Category: 5G

How Do Cellular Home Internet Services Compare?

After roughly a year of getting their 5G home Internet services rolled out, both Verizon and T-Mobile are not only increasing their coverage areas, but their customer base as well. Just recently, T-Mobile reported they had expanded their service’s availability from 30 to 40 million households. For Verizon, they had announced back in January that their service reaches 20 million households.  

AT&T doesn’t have 5G home internet, but it does offer a 4G LTE option to rural customers and businesses. UScellular has also been working on its own 5G home Internet too, but it’s still very limited. 

In comparison, Verizon offers the fastest potential speeds for both downloads and uploads, yet T-Mobile‘s service is more widely available. Right now, we only have a max download speed for UScellular, but expect to see more results in the future. 

With both, keep in mind that your average 5G speeds will vary based on your location and coverage. And yeah, AT&T’s 4G home internet is abysmally slow.

Download Speeds

  • T-Mobile = 33 to 182 Mbps
  • Verizon = 85 to 1,000 Mbps
  • AT&T (4G Only) = 10 to 25 Mbps
  • UScellular = up to 300 Mbps

Upload Speeds

  • T-Mobile = 8 to 25 Mbps
  • Verizon = 10 to 50 Mbps
  • AT&T (4G Only) = up to 1 Mbps

Something to keep in mind about these speeds – at least with Verizon – is you must sign up for the 5G Home Plus plan to gain access to speeds between 300 to 1000 Mbps. 

Aside from reasonable pricing options, both Verizon and T-Mobile offer trial periods to test the service. T-Mobile allows for 15 days, while Verizon allows for 30 days. Here’s an outline of some comparisons between T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T plans (we’re still waiting on UScellular to release more details):

5G home internet detailsT-MobileVerizonAT&T
Price with cellular plan$30/month$25-35/month$59.99/month
Price without cellular plan$50/month$50-70/month$69.99/month
Contract❌❌❌
Taxes and feesIncludedIncludedExtra
Data cap❌❌350 GB
Self-setup✅✅❌
Installation fee❌❌$99
Price lockLifetime2-3 years❌

Given the information, it may still be difficult for those of us with access to wired broadband services to switch to cellular. However, with the pricing, it could very well make up for the slower bandwidth. Or you might consider adding it as a backup to your broadband service if you cannot afford any downtime. Either way, there’s options with risk free trials so check them out today!

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Can Signal Repeaters Extend the Entire 5G Spectrum?

As good as 5G service can be, we won’t be capable of enjoying the benefits without adequate coverage and performance. The problem is mainly with mid-band and high-band spectrum, which has a difficult time penetrating through buildings and covering long distances.

Wilson Electronics thinks their commercial line of signal repeaters, known as WilsonPro, can help to alleviate the need to build out more cell sites and base stations to increase network capacity. Check out RCR Wireless’ Q&A with Jon Mykrantz, vice president of enterprise sales at Wilson Electronics, here.

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T-Mobile and Cradlepoint Bring a 5G Fixed Wireless Solution to Business Customers

According to a recent press release, T-Mobile is now working with Cradlepoint (part of the Ericsson company) to provide a 5G solution to business customers. They’re focusing on a fixed wireless solution utilizing T-Mobile’s super fast 5G network and Cradlepoint’s reliable hardware and cloud management services. 

Cradlepoint’s all-in-one E320 5G cellular router offers a plug and play setup that allows businesses to get up and running within one day. The joint fixed wireless solution from T-Mobile for Business and Cradlepoint will be available soon with select T-Mobile Business Internet plans and services.

By working together, the two companies have created a solution with high speed Internet, flexible connection options, secure management features and firewall with intrusion detection, as well as NetCloud management for configuration, monitoring and analytics. It should be noted that all T-Mobile Business Internet plans are designed for business use only, not streaming movies or online gaming.

“5G offers incredible opportunities for businesses and governments to drive innovation, reinvent their operations, and transform how they serve their customers. Until now, they have been stuck with other internet provider offerings and technology that are low on satisfaction,” said Callie Field, President, T-Mobile Business Group. “T-Mobile is the only provider with a network large enough and fast enough to meet the needs of diverse organizations. The Un-carrier is the first and only provider that can offer enterprise-grade 5G fixed wireless from coast to coast, and together with another proven 5G technology leader in Cradlepoint, businesses can expect a powerhouse solution.”

“5G is the essential transformational technology of our time,” said Pankaj Malhotra, Chief Product Officer at Cradlepoint. “What sets Cradlepoint apart is our ability to unlock the power of 5G for business with edge-to-core cellular intelligence and enterprise-class solutions powered by our NetCloud Service. We are uniquely able to provide business customers with the 5G performance, security, and management they need.”

To learn more about T-Mobile Business Internet and get signed up, visit www.t-mobile.com/business-internet

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How Samsung is Helping Dish Network Reach Their 5G Goals

File:Dish Network logo 2012.svg - Wikimedia Commons

Dish Network has been in the process of trying to roll out their own 5G network. This was originally reported May 2020 when they said they would compete at the same level at the big 3 carriers. They later said that it was their goal to cover at least 10k sites with their 5G coverage by the end of this year. Ultimately, they want to cover approximately 70 percent of the population by summer 2023. 

A question that is surely on most minds is, what is Dish going to bring to the table that the other 3 have not?  Aside from the C-Band spectrum they picked up at a FCC auction back in January, they’ve just partnered with Samsung. They’ll join the Dish team as a vendor for phones and other mobile devices as well as software. 

Also, unlike some other carriers who have repurposed old frequency bands for 5G, Dish is basing their 5G network on a newer, cloud-based technology called O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network). This technology relies on off-the-shelf (not proprietary) hardware. Samsung is supplying vRAN software and radio units to help make the whole thing work.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Alok Shah, vice president at Samsung, said they have had and continue to have beta testing going on for the network. They also plan on having an official launch in the next few weeks. 

However, there’s been concern over supply chain issues. According to Dish Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Bye, supply chains had been tough for 12-18 months and the challenges were not going to go away in the next couple of months. He assures that Dish has all the components to reach its June coverage target.

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Sierra Wireless Announces New 5G Modules

According to the GSMA, 5G networks are likely to cover one-third of the world’s population and account for as many as 1.2 billion connections by the year 2025. 5G’s higher data speeds and capacity, wider coverage, and lower latency are transforming the IoT industry by enabling next-generation computing and edge-to-cloud applications, and the expansion of the mobile ecosystem to new industries such as smart manufacturing, connected healthcare and smart cities.

As a world leading IoT solutions provider, it’s always exciting to hear what Sierra Wireless and their teams are coming up with. From the MG90 5G to the newer XR series routers, and now its next generation 5G mobile broadband embedded modules, the Radio Frequency (RF) optimized EM92 Series. This latest edition to the Sierra Wireless catalog will enable the most demanding, business-critical, industrial and networking use cases.

The EM92 Series 5G modules were originally introduced back in May 2021. This series of 5G modules aims to make 5G more affordable, while building on the success of the company’s EM91 Series which includes both the EM9190 5G mmWave/Sub-6/LTE New Radio (NR) and EM9191 5G Sub-6/LTE NR standards-based M.2 modules. Security is integrated and stands at the forefront of module development to minimize security risks, as well as additional time in certification requirements.

The modules feature 3GPP Release 16 standard capabilities and provide secure connectivity at high speeds with low latency worldwide. This makes the EM92 ideal for applications such as high definition live video streaming, industrial IoT deployments like machine vision and drones, and many other new IoT applications.

The modules are RF-optimized, which helps reduce the complexity of 5G designs and improve global network coverage by supporting more global carrier bands. This provides OEMs, system integrators and other companies to easily integrate 5G connectivity into their products. End users can also make the most of 5G’s high speeds and ultra-low latency while shortening time-to-market, future proofing designs, and ensuring the security of deployment on a worldwide scale.

“For engineers and product managers who want to connect next generation 5G products, the EM92 5G module has been engineered to cater to the most demanding and bandwidth intensive business critical applications,” said Olivier Pauzet, VP of Product & IoT Solutions, Sierra Wireless. “We’ve optimized the RF in this module so that it supports multiple technologies allowing flexibility in design, and even more global carrier bands minimizing SKUs and streamlining logistics to enable the simple, rapid and cost-effective worldwide deployment of next generation 5G IoT applications. It supports both 5G and 4G TDD/FDD networks, with 68 bands for truly global coverage with a single SKU.”

“Sierra Wireless is a trusted partner of DISH,” said Stephen Bye, Chief Commercial Officer, DISH Wireless. “The new 5G EM92 Series modules will feature support for spectrum band N70 and will be the first certified module for use on our 5G network. This partnership will further enable IoT innovation.”

“Sierra Wireless’ 5G modules provide AVIWEST with the fast, low latency and reliable 5G connectivity needed to stream high-definition videos from live worldwide events such as the Olympics, to broadcasters’ production facilities, allowing broadcasters to realize the cost, performance and simplicity of 5G-powered remote production,” said Ronan Poullaouec, CTO at AVIWEST.

Sierra Wireless’ 5G EM92 Series modules are available for sampling in May, with commercial availability expected at the end of Q3 2022.

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How Inseego and Qualcomm Helped UScellular Launch 5G

New UScellular Brand and Logo Unveiled - Telecompetitor

As the fourth largest cellular in the United States, UScellular doesn’t make the headlines much. Now, with the collaboration of companies Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Inseego, they have launched its 5G mmWave high-speed internet service. This launch, which is happening in 10 cities, follows a friendly user trial that began in Janesville, WI. in 2021. It builds upon field testing that demonstrates the speed and range that 5G mmWave technology is capable of providing customers.

To compete with carriers T-Mobile and Verizon, UScellular has their own Home Internet+ solution, which comes with the launch of their 5G service. The service delivers speeds of up to 300 Mbps, an increase of 10-15 times compared to its 4G LTE home internet offering, and is a significant milestone in its multi-technology approach to providing High-Speed Internet solutions.

UScellular’s Home Internet+ uses the Inseego Wavemaker™ FW2010 outdoor 5G CPE, powered by the Qualcomm® 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 1 featuring Snapdragon® X55 5G Modem-RF System. It’s a great solution for users that require high-speed internet access in their homes or businesses. 

For this Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service, you’ll need to be located in parts of East Moline and Rock Island, IL.; Bettendorf, Cedar Falls, Davenport, Dubuque and Waterloo, Iowa; Yakima, WA.; and Beloit and Janesville, WI.

Future plans for 2022 include increasing the Home Internet+ service within the aforementioned cities and expanding to dozens more in both urban and rural areas. This will include Springfield and Tipton, MO., Knoxville, TN., and Kenosha and Milwaukee, WI. 

“At UScellular, we are passionate and motivated to deliver on our mission of connecting people and communities to what matters most to them,” said Mike Irizarry, executive vice president and chief technology officer for UScellular. “This FWA solution is key to providing customers affordable and reliable in-home connectivity no matter where they live, and we look forward to expanding it to more areas in 2022 and beyond.”

In comparison to other wireline options, 5G mmWave is an affordable and accessible solution that is quick and easy to set up. To harness the powerful benefits of 5G mmWave for UScellular’s next-generation internet service, Inseego leveraged the Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 1. This product provides a comprehensive, fully integrated modem-to-antenna 5G solution, which is engineered to streamline product development for multiple mobile broadband product categories, including sub-6 GHz, mmWave and extended-range mmWave CPE devices. 

The Qualcomm 5G Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 1 is also designed to provide operators and OEMs, like Inseego, with the technology capabilities they need to tackle wireless complexity while enabling them to offer a diverse product portfolio to their customers.

“This expansion of delivering high-speed internet to untapped cities is a testament to Qualcomm Technologies efforts to bridge the digital divide,” said Gautam Sheoran, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “By equipping operators and OEMs with cost-effective, last-mile technologies, we are able to empower end users and enterprises with best-in-class 5G connectivity for homes and businesses, including those in previously underserved areas.”

The Inseego Wavemaker FW2010 outdoor CPE delivers multi-gigabit download speeds for data-hungry applications. It connects to a Wi-Fi router to provide secure and reliable internet access for numerous devices throughout a home, business, or office. With exceptional 5G cellular antenna performance, the FW2010 can extend mmWave coverage many miles away from a cell tower. It also supports 5G sub-6 GHz and Cat 22 LTE, making it great for a wide range of locations and applications.

“UScellular is committed to delivering first-class broadband experiences for their customers and to support the growth of connected communities. We congratulate them on this milestone launch,” said Inseego CEO Ashish Sharma. “The record-breaking performance of our Inseego Wavemaker FW2010 enables UScellular to unlock the vast potential of its 5G mmWave network and extends the reach of high-speed, high-capacity FWA broadband services to residential and business customers.”

Learn more about UScellular’s approach to FWA service here. Also, if you’re interested in determining your eligibility for the 5G service, and sign up for future updates, go to https://www.uscellular.com/home-internet-5G

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What Spring May Bring

Sometimes it’s up to the weather, whether your package arrives on time. Springtime weather in most cases brings a lot of good but that can also bring on some unexpected weather that may or may not impact your shipment during its travel.

Here are some helpful tips for reducing the impacts of these unexpected weather delays.

  1. Not always a straight route
    • The delivery route can be affected by inclement weather and this may impact your shipment at some point in the travel to its destination.
    • Re-routing is common for carriers when weather conditions are severe. 
    • May-Sept is flood season for various parts of the country. 
  2. When do you need it
    • Consider the various options available for your delivery and choose what’s best to get your 5G purchase as quick and easily as possible. 
    • Ground, 2-Day, Overnight, Priority Overnight and more are available for you and your purchase. 
    • Plan ahead and place your order early when there is bad weather in the forecast which could cause delays if shipped out at a later date.
  3. Extended delivery dates
    • Ground Shipments will most likely have the most extended delivery times due to inclement weather and how they are routed by the carrier.
    • Express Shipments can have delays too even with the carriers re-routing the Hub locations they ship to/from. 
    • The carriers will always do their best to deliver as closely to the original delivery date as possible.
  4. Avoid missed deliveries
    • Utilize the FedEx or UPS pickup locations if you suspect an upcoming delay. 
    • This is a great way to avoid missing the first delivery attempt!

As always – thank you for being a 5Gstore Customer!

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Avoid or Pivot – The Choice Is Yours!

As a consumer or reseller, we’ve all had to deal with the topic of shortages in one way or another. We have to find ways to be creative in the given circumstances to maneuver around the impacts from that. 

This has put us all in a position of reevaluating the choices we make to ensure the best possible outcome and understanding the outcome of that choice in the present situation.

The 2 choices:

  • Avoid the shortages all together and continue to wait until things resolve themselves (hopefully).

OR

  • Pivot – take the shortages and make it work for you, versus the other way around.

Unfortunately, the shortages are not going away. This means avoidance and waiting until the issue resolves itself just isn’t a feasible option in most cases.

Pivoting, however, allows you to take an un-ideal situation and make it work for you. This will provide the best outcome and may even be better than the original option!

This is key right now as we are continuing to face extended lead times and backorders by so many manufactures:

  • Sierra
  • Peplink
  • Cradlepoint
  • Inseego
  • Panorama
  • Mobile Mark
  • And many others

We want to work with you, to come up with a plan for how to “pivot” around the shortages and find better solutions that could work for you now and going forward. 

Here are ways we can work to pivot together:

  • Visit 5Gstore.com to find:
    • Real Time Product Availability
      • For Bulk Orders – Contact us directly using one of the “contact us” methods below.
    • Suggestions for Related Products displayed on the product pages for easy access.
    • Helpful Searching: Browse by Specific Filters to quickly find what you are looking for!
  • Contact us Today!

Remember, pivot…pivot…PIVOT!

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How to Troubleshoot Common OneTalk Phone Issues

It can be incredibly frustrating when something goes wrong with your phones but don’t panic, we have some simple troubleshooting steps that you can do to get you back up and running.

  1. Always check your cables. Many phone problems can stem from an issue with the cables and connection. This is the easiest first step in troubleshooting. Are the cables securely plugged in? For example,  if not connected via Power over Ethernet (PoE), ensure the phone is properly plugged into a functional AC outlet. Also, ensure the Ethernet cable is plugged into the Ethernet port on the back of the phone.
  2. A reboot can work wonders. Press and hold X on the phone for 10 seconds, and then press “ok” to reboot. 
  3. Still not working? Try a power cycle. Unplug the phone from power for 15 seconds and then plug it back in. Sounds too easy, right? This fixes most issues. For good measure, power cycle your router as well. Just be sure that everyone is aware the internet will be down for a few minutes. 
  4. If you have tried these steps and your phones are still down, do not worry. We are here for you! Just give us a call at 833-663-8255. We can help troubleshoot further to get your issue resolved.

OneTalk Mobile App not working?

Go to menu, then settings, tap deactivate device, and then tap on the trash can next to “This Device”.  After you have done this, uninstall and reinstall the app. Tada! Your issue should be fixed. If not, we’d be happy to help you. Just give us a call at 833-663-8255. We are available 9am-5pm Monday through Friday, CST. 

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T-Mobile Expands 5G Home Internet Availability

It has been just over a year after its launch and T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet service has really taken off. The carrier announced that it now has 1 million customers on their $50 per month (with autopay) internet plan. They’ve also expanded the service’s availability from 30 million “eligible households” to 40 million. You can check if the service is available in your area here.

According to the press release details, T-Mobile added more broadband customers than any other provider in the country during the fourth quarter of 2021. The company expects to have 7 to 8 million fixed wireless customers by 2025.

T-Mobile 5G Home Internet provides access to T-Mobile’s 5G network through a router that converts the signal to Wi-Fi. Typical download speeds are 35-115 Mbps according to T-Mobile’s website. 

CEO Mike Sievert said the fast growth of the T-Mobile 5G Home Internet “underscores how hungry customers are for a real alternative to the Carriers and the Landline ISPs.” Per T-Mobile, growing its home internet solution to 1 million users over the last year has made it the “fastest growing broadband provider in America.”

T-Mobile also offers 5G Business Internet plans for small companies with up to 20 employees as well as an enterprise solution.

Verizon has also begun rolling out an updated version of its own $50 per month, 5G broadband option. In February, they announced that this service is available to over 30 million households.

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