to allow for optimum performance.
• Stability and reliability: For a majority of users, having a stable connection is key for remote work and schooling or even just general internet access. With the still-in-progress roll out of 5G and its overall newness, there are bound to be unexpected network issues, bugs, or other problems that take time and effort to overcome. For those concerned with stability, LTE is tried and true and should definitely be considered an advantage over 5G. It’s also important to remember that the 5G routers themselves are new, and with any new electronic, it’s sometimes best to hold off on purchasing until they’ve been proven to be reliable and free of major hardware of firmware flaws.

5G is very exciting and will likely be a top choice down the road once the carriers have fully deployed their networks, router manufacturers have gained certification for their devices, and signal boosters are available to help with coverage issues. For some users, such as companies looking to standardize on hardware that will be deployed en masse for years or users whose applications include extremely bandwidth-intensive requirements, it makes sense to consider a 5G-capable model now even despite the concerns described here. But for many, the extra cost and other potential obstacles posed by 5G routers make an LTE router the safer choice.

Peplink, who has been a leader in cellular networking products since the days of 3G and through all the advancements of 4G, has officially launched their first line of 5G products.

Peplink has a variety of 5G-capable products ready to suit a variety of applications. The 5G modems are compatible with global Sub 6Ghz 5G networks as well as Cat 20 LTE frequencies, so even if 5G isn’t available at your location, you can utilize LTE for now and be ready for 5G.

While 5G is very exciting and it’s tempting to immediately upgrade 4G equipment, it’s important to note that the modems are not certified by US carriers yet. These devices should be purchased only for testing/proof of concept with a pre-activated SIM until full certification is available.

Peplink’s 5G lineup includes:

• HD4 MBX with 4 x 5G – 5G Quad Cellular Mobile Powerhouse
• HD2 MBX with 2 x 5G 5G Dual Cellular Mobile Powerhouse
• Transit with 1 x 5G 5G Mobile Router engineered for transportation deployments
• Balance 310 5G with 1 x 5G and 1 x Cat 12 5G-Hybrid Enterprise Branch Connectivity

And for users who already own the HD2 MBX or HD4 MBX and want to upgrade their 4G modules to 5G ones, 5G MBX modules are also now available:

• 4 x 5G module for HD4 MBX
• 2 x 5G  module for HD2 MBX

All of Peplink’s products can be ordered now at 5Gstore.com. Peplink expects the 5G units to be ready for shipping in April!

If you are using a Cat 18 LTE router or modem with T-Mobile’s service and want to get the most out of your connection, you’ll need an antenna that can pick up the Band 71 frequency – and most standard LTE antennas cannot!

Band 71, which is in the 600MHz frequency, can be a huge boon to T-Mobile users as it is capable of providing faster speeds than some of the higher frequencies. If you’re shopping for an antenna for your router or modem, you will need to confirm that the appropriate frequency range is included or the antenna will not help with your Band 71 signal.

At 5Gstore we have added an easy way to shop Band 71-capable antennas. Use our handy Guide Me tool to help you narrow down your options and you can find the best antenna for your application.

Shop Band 71 antennas

The Federal Communications Commission’s auction of frequencies considered critical for 5G development has ended, and the winners are clear. Not surprisingly, AT&T and Verizon outspent the competition by far: Verizon, through its Cellco Partnership, spent nearly $45.5 billion on the airwaves. AT&T, through AT&T Spectrum Frontiers, spent $23.4 billion.

The third-largest U.S. carrier, T-Mobile, bid the third-largest amount of money, a not insignificant $9.3 billion but far below the investments made by AT&T and Verizon.

“These record-breaking results highlight the demand and critical need for more licensed mid-band spectrum and demonstrate the importance of developing a robust spectrum auction pipeline,” said CTIA CEO Meredith Baker in a statement. Bidders are still under a quiet period, when they are not permitted to publicly comment.

The 280 megahertz spectrum, AKA midband spectrum, was so sought after by the big 5G operators because it is particularly well-suited for 5G networks. Midband spectrum is capable of providing incredible speeds, while also having the ability to penetrate long distances which is critical for coverage.

Here’s how the top five bidders break down by the number of licenses granted:

• Cellco Partnership (Verizon): 3,511
• AT&T Spectrum Frontiers LLC: 1,621
• United States Cellular Corp.: 254
• T-Mobile License LLC: 142
• Canopy Spectrum, LLC: 84

In advance of the Super Bowl, all 3 major US 5G carriers all improved their network in and around the stadium in Tampa, eager to show off their 5G networks to the fans and reporters in town for the game.

Testing results from Global Wireless Solutions (GWS) are now available, and impressively show that AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon each exceeded 1 Gbps for peak 5G speeds. Tests used a Samsung Note 20 5G device were conducted at the Gameday Fan Plaza before the start of the game, and inside the stadium before, during and after the game.

Peak 5G speeds, per GWS, at Super Bowl LV versus Super Bowl LIV, as well as the comparison to 5G speeds seen by their testers in 2020:

AT&T: 1.71 Gbps in 2021 vs 878 Mbps in 2020
Verizon: 1.51 Gbps vs 924 Mbps in 2020
T-Mobile: 1.09 Gbps vs 175 Mbps in 2020

Those were the peak speeds, of course, with the average speeds being lower. AT&T managed average 5G throughputs of an impressive 1.26 Gbps, while Verizon’s 5G average stood at 432 Mbps, and T-Mobile at 388 Mbps.

As for the networks themselves, the carriers each have high-band millimeter wave spectrum deployed for 5G in at least some parts of Tampa and the Raymond James Stadium. Verizon invested $80 million in the area ahead of the Super Bowl, and AT&T invested $75 million including FirstNet upgrades. T-Mobile worked to deploy a mix of low, mid and high-band spectrum for 5G to maximize their 5G offering in the area. All of the upgrades and enhancements made by the carriers in Tampa will remain post-Super Bowl!

Pixel 5 and 4a 5G users got an added bonus with Google’s February security patch: support for T-Mobile Standalone (SA) 5G.

The first 5G networks launched by US carriers utilized the carriers’ existing LTE networks, a strategy which allowed for faster deployment but not true 5G. With the launch of standalone architecture (SA), 5G operates completely independently of LTE. One major benefit is that SA 5G signals can travel further, allowing for better indoor/building penetration. In its announcement enabling this network in August of 2020, T-Mobile says it “immediately increased its 5G footprint by 30 percent,” aiding latency and eventually providing better speeds.

Prior to this update, users could see that NSA was in use by going to Settings > About phone > SIM status > Mobile data network type.

After installing the February update, many users have connected to SA 5G where they would normally get NSA. This also extends to Google Fi, which leases service from T-Mobile. 

AT&T and Verizon have both made upgrades to their 5G networks in Tampa in preparation for Super Bowl LV this Sunday, and now T-Mobile has confirmed they’ve done the same. T-Mobile already offered 5G in Tampa using low-band 600 MHz spectrum, but T-Mobile President of Technology Neville Ray confirmed that they have now added the 2.5GHz and 39GHz “layers” of the carrier’s 5G to Raymond James Stadium.

The Raymond James Stadium – where the Kansas City Chiefs are set to face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – as well as the parking lot and surrounding areas, are now covered with T-Mobile’s mix of low-, mid-, and high-band spectrum.

Verizon Business announced its “Verizon 5G Business Report”, demonstrating the impact 5G is expected to have across the United States. Verizon’s research indicates that technology decision-makers see 5G as an important part of their company’s or industry’s growth in the coming years.

“Over the last year, 5G has become top-of-mind for businesses as they manage through condensed digital transformation timelines,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “Today’s findings underscore the critical role 5G will play in economic recovery and growth, and we stand committed and ready to help our partners make that transition quickly and seamlessly.”

73% of decision-makers polled said they already know which 5G applications will be most beneficial to their enterprises, seven in 10 believe that 5G technologies will help them accelerate their companies’ recovery from issues caused by the pandemic, and 80% agreed that 5G would provide new growth opportunities for their companies.

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We’ve got another update on the 5G race for you today. Though it may have been slightly overlooked due to a recent Fios outage and competitors 5G announcement, Verizon has stated they’ll be doubling (almost) their mmWave 5G this year. To the existing 16,000 locations, Verizon will be rolling out this short range service in 14,000 more locations. At this time, obtaining a signal will be much like trying to catch a hummingbird. If you can grab it, it can provide you beautifully quick speeds to watch that 4K hummingbird special without any buffering or lag. Still, as much as Verizon is doing, OpenSignal tests reveal T-Mobile seems to be keeping the race at neck and neck.