Staying connected is essential these days. Whether you’re on a road trip, commuting to work, or on a worksite, having access to reliable internet is crucial. This is where a vehicle’s WiFi hotspot comes in handy. However, a weak 4G/5G cellular signal can hinder your ability to maintain a connection. In this blog post, we’ll explore some ways to boost the cellular signal to your vehicle’s WiFi hotspot.
Move to an area with stronger cellular signal
The first step to boosting the cellular signal to your connected vehicle is to move to an area with a stronger cellular signal. The strength of the cellular signal can vary depending on your location. In general, urban areas tend to have better signal strength than rural areas. If you’re in a rural area, try moving to a location with better reception, such as a high point like a hill or an area with fewer obstructions like trees or buildings.
Install a cellular signal booster
A cellular signal booster is a device that can improve the signal strength in areas with weak cellular signals. These boosters work by amplifying the cellular signal from the nearest cell tower and broadcasting it inside your vehicle. Due to their wireless boosting capabilities, they can improve the cellular signal on any nearby cellular device. This means you can use your cell phone as well, which might provide a connection when your car’s hotspot cannot.
The first step in installing a cellular signal booster is to determine the type of booster that is right for your needs. There are several factors to consider, such as the size of your vehicle (e.g. car/ truck or RV) and the strength of the cellular signal in your area. Once you’ve determined the right booster for your needs, you’ll need to install it. This can involve mounting an external antenna on the roof of your vehicle, running cables to the booster unit, and placing the booster unit inside your vehicle.
Use an external antenna
If you can confirm the hotspot uses an external antenna port, an external antenna can help. You can mount the antenna on the roof of your vehicle for optimal reception. There are several types of external antennas available, including magnetic mount, glass mount, and permanent mount antennas. You’ll need to choose the type of antenna that is right for your vehicle and your needs.
Once you’ve chosen your antenna, you’ll need to install it. This can involve running a cable from the antenna to your vehicle’s hotspot or to a booster unit. The installation process will vary depending on the type of antenna you’ve chosen.
Change your carrier plan
If you’re still experiencing poor cellular signal, consider upgrading to a carrier plan with better coverage in your area. Different carriers have varying coverage areas, so it’s important to research which carriers have the best coverage in the areas you plan on traveling. In addition, some carriers offer plans with features like unlimited data or hotspot usage, which can improve your overall internet experience.
Get on the Road
Boosting the cellular signal to your vehicle’s WiFi hotspot can help improve internet speeds and connectivity. There are several ways to boost the signal, but finding the best solution can be a bit daunting. Contact the experts at 5Gstore to discuss your project. They can provide personalized guidance and help you determine the most appropriate solution to ensure a reliable and efficient connection for your vehicle’s WiFi hotspot. So, get on the road with confidence and enjoy seamless connectivity on your journeys.
Having a reliable and continuous internet connection is crucial for businesses of all sizes and types. This is especially true for businesses that operate on the move, such as food trucks, coach buses, and passenger trains. These businesses need to stay connected to their customers, suppliers, and employees at all times to ensure that their operations run smoothly. One of the most effective ways to ensure reliable and continuous internet connectivity is by using a dual cellular failover router.
What is a Dual Cellular Failover Router?
A dual cellular failover router is a device that uses two different cellular networks to provide a reliable and continuous internet connection. The router is designed to automatically switch between the two networks, ensuring that the internet connection remains stable even if one network experiences downtime or poor signal quality.
The router works by connecting to two different cellular networks, typically from different carriers. When one network experiences downtime or poor signal quality, the router will automatically switch to the other network, ensuring that the internet connection remains stable.
Benefits of Using a Dual Cellular Failover Router
Reliable and Continuous Internet Connectivity
One of the primary benefits of using a dual cellular failover router is that it provides reliable and continuous internet connectivity. The router ensures that the internet connection remains stable even if one network experiences downtime or poor signal quality. This is particularly important for businesses that rely on the internet to conduct their operations.
Increased Productivity
A reliable and continuous internet connection can help increase productivity for businesses that operate on the move. With a dual cellular failover router, businesses can stay connected to their customers, suppliers, and employees at all times. Features like load balancing allow businesses to prioritize one connection over the other so that they are always running on the best connection. This can help them process transactions, respond to inquiries, and carry out other business activities, wherever they may be located.
Improved Customer Experience
Businesses that offer WiFi connectivity and other services to their customers can provide a better customer experience with a dual cellular failover router. Providing reliable WiFi connectivity, for example, can help improve customer satisfaction and increase loyalty. Of course, when connectivity is limited, this guest WiFi can be disabled or limited so that business function is not disrupted.
Cost-Effective Solution
Sure, the initial investment in a dual cellular failover router may be higher than a standard router. However, the cost-effectiveness stems from the mitigation of potential losses during internet outages, reduced infrastructure expenses, flexibility, scalability, and competitive pricing of cellular data plans. Ultimately, the cost savings and uninterrupted connectivity provided by a dual cellular failover router can outweigh the initial investment.
Easy to Set Up and Manage
Dual cellular failover routers are easy to set up and manage, and they require minimal maintenance. In most cases, you just have to configure them once and you’re done. You also will typically have access to some sort of cloud management service, which makes it easy to monitor and configure the devices from anywhere, as needed.
Use Cases for Dual Cellular Failover Router
Food Trucks
Food trucks often operate in the city where buildings can sometimes block or degrade signals. Connections may drop offline at times. Using a dual cellular failover router provides redundancy and ensures the food truck stays connected to the internet, even if their primary connection fails. This can help food truck operators continue to process transactions, update menus, and communicate with their customers.
Coach Buses
Coach buses generally travel long distances, sometimes going in and out of coverage areas. They generally provide WiFi to their passengers as well, which requires enough data for all users. Using a dual cellular failover router can help ensure a longer Internet uptime, along with more data. This can help bus operators provide connectivity to their passengers, process transactions, and carry out other business activities, all while on the move.
Passenger Trains
Passenger trains travel through all types of locations. Using a dual cellular failover router can help ensure that the train stays connected to the internet, even in areas with poor signal quality. This can help train operators provide Wi-Fi connectivity to their passengers, process transactions, and carry out other business activities.
Mobile Clinics
Mobile clinics often operate in remote areas. Maintaining a reliable and continuous internet connection can be difficult. Using a dual cellular failover router can help ensure that the clinic stays connected to the internet, even in areas with poor signal quality. This can help clinic operators process medical records, communicate with patients, and carry out other medical activities.
Construction Sites
Construction sites often lack wired internet connections, making it challenging to maintain a reliable and continuous internet connection. Using a dual cellular failover router can help ensure that the construction site stays connected to the internet, even in areas with poor signal quality. This can help construction workers communicate with each other, access blueprints and plans, and carry out other construction activities, even in remote locations.
Conclusion
Using a dual cellular failover router can provide significant benefits to businesses that require reliable and continuous internet connectivity while on the move. From food trucks to construction sites, businesses of all types and sizes can benefit from this technology. With a dual cellular failover router, businesses can stay connected to their customers, suppliers, and employees at all times, increasing productivity and improving customer experience. Moreover, this technology is cost-effective, easy to set up and manage, making it an ideal solution for businesses that have limited IT resources.
Enterprise businesses today are dependent on the internet for day-to-day operations. Whether it’s for email communication, managing websites, or accessing cloud-based applications, a reliable internet connection is crucial. However, there are times when the main internet connection fails, and in these cases, a backup plan is necessary to ensure seamless business operations. A mobile broadband, or 4G/5G cellular backup is a cost-effective solution that provides a secondary internet connection for businesses.
What is Cellular Internet and How Can it Help?
A cellular backup provides high-speed internet access through a mobile network via a mobile device (phone, hotspot), USB modem, or router with embedded modem. It can be used as a secondary connection in case the primary connection fails. It can even be the primary connection in cases where no other service provider is available. With cellular Internet, businesses can continue their operations without interruption.
Reliability is one benefit of using cellular as a backup for your enterprise business. Mobile broadband networks are highly resilient and less susceptible to outages compared to traditional broadband since service is provided over the air. Even if a natural disaster takes out the cell towers, providers now have mobile command units that can broadcast signals.
Cellular Internet can be accessed from just about anywhere. This is particularly useful for businesses that need to work from remote locations, such as construction sites, outdoor events, or even when traveling. Pop up stores can be up and running in less than a day, especially because setup is generally simple and straightforward. All you need is a compatible device and a cellular data plan from a service provider.
How Does Cellular Internet Compare to Wired Internet Services?
In comparison to traditional wired Internet services (e.g. cable, DSL, fiber), cellular can be more cost-effective. This is mainly because there is little to no installation costs involved. You may be curious about the differences in bandwidth speeds too. These can be quite similar, depending on your service plan. With some LTE and 5G modems, speeds can actually exceed wired services.
One of the key challenges with cellular Internet, however, is that it can be subject to data caps. This means that businesses may have to limit their internet usage to ensure they don’t exceed their data allowance. To overcome this, businesses can opt for a cellular plan with a higher data allowance, or they can purchase additional data as required. However, businesses should carefully consider their internet usage and select a plan that meets their needs.
Another consideration is that cellular connections can be subject to network congestion, which can result in slower internet speeds. This is particularly true during peak periods when many people are using the network. To mitigate this, businesses can look for a cellular data plan that provides priority access to the network during busy periods.
Where Can Cellular Internet Help?
Retail businesses and restaurants often rely on constant internet access to process transactions, manage inventory, run security cameras, and communicate with customers. If their traditional broadband connection goes down, the cellular Internet can ensure that credit cards can still be processed and customers can still be serviced.
Healthcare providers need to be able to access patient information and communicate with other healthcare professionals in real-time. Cellular can provide the necessary backup to keep operations running so that patients receive the care they need.
Remote workers, such as field technicians or sales representatives, need to be able to access company resources and communicate with their colleagues while on the go. Cellular provides a primary or backup solution that allows them to continue working wherever needed. Having this flexibility can certainly lead to more productivity.
Conferences and events often require internet access for attendees to connect to company resources, access information, and participate in virtual sessions. If the event space charges too much for their service, or its performance is lacking, mobile broadband can act as a primary, or supplementary Internet connection.
By providing an alternative way of accessing the internet, cellular Internet can help your business maintain operations and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced business world. With its quick and easy setup, high-speed internet access, and reliability, cellular is a cost-effective solution that provides businesses with peace of mind and ensures business continuity. Whether your business requires internet access in remote locations, on-the-go, or as a backup solution, cellular Internet provides a flexible and reliable solution that can meet your needs.
As more of our lives depend on technology and the Internet, it’s important that we have a fast and reliable connection. For wired Internet services, that might not be such a problem. What if you’re relying on mobile broadband Internet service? With the advent of 5G technology, cellular networks have become even faster, offering lightning-fast download and upload speeds to users. However, there are still many areas where cellular connectivity is weak, and users struggle to get high-speed internet.
In order for the cellular service to provide an adequate connection, the cellular device must have a decent signal. There may be good bandwidth speeds too, but both cellular signal strength and bandwidth speeds are quite variable. This is due to differences in things like environment and the frequency in which the cellular connection is broadcasting. So, we recommend users perform a site survey at their location to help determine if an antenna may help. Of course, in some cases users may opt instead for a wireless signal repeater/booster. These come as kits that are made for boosting signals to multiple cellular devices simultaneously.
An antenna is a device that is designed to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves. In the context of cellular networks, antennas are used to capture signals from nearby cell towers and transmit them to the user’s device. They also send signals from the user’s device back to the cell tower. By using a high-quality antenna, users can improve their signal strength and achieve higher speeds. Want to see how it works? Check out our video below.
What Affects Cellular Performance?
In cellular networks, the antenna is a critical component that determines not only the signal strength, but coverage area and data rate of the wireless link. The signal strength is a measure of the power of the received signal at the receiver’s antenna. The coverage area is the region around the cell tower where the signal strength is sufficient to maintain a reliable connection with the user’s device. The data rate is the maximum achievable speed of data transfer between the user’s device and the cell tower.
Several factors affect the performance of the antenna in cellular networks. One of the primary factors is the distance between the user’s device and the cell tower. The farther away the user’s device is from the cell tower, the weaker the signal strength, and the lower the data rate. This is because the electromagnetic waves from the cell tower follow an inverse-square law, which means that the power of the signal decreases with the square of the distance from the source.
Another factor that affects the antenna’s performance is the obstructions between the user’s device and the cell tower. Obstructions can be natural, such as trees, hills, and mountains, or artificial, such as buildings, walls, and vehicles. Obstructions can cause attenuation, reflection, and scattering of the electromagnetic waves, leading to a decrease in signal strength and data rate.
Interference is another factor that affects the performance of the antenna in cellular networks. It can be caused by other wireless devices operating in the same frequency band or by noise sources such as motors, generators, and power lines. Degradation in the the signal quality, increases in the error rate, and reductions in the data rate can also be possible.
Types of Antennas
There are several types of antennas that can be used to improve cellular speeds. Each have its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common types of antennas used in cellular networks include:
Omnidirectional Antennas: These are the most common type of antenna used in cellular networks. Omnidirectional antennas transmit and receive signals in all directions, making them ideal for use in areas where there are multiple cell towers or where the user’s device is moving around.
Directional Antennas: As the name suggests, directional antennas transmit and receive signals in a specific direction. These antennas are ideal for use in areas where there is only one cell tower or where the user’s device is stationary.
Yagi Antennas: Yagi antennas are a type of directional antenna that is designed to provide high gain and long-range coverage. These antennas work best where there is line of sight to the cell tower, meaning little to no obstructions in between. They are often used in more remote areas where there is a weak signal and speed.
Panel Antennas: Panel antennas are another type of directional antenna that is designed to provide high gain and long-range coverage. These antennas do not require line of sight and are also used in more rural areas.
What Can You Do?
To overcome challenges, and improve the performance of the antenna in cellular networks, several techniques and technologies have been developed. One of the most effective ways to improve the antenna’s performance is to use a high-quality antenna. Specifically, one that is optimized for the specific frequency band and radiation pattern. For example, some directional antennas are tuned to a specific frequency. This generally results in a higher boost than antennas with wider frequency ranges.
Another technique to improve the antenna’s performance is to use multiple antennas in a system, known as Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO). MIMO technology allows the user’s device to transmit and receive multiple data streams simultaneously using several antennas. This can increase the data rate and reliability of the wireless link. It is commonly used in modern cellular networks to achieve high-speed internet connectivity and support advanced applications. Things like video streaming, gaming, and virtual reality.
Using an antenna to improve cellular speeds is relatively easy, and most cellular modem/ routers come with external antenna ports. Users can purchase a high-quality antenna that is compatible with their device and if needed, connect it using an adapter. Once connected, the antenna will begin capturing signals from nearby cell towers. It then transmits them to the user’s device, resulting in improved connectivity.
If you’re ready to see how an antenna can help you, check out our guide to selecting the right antenna. The 5Gstore team is also ready to assist you with any questions, Monday thru Friday. Reach us by phone, email, or chat!
You may already know that streaming video eats up a lot of data, but what about the important applications you use for business? In this article, we’re going to address some common application types and look at how much data and bandwidth they will require.
VoIP
Like most things, the higher the quality of the call, the more data and bandwidth it will need. Each service uses a different codec to transform speech into data. Below are some common examples.
G.711: uses approximately 1.3 MB of data per minute (78 MB per hour)
G.723.1: uses approximately 0.33 MB per minute (20 MB per hour)
G.726: uses approximately 0.78 MB per minute (47 MB per hour)
G.728: uses approximately 0.48 MB per minute (29 MB per hour)
G.729: uses approximately 0.5 MB per minute (30 MB per hour)
As far as bandwidth, a .256 Mbps by .256 Mbps connection should be more than enough for normal VoIP. However, having speed isn’t enough. You also need a stable, high-quality connection with minimal packet loss and latency. You can measure the health of your internet connection by taking a Speed Test that includes latency, jitter and packet loss. Cloudflare’s speed test does just that. Although, once you have the data, how do you interpret it?
Latency, which is essentially the time it takes for data to reach its destination, is measured directly in the ping time. For an excellent connection, the ping should be under 100ms. For a good connection, it should be under 250ms. Anything higher than that is going to provide poor results.
Jitter is the time difference between when a packet is sent and received. The longer it is, the bigger the delay and the worse the quality of your calls. Jitter is measured in milliseconds, and a good value is between 15-20ms. If it’s any higher than this, the connection will become laggy, and audio will therefore sound choppy.
Packet loss is when “packets” or pieces of data traveling across a network do not reach their end destination. In a VoIP call, this will appear as garbled audio with missing information like words and sentences.
Video Calls
As you might assume, video calls use significantly more data than voice calls. There are a number of variables, such as video quality, screen size, and the specifications of the connecting devices. For example:
A video call between two mobile devices uses about 3.75 MB of data per minute (225 MB per hour).
A video call between a mobile device and a computer uses about 4.5 MB of data per minute (270 MB per hour)
Here’s a look at usage when we factor in the video quality:
A standard definition video call uses an average of 190 MB per hour.
A high-quality video call uses an average of 400 MB per hour.
An HD video call uses an average of 1.25 GB per hour.
Regarding bandwidth requirements, here are some averages we gathered:
1:1 video calling:
High-quality video: 600kbps (up/down)
720p HD video: 1.2Mbps (up/down)
1080p HD video: 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down)
Group video calling:
High-quality video: 1.0 Mbps/600kbps (up/down)
720p HD video: 2.6Mbps/1.8Mbps (up/down)
1080p HD video: 3.8Mbps/3.0Mbps (up/down)
Emails
Like online web browsing, checking your email should require no more than 5 Mbps. The amount of data used by emails with attachments can vary based on the size of the attachment. So, based on emails without attachments, you can send and receive 100 and only need 30 MB per month.
Credit Card Transactions
Credit card transactions require very little bandwidth. On average a minimum of 1.5 mbps download speed and 768 kbps upload speed should be sufficient. Data usage is very small as well. If you were to run 1000 credit card transactions per day, this would work out to be just under 300 MB of data.
IP Cameras
There are a few factors that determine how much bandwidth an IP security camera system uses. This includes video resolution, frames per second, file compression (e.g. H.264 and MJPEG), and the number of cameras. All four help to determine exactly how much bandwidth you need for your system.
Note that special applications, like facial recognition or license plate recognition, will eat up more IP camera bandwidth, since these applications require higher resolution and frame rate recording.
In our research, we frequently came across the following formulas for calculating IP camera bandwidth requirements.
Resolution in pixels x Color depth in bits = Bit rate
Bit rate x Frame rate in frames per second = Bandwidth requirement in bits per second
Using the above formulas will give you its raw bandwidth requirement before compression. Audio, communication, and compression protocols also contribute to raw bandwidth, but they generally use a negligible amount.
As an example, let’s say we have a high definition (1280 x 720 pixel) online surveillance system in true color (24 bit) that operates at 30 frames per second. Based on these formulas, we would have a raw bandwidth requirement of 665 Mbps. However, due to compression, this can be reduced down to as little as 2 Mbps (depending on the compression standard).
Here’s a quick reference chart based on resolution and compression:
IP Camera Bandwidth Requirement
Resolution
H.264
MJPEG
1MP (1280×720)
2 Mbps per camera
6 Mbps per camera
2MP (1920×1080)
4 Mbps per camera
12 Mbps per camera
4MP (2560×1440)
8 Mbps per camera
24 Mbps per camera
VPN
A VPN experiences something called “encryption overhead.” Encryption is a form of security for that connection and can increase bandwidth. Any activity you perform on your computer or network with the VPN enabled will use more data than when it is disabled. The increased amount could be anywhere from 2% up to 19%. The strength and protocols of your VPN will also contribute towards more usage.
Generally speaking, the amount of bandwidth speed required for a VPN depends on the type of applications you’re accessing. For example, say you’re downloading a large HD movie file that’s 4GB of data. Over a non-VPN connection, the data usage would be exactly 4GB. However, due to the VPN encryption, the data usage will increase. 4GB is actually 4,096 MB of data, so that means you’re technically transferring closer to 4,396 MB in total.
Streaming Audio
Now, if you’re anything like me, you probably have some sort of music streaming throughout the workday. So, while this might not be “important,” it is common enough that we wanted to touch on the subject. There are dozens of ways to stream music these days. Some of the more popular services include:
Pandora
Spotify
Google Play
Amazon Music
iHeartRadio
SoundCloud
Typically, streaming music does not use much data or bandwidth. Although each service differs slightly in the stream quality. So what does that mean in terms of your data usage? If you were to stream music for an entire eight-hour work day, you would use about 1 GB each day. Based on your average month of 30 days, that could turn out to be up to 30 GB of data usage!
Does this seem like a lot of work? Not sure it makes much sense? Well, we made it more simple for users with our data usage calculator. This is an easy way to help determine your usage requirements, and average monthly usage based on common applications like credit card processing and emails.
Cellular routers are a type of networking device that allows you to connect to the internet using a cellular network rather than a traditional wired connection like cable or DSL. They are often used as a backup or failover option for businesses and organizations that need a reliable internet connection as frequently as possible. This would be because they may not have access to a stable wired connection, and cannot afford much downtime.
There are several benefits to using a cellular router for failover:
Reliability: Cellular networks are generally more reliable than wired connections, especially in areas where the wired infrastructure can be damaged or not yet installed.
Flexibility: Cellular routers can be used in any location with a cellular signal, making them a great option for businesses that need to be able to connect from any location
Cost-effective: In many cases, cellular data plans are more cost-effective than traditional wired internet plans. While prices can vary, wired services like cable or fiber can generally cost around $100 to $300. In comparison, many cellular data plans are around $25 to $100.
Easy setup: Cellular routers are easy to set up and don’t require any special infrastructure or installation. They can be up and running in less than a day.
WHAT IS FAILOVER?
Failover is a mechanism that allows a device to automatically switch to another network connection when its primary connection, such as a wired or wireless internet connection, becomes unavailable. This ensures that the device can continue to function and access the internet even if the primary connection is lost or disrupted. The goal of failover is to minimize disruption and maintain the availability of the system as much as possible.
Failover systems can be configured in a variety of ways. It can either be a totally automatic switch between WAN connections, or more of a manual switch between networks. Routers that provide automatic failover will support multiple WAN connections rather than just one. They will have some sort of automatic check in place to verify if the Internet connection is up or down. These checks allow the router to detect the outage of a connection and then switch to another available WAN connection that it has also verified is up or online. Aside from a possible difference in bandwidth, it’s likely you won’t notice the failure with these routers.
Manual failover is going to be similar to using a single primary WAN connection through any router. Once a user detects the connection is down, they will need to manually switch their connection from the router that has failed, to one that is online. While this is not ideal for all users, it can certainly be more affordable.
There are also multi-WAN, failover routers that support different manners in which failover operates. Normally, when a higher priority WAN connection is established, the backup connections are in an active, but passive state. While they are ready to connect, they do not actually establish a connection until the higher priority fails. This is also known as a cold standby state.
The backup connections can also be in a completely active state where they are connected at the same time as the higher priority WAN. Traffic may or may not be routed over the backup while the primary WAN is connected – unless you’re using load balancing. This is what we typically call a hot standby state. The backup is already connected to the Internet and therefore the failover switch is much faster.
Overall, failover systems are an important component of a robust and reliable network. They help to ensure that the system can continue to function even in the event of a failure.
USING A CELLULAR BACKUP
There are several situations in which cellular failover, in particular, can be useful. If a device is connected to a wireless network and the wireless signal becomes weak or unstable, the device can switch to a cellular connection to maintain a stable internet connection. Cellular failover can also be helpful in areas where wired internet is not available. Or, in cases where the primary internet connection is lost due to a line fault, power outage or other issue.
Cellular failover is often used in business settings, where a stable and reliable internet connection is critical for productivity. It can also be useful for individuals who rely on internet connectivity for important tasks, such as email or online transactions.
In order to use cellular failover, a device must be equipped with a cellular modem and have a cellular data plan in place. This is where the 5Gstore team can assist. We’ll determine which cellular failover router is best for your need. You can then pair it with one of our failover data plans.
There are many different router solutions you can consider. Some cellular routers are just that. They have a cellular modem built in and allow for local connections via Ethernet and WiFi. They do not support any wired WAN connections and therefore cannot support an automated failover process. For example, the Inseego FX2000e or Inseego Skyus 160. These routers can stand alone. You may also put them into a passthrough mode and connect them to your existing router. For example, you would unplug your primary WAN once it has failed, and replace it with the cellular router’s connection).
Other routers, like the Peplink Balance 20X, not only support a built-in cellular modem. They also have an Ethernet WAN port where you can connect your primary wired WAN. This will support an automated failover process since both the cellular and Ethernet WAN connections live in the same router.
SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE ROUTER
The 5Gstore sales team can help to guide you towards the best solution for your needs. However, you’ll need to do a little research yourself as well. Some things to ask yourself include how and where you will be using the router. Are there specific devices that must have close to 24/7 connectivity? Are there devices that can survive without a connection temporarily?
Keep in mind that there are a few key factors to consider when selecting a cellular failover router:
Carrier coverage: Make sure the router is compatible with a carrier that has good coverage in your area. It’s also a good idea to check the carrier’s data plans, their reliability and customer support.
Network speeds: Consider the speeds offered by the router and carrier, as well as the router’s ability to handle multiple devices. This is particularly important if you’ll be using the router for business purposes or if you have a lot of devices that need to connect to the internet.
Security: Look for a router with robust security features, such as a firewall, VPN support, and encryption. You can rest assured that any router you purchase from the 5Gstore will have all of these features.
Ease of use: Consider the user interface and management tools of the router. You’ll want a router that is easy to set up and manage, particularly if you’re not technically savvy. While the user interfaces differ from one manufacturer to another, our team is trained to provide support for any of the products you purchase.
Cost: Determine your budget and look for a router that offers the features you need at a price you can afford.
Brand reputation: Do some research on the brand and read reviews from other users to get a sense of the router’s reliability and customer support.
By considering these factors, you can find a cellular failover router that meets your needs. A solution which provides reliable internet connectivity when your primary internet connection goes down.
For further information and assistance, please reach out to our team by phone, email, or chat!
The cellular industry and all the jargon surrounding it can be rather confusing at times. There’s also so many cellular products to choose from that it can be difficult to determine what features you need. In effort to help you better understand, we’ve outlined some important terms and how they relate to the way cellular technology works.
LTE Categories
You may have heard the term “Cat” before when it comes to Ethernet cables (e.g. Cat 5, Cat 6), but what about when someone is talking about cellular? “Cat” refers to the category of a 4G LTE modem (5G does NOT use categories). 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) is a cellular technology in which both voice and data service can operate.
Categories are used to define the performance specs of the LTE device. They range from 1 to 22 and differ with regards to the frequency band support as well as the upload and download speeds they are capable of running. For example, Cat 1 modems can download at up to 10 Mbps (megabits), while Cat 22 modems are going to receive download speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps (gigabits).
What is MiMO?
Some other differences between LTE categories is the number of antenna connections they use. Categories 1 through 4 are all going to have a main and diversity/ auxiliary port. This is called a MiMO connection (2×2 specifically). MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) is a technology used in wireless communication systems to improve the capacity and performance of the communication link. MIMO systems use multiple antennas at both the transmitter and the receiver to transmit and receive multiple data streams simultaneously over the same frequency band.
In the case of 2×2 (Cat 1-4) or 4×4 MIMO (Cat 6 and higher), there are two or four antennas at both the transmitter and the receiver, which allows for the transmission of two or four data streams in parallel. This can significantly increase the capacity and performance of the communication link, especially in environments with high levels of interference or noise.
Cat 1, up to Cat 4 support a limited number of frequency bands. They can only connect to one frequency band at a time. This is why some users can get away with having only one antenna attached to the main port of these modems – there’s enough usable signal and bandwidth with just one.
In comparison, devices using category 6 or higher – known as LTE Advanced modems – can connect to 2 or more frequency bands at the same time. They will also support more frequency bands and utilize carrier aggregation, as it is typically called. This allows LTE Advanced modems to pull in more signal and bandwidth when there are multiple frequency bands available in the area.
Carrier Aggregation
Carrier aggregation is a technique used in wireless communications that allows a mobile device or wireless modem to combine or “aggregate” multiple wireless channels or carriers into a single, wider channel in order to increase the data transfer rates and overall capacity of the connection. It is often used in the context of 4G (LTE) and 5G cellular networks.
Here’s how carrier aggregation works:
A mobile device or wireless modem is equipped with a multi-channel receiver that can receive and transmit data on multiple frequency bands or carriers.
The device is connected to the cellular network through a base station, which is equipped with multiple antennas that transmit and receive data on different carriers or frequency bands.
The device and the base station communicate with each other to determine the best combination of carriers or frequency bands that can be aggregated to form a single, wider channel.
Once the carriers are aggregated, the device and the base station can communicate with each other using the combined channel, resulting in increased data transfer rates and overall capacity.
Carrier aggregation is an important technique for improving the performance of wireless networks, especially in areas where there is a high demand for data and the available spectrum is limited. It allows mobile operators to offer faster and more reliable data services to their customers, and it can help to improve the coverage and capacity of cellular networks.
Interested in learning more about cellular? Reach out to us via phone, email, or chat!
Simplifi is known for providing 4G/5G fixed wireless plug and play routers. As of today, they are pleased to announce that its Connect II Router is now certified and approved for use on FirstNet® – the only network built with and for America’s first responders. The service runs off the AT&T network and solves many challenges that public safety workers face.
FirstNet has been evolving with the help of feedback from the public safety community. Part of that evolution is adding easy to use hardware such as the Simplifi Connect II LTE Router. First responders, emergency services, and support teams will now have more access to the critical information they need.
“Our collaboration with FirstNet could not have come at a better time. Working closely with FirstNet, Simplifi provides a highly scalable, simple-to-install LTE Router and traditional phone Line replacement solution managed remotely through Simplifi Cloud,” said Nick Shevillo, CEO of Simplifi. “Our products provide first responders and emergency teams with easy-to-deploy LTE connectivity and traditional phone line replacement while supporting the transition to more advanced technologies for mission-critical systems. Simplifi’s Connect II Router, Voicelink Smart Adaptor, and Simplifi Cloud management tools reduce installation and maintenance costs by up to 75% and the overall cost of network ownership by as much as 50%.”
Public safety crews have several choices with FirstNet support, but many can be expensive solutions that are difficult to manage and sometimes even to install. The Simplifi Connect II Router is designed with simplicity in mind – both in management and installation. In fact, they say users should be up and running in under two minutes.
The Connect II also works with something called Simplifi Voicelink – it establishes a secure connection to the Internet and opens a direct line of communication for analog devices to stay connected. The Connect II Router + Voicelink Smart Adaptor creates a secure line for emergency response teams to communicate seamlessly and a robust network that uses the FirstNet platform for all traffic in and out.
Here are some of the key features of the Connect II + Voicelink Adaptor:
Enterprise-Grade Routing Stack
VPN IPSEC – Secure access for emergency response teams.
Wire Guard
IP Pass-Through
Port Forwarding
Captive Portal
Splash Page
Radius Server
Cellular Voice and Data
Wired Line Connection
Failover
App Experience
WiFi 32 Simultaneous Connections
Website Blacklist/Whitelist – Block devices and websites from network.
Device Access Control – Grant or deny device access to network.
Call Security – All calls through Voicelink are secured over VoLTE.
Router Management – Manage one or 1000+ routers from one screen.
Fast Deployment – Setup Connect + Voicelink in minutes.
In order to be certified on FirstNet, devices are subject to hundreds of tests that cover a number of aspects, from security and durability to network impacts. This helps make sure that they can meet the needs of first responders. FirstNet Ready® devices are listed on the FirstNet device page.
“FirstNet devices and modules go through extensive review, so first responders can be confident that Simplifi’s Connect II Router meets our highest standards for reliability, security and performance,” said Matt Walsh, assistant vice president, product management and development, FirstNet Program at AT&T. “The more tools public safety has access to on their network, the more we can help them achieve their mission.”
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):
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!
Verizon recently updated its Verizon 5G nationwide coverage map with its new “Ultra Wideband” C-Band coverage. We now know exactly where Verizon says more than 90 million Americans will be able to get this new C-Band service.
According to Verizon Wireless, it offers two types of 5G service: “5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Nationwide.
5G Ultra Wideband is Verizon’s fastest 5G. According to Verizon, 5G Ultra Wideband experiences speeds up to twn times faster and respond quicker than 4G, thanks to its access to both 5G high bands and low bands. 5G Ultra Wideband speeds range from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
5G Nationwide runs alongside 4G LTE; it delivers a similar experience to Verizon’s 4G LTE network, which provides a convenient, reliable, and widely available 5G network.
Only Verizon’s top Unlimited plans provide access to 5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Nationwide. All other plans provide access to 5G Nationwide only.
Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband Coverage Map Accuracy
According to some users, Verizon’s updated 5G Ultra Wideband coverage map isn’t very accurate now. These users found that C-Band was available in some of the indicated areas on the coverage map but was non-existent in others. The current Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband coverage map seems to be more of a projection of where C-Band is and where it will eventually be in the near future. Then again, coverage maps generally can’t meet the level we’d like them to be at, which is to tell us how good the coverage is here or there.
Aside from allowing phones access to double or triple LTE speeds, Verizon plans to utilize the new airwaves to expand its $50/month wireless home internet offering. Coverage for wireless home internet won’t be available everywhere and will depend on available network capacity.
Verizon Rural C-Band Coverage
To 5Gstore’s surprise, there appears to be C-Band coverage in more rural areas than we’ve seen before, including in some areas that are located hundreds of miles away from large cities. These include areas in southwest Indiana and small towns outside of New York City, as well as some remote areas in Arkansas and Alabama.
5G Exclusion Zones
“Exclusion zones” (or “buffer zones”), to which Verizon agreed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are apparent in Verizon’s 5G coverage map around major airports. Major airports and their grounds, such as New York’s LaGuardia, Chicago’s Midway and Dallas’ Love Field, appear to have 5G coverage. However, there are some exclusions in varying directions.
Check back often to 5Gstore! We will provide you with the most recent Verizon 5G coverage maps available, as well as the information you need to stay connected.
