Best Lte Routers

LTE stands for “Long-term evolution”. It was the first-generation 4G technology for wireless technology.  There are different LTE frequencies and bands used for each country--so you will notice that some WiFi devices will work in only certain countries, depending on the band for that country. Thus, you would need a multi-band phone to use LTE in every country (since each country is different). You’ll also see LTE-A, which is “Long-Term Evolution Advanced” that has a peak download speed of 100 Mbit/second when traveling, and a 1 Gbit/second download speed when stationary. Another advantage of LTE-A is that it relies on carrier aggregation: it treats multiple radio channels in different or the same frequency bands as one signal, making the speed quicker. This allows for streaming HD video, and ensures fast Internet access speeds, even if you are far from the cell tower.

You’ll see a number of LTE routers on the market, which will allow you to hook up a number of devices to the Internet simultaneously--either through wireless connections or with Ethernet cables, depending on the type of router. We’ll examine some features and advantages of certain LTE routers.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting an LTE router. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of LTE router,

• See useful tips about that type of LTE router,

• Read reviews of different LTE routers, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of LTE router, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

What is a router? A router is a device that can connect several computers, tablets, or cellphones in your home or office so that they communicate with each other. It allows you to create a network of devices. But, in order to get Internet access, you will need to plug the router into a modem, which then connects this network of devices to the Internet. The word “modem” is a contraction of the words “modulator/demodulator”. It was originally used to encode (= modulate) information, transmit it over phone lines, and decode (= demodulate) it on the other end. A modem is necessary for getting Internet access. You’ll find two types of LTE routers:

• Wired: These will have ports for Ethernet cables. Wired Internet is more reliable than wireless, and is also quicker. The Huawei E5186 4G LTE 300Mbps WiFi Router Hotspot Modem has 4 Ethernet ports for LAN and WAN connectivity.

Huawei E5186 4G LTE 300Mbps WiFi Router, showing the RJ45 Ethernet Ports

• Wireless: There are wireless LTE routers that allow connecting many devices at once, by means of wireless connections. The Huawei B310S-518 Wireless Router can allow up to 31 wireless devices at once!  

Huawei B310S-518 Wireless Router  

• Requires SIM: To enable phone and Internet service, many of these LTE routers will require you to insert a SIM card of your phone service provider. For example, the Alcatel 4G LTE Global Link Zone has a slot for a 6-pin micro-SIM, to allow you Internet and phone connectivity.

• Placing the WiFi router in the home: It is recommended to place the WiFi router in a central location in the home, so as to allow wireless Internet access to as many devices as possible without suffering any “blind spots”. Keep the router away from microwaves, metal objects, brick or cement walls, which may disturb the WiFi connection. If you see that you have spotty coverage in some areas, you may have to use a WiFi extender. The Huawei B310S-518 CPE has strong WiFi coverage, which ensures no blind spots.

• Regional access: As we mentioned, LTE Routers may depend on the geographical location. For example, the HUAWEI E5770 MOBILE 4G WIFI HOTSPOT will provide 4G access in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and only 3G service elsewhere. That means that the Internet will be significantly slower in North or South America.

• Battery power: Some portable LTE routers have powerful batteries, to allow you access for a long time. The Huawei E5770 Mobile WiFi Pro has a 5200 mAh battery that gives you 20 hours of Internet access, and the battery remains charged for 500 hours when on standby. You can even use it to charge up other devices from the USB port: your phone, a tablet, a music player, or Bluetooth headsets.

• Network Connectivity: A router with wireless connectivity utilizes a number of wireless local area network (WLAN) channels that are allowed for wireless Internet connectivity. They are known as the 802.11 standard—which started in 1999, and is constantly being upgraded for greater encryption and security. They are distinguished by the suffix (letters a-n). The router will have one of these letters in the suffix, to indicate at which frequency it operates. For example, the Alcatel Router Hotspot 4G LTE Global Link Zone will use 802.11b/g/n frequencies. Let’s see what that means, by looking at the various service types:

• 802.11a: This works at 5.725-5.850 GHz frequencies, and up to 54 Mbps (Megabits per second) speed. The range will be up to 50 feet.

• 802.11b: This works at 2.400-2.4835 GHz frequencies, and at 11 Mbps speed. The range will be up to 150 feet.

• 802.11g: This extends the data rate of WLAN devices. It runs to a distance of 50 feet, has a speed of 54 Mbps, and a frequency of 2.4 GHz.

• 802.11n: This standard works at a range of 175 feet, at speeds of 300-450 Mbps, and a frequency of 2.4 -5 GHz. The Wireless Broadband Router MI424WR Rev I uses 802.11n technology.

• 802.11ac: This standard works at a 5 GHz band, and a speed of up to 1 Gbps.

• Number of ports: You will see routers with options for attaching a number of devices by means of Ethernet cables. They will have anywhere from 1 to 4 Ethernet ports, to hook up other devices. The devices that are connected to the router can communicate with each other. Thus, you can send a print command to a wireless printer via the router, without a physical connection between the two devices.

• Huawei--is a telecommunications equipment company, that was founded in 1987 in Shenzhen, China. Their products include smartphones, tablet computers, mobile broadband solutions, routers, repeaters, portable speakers, and more.

• NovAtel--are makers of receivers, smart antennas, inertial navigation systems, firmware options and PC software for getting the most out of your receiver. They were founded in 1978, and their headquarters is located in Calgary, Alberta.

• Netgear--is a provider of networking products for the home, business, and for service providers. They were founded in 1996 in San Jose, California. They make network switches, wired and wireless firewalls, network-attached storage products, and more.

• Alcatel--are makers of phones, tablets, WiFi hotspots, and other accessories. They sell unlocked phones, as well as phones dedicated to a particular carrier, such as AT&T, Sprint, T-mobile, and more. Alcatel is now owned by Nokia, and their name is used under license by TCL Communications Technology Holdings.