Huawei B529s-23a Archives

Huawei B525 VS Huawei B529 HomeNet Box

With the popularity of 4G LTE networks, more and more customers are changing their home routers from ADSL to 4G LTE Gateways. Since Huawei router gateway has a good reputation, many end-users are interested in Huawei home router WiFi. However, some of them are unfamiliar with Huawei 4G LTE routers, which may cause them in trouble when trying to buy a Huawei 4G Router, especially the Huawei routers’ names are very similar, for example, the Huawei B525 and B529. From the model number, you can’t identify what’s the difference between the two routers and which one is better. In this article, you will find the answer.

Huawei B525 VS B529 Appearance and Interfaces

From the model number, you may not know the key difference, but once you get the two router in hand, you may find the two name-similar router are very different. The Huawei B525 is a traditional stationary router. On the front, there are few indicators for the internet connection, power, network mode, signal and WiFi. On the back, there are 4 LAN ports (One of them is for WAN/LAN), one RJ45 telephone and one USB 2.0 port. However, the Huawei B529 HomeNet box looks not like a router; it’s in a shape of a cube and looks like a piece of cake, really. The available specific model is Huawei B529s-23a for T-mobile. On the front, there is T-mobile logo with LED indicators of Mode, LAN, WiFi, and Power. Below the LED indicators, the power button and light button. On the back, there is only one Ethernet LAN port for PC with the power plug port. On the upper part, there are two connectors for an external antenna. The connector type is TS-9.

The design of Huawei B529 is very special and we have to mention. In the middle of the Huawei B529, there is a light line which divides the router into two parts. However, unlike its predecessor T-mobile HomeNet box Huawei E5170, the two parts of Huawei B529 cannot be divided. The highlight of Huawei B529 is the built-in battery of 3000mAh, which could let the Huawei B529 working on the go for working around 8-10 hours. The two routers have the similar feature is that the SIM card slot is at the bottom, and they both use micro SIM card size.

Huawei B529 VS B525 Specs and Variant Models

To support various LTE frequency bands in different areas, Huawei B525 4g cat6 router has two variant models: Huawei B525s-23a and B525s-65a. Huawei B529 has only one variant model B529s-23a, which is only available for T-mobile. From the appearance, you may not get the key difference and which one is better. Below the table will list the Huawei B525 specs and Huawei B529 specs, and other features. You may reference the two Huawei routers.

Model	Huawei B525s-23a/B525s-65a	Huawei B529s-23a
Product type	LTE WiFi Router	LTE WiFi Router
Category	LTE Cat.6	LTE Cat.6
Chipset	HiSilicon LTE Cat6 Chipset	HiSilicon LTE Cat6 Chipset
Data rates	DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps	DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands	B525s-23a: Band 1/3/7/8/20/32/38 B525s-65a: Band 1/3/4/5/7/8/20/19/26/28/32/38/40/41	Band 1/3/7/8/20/32/38
WLAN	802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz	802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max support users	64 users	64 users
MIMO	2 x 2 MIMO	2 x 2 MIMO
Connector for external antenna	Two, SMA-female jacks, buy Huawei B525 Router antenna	Two, TS-9 jacks, buy Huawei B529s-23a external antenna
App management	Huawei Hilink APP	Huawei Hilink APP
SIM type	Micro SIM	Micro SIM
Battery	NO	Yes, non-removable 3000mAh battery
Dimensions	163 mm x 52 mm x 226 mm	120 x 120 x 125mm
Interfaces	* 1 x power adapter port * 3 x LAN port(45) * 1 x LAN/WAN port (45) * 1 x telephone port(RJ11) * Two external LTE antenna ports (SMA) * One micro-SIM card slot * 1 x USB 2.0 port	* 1 x power adapter port * 1 x LAN port(45) * Two external LTE antenna ports (TS-9) * One micro-SIM card slot
Datasheet	Huawei B525 Datasheet	Huawei B529 Datasheet
User Manual	Huawei B525 Manual	Huawei B529 Manual
Other features	NAT, DHCP, VPN, SMS, VoIP, CS Voice, Firewall, DMZ, UPnP, ALG, IPv4 /IPv6 dual stack	DHCP Server, DNS RELAY and NAT
Reviews	Huawei B525 Review	Huawei B529 Review
Price/USD	299.00USD	299.00

Conclusion

The Huawei B525 4G fix router and Huawei B529 cube are same level Huawei 4G routers supporting LTE Category 6, which could achieve download speed up to 300mbps. The main difference is on the interface ports and variant models for different LTE frequency bands. Huawei B525 has more Ethernet ports and a telephone port for more terminals. And the Huawei B525s-65a covers all the LTE bands on Huawei B529S-23a. So if you don’t focus on the built-in battery in Huawei B529 Router, the Huawei B525 would be the right one for your home or office. The advantage of Huawei B529 is the non-removable battery, which can make users to take the router outdoor or using it on the go. If you don’t need the Ethernet port or telephone port in Huawei B525, Huawei B529 Router would be the right one for you.

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.

Huawei B529s-23a 4G LTE Cat.6 Router Presented

Huawei had presented a new 4G LTE Category 6 router for network provider T-mobile Austria and named the router “HomeNet Box”. The HomeNet Box is the factory model Huawei B529s-23a.

Huawei B529s-23a (HomeNet Box)

The appearance of HomeNet Box looks cool in black color, just like its predecessor Huawei E5180 Cube and E5170 cube. The design and functions are very similar to Huawei E5170, but the HomeNet Box is with high specifications. The Huawei E5170 can be divided to two parts but Huawei B529s-23a HomeNet Box is a whole part and can’t be divided.

Huawei B529s-23a (HomeNet Box)

The Huawei B529s-23a router is equipped with an RJ45 port for connection via a traditional LAN cable. The built-in battery of 3000mAh can make the Huawei B529 router work as as a mobile internet center for multiple devices at the same time. What’s more, there are two connectors for external antennas available in the body. The connectors are at the back of the device and above the Ethernet port. A small cap just covers the two connectors. The connector type is TS-9. To ensure the fastest possible data transfer, just open the cap and connect an external LTE antenna to the Huawei B529s-23a. We had tested one 4G LTE Indoor antenna for Huawei B529s-23a for users who lives at the areas of weak signal:

http://www.4gltemall.com/4g-antenna-two-ts-9-connector.html

4G LTE Indoor Antenna (2 x TS-9 Connectors) for Huawei/ZTE 4G LTE Modems/dongles/mobile hotspots

The great advantage of the router is its appearance, which makes it suitable for modern interiors. LED illumination informs the user of the connection status. There are four indicators to tell the Mode, LAN, WiFi and Power status. Power button is just below the indicators. Like other Huawei LTE Routers, you can control all of your device functions with Huawei HiLink, available from the Google Play store. And you can also log into the web interface to configure the router per your preference such as DHCP Server, DNS RELAY and NAT, along with security services.

Huawei B529s-23a (HomeNet Box)

The Huawei B529s-23a router supports 4G LTE frequency bands B1/3/7/8/20/32/38. In addition, it is also backward with 3G UMTS and 2G GSM networks. With the support of LTE Cat.6, the Huawei B529s-23a delivers up to 300Mbit/s data rates and up to 50Mbit/s data rates. At the same time, up to 32 devices can connect with the B529s-23 router for surfing. The HomeNet Box uses Micro SIM card, if you get a NANO SIM, you’d better use it with an adapter. The latest WiFi standard 802.11 ac is available in the Huawei HomeNet Box on dual-band(2.4GHz and 5GHz).

Huawei B529s-23a (HomeNet Box)

In conclusion, the Huawei B529s-23a is a cool router with powerful functions including the support of LTE Cat.6, built-in battery and latest WiFi features. Actually, with the development of LTE technology, more and more network providers upgraded their networks and of course to provide new devices to support higher networks. Here now, the Huawei B525 and Huawei B618 are latest routers with similar or higher specifications. If you want to know more LTE devices, you may follow us.

Huawei B529s-23a (HomeNet Box)