Netgear Nighthawk M2 – Fastest LTE Router Test

Earlier this year, Netgear introduced the Nighthawk M2, a new mobile hotspot that transforms UMTS or LTE-based Internet access into a Wi-Fi hotspot to provide wireless network for multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets or laptops. The successor of the Nighthawk M1 supports LTE Cat. 20 and in theory allows data transfer rates of up to 2 Gbit/s downstream and 150 Mbit/s upstream.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 LCD Screen

In practice, there are hardly any 4G networks supporting such high data transfer rates. Is still worth the purchase of the mobile hotspot, which is not a bargain with a purchase? We had the opportunity to put the heavy square device to a thorough test.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 back cover

The Netgear Nighthawk M2 mobile router comes in a convenient package. In addition to the router itself, there is the battery and a quick start guide with the power supply and connecting cable. The supplied battery has a capacity of 5040 mAh. The WLAN standards 802.11a, b and g are supported. The 4G mobile hotspot is working on 2.4 and 5 GHz. The Netgear M2 has a USB-A and USB-C as well as an Ethernet interface. There are also connection options for external antennas (Buy Netgear Nighthawk M2 External Antenna). The LAN port can be used to use a wired Internet access instead of the mobile modem and to redistribute it via WLAN.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 interfaces

 

Good workmanship and shiny surface

The processing of the Netgear 4G mobile router is impeccable. You can argue about the shiny surface. Here you can see very clear fingerprints very quickly, especially since the Nighthawk M2 has a touch screen, so it regularly gets into the embarrassment of touching the display. The complete initial setup can also be made via the touch-sensitive screen. A separate app or the web-based access to the M2 pocket WiFi router menu is possible, but not mandatory.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 external antenna connectors

We have set up the router right on the touchscreen made, which was not easy. For one thing, the virtual keyboard is quite small due to the display size. So you always catch the wrong letter when typing. In addition, the screen does not respond as well to inputs as used by higher quality smartphones. If the setup of a network identifier (SSID) and the associated password worked quite well, then setting a (somewhat complicated) administrator password was not possible on the second attempt, so we skipped this step and later have made on the configuration via the Netgear Mobile App.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 side

 

After the initial setup, the Netgear Nighthawk M2 mobile hotspot was immediately ready for use. The configuration for SIM cards is made automatically. As soon as the MiFi was set up, the availability of a firmware update was already displayed. We have installed this over the existing LTE data connection. In the process, around 160 MB of data was transferred. What changes the update brings is unknown. The internet connection via the Netgear Nighthawk M2 was very stable in the test for several hours. It did not matter if we used an Apple iPhone XS Max, a Samsung Galaxy S10+ or an Apple MacBook Pro.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 SIM card slot

 

The display of the router shows the current data consumption, the ID of the SIM card provider and the network technology used. There is also a small S-meter, which provides information about the quality of mobile reception. The battery level is also displayed. By default, you can also find the names of the Wi-Fi hotspot and the password via the touchscreen. This display can be deactivated if desired.

 

Numerous settings are possible via the touchscreen menu. First, there is a WPS function. Then the user can limit the hotspot to one of the two WLAN frequency ranges (2.4 or 5 GHz). The connected devices can be displayed and, for example, you can specify whether the hotspot is put into standby mode after a period of non-use to save battery capacity.

 

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 data used

Other features

Other possibilities are the restriction of Wi-Fi hotspots to a smaller reception area in order to save battery capacity or the automatic WLAN detach when USB tethering is used. The brightness of the display can be adjusted and the user can decide whether he wants to use the Internet access only in the home network or in international roaming.

 

SMS messages can be sent and received via the Netgear Nighthawk M2. As we have already mentioned regarding the initial setup: The touch screen does not always respond reliably to inputs and the virtual keyboard is quite small. Apart from that, the menu is functional and intuitive to use.

Netgear Nighthawk M2 MR2100 settings options

 

Good performance even in mobile operation

With a SIM card from Vodafone, we have achieved data transfer rates of up to 110 Mbps in the downstream and 61 Mbps in the upstream. This is far from the peak speeds that the Netgear Nighthawk M2 allows, but is more or less equivalent to what the mobile telecom Internet access does with the smartphone. Even in mobile mode, such as a Wi-Fi hotspot in the car, the router performed well in the test. At speed 120Mbps on the highway, the performance of Internet access was still fine. Compared to a WLAN adapter such as the Huawei E8377 CarFi, the Netgear device earns more scores by the possibility to connect an outdoor LTE antenna. In regions with bad LTE coverage, a magnetic base antenna on the car roof provides a significant improvement in reception, which also affects the performance of Internet access.

 

 

Conclusion: Good hotspot with slight weaknesses

Although Netgear Nighthawk M2 is well-made and provides stable Internet access for up to 20 devices, flaws such as the only moderately good touchscreen provides bad experience for users. For almost half of the purchase price, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is available, which supports data transfer rates of up to 1 GBit/s via LTE, more than what the nets usually give out, so this model offers the much better price/performance ratio.

 

Huawei E5885 VS Nighthawk M1

In past years, 4G mobile routers with SIM card slot are becoming more and more well-known because they are of small size and can be easily taken in a handbag or in a pocket. Nowadays, more and more people would prefer the 4G router with Ethernet port, which would provide one more option for internet connection. What’s the more, the manufacturers usually configure the 4G routers with Ethernet with large battery pack, which makes the 4G pocket router work like a power bank to charge other devices. Huawei was the first manufacturer to release its 4G mobile router with Ethernet port, and now the Netgear follows. Huawei E5885 is the latest 4G mobile hotspot with Ethernet and Netgear present the Nighthawk M1 as its first 4G router with Ethernet. Someone may ask: what’s the difference between Huawei E5885 and Nighthawk M1? Which one is better? You may find the answers after reading this article.

Huawei E5885 VS Nighthawk M1 Appearance and Interface

Actually, before the Huawei E5885 was presented, Huawei had released a few mobile hotspots with Ethernet port such as E5151, E5730, E5351, E5770, E5771, which are a series mobile router with Ethernet. It has been proved this series of MiFi hotspots are very popular in the end-users. Now the upgraded Huawei E5885 is available with more advanced features and cool design. On the front of E5885, the upper part is LED screen while the lower part is leather material with Huawei logo. The touch feels in hand is very much better than the predecessor models. And it’s much thicker than the mobile hotspot E5770 and E5771. The power button, WPS, and the Interfaces are located at the top edge side of the body. The Ethernet port and USB ports are covered by a square cap, which you have to open it to see. The back cover could be removed, however, like the Huawei E5786, the battery is built-in and non-changeable. The Mirco SIM card slot and SD storage card slot are available with the reset button.

Unlike its predecessor of Netgear mobile router, Nighthawk M1 also has a thick body. On the front, there is a round screen, like E5885, it’s also not a touchscreen. There are battery and data transmission indicators around the screen. The Netgear logo and carrier logo are on the side of the screen. The power button is on the top side and the Ethernet & USB ports are located on the opposite side. The difference is Netgear Nighthawk M1 has two connectors for external antenna, which is missing in Huawei E5885. And the USB input ports for Nighthawk M1 and the Huawei E5885 are different. The Nighthawk M1 back cover could be removed and unlike Huawei E5885, the battery could also be removed for exchange. The Netgear M1 also use Micro SIM card size, but no slot for SD card.

Netgear Nighthawk M1 VS Huawei E5885 Specs and Variant models

Since the network frequency bands are different in different countries or areas, the Nighthawk M1 has around three variant models: Telstra Nighthawk M1, AT&T Nighthawk M1, and another variant model for Europe market. The Huawei E5885 has only one variant model: Huawei E5885Ls-93a. It seems to be a global version, however, in China, the Huawei E5885LS-93a in China has only one language (Chinese) available. In other countries such as Saudi Arabia or Romania, we found they have many languages available, at least with the English language.

 

From the appearance, we can see the Nighthawk M1 and Huawei E5885 are very different in the design. To know more difference, let’s have a look at the detail specs of the Nighthawk M1 and E5885:

 

Model Netgear Nighthawk M1 Huawei E5885
Product type LTE Mobile Hotspot LTE Mobile Hotspot
Category LTE Cat.16 LTE Cat.6
Chipset Qualcomm MDM9x50 Hisilicon LTE Cat6 chipset
Data rates DL 1Gbps/UL 100Mbps DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands   — Telstra Nighthawk: Band 1/3/7/8/28
AT&T Nighthawk: Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/29/30/66
Huawei E5885Ls-93a: * FDD-LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/19/20
* TDD-LTE: Band 38/40/41
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 20 users 32 users
MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO 2 X 2 MIMO
Connector for external antenna Two, TS-9 jacks No connector
Buy Antenna Netgear Nighthawk M1 Antenna N/A
App management Netgear Aircard APP Huawei Hilink APP 3.0
SIM type Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery Removable, 5040 mAh Non-removable, 6400mAh
Dimensions 105.5 x 105.5 x 20.35 mm  112.00 x 69.20 x 23.00mm
Ethernet Port One Ethernet Port for LAN On port for WAN/LAN port(RJ-45)
Datasheet download AT&T Nighthawk M1 Datasheet Huawei E5885 Datasheet
User Manual AT&T Nighthawk M1 Manual Huawei E5885 Manual
Other features 4 band CA, JumpBoost Power bank, CA, NFC
Reviews Netgear Nighthawk M1 AT&T Review Huawei E5885 Review
Price 459.00USD 249.00USD

 

Summary

From the specs, we can see the Nighthawk M1 Router is more advanced with the support of LTE Cat.16, which could achieve downloads speeds up to 1Gigabit/s and upload speed to 100Mbps. The speed is much faster than that of Huawei E5885. The LTE Advanced Pro technologies would provide amazing surfing experience. The Nighthawk M1 variant models could be used globally after unlocking. However, there is maybe limitation due to network incompatibility. The Huawei E5885LS-93a seems to be more open for global travel. It covers the main frequency bands in all the areas.

The Nighthawk M1 could support maximum users up to 20 while Huawei E5885 mobile hotspot supports up to 32 users. The Ethernet port in Huawei E5885 is for WAN and LAN but the port in Netgear M1 is only for LAN, which may not be as good as expected for the Ethernet. The Huawei E5885 has a large battery capacity of 6400mAh while Netgear MR100 has around 5040 mAh battery; however, the removable battery of Nighthawk M1 seems better than Huawei E5885 built-in battery. The missing of antenna connector in Huawei E5885 is also criticized while the Netgear M1 has two connectors for external 4G antenna, which is very useful if using the device in weak signal areas. Per the feedback from the users of Nighthawk M1, it’s the best 4G router with Ethernet. However, the advanced Nighthawk M1 price is more expensive, so if you would buy Nighthawk M1, the price is an important concern.

AT&T Unite Explore (815s) VS Nighthawk M1

As the top network provider in the USA, AT&T had presented much 4G mobile broadband for wireless LTE network connection. They are very popular with the end-users. However, for those who are unfamiliar with the 4G LTE Wireless routers, they may have trouble to select the best LTE router for themselves. The AT&T Unite Explore and Nighthawk M1 are the two most popular LTE mobile hotspots. Someone may ask: what’s the difference between the AT&T Unite Explore and Nighthawk M1? Which one is better? We will review the features and specs of the two mobile hotspots. You may get the answer from this article.

ATT Unite Explore VS Nighthawk M1 Appearance and Interfaces

The AT&T Unite Explore comes from the manufacturer Netgear and the model number is Netgear Aircard 815s. The AT&T Nighthawk M1 also comes from the Netgear. The Aircard 815s AT&T was available in the market much earlier than the latest AT&T Nighthawk M1. If you had read some promotion post from AT&T, you may know the Aircard 815s is the world’s first rugged mobile hotspot, which is waterproof and dust-proof. Like other Netgear WiFi hotspot AT&T, Netgear Aircard 815s has a touch screen on the front and two buttons (Home and Back) at the side of the screen. The Nighthawk M1 is different this time, it has a round screen, but not touch screen. The power status and signal status are indicated by the LED indicators around the screen.

The AT&T Unite Explore logo is at the left side of the screen. Two connectors for external antennas are available at the edge side of the body. The Nighthawk M1 also has two connectors for external antennas, and they have the same connector type TS-9. The battery of Aircard 815s and Nighthawk M1 could be removed for exchange and they both use Micro SIM card size. They both have a USB3.0 interface. The unique feature of Netgear M1 is that it also has on Ethernet port for LAN and USB type-A for output. This feature should be highlighted because there are very few 4G mobile router with Ethernet port in the market.

Nighthawk M1 VS Netgear AC815S Specifications

From the appearance and interfaces, we can see the two AT&T 4G mobile hotspots are very different. The ATT Unite Explore special feature is the rugged design with a touchscreen. The Netgear Nighthawk M1 AT&T seems more powerful with Ethernet port and more interfaces. However, the Nighthawk M1 doesn’t configure a touchscreen. Let’s have a check the full specs of AT&T unite explore and Nighthawk M1.

Model Netgear Aircard 815s Netgear Nighthawk M1
Product type LTE Mobile Hotspot LTE Mobile Hotspot
Category LTE Cat.9 LTE Cat.16
Chipset Qualcomm MDM9240 Qualcomm MDM9x50
Data rates DL 450Mbps/UL 100Mbps DL 1Gbps/UL 100Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B12, B17, B29, B30   — Telstra Nighthawk: Band 1/3/7/8/28
AT&T Nighthawk:  Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/29/30/66
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 15 users 20 users
MIMO 2 x 2 MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO
Connector for external antenna Two, TS-9 jacks Two, TS-9 jacks
Buy Antenna AT&T Unite Explore Antenna AT&T Nighthawk M1 Antenna
App management Netgear Aircard APP Netgear Aircard APP
SIM type Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery 4340 mAh 5040 mAh
Dimensions 112 x 68.6 x 15.45mm 105.5  x 105.5  x 20.35 mm
Ethernet Port No One Ethernet Port
Datasheet download AT&T Aircard 815s Datasheet AT&T Nighthawk M1 Datasheet
User Manual AT&T Unite Explore Manual AT&T Nighthawk M1 Manual
Other features 3 band CA 4 band CA
Reviews AT&T unite explore review Netgear Nighthawk M1 AT&T Review
Price 349.00USD 459.00USD

Summary

From the table, we can see the Nighthawk M1 AT&T is more advanced with the support of LTE Category 16, which could achieve download speed to 1Gigabit/s. The AT&T Aircard 815s is an LTE Cat.9 hotspot supporting download speed up to 450Mbps. The AT&T Nighthawk supports more WiFi users up to 20 users while Aircard 815 supports 15 users. The Nighthawk M1 and AT&T Unite explore supports similar LTE frequency bands for ATT. However, the Nighthawk M1 has a variant model for Australian network provider Telstra, which works on difference LTE frequency bands.

What’s more, the Nighthawk M1 supports more LTE advanced Pro network technology such as 4 x 4 MIMO and 4 band carrier aggregation, which make the high-speed downlink possible. Since both of the AT&T mobile hotspots has the JumpBoost feature, which makes the Netgear hotspot work like a power bank to charge other devices. The Aircard 815 has a battery of 4340mAh capacity while the Nighthawk M1 has a battery of 5040mAh. So the AT&T Nighthawk M1 is more powerful than the AT&T Unite Explore in almost all the aspects, which means the Nighthawk M1 price would be much higher than the older model Aircard 815s. If you are a price-sensitive buyer, the Netgear Aircard 815s seems good enough, but if you want a future-proof pocket hotspot, the Nighthawk M1 is no doubt the best one. By the way, there are unlocked AT&T Unite Explore and Unlocked Nighthawk M1 AT&T available on www.4gltemall.com online store. You can buy unlocked ones for global use.

 

 

Netgear Nighthawk M1 Gigabit LTE Router Test

Netgear Nighthawk M1 LTE router with the model number MR1100 was available first in Australia for Telstra, and then in USA for AT&T. Now it’s available for some carriers in Europe. The LTE advanced Pro mobile hotspot is equipped with a Gigabit LTE modem from Qualcomm and offers very good equipment with RJ45 LAN port, power bank function and large, removable battery. In this test, we will see whether the device will work as good in practice as the datasheet suggests and whether it is a worthy successor to the AirCard 810 hotspot.

Appearance and first impression

 

In Australia, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 has been available since about March 2017, but the European version with the model number MR1100-100EUS is designed specifically for the European market and supports the LTE frequency bands used in these countries. In addition to the Nighthawk M1 router itself, you will also find a quick start guide, a USB Type C cable, and a power supply. The first impression after unpacking the Nighthawk M1: the router is really big, significantly larger than other Netgear 4G mobile Wi-Fi hotspots. After switching on, then immediately falls on the round display, which is a nice design element. The workmanship works well; everything is tight, so as the battery cover.

There is a power button at the top of the device. This provides a good pressure point but must be pressed for an exceptionally long time to turn the Nighthawk router on or off. On the bottom, there is a USB Type C port for charging the hotspot and for connecting to the PC, a USB Type A port for charging other devices, an RJ45 LAN port and two TS-9 ports for an external antenna. The battery has a capacity of a proud 5,040 mAh and is easily changeable by the user. Underneath the battery is the slot for the SIM card (3FF Micro SIM form factor) and a slot for a Micro SD memory card.

Since the Nighthawk M1 has a different body form and a different USB connection than the predecessors of the Netgear AirCard series, the router is also not compatible with the docking station DC112A AirCard Smart Cradle. This is, of course, annoying if you already own the expensive docking station and now wants to change to the Nighthawk M1.

 

Gigabit LTE modem for DL 1Gibt/s

 

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 integrated mobile modem can use LTE Cat16 with up to 1 Gbit/s in the downlink and up to 150 Mbit/s in the uplink. This is made possible by support for various 4.5G technologies such as 4 × 4 MIMO antenna technology, 4CC CA (Carrier Aggregation ) and 256QAM modulation. In addition, 3G/UMTS is supported with up to 42.2 Mbps in the downlink and 5.76 Mbps in the uplink (DC-HSPA+). However, the Nighthawk M1 doesn’t support 2G GSM networks, which may not be bad news, because the device does not fall back into a slow network in automatic mode, in which surfing is not fun anyway.

In real use, the speed of up to 1 Gbit/s in the downlink is only very rarely achieved. This must be based on perfect network conditions given accordingly, which is the case only in a few places. The various 4.5G technologies help the router to provide higher speeds even with slower LTE radio cells, for example, provides the 256QAM support for up to 33% higher data rate in the downlink.

In testing with a Telekom SIM card, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 scored in many cases with very good data rates. In an LTE Band 3 radio cell, up to 135 MBit/s in the downlink, up to 64 MBit/s in the uplink and well under 30 milliseconds ping could be measured. In particular, the downlink was higher in various tests than in comparison devices. In the UMTS network, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 also showed an outstanding performance: about 33 MBit/s in the downlink and 4.6 MBit/s in the uplink are technologically almost the maximum performance.

However, the test of the Nighthawk M1 also showed weak spots in regions with activated carrier aggregation, which probably has to be related to the modem firmware. So the Nighthawk router had not used channel bundling in some locations. In particular, it was repeatedly observed that the Nighthawk M1 was booked in the LTE band 8, while the iPhone at the same location LTE Band 3 as a “baseband” and also used band 7 via CA. The data rates were also correspondingly poor: the iPhone reached well over 200 MBit/s, the Netgear M1 only slightly above 20 MBit/s. Only after several reboots changed the Nighthawk M1 on LTE band 3, but seemed to continue to dispense with Carrier Aggregation.

The reception was very good both in the UMTS network and in the LTE network (band 3, band 8 and band 20 tested). If necessary, it is also possible to connect an external antenna. In the test, a 4G LTE Outdoor antenna with two TS-9 pigtails worked very well.

 

 

Operation and software

 

Although the Netgear Nighthawk M1 offers a nice display on the front, this is not a touchscreen and therefore not suitable for operating the device from the screen. The entire configuration is therefore via a web interface or the “Netgear Mobile” app, which is available for Android and iOS. The app is very successful. The design of the web interface and the app is also impressive, you can find your way around quickly and a good compromise between functionality and design.

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 router offers various settings. In addition to the “usual” things such as settings for Wi-Fi name and Wi-Fi password, there are also “exotic” things like the display brightness and the illumination duration, which can be adjusted manually. In the area “MyMedia” you can access the data of the MicroSD memory card, provided you have inserted a suitable storage medium. The data can be shared in the network for all participants.

Praiseworthy is also the detail view of the device as well as to the network connection. The “Status” tab shows, for example, the network technology used, the frequency band used, RSRQ and RSRP, and other data. Even the temperature of the device and the battery can be viewed.

 

Of course, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 router also provides the ability to update the firmware online directly via the web interface. In the test device came such a firmware update directly after the first set up, the installation went quickly and easily. There is the possibility to make a backup of the settings before installing the update.

 

Good Wi-Fi performance

 

If you want to use the full Gigabit LTE performance, you should definitely use the RJ45 Gigabit LAN connection. The WLAN is gross at a maximum of 768 MBit/s fast, at about 1-2 meters distance between router and laptop, the bandwidth dropped in the test to about 500 to 600 MBit/s. These are very good values for a mobile WLAN router. WLAN range and speed are better than most other mobile hotspots, but a stationary LTE router such as the Huawei B715 router is, of course, a bit better. On request, the WLAN via the web interface can also be completely deactivated or operated only in the 2.4 GHz/only in the 5 GHz range.

The Nighthawk M1 can simultaneously provide up to 20 devices with fast Internet, the device will operate both on 2.4 GHz and in the 5 GHz frequency range (802.11b/g/n/ac). The WLAN SSID and the password can be assigned separately for both frequency ranges. The transmission power can be set in the web interface in three stages. In the app or in the web interface, there is also the option to enable or disable the password display in plain text on the display of the Nighthawk M1. Also a nice feature: the device deactivates the WLAN on request, as soon as USB tethering is active.

Via the menu item “Data Offloading” you can use an existing LAN or WLAN network as Internet access, for example in the hotel or on the campsite. The integrated mobile modem is then deactivated. This feature is also known as “WLAN Extender”.

RJ45 LAN connection

 

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 has an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port. You can use this port to connect a computer or a switch to the Internet via cable, but there is also the option of using an existing Internet connection as an alternative to the integrated mobile modem (the LAN port then becomes a WAN -Port). In the test, the LAN interface worked perfectly.

Battery with power bank function

 

The battery of the Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 offers a comparatively high capacity with 5,040 mAh. The manufacturer promises a useful life of up to 24 hours with “normal” use. In the test, this could be approximately confirmed. Under full load, ie with continuous streaming and when using the road with many radio cell and technology changes, the runtime should be lower. A replacement battery of the type W-10a cannot be found yet. Through the full-size USB port, you can use the Nighthawk M1 as a power bank and charge other devices such as a smartphone. The test worked smoothly in the test.

Conclusion for Netgear Nighthawk M1

 

It was already foreseeable, but after the test, it is definitely clear: the Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 is by far the best mobile LTE router that you can buy at the moment. The technical equipment is outstanding, the modem does a very good job and not only offers huge maximum data rates but also gets often significantly more out of the cell than most other devices in worse conditions. The successful software and a top battery life are also highlights. So the powerful functions, unfortunately, mean it will have a proud price: around 459USD (unlocked version).

In the test, unfortunately, some disadvantages were found. We have to mention the partially incomprehensible behavior in LTE radio cells with activated carrier aggregation. Other devices use channel bundling more timely and much more effectively than the Nighthawk M1. Here, Netgear should release a firmware update to fix the issues. You could also criticize the lack of touchscreen as well as the quite high weight and the large dimensions. Both, however, can be tolerated in view of the otherwise outstanding performance. All in all, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is the best mobile router for buy recommendation!

Netgear Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router Overview

Netgear has introduced the Nighthawk M1, a mobile LTE router with Ethernet port that can supply up to 20 devices with up to 1 GBit/s download speed at the Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona (MWC). Many smartphones now offer hotspot capabilities, making it a mobile Wi-Fi access point for other smart devices. But if you want something more stable, faster and, above all, variable, you will not miss a dedicated mobile LTE router. The Nighthawk M1 from Netgear is top one of them. The Nighthawk M1 (MR1100) can provide up to 20 devices with mobile Internet access at a fast speed that is beyond the speed from a 4G smartphone.

The small pocket router Netgear M1 can forward up to 1 GBit/s. Connection can be obtained via the dual-band WLAN function or via a LAN output. Qualcomm provides the heart of the mobile router and contributes its share of the Nighthawk M1 with the MDM9x50. It supports nine LTE bands and makes uploading up to 150 Mbit/s possible.

Specifications of the NETGEAR Nighthawk M1:

  • Max. 1 Gbps download and 150 Mbps upload speeds
  • LTE Cat 16, 4-band CA and 4×4 MIMO: 1, 3, 7
  • Up to 4x carrier aggregation and support for LA in future firmware upgrades
  • LTE bands: 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
  • WCDMA: 1, 2, 5, 8
  • Chipset: Qualcomm MDM9x50
  • Dual-band / dual-concurrent WLAN
  • WLAN 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz; WLAN 802.11 a/n/ac 5 Ghz
  • Large battery of 5040mAh

Netgear Nighthawk Router M1 at the MWC 2018

At the MWC in Barcelona, ​​the Nighthawk router M1 is not showed up for first. Actually, it was available in Australia and USA since 2017. Even though, the Nighthawk M1 in Europe comes with travel-friendly dimensions and a comfortable weight of 240 grams. The 2.4-inch LCD screen was easy to read even in the ungrateful exhibition hall light and showed the most important information. If the reception of the LTE network is not quite as stable as one would like it to be – for example in buildings, a 4G external antenna can help. Those who has surfed his smartphone power empty can use the small Netgear 4G router as a power bank. However, the large battery of 5040mAh can make Netgear Nighthawk router continuous working at 24 hours on average.

The first review quickly gives you confidence in the power of the Nighthawk M1. So you trust him quickly to survive even in the more robust travel assignment. With the powerful function, you should not expect at the very low price.

Price and availability

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 (MR1100) is now available at retail store www.4gltemall.com with price of just of 459.00USD with free 4G MIMO antenna of dual TS-9 connector. The unlocked Nighthawk M1 is in Telstra version, and it could be widely used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, you can also use the unlocked Nighthawk router in Asia and Middle East areas. If you would travel to USA, you’d better use the unlocked ATT Nighthawk M1. With the Nighthawk M1 router, a removable lithium-ion battery (Li-Ion), a charger with USB-C cable and installation instructions are included.

Netgear Nighthawk M1- Best Mobile Router for Travel

Not all mobile devices are equipped with a SIM card. However, you have to know the latest Netgear Nighthawk M1 with high speed via LTE, the most important is that it’s an LTE advanced Pro router with SIM card slot and Ethernet port. The Nighthawk M1 could achieve download speed up to 1Gigabit, which is almost in the range of the 5G speed.

 

Nighthawk M1 from Netgear is known for a fleet router for mobile use, can it also be used at home or office. The 4G SIM router has a battery for mobile operation and can be loaded in every suitcase and almost every handbag. It simply gets his network from the air via the LTE wireless networks and transfers data for up to 20 devices. Thus, it should be the ideal companion for every trip.

 

Netgear introduced the Nighthawk M1 last year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.  The Australian carrier Telstra first introduced the Nighthawk router to its product range and then US carrier ATT followed. A year later, the device is finally available for users in Europe. Fortunately, the Netgear M1 comes out in Europe without a provider branding, so it’s unlocked can be operated in any network. In the US, the Nighthawk mobile router is limited to AT&T’s network while the Nighthawk router is limited to Telstra in Australia. The built-in modem supports the LTE Cat.16 and achieves maximum speeds of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) in the download, at least in theory because only a few areas in Europe give such transmission rates. In addition, the transfer to mobile devices is possible via WLAN-ac or the built-LAN connection. The Netgear Nighthawk M1 always ensures fast Internet everywhere.

 

Anyone surfing through LTE should always keep an eye on current consumption so as not to exceed the high-speed volume. The Nighthawk M1 succeeds on a built-2.4-inch display. At the side of it are the status indicator for the current battery level and the strength of the network. If the latter is too low, the Netgear M1 will accept a maximum of two TS-9 antennas for reception. The user can control or setup the mobile 4G router through the web page or Netgear Mobile APP. The Netgear Mobile app can be used to make settings and even set up a parental control. The built-in battery is generously sized with 5040 mAh and can keep continuous working for a day and a night according to the manufacturer.

Netgear Nighthawk M1: Price and Availability

Since Telstra and ATT had already presented the product to the public for a long time, here now there are many unlocked Nighthawk M1 available in the market. The unlocked Nighthawk M1 is available on online store www.4gltemall.com with a price of around 459.00USD with free 4G MIMO Antenna with two TS-9 connectors. For the operation, it then still needs a micro-SIM card and a corresponding tariff. If you would take the Nighthawk M1 for travel, you’d better get an unlocked Nighthawk M1 router and get a valid SIM card from a network provider in the destination to work with the M1 router. But you will never get an unlocked Nighthawk M1 from the carriers in the destination country.

Netgear M1 Share Media and Storage

You can use the Netgear M1 mobile router to share media and storage devices. The mobile router supports MyMedia on mobile devices. You can insert a USB storage device in the mobile router USB type A port and you can install a micro SD card in the mobile router.

The chapter includes the following sections:

  • Manage Shared Storage Devices
  • Install a Micro SD Card
  • View Storage Device Usage and Capacity
  • Upload Media Files to Mobile Router Storage
  • Play Media

 

Manage Shared Storage Devices

You can insert a USB storage device in the mobile router USB type A port and you can install a micro SD card in the mobile router. You can access the files and folders on these devices from computers and mobile devices that are connected to the mobile router network.

USB Device Requirements

The router works with most USB-compliant external flash and hard drives. Some USB external hard drives and flash drives require you to load the drivers onto the computer before the computer can access the USB device. Such USB devices do not work with the LTE router.

The router supports the following file system types for full read/write access:

  • FAT16
  • FAT32

When you purchase a USB storage device, the package typically identifies its format. For information about how to format a USB storage device using a Windows or Mac computer, consult the help instructions for your computer or operating system.

 

 

 

Connect a USB Storage Device

You can access and share a USB storage device connected to the mobile router USB type A port. (If your storage device uses special drivers, it is not compatible.) You can continue use the micro USB port to charge the mobile router or for a tethered connection.

To connect a USB storage device:

  1. Insert your USB storage drive into a USB port on the router.
  2. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it.

You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.

When you connect the USB device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing.

 

 

Micro SD Card Requirements

The mobile router supports SD cards up to 128 GB in the following formats:

  • FAT
  • FAT-16
  • FAT-32

———————————————————–Note: For information about how to format a USB storage device using a computer or other device, consult the instructions that came with your computer or device.

———————————————————–

Formatting the USB storage device erases all data on the device.

 

 

 

Install a Micro SD Card

Micro SD cards are sold separately.

To install the micro SD card:

  1. Obtain a micro SD card (sold separately).
  2. Make sure that power to the mobile router is off.
  3. Remove the cover on the bottom of the mobile router.

Place your thumbs on the arrows on the cover and press down while sliding the cover up.

  1. Insert the micro SD card into the micro SD slot.

Replace the mobile router cover.

 

 

 

View Storage Device Usage and Capacity

You can view the storage capacity for a USB storage device attached to the mobile router and a micro SD card installed in the mobile router.

To view storage device capacity and usage:

  1. On your smartphone, connect to the mobile router’s WiFi network.
  2. Launch the NETGEAR Mobile app.
  3. Swipe down.

The dashboard displays.

  1. Tap Storage.

The Storage page displays the used and available storage for each connected device.

 

 

Upload Media Files to Netgear Nighthawk Mobile Router Storage

You can upload media files to either a micro SD card or a USB storage device connected to the mobile router. Micro SD cards and USB drives are sold separately.

To upload media files onto a storage device:

  1. Insert the storage device into the mobile router.

You can install a micro SD card and you can attach a USB storage device to the USB port. If your USB device uses a power supply, connect it. You must use the power supply when you connect the USB device to the router.

  1. From a computer that is connected to your network, launch a web browser.
  2. Enter http://m.home or http://192.168.1.1.

A login page displays.

  1. Enter the administrator login password.

The password is case-sensitive.

The dashboard displays.

  1. Click the MyMedia tab.
  2. Drag and drop your files on to the page.

 

 

 

 

Play Media

The NETGEAR Mobile app includes a MyMedia shortcut that displays categories of supported media types to play back. You can connect any DLNA-compatible client to the mobile router. This includes computers running Windows Media Player and other DLNA–enabled devices such as smart TVs.

To play media using the NETGEAR Mobile app:

  1. On your smartphone, connect to the mobile router’s WiFi network.
  2. Launch the NETGEAR Mobile app.
  3. Swipe down.

The dashboard displays.

  1. Tap Storage.

The Storage page displays the used and available storage for each connected device.

  1. Tap MyMedia.

The MyMedia shortcut displays categories of supported media types to play back.

  1. Select the media to play.

A list of devices on the network displays. You are prompted to select a device on which to play your media.

  1. Select the device on which to play the media.

The media plays on the selected device.

Netgear Nighthawk M1 LTE Cat16 Gigabit Mobile 4G Router

Netgear has confirmed the distribution of the Netgear Nighthawk M1(MR1100) in Europe from mid-2017. It is obvious that many European operators are not yet ready to deliver Gigabit on their networks, but as time goes, things are moving forward. Nevertheless, the Netgear M1 has many advantages for aggregated carrier networks that deliver high speeds for up to 1 Gbps download.

The Nighthawk M1 is world’s first 4G LTE router offering download data rate of up to 1 Gbps. It is equipped with the Qualcomm X16 LTE modem announced in 2016. The Netgear M1 implements several technologies, starting with the aggregation of 4 carriers, a technology of 4 x 4 MIMO, and QAM-256 modulation. Here now, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 is only available for Australian network provider Telstra. And the US network carrier AT&T also introduced this LTE advanced Pro mobile router, but we haven’t gotten the AT&T Nighthawk M1. Of course, this equipment will be distributed in other regions as soon as the operator networks are well prepared for Gigabit transmission.

 

Technical Specs

The Netgear MR1100 is rather well equipped (not to mention that the Gigabit LTE remains a theoretical flow). A 2.4 “LCD display is present on the top and gives all the connectivity and flow information. The device also presents:

* 2 x external antenna connectors (type TS-9)

* A type A USB port

* A USB type C port

* An Ethernet port

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 provides the possibility to connect via Ethernet port, which means it can redistribute the link to devices with wired link. It remains completely mobile and equipped with a battery of 5000 mAh for mobile use, which could keep working for connection up to 24 hours. The battery can charge other mobile devices such as a smartphone if necessary as a backup. And this battery is removable, which allows to replace it and therefore spare battery can be charged in advance for travel.

 

Regarding the WLAN feature, Nighthawk M1 offers WiFi 802.11ac with dual-Band 2.4GHz / 5GHz. And the M1 can support up to 20 connected clients simultaneously. It also has a Micro SD card slot for storing and sharing media. It can be seen that connectivity is powerful in this router, which can connect many devices such as a NAS, printers, USB devices..

 

On the network side, the M1 offers a LTE-A link of category 16 using an aggregation of 4 carriers (4X4 MIMO) for a theoretical maximum throughput of 1 Gbps download and 150 Mbps upload.

Netgear Nighthawk M1 supported frequency bands (for Australian carrier Telstra):

* 4G FDD-LTE Band 1/3/7/8/28: 700/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz
* 3G Band:  850/900/1900/2100 MHz

The Telstra version Nighthawk M1 could work well in Europe areas.

Supported frequency bands for US carrier AT&T:

* 4G LTE Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/29/30/66

* 3G Band: 850/AWS/1900/2100MHz

 

The dimensions of the M1 are 105.5 × 105.5 x 20.35 mm for a weight of 240 grams.

Summary

 

This 4G LTE advanced router is very well equipped, offers the latest technology and has a really rich connectivity. Both for fixed use in an underserved area at high speeds and for mobile use in all situations, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 seems to the best mobile 4G router now in the market. We can’t wait to test it fully.

 

The price of Unlocked Netgear Nighthawk M1 available on www.4gltemall.com, if you want a powerful mobile router which could travel all over the world, it’s no doubt that the Nighthawk M1 is the right one.

Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 Gigabit 4G Hotspot Review

Since the end of February 2018, this Nighthawk M1 MR1100 mobile LTE hotspot is available in Europe, which impresses above all by its sheer performance. The new Gigabit LTE mobile router is available in an extremely compact body. A colored LED display indicates important network information and the built-in battery has a generous capacity of 5,040 mAh. Dual-band WLAN with MIMO and USB Type C are further highlights, with an RJ45 Ethernet port.

Features and characteristics of Nighthawk M1 MR1100
Manufacturer and model number Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100
Chipset: Qualcomm MDM9x50
LTE Category: Cat. 16
Download rate 1,000 Mbps
Upload rate 150 Mbps
Supported LTE bands: 700/800/900/1800/2100/2300/2500/2600 MHz
Backwards compatible with: HSPA+, UMTS
Support for LTE-Advanced Yes
MIMO Support: Yes
Connection for external antenna: Yes, Two TS-9 Connectors(Buy Netgear nighthawk m1 antenna)
Network | LAN & WLAN
LAN ports: 1
WLAN standards: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
5 GHz WLAN support: Yes
Encryption: SIM Security
WLAN hotspot function: Yes
Others
Battery pack: 5,040 mAh
Dimension: 105.5 x 105.5 x 20.35 mm
USB: 1x USB Type A 2.0, 1x USB Type C
Memory card expansion: yes, micro SD
release: 1:02:18
Price: It depends
Available at: »at 4gltemall.com
Information material
Installation Guide: » Download here (PDF, 0,5 MB, english)
Detailed manual: » Download manual here (PDF, 4,3 MB, english)

 

 

Nighthawk M1 – the Best Gigabit LTE hotspot with Ethernet Port

In January 2017, the Californian network expert Netgear presented its mobile LTE hotspot Nighthawk M1 at CES. The Australian network provider Telstra introduced the Nighthawk M1 to its plan. And around the end of 2017, US network provider AT&T also used the Netgear Nighthawk M1. Unfortunately, it took more than a year before the product actually landed in Europe. The wait was worth it, however, because faster 4G Internet in such a tiny terminal did not exist so far. According to the LTE category 16, up to 1 Gbit/s in the download and a maximum of 150 Mbit/s in the upload are possible. This is made possible by the modem MDM9x50 from the semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm. With 240 grams and the approximately 10 cm wide surface fits the mini router in every pocket. Thus, you can conveniently provide yourself, friends and relatives with fast-paced Internet on the go.

 

Nighthawk M1 – Advanced LTE Technology Adopted

Aside from the sheer data transfer rate, the Nighthawk M1 LTE hotspot comes with other well-thought-out features. For example, thanks to 4-band carrier aggregation and 4 × 4 MIMO, optimum reception is ensured. The Netgear M1 is compatible with all LTE frequencies supported in this Europe, including the important Band 20 (800 MHz).

If the 4G Internet is not available, the Nighthawk M1 MR110 would turn to 3G network automatically. The router uses 3G bands on 850, 900, 1900 and 2100 MHz frequencies. The fastest bandwidth and the best signal, however, cannot be reached if the 4G Internet cannot be forwarded to connected devices accordingly. That’s why Netgear built a high-performance WLAN module in the Nighthawk M1 MR1100. Dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (802.11 ac) ensure that the wireless network does not become a bottleneck. Alternatively, a PC or notebook can be connected via a LAN socket. The SIM Security function provides the necessary security, and the small box can also be managed remotely via a smartphone app.

 

Further highlights of the Nighthawk M1

The microSD memory card slot can be used to transfer photos and videos to all devices connected to the Wi-Fi network. There are features for using the Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 as a media server or NAS. The 5040 mAh battery is charged via USB Type C, the interface used by most recent smartphones. The larget battery can charge other devices if necessary.

The rechargeable battery can be replaced. If the battery has a defect, it is not necessary to send the complete LTE hotspot back. Particularly practical is the large, colored display on the top of the M1. This display shows important information such as the number of connected devices, the monthly data consumption or the current network operator. In addition, the signal strength and the battery level can be read.

 

Here now, the competitor Huawei presents its new LTE gigabit hotspot Huawei E5788. If you want to know more about Huawei E5788, welcome to check on www.4gltemall.com .

Netgear Nighthawk M1 LTE Cat.16 Mobile Router

Netgear has confirmed the distribution of Nighthawk M1 in Europe from mid 2017. It is obvious that many European operators will not be ready to deliver Gigabit on their networks, but as stated above, things are progressing.

Nevertheless, the Netgear M1 has many advantages and can, in the meantime, work on aggregated networks of carriers that deliver high speeds, pending the 1 Gbps.

 

Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 4GX Gigabit LTE Mobile Router

The Netgear M1 implements several technologies, starting with the aggregation of 4 carriers, a 4X4 MIMO technology, and a QAM-256 modulation. Here now, this Nighthawk M1 router will only be used on the 4G LTE network of the Australian operator TELSTRA, which has an operational network for this technology. Moreover, the development and testing of the product were carried out by TELSTRA in association with ERICSSON and NETGEAR. Of course, this equipment will be distributed in other regions as soon as the operator networks are able to implement this type of transmission.

Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 4GX Gigabit LTE Mobile Router

Technical features and specifications

 

The Netgear Nighthawk M1 is rather well equipped, notwithstanding these networks performance (not to mention that the Gigabit LTE remains a theoretical throughput), the device presents:

* 2 external antenna connectors (type TS-9, Buy Netgear Nighthawk M1 external antenna)

* A USB Type A port

* A USB Type C port

* An Ethernet port

 

Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 4GX Gigabit LTE Mobile Router

If a fixed broadband brings an Internet connection in the houses, which can’t provide network support outdoor, The Netgear M1 Nighthawk will not make you disappointed because it’s equipped with a battery of 5000 mAh offering continuous working time up to 24 hours. You can take the Netgear M1 for outdoor activities or business travel. The battery can work like a mobile power bank as an emergency backup to a mobile device such as a smartphone if necessary. It should be noted that this battery is removable, which makes it possible to replace it and therefore to dispose of a charged one beforehand for the displacements.

 

It offers a WiFi 802.11ac standard on dual-Band 2.4GHz/5GHz. The Nighthawk M1 can support up to 20 simultaneously connected clients. It also has a Micro SD card slot, for storing and sharing media. Finally, its Ethernet port offers the possibility to connect it to equipment such as switches for example, to redistribute the link to peripherals with wired link. This features are very similar to the latest Huawei Mobile WiFi Pro 2 E5885.

 

Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 4GX Gigabit LTE Mobile Router

As you can see, connectivity is important for this router, which can accommodate many devices such as NAS, printers, USB devices. A 2.4 “LCD display is present on the top and gives all the connectivity and bit rate information.

 

On the network side, therefore, the Netgear M1 proposes a LTE-A link of category 16 using an aggregation of 4 carriers (4X4 MIMO) for a theoretical maximum rate of 1Gbps in download and 150 Mbps in upload.

Below are the supported frequency bands (at least for this Australian Telstra version):

* 4G/LTE: 700/900/1800/2100/2600 MHz
* 3G UMTS/WCDMA:  850/900/1900/2100 MHz

Netgear Nighthawk M1 MR1100 4GX Gigabit LTE Mobile Router

The covered frequency bands make it use in almost all the areas over the world. But user have to unlock the Netgear M1 and then travel to other countries or areas. The dimensions of the M1 Nighthawk are 105,5 × 105,5 x 20,35 mm with a weight of 240 grams.

 

Summary

This high performance 4G router is very well equipped, and offers the latest technology and has a really rich connectivity. With the functions of a fixed use for an underserved area in high flow rates, or for mobile use in any desired situation, the Netgear Nighthawk M1 seems to be the perfect 4G routers and we look forward to testing it fully.