Best price/performance LTE modem/router to bridge with my existing router?

[Pablo]

Hey guys I currently have an Asus RT-56U router at home connected to a Billion adsl modem. I am switching over to Telkom LTE tomorrow and am not getting a 24 month contract for their 'free' lte modem/router.

I'm quite attached to my RT-56U router (I really like all the features it provides) but if I'm gonna get inferior performance by using it with just a usb LTE dongle connected I may as well spend extra and buy a decent modem/router. It needs to be able to handle heavy, sustained use.

What is the best option in terms of price and value that will give me decent LTE signal and speed? Should I just buy the exact model (Huawei B315 LTE/Huawei e5186) Telkom is giving? Also which retailer/online shops have the best prices on these?

Thanks in advance

 

[saor]

See this thread: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/783663-Telkom-LTE-and-3G-router-choices
The B315 at Edgards for R999. You won't find a better deal anywhere else.

 

[Pablo]

Got the B315 today and a 200+200gb contract, although telkom mobile states I have LTE in my area the speed I'm getting is atrocious. I'm getting around 1mbit . Phoned telkom and they weren't much help, said they may install an external antenna. Thing is I get 30mbit connection on my mtn LTE! :/

 

[saor]

Got the B315 today and a 200+200gb contract, although telkom mobile states I have LTE in my area the speed I'm getting is atrocious. I'm getting around 1mbit . Phoned telkom and they weren't much help, said they may install an external antenna. Thing is I get 30mbit connection on my mtn LTE! :/

Which is why you don't sign a mobile internet contract. Should have bought the B315 cash and got the Talkom LTE as a monthly option rather than contract. Unfortunately your only option is to try an antenna or see if there's any way you can cancel due to poor service.

 

[Pablo]

I got it month to month, that's literally exactly what I did word for word xD

 

[saor]

I got it month to month, that's literally exactly what I did word for word xD

Ah ok I thought you got a contract. Well...in that case just sign up with Afrihost next month .

 

[Pablo]

Problem is I use a hell of a lot of data Afrihost doesn't have large mobile data contracts. Adsl line speed in my area is 2mbit

 

[sajunky]

Whether external antenna will help or not, it depends on the signal. What is yours? Are you sure router is working in LTE mode?

 

[Pablo]

I set the network mode to auto at first and got a 3g connection 3-4 bars. Does not connect to LTE even though my mtn sims all do.

 

[Old_Liver]

I set the network mode to auto at first and got a 3g connection 3-4 bars. Does not connect to LTE even though my mtn sims all do.

Remember that Telkom Mobile uses the 2300MHz LTE Frequency, make sure the router supports it.

 

[Pablo]

Yeah I'm pretty sure it supports telkom LTE, has their logo emblazoned on the front

 

[sajunky]

Go to management page Settings -> Dialup -> Network settings -> Network search and cheange to Manual mode. When you apply it will search for networks, it takes a while. Check whether you see Telkom 4G. If you see but you can't connect, then call customer centre and verify that SIM provisioned for LTE.

BTW, don't use supplied paddle antennas, unless you see real benefits.

 

[Pablo]

I'm getting full bars on telkom 3g but the speed it's <1Mb/s

 

[sajunky]

I'm getting full bars on telkom 3g but the speed it's <1Mb/s

You wrote that MTN LTE is good, but Telkom 3G is bad, so must focus how to connect Telkom LTE successfully. I gave you a tip in my previous post. Important one.

 

[Pablo]

It's definitely provisioned for LTE, went to a relatives house with the same router and sim and got 21Mbit/s

 

[Pablo]

What's very weird is that the upload speed is even more ridiculously low, 0.02Mb/s

 

[sajunky]

It's definitely provisioned for LTE, went to a relatives house with the same router and sim and got 21Mbit/s

It is why you don't want to do checking as suggested.?

 

[Pablo]

Sorry what I meant is that I went to the relatives house with MY router and sim and got those speeds.

 

[sajunky]

I see you did follow my advice, but asked question in the wrong thread, so I moved my reply here.

Hey guys when i manually search for network on my B315s everything but Telkom comes up as '(forbidden)'. Why would this be the case? I get perfect mtn LTE in my house but the router doesn't seem to want to roam on it (Yes data roaming is checked)

Roaming agreement with MTN is not for LTE. Standard contracts and prepaid packages will roam on 3G. However there are special LTE packages which will not roam MTN at all. To answer your question, if you see "MTN 3G forbidden" it means you have one of such SIM cards.

 

[Pablo]

Hmm (referring to other thread) that sucks! You're telling me that the 200+200gb telkom LTE contract can't roam on MTN?