Huawei B612 LTE Router Features and Specs

Huawei offers a new wireless LTE CPE B612 with powerful LTE modem recently. The B612 CPE supports LTE Advanced Cat6 with up to 300 MBit/s in the downlink and up to 50 MBit/s in the uplink, which is similar to the predecessor Huawei E5186 and B525 technically. A special feature compared to the predecessor model is the support for 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology. The router also offers a telephone function and connections for external LTE antennas, which are common specs for the Huawei LTE routers. Here now in some countries, the Huawei B612 LTE CPE is already available.

 

Huawei B612: design and comparison

The Huawei B612 looks like a classic router, there is no special design or visual highlights. The case is held in matt white plastic. On the front several LEDs show the operating status, on the back you will find the connections.

 

But where can you roughly classify the Huawei B612 compared to other Huawei LTE router models? One thing is clear: the Huawei B618 with 600 MBit/s and 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology has a much more powerful modem, but puts the focus much more on the body design and has fewer connections. The Huawei B715 LTE router can also use much higher speeds than the B612 at 450 MBit/s, but does not use 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology. The B715 also has the most connections in the comparison with B612 and B618.

Huawei B612: Specifications

As we know, Huawei had presented two sub-models for Huawei B612. We suppose there will be more models available in near future, just like the Huawei B593 LTE CPE. The Huawei B612 offers a LTE Cat6 modem for up to 300 MBit/s in the downlink. In addition to 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology, 2CC CA (dual channel bundling) is also supported. In addition to FDD LTE, TDD LTE is supported, so the router is very universal. The following LTE frequency bands are supported in detail as below:

 

Huawei B612s-25d support:

* LTE: B1/B3/B7/B8/B20/B38/B40/B41(2545~2655MHz)/B42/B43

* DC-HSPA+/HSPA+/HSPA/WCDMA: B1/B8

* EDGE/GPRS/GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8

* 4*4 MIMO:B3/B7/B20/B38/B40/B41/B42/B43

 

Huawei B612s-51d support:

* LTE: B2/B4/B5/B7/B41(2545~2655MHz)

* DC-HSPA+/HSPA+/HSPA/WCDMA: B1/B2/B5

* EDGE/GPRS/GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8

The WLAN module of the Huawei B612 operates both in the frequency range around 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and supports the 802.11ac standard. For connection to computer and game console, there are also four RJ45 Ethernet LAN ports on the back of the router. If you want, you can also use one of the four LAN ports as a WAN connection, ie an external modem can be connected there. The internal mobile modem is then disabled and you can use the router as a normal wireless access point.

 

On the back you will find other connections besides the RJ45 LAN ports. On the one hand, there is the RJ11 connection for an analogue telephone, because the B612 supports telephone connections. On the other hand there are two SMA connections for an external LTE MIMO antenna, the connections are well protected under a cover.

Huawei B612: availability

Here now the Huawei B612 is only available for few network provider in Poland and Chile, and the online retailers don’t have this new LTE CPE available. We suppose it would be available soon around the beginning of 2018, just like the predecessor huawei LTE router. We will take further test on this router once we get it. And we would also inform the availability if we have news from 4gltemall.com.

 

Telekom Speedbox LTE IV Router Test

Telekom has introduced a new LTE router- Speedbox LTE IV to its product range. The Speedbox LTE IV is the successor of the Speedbox LTE III, which was offered since January 2015 and left a good impression on the users. Compared to its predecessor, the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV offers twice as high speeds (LTE Cat11 with up to 600 MBit/s), as well as a sleek new design. Manufacturer of the device is the Chinese company Huawei, and the router is a slightly modified Huawei B618s-22d.

 

Connections and design

The Telekom Speedbox LTE IV is visually certainly one of the most beautiful LTE routers that are currently available. The matt white cuboids also looks good on a dresser, unlike many other routers, the device does not need to hide. Various LEDs on the front indicate the operating status as well as the reception, a WPS button ensures fast WLAN connections without tedious password entry. The MicroSIM card is used on the underside of the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV; there is also a label with serial number and Wi-Fi password attached.

 

 

The power supply, LAN cable and external antenna connectors are located on the back panel. In detail, we can find here 2x RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet and two TS-9 connections under a cover. But unlike the original Huawei B618s-22d router, there is no USB or an RJ11 telephone connection in the Speedbox LTE IV. And it doesn’t have built-in battery, which feature is available on another similar router Huawei B529s-23a. The Speedbox LTE IV must get external power supply and work.

 

Telekom Speedbox LTE (Huawei B618s-22d) hightlight features:
LTE Category 11, down to 600 Mbps, up to 50 Mbps
LTE frequency bands FDD LTE Band 1/3/7/8/20 (800/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz)
UMTS DC-HSPA+, up to 42.2 Mbit/s downlink, up to 5.76 Mbit/s uplink
UMTS frequency bands 900/2100 MHz
GSM Including EDGE
GSM frequency bands 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
connections 2x Gigabit LAN, 2x TS-9 for external antenna
WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, up to 867 Mbps
Others LAN port can also be used as WAN port. Operation via browser and via app possible.

 

 

LTE speed in practice

Even though the LTE modem of the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV theoretically reach up to 600 MBit/s fast: in practice, only a fraction is reached in the normal case. For the highest possible speeds, not only the LTE advanced pro mobile network must be equipped accordingly, the network utilization may only be very low, which is rarely the case in modern times. Of course, the reception must of course be as optimal as possible. Much more interesting than the question of how maximum fast the router will be is the question of how the speeds are in areas with poor reception and how the device beats in comparison with the competition.

The transmission and reception performance is quite decent with the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV, but does not trigger any enthusiasm storms. If in doubt, you should connect with very poor reception an external antenna. The speeds were above average in the LTE network and in the UMTS network in comparison with a Netgear AirCard 810 hotspot , an Apple iPad Pro 9.7 and an AVM FRITZ! Box 6890 LTE. Tested in the LTE 800 and LTE 1800 network of Telekom and Vodafone, UMTS was used at 2100 MHz.

 

 

The continuous use was easily possible in the test, the SpeedBox LTE IV ran smoothly for several days and was doing little more than lukewarm. What was noticed during the test, however: with heavier load (eg speed test) the power supply made noises, a kind of “coil whistling” was to be heard.

 

WLAN at the Speedbox LTE IV

The WLAN of Telekom Speedbox LTE IV is strong enough to supply a large apartment or a small house. The range of course depends on various factors such as thickness and texture walls, but in comparison with common mobile WLAN/LTE hotspots, the range is good. The maximum speed is 867 MBit/s. The WLAN works on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (802.11b/g/n/ac), you can also switch off the frequency bands individually. The channel bandwidth can be set in the web interface, the highest speeds are obtained only with 80 MHz in the 5 GHz band. You can use the Wi-Fi bridge or Wi-Fi extender mode that allows you to use an existing Wi-Fi network as an Internet access. If a device is connected to the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV via LAN cable, a menu is displayed in the web interface with which the WLAN can be completely switched off.

Hidden WAN function

As already described, the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV offers two RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces on the back. These connections can be used, for example, to connect a desktop PC or game console with a LAN cable to the LTE router. If you need more than two LAN ports, you have to switch between a switch. In the test, the LAN connections worked smoothly, as expected.

 

The Speedbox LTE IV has a nice feature that the “original” Huawei B618 taken: if necessary, one of the LAN ports can also be used as a WAN port, ie you can feed an existing Internet connection via LAN cable and thereby possibly save mobile data volume. It should be noted, however, that you no longer have access to the Web interface when using the WAN. Settings on the WLAN must therefore be carried out beforehand, before the WAN function is used.

 

Configuration via web interface

The web interface of the Telekom Speedbox LTE can be reached in the browser via the address 192.168.8.1. On initial startup, you are prompted to change the log in password to a custom one, eliminating unauthorized access and configuration changes.

 

On the start page you get the most important information displayed clearly, including, for example, the amount of data consumed and the online time. Of course, the reception is also displayed, but you can also find it in any other menu at the top of a status bar. There are also tabs for “Statistics”, “SMS”, “Update” and “Settings”. Basically, the points are self-explanatory and quite clear, only in the settings, there are many sub-points, which are worth a close look.

 

In the tab “Settings” you can specify, for example, whether the router should also go abroad (roaming) to the Internet and whether the network technology (2G, 3G, 4G) should be selected automatically or if you prefer to use only LTE, for example , The configuration of the WLAN interface can also be made here: up to 4 WLAN names (SSIDs), two each at 2.4 and 5 GHz, can be assigned, of course, each with an individual password.

 

Some simple settings can also be made via the Huawei HiLink Smartphone App, which is available for Android and iOS in the respective App Store for download. If you just want to see the current data consumption quickly or want to read a text message, you will be fine with the app. For more detailed things, such as the choice of network technology, you still have to try the web interface, here comes the app to its limits.

 

Test conclusion to the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV

In the test, the Speedbox LTE IV made a good impression: the Internet connection was stable and reliable, the modem reached high speeds and the case design is a clear advanced to its predecessor. The software is fast and easy to use and the WLAN module was convincing with up to four SSIDs and high speeds.

 

However, there are also some criticisms: on the one hand Telekom has deleted the telephone interface, which is the otherwise identical to original model Huawei B618s-22d available on 4gltemall.com. On the other hand, a WiFi Extender function is missing, with which one can use an existing WLAN as Internet entrance, as it is often already standard with many mobile LTE hotspots nowadays. The third point of criticism concerns the integrated LTE modem: it supports the advanced 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology, but “only” 2CC CA, ie dual channel bundling.

 

Overall, it should be noted: apart from a few technical details, the Telekom Speedbox LTE IV is a highly recommended and future-proof LTE router. For the price with contract, there is currently no information. Considering the functions deleted by Telekom, we suggest you buy original and unlocked Huawei B618s-22d to enjoy the full functions for the LTE advanced router. The Huawei B618s-22d unlocked router is now available www.4gltemall.com. You can get it without any contract and use it with almost all the network providers’ SIM cards in Europe.

 

Intel Release 5G Modem XMM8060 and 4G Modem XMM7660

With the development of wireless networks, 5G network is approaching. It’s said 5G networks will be available. The wireless industry leaders such as Qualcomm and Intel are planning the new products to meet the network upgrade. Last month, Qualcomm Inc. has announced that they have successfully trialed a 5G data connection on their X50 5G modem. Qualcomm says during their trial they were able to successfully establish a 5G data connection on the X50 modem using 28GHz mmWave frequency band, with download speeds reaching over a gigabit per second.

Intel is also following the trend for 5G network. A couple of days ago, Intel also announced the Intel XMM 8000 series, which is its first family of 5G new radio (5G NR) multi-mode commercial modems. The XMM8060 is the first modem of the XMM 8000 series. Intel also announced its latest LTE modem, the Intel XMM7660, which will be made available in 2019.

 

Intel XMM8060 is the company’s first commercial 5G modem as a competitor to Qualcomm X50 5G modem. As the typical feature, the Intel XMM8060 is also multi-mode supporting full 5G non-standalone and standalone NR, as well as various 2G, 3G and 4G legacy modes. Thus enabling devices to work in different locations, including large cities with 5G standalone NR (this may be a distant future) as well as rural areas that have 2G or 3G networks. This is important as 5G availability will not be available everywhere all at once, and it will take years for its roll-out to complete, just like how it took years for 4G LTE to be adopted throughout the globe. The XMM8060 is expected to be adopted in customer devices since mid-2019 at earliest. As part of the announcement, the company reiterated its plans to offer a top-to-bottom XMM 8000 family of 5G modems for various applications, including smartphones, PCs, buildings and vehicles.

Intel has kept on developing LTE modems as well. With the Intel XMM8060, the XMM7660 4G LTE Modem was also presented as its second-generation Gigabit LTE modem capable of up to Cat 19 (1.6Gbps) downlink connections. It features MIMO, carrier aggregation, 256QAM and a broad range of band support.  Intel expects commercial devices to adopt the XMM 7660 in 2019.

 

Intel says the series will enable a range of devices from PCs and phones to vehicles and fixed wireless consumer premise equipment to connect to 5G networks. And we will see when 5G coming.

3GPP Release 15: Standard for 5G coming in 2018

Before 2020, no 5G networks will probably start, but the technical pillars of the next generation of mobile phones are becoming increasingly visible and mid-2018  5G should then be finally standardized in 3GPP Release 15. From the time of standardization,, network equipment suppliers and chip manufacturers can then quickly adapt their pre-standard hardware and software to UEs and deliver it to network operators and customers. How the way could look up to now and which specifications are expected to be part of the 5G standard, Dr. Ing. Peter Zhou, chief marketing officer for the Wireless Product Line at Huawei Enterprise, revealed at the Huawei Global Mobile Broadband Forum.

 

Goal: globally uniform 5G standard

The standardization organization 3GPP aims to define the first industry-wide 5G standard with Release 15. Various organizations are involved in the 3GPP, including the European ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute). A common standard is very important for 5G to be built around the world on the same technical foundation as 4G/LTE is. The timeline of the 3GPP, included as a graphic below, reveals that in June 2018 release 15 will be ready and thus the basis for 5G will have been created.

 

Huawei: Details about antenna technology at 5G

Exact specifications for 5G are as described only from June 2018 at the earliest. Peter Zhou from Huawei described how Huawei imagines the antenna technology at 5G: in the high-band range ( eg 3.5 GHz, C-band) should be at least 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology mandatory, in the low-band range (eg less than 1.8 GHz) should be at least 2 × 2 MIMO expanded. So that 5G networks have to meet much for the minimum requirements. In the high-band sector, Zhou sees the future, but especially in Massive MIMO antenna technology, where, of course, in this assessment must also take into account that the network equipment with Massive MIMO antenna technology earns neat money. As a mandatory standard you will probably not see Massive MIMO at 5G/3GPP Rel. 15.

Huawei: 5G networks need to use AI

According to Dr. Zhou, it will be a key point that the 5G network technology with artificial intelligence (“AI”) is equipped. He said at the Mobile Broadband Forum in London: “AI is a core element in 5G networks. Mobile networks must become intelligent”.Here one can use the artificial intelligence in different areas of the net well: the transmitters could communicate constantly with each other, in order always to be able to get the optimum from the existing radio spectrum. For the customer, it is about the best possible network coverage and a high service quality, for the operator to the most efficient use of radio licenses and thus also to reduce costs. In other areas, one can well imagine the use of AI in the mobile network, for example, when it comes to edge computing or autonomous driving.

 

Huawei E5788 LTE Cat.16 MiFi Released

The fastest mobile LTE hotspot in Europe has long been the Netgear AC810, now Huawei has taken the lead with the new pocket WiFi E5788. The Huawei E5788 offers LTE Category 16, so speeds up to 1 gigabit per second download and up to 100 Mbps upload. In addition, the mobile Wi-Fi hotspot offers a touch screen and up to 10 hours of operation via the integrated battery.

Huawei E5788 with Gigabit LTE

The Huawei E5788 has an integrated LTE Advanced Pro Cat16 modem. To achieve speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s, the hotspot supports 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology, 256QAM modulation and 3CC CA (triple channel bundling). The maximum possible speed depends not only on the E5788, but also on the mobile network. If the network is not equipped accordingly, the Huawei Hotspot offers lower LTE speeds. Of course, the E5788 Gigabit Hotspot is also backwards compatible with 3G/UMTS (up to 42.2 Mbps in the downlink) and GSM/2G can do the modem as well.

 

Huawei E5788: WiFi extender on board

The Internet connection is transmitted either over WLAN 802.11b/g/n/ac or over USB type C to connected terminals. Over WLAN, up to 32 devices can be supplied at the same time, the Huawei E5788 spits on 2.4 GHz and optionally also on 5 GHz. An RJ45 Ethernet LAN port, as offered by the sister model Huawei E5885, is not available on the Huawei E5788.

 

 

If required, the Internet access can be made via an existing wireless network instead of the integrated mobile modem. The feature called “WiFi Extender” is now standard on mobile Huawei LTE hotspots, including the E5788.

 

In addition to the USB Type C port, which can be used to charge the battery and to connect to a computer, the Huawei E5788 also offers two TS-9 ports for an external LTE antenna. The connections are hidden on the side under a cover, which should protect against contamination.

 

Huawei E5788 E5788u-96a LTE Cat.16 Gigabit Mobile WiFi Hotspot

Huawei E5788: Operation via touchscreen

The Huawei E5788 has a small touch screen on the front, which makes it easy to adjust. The display shows important information about the Internet connection such as data consumption, online time and reception in the standard screen. In the first test, the touchscreen responded quickly and the operation was self-explanatory thanks to large icons. Further settings are possible via the browser web interface or the Huawei HiLink app.

 

The battery of the Huawei E5788 is 3,000 mAh strong and unfortunately firmly integrated in the device, so not changeable by the user. The operating time is up to 10 hours, the standby time is up to 500 hours.

 

 

Huawei E5788: Availability

The Huawei E5788 is currently not available everywhere, but can be found via Google some online retailers, which have listed the suitable for European networks version Huawei E5788u-96a. Whether and when Huawei plans an official market launch in Europe is currently unknown. Should something new arise, this article will of course be updated.

 

As alternatives, for example, the Huawei E5787 (with touch screen) and the Huawei E5885 (with LAN connection) are available; however, both devices reach a maximum of 300 MBit/s with the integrated LTE Cat6 modem. If you want Gigabit LTE mobile hotspot, you have to wait for the Huawei E5788.

 

Huawei B618s-22d 4G WiFi Router Review

The Huawei B618s-22d is a fast-moving mobile 4G router that creates a stable internet connection in every location. The device supports dual-band WiFi and connects to 64 devices at a time. This Huawei 4G router is also equipped with 2 Gigabit LAN ports.

Huawei B618 B618s-22d 4G Router

Huawei B618s-22d Features

 

* 4G LTE speeds up to 600 Mbps

* WiFi for 64 devices at a time

* Wireless-AC WiFi speeds up to 1300 Mbps
* 2 LAN ports (including 1 WAN / LAN)
* 1 RJ11 port for phone, printer or fax
* 1 Micro SIM card slot (Dual-Free)
* 2 External Aerial Ports (TS-9)
* 1 USB 2.0 Port
* Huawei HiLink App
* Weight: 700 grams

Huawei B618 B618s-22d front logo and indicators

 

Fast 4G Router
The Huawei B618s-22d creates a fast 4G internet connection at any location. The device operates with a 4G LTE SIM card from any carrier and provides a wireless network at a speed of up to 582 Mbps. Up to 64 devices can connect to this router at the same time. If the signal is not strong enough, you may want to connect an external antenna. The huawei B618 CPE could also be used as a fixed WiFi router.

Huawei B618 B618s-22d USB LAN WAN Telephone ports

The Huawei B618s-22d has two Gigabit LAN ports, one of which also acts as a Gigabit WAN port. For example, you can use the router as a regular Wi-Fi router with wired internet. The Huawei B618s-22d supports dual-band wireless-AC (2.4 and 5GHz) with WiFi speeds up to 1300Mbps. The LAN ports can also be used to connect wired devices to the network, such as a fixed computer.

Huawei B618 B618s-22d bottom label

Telephone connection
The Huawei Huawei B618s-22d has a telephone port that allows users to connect a fixed analog phone, printer or fax. When connected to 3G, 4G or WiFi, you can call VoIP without any problems. This can be done with your analog or VoIP device, depending on your carrier. If you are connected to 2G, VoIP is not possible.

Huawei B618 B618s-22d connecting external antenna

Huawei HiLink app

With the free Huawei HiLink app (available for iOS and Android), it’s very easy to connect to the Huawei B618s-22d; Scan the QR code and you’re done. Also, the router is easy to manage through the app. For example, remotely enable or disable Wi-Fi, check battery level and signal strength, read messages and find all connected equipment

 

Package Contents

  • Huawei B618s-22d
  • Power adapter
  • Network cable
  • Instruction manual

With the Huawei B618s-22d 4G+ router, you provide perfect network coverage for home in the outlying area or temporary locations such as a high-speed building kit. Thanks to 4G+, the maximum download speed via the mobile network is 600 Mbps. More than enough to download large building drawings or, for example, stream 4K movies. You connect to 64 wireless devices at the same time wkth this router. Would you rather use a fixed connection if it is available? Then connect the router to a network cable using your carrier’s modem and use the device as a regular router. Via the USB port, you connect an external hard disk to share documents and media files with your entire network. In all, the Huawei B618 4G Router is a wonderful router with powerful functions. And it’s recommend if you need a home router for fast speed surfing!

Vodafone: 5G tends to be overhyped

There is a strong tendency to override 5G, said Vodafone CTO Johan Wibergh at the Huawei Global Mobile Broadband Forum (HWMBBF) in London. The expectations of 5G are partially too big, on the other hand, many applications could also be implemented with LTE. He recalled that mobile phone generations are usually around 10 years up to date you can not say what will be possible in 2030 with 5G. Wibergh made a clear statement about UMTS: the 3G mobile phone network of Vodafone should be shut down in Europe from 2020.

4G Evolution and 5G New Radio

Many features that are currently often attributed to the next generation 5G mobile phones are easily possible with LTE, according to Vodafone CTO Wibergh. Gigabit speeds, very low latency times and IoT are easily possible with the latest LTE Advanced Pro (4.5G) networks. This is achieved by technologies such as 256QAM modulation, Massive MIMO antenna technology and bundling frequency ranges via carrier aggregation. Nevertheless, 5G offers tangible advantages, of course: with additional radio spectrum (“New Radio”), first in the range around 3.5 GHz, extremely high bandwidths become possible, for example. According to Wibergh, 5G is also about 10 times more cost-efficient than LTE.

UMTS will be switched off from 2020

A very interesting statement made by Vodafone CTO Wibergh on the topic of UMTS: the 3rd mobile generation should be switched off gradually in Europe from 2020, even before GSM/2G. The radio spectrum can be used much more efficiently with LTE or 5G.

 

The shutdown of 3G is unlikely to be noticeable to users, on the contrary, the transition to new technologies will be fluid. Vodafone uses its previously used exclusively spectrum in the range of 2100 megahertz for UMTS frequency, partly for LTE. This is likely to be the case more often in the future, as long as Vodafone acquires spectrum in the 2100 MHz range at the next frequency auction.

3.5GHz May Be the 5G Frequency Band

The development of the next mobile communication standard 5G is progressing. Now it becomes clear that the frequency range of around 3.5 gigahertz will be the basis for 5G mobile networks worldwide. Confirmed Eros Spadotto from Canadian provider TELUS at the Huawei Global Mobile Broadband Forum in London. Even the network outfitter Huawei pleads for this frequency range in a position paper, summarizes it at 3.3 to 4.2 GHz but something further. Frequency spectrum in the range between 3.4 GHz and 3.8 GHz will be awarded in 2018 in many European countries, including a corresponding frequency auction is planned in Germany. In Canada, according to TELUS, an auction is expected in 2019.

 

5G Network Frequency: 3.5 GHz to start

The frequency range around 3.5 GHz will be available worldwide in many countries for mobile phone use. However, the area is not exactly defined yet, in most countries preparations are currently underway for the allocation of frequencies to the mobile network operators and the exact “limits” of the auctioned radio spectrum are not yet known. Huawei speaks in its position paper from the C-band, more specifically between 3.3 to 4.2 and 4.4 to 5.0 GHz. In order to expand 5G networks in a timely manner, the core range between 3.3 and 3.8 gigahertz is important, according to Huawei, and should be made available to network providers as quickly as possible.

 

Some carriers in Europe uses the frequency range of 3.7 GHz in its 5G test network in Berlin, where it reaches speeds of 2 GBit/s, and the range is around 400 meters. The network provider expects the launch of the first 5G networks in exactly this frequency range, more specifically between 3.5 GHz and 3.9 GHz .

5G: more frequency ranges later

Although the range around 3.5 GHz will probably be used in many countries worldwide as a “base band” for 5G: significantly more radio spectrum is needed to achieve the need for bandwidth on the one hand and very good network coverage on the other. Huawei proposes three different “layers” in its position paper: the 3.5 GHz band should be sufficient as a “coverage and capacity layer” for most applications. On the other hand, very high speeds will demand significantly more radio spectrum, which will then be made available in the “Super Data Laye ” – probably in the cmWave range around 28 gigahertz. Bruno Jacobfeuerborn, head of technology at Germany Telekom, assumes that at the start of 5G in the year 2020, this “super data layer” is not available, but only later expanded.

 

The third very important part in the 5G frequency spectrum is the so-called “Coverage Layer“. So the area with which a huge network coverage can be achieved. It does not depend on extremely high data rates, but on the fact that a basic supply of 5G can be made available almost everywhere. Huawei proposes in its position paper for the “Coverage Layer” the frequency range below 2 GHz, which is currently used by GSM, UMTS and LTE. It is conceivable, therefore, that the network operators integrated the existing LTE networks into their 5G networks, making LTE an integral part of 5G. According to Eros Spadotto, the Canadian provider TELUS assumes that the frequency range around 600 MHz will be used in North America for the “Coverage Layer” of 5G. In Europe, the area around 700 MHz is more likely to be used for this purpose.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro New Smartphone Test

Smartphones with large display and minimal edges are in vogue, Samsung has shown its Galaxy S8 with “Infinity Display” in the spring, Apple has recently launched its iPhone X and Huawei has the Mate 10 Pro now with large display and little rand on offer. But the Mate 10 Pro not only looks good, it also offers advanced technology with a chipset that will perform certain tasks much faster than previously known due to AI technology, which is the first time available in a smartphone. There are also dual SIM with LTE on both SIM cards in a single smartphone and an arrow-fast LTE Advanced Pro Cat18 modem for speeds of more than 1 Gbit/s in the LTE network. In the following test, we will check the features of the Huawei mate 10 Pro with advanced technology and chipset.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro: Design & Display

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is made with an approximately 6-inch AMOLED display in 18: 9 format. The display has a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels, in the test, the presentation was very sharp and in terms of color and brightness, there was no reason to complain. OLED typical, the black value is extremely good, but the display is not particularly color stable at an oblique angle.

The Huawei Mate 10 Pro has opted for a glass body. It is certainly a matter of taste, but personally I find a metal case still much more pleasant, even if the glass case without question has a higher quality and visually more powerful than the metal case of its predecessor Huawei Mate 9. Due to the nearly borderless display in 18: 9 format, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro is good in the hand, but a one-handed operation is still only with very large hands or with the help of the one-hand zoom mode. For the target group of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, the one-hand operation is unlikely to be relevant anyway.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro: Kirin 970 chipset

At the heart of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the new HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset. The octa-core processor is not only faster and uses less energy than its predecessor; it can also be used for the first time on AI support. The so-called “Neural Processing Unit”, NPU for short, is intended to massively accelerate certain applications such as image recognition. Unfortunately this could not be tested in the test, because applications that use the NPU are still in short supply. With the camera app to use the NPU, the difference to other current smartphones is not quite noticeable. Probably the future has to show, whether the Mate 10 Pro will have a big lead by the NPU or not.

Incidentally, the internal memory of the Huawei Mate 10 is 128 gigabytes in size, whereby only slightly more than 108 GB can be used by pre-installed software. Personally, I think the size of the memory is sufficient, but many users would have liked something more with such an expensive high-end smartphone. Unfortunately, Huawei has no memory expansion option built-in, i.e a microSD card cannot be used. That is incomprehensible…

Huawei Mate 10 Pro: LTE modem

With the LTE modem of HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset, Huawei has made great progress compared to the Mate 9. Not only is the maximum data rate of 1.2 Gigabit/s in the download extremely fast, but the device can be used in a much more countries than its predecessor by a significantly extended frequency band support. In detail, the following frequency ranges are supported:

  • LTE (FDD): B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B6 / B7 / B8 / B9 / B12 / B17 / B18 / B19 / B20 / B26 / B28 / B32
  • LTE (TDD): B34 / B38 / B39 / B40 / B41 (2545 ~ 2655MHz)
  • UMTS (3G): B1 / B2 / B4 / B5 / B6 / B8 / B19
  • GSM (2G): 850/900/1800/1900

The modem supports LTE Cat18 and can also bundle up to 5 frequency bands via carrier aggregation in addition to 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology. In the downlink the 256QAM modulation is supported in the LTE network, up to 64QAM are possible in the uplink. Even if only 2 × 2 MIMO antenna technology is available and no frequency bands can be bundled, data rates of up to 200 MBit/s in the downlink and up to 75 MBit/s in the uplink can be achieved. Regarding the dual-SIM feature, the Huawei Mate 10 offers a world first: for the first time, a device supports LTE on both SIM cards slots simultaneously. For example, you can use the Mate 10 Pro as a mobile LTE/WLAN hotspot and at the same time make calls to the device via VoLTE.

 

In the test, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro’s modem made a good impression: data connections were very fast and the reception was very good both in the UMTS network and in the LTE network. Also Wi-Fi speed and quality reception were good, especially the Wi-Fi amplifier or Wi-Fi bridge function liked. This allows you to use an existing Wi-Fi network as an Internet connection and pass it on to other devices via a Wi-Fi hotspot under a “new name”.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro Camera

Not all details of the Huawei Mate 10 Pro are considered in this review, but the Leica dual camera on the Mate 10 Pro definitely deserves a separate section. The camera makes very good quality images and can of course make good shots at night, as you would expect from a current high-end smartphone. The image quality is ensured by a 20 megapixel black and white camera and a 12 megapixel color camera on the back, both with f1.6 aperture.

According to Huawei, the NPU (ie the AI ​​unit of the processor) is also used for the camera; in automatic mode, subjects should be detected more quickly. In practice, however, this is hardly noticeable, as a result, other current top smartphones like the Apple iPhone 8 make at least equally good pictures, even without explicit motif recognition. But according to Huawei, the NPU “learns” over time.

 

Huawei Mate 10 Pro Test: Conclusion

This review does not cover all facts of the Mate 10 Pro, but after the extensive test, the following conclusion remains: With the Mate 10 Pro, Huawei has a very good smartphone in the range. It offers a chic design, a very good camera and very advanced wireless technology. The use of the heavily advertised NPU or the AI ​​functions remains somewhat unclear after the test. Even the missing 3.5mm jack and the missing memory card slot are definitely negative points. Overall, the overall package in comparison with the Apple iPhone X and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the Mate 10 Pro price is even moderate. Thus, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro is a strong competitor for the flagship smartphones from Apple and Samsung.

 

Huawei B529s-23a HomeNet Box Test

In mid September, T-Mobile unveiled its new LTE home internet service. The internet service comes with a new upgraded offer. With the new offer, the network has introduced a new “fixed” router Huawei B529s-23a Cube(T-mobile named it HomeNet Box), and we are now focusing on this device.

The Huawei B529s-23a is a new LTE router that is exclusively available on T-Mobile networks. The router is easy to use and does not require any additional installation. The user will get it with a SIM card inserted without a PIN code and the whole thing will be ready to use when you return home. Let’s start with Huawei B529s-23a router specification:

  • Dimensions: 120 × 120 × 127 mm, weight: 672g
  • Frequency bands EDGE/GPRS/GSM: 2/3/5/8 (1900/1800/850/900 MHz)
  • 3G / HSPA / DC-HSPA+ frequency bands: 1/8 (2100/900 MHz)
  • LTE frequency bands: 1/3/7/8/20/32/38 (FDD: 2100/1800/2600/900/800/1500 MHz, TDD: 2600 MHz)
  • Speeds: DC-HSPA+: 42 / 5.76 Mbps, LTE cat.6: 300/50 Mbps
  • WLAN: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (Dual Band 2.4/5 GHz)
  • External Antenna Connections: Two TS-9 ports
  • LAN / WAN connection (RJ45)
  • Slot for microSIM card
  • Built-in lithium-ion battery: 3000 mAh
  • Dedicated power supply: DC 12V / 2A
  • Support: DHCP Server, DNS RELAY and NAT, along with security services
  • The router supports up to 64 devices

The appearance of the Huawei B529s-23a router is pleasing to the eye. Cube-shaped body with rounded edges, made of black plastic with a matte surface. It looks like the predecessor router Huawei E5170 LTE Cube. The accent is horizontal, through the middle of the belt in magenta. As it turns out, it is a glowing item, but luckily the backlight can be turned off with a button. In addition to the button mentioned above, the front panel and the four status LEDs, mode, LAN, Wi-Fi, power, are also included on the front panel. On the rear panel is a power connector, LAN/WAN port, antenna connectors, and WPS button (for automatically configuring Wi-Fi connections). The bottom of the “box” is the SIM card connector and the reset button. In addition, there is a label with predefined Wi-Fi network names and passwords.

As I mentioned, after being removed from the cardboard, the HomeNet Box B529 should be ready for operation. All accustomed to chargers with microUSB connector may be surprised, because there is a power adapter with a different connector, giving the output of 12V and 2A. It was probably easier and cheaper, especially since it was rather stationary. But as if you were going to take him away from home, it’s the first of the popular chargers you will not use.

When connected to the power and start up, the user can use the provided password to connect to the wireless network and use the Internet. There will be two networks: one in the 2.4 GHz band and the other in the 5 GHz band. The name scheme is:
WLAN1-JYABAG
WLAN1-5G-JYABAG
And that “-5G-” means a 5 GHz band, which is currently less used and less disturbed. Therefore, it is worth choosing.

 

We join and enjoy the benefits of the Internet and for many users it is enough to get the best possible coverage of a fast LTE network. In addition, the router provides the possibility to connect two external antennas. If you use the Huawei B529 Router at the location with weak signal, you can use LTE external antenna to get better surfing experience.

The Huawei B529s-23a is a device that offers far more capabilities than simple LTE modems. The first function is that the RJ45 port can works in both LAN and WAN mode, which means users can connect an Ethernet cable to the router and get wireless network from network provider. There is one SIM card slot in the Huawei B529s-23 router, user can insert a valid SIM card with data plan into the router and get wireless internet from the mobile network carriers. The two connection option makes users choose the data plan which suit best.

 

What’s more, the built-in battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh can provides about 1 hour of working time. This is not too much, but it is a protection against momentary power shortages and is a continuation of our backup communications. And user can take it outdoor and keep it working on the go.

 

User can connect to the Huawei B529 router via the Huawei HiLink application, which gives you access to basic information. After logging in, you can check your connection status, the number of transferred data in the set billing period, and the connected devices. What is important for many people is to read and send text messages. You can also change settings for operator selection and preferred network type, eg “4G only”.

 

However, access to the settings will only be possible after you log in to the administration panel. To get there, connect to a web browser with 192.168.8.1. To log in, users nee to use the standard login and password: admin / admin (we recommend to change immediately). When logged in to the panel, you will see basic connection information and device status. The next three menu items, Statistics, SMS and Update are also in the application. On the Settings tab, the most important options are grouped into eight items in the side menu. I will discuss them briefly in turn.

 

Quick Setup

Allows you to change the wireless network ID and password and to enable automatic updating of the device.

 

Connection settings

In this menu, you can set new APN access point profiles (default is already defined), select cellular mode (auto, only 2G, 3G only, LTE only) or network search mode (automatic / manual). We will also be able to disable data transfer or enable roaming data. However, there is no separate option for domestic roaming.

 

Ethernet

This is a menu in which, apart from the connection status, the RJ45 network interface mode can be set. Here we will determine whether the port works as a LAN or WAN, with additional parameters. In addition, there is also a MAC clone option – the hardware address of the network adapter.

 

 

VPN

 

VPN is a private network based on public links. Properly configured ensures confidentiality and communication security. Options built into the router allow you to establish a connection using the L2TP protocol. This menu will be used by more advanced users.

 

WLAN

Unlike the previous position, this should be used by almost every user. Wireless networks can operate both in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and for each band you can select the channel and bandwidth (defaults to automatic mode). Interestingly, for each band you can run two SSIDs, which gives you four visible networks. However, we will not find any additional options for separating users connecting to the router. Additional options are available for MAC address filtering and WPS settings to help you connect new devices to your wireless network.

How do networks work in practice? Very good. The received network signal is stronger than the one that is offered by me, eg Horizon router from UPC. It is also slightly better compared to my second Asus RT-N16 router, which the manufacturer has armed with 3 external antennas.

 

DHCP

 

DHCP is a protocol for assigning network settings (including IP address) to the device connected to the router.

 

Security

It’s extremely powerful option that allows you to make changes to the default firewall settings. You can also block and filter devices, filter domains, and run port forwarding. DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name) is also available, but profiles are available for only three defined service providers. Interestingly, this group also includes the option to enable or disable the PIN code on the SIM card.

 

 

System

 

In this position you can check the status of the device, perform network diagnostics, change system settings and password, or restore factory settings. At this point you will need to make changes when you connect the external antenna to the router.

 

 

Summary

The Huawei B529s-23a router proved to be very solid and well equipped gateway for home users. Good performance, connectivity, good hardware and a decent enough (for such hardware) software functionality is the most important of its advantages. And the stability and strength of the wireless network proves to be good. The built-in rechargeable battery make the device can also be used as a mobile WiFi router.