The Huawei E5186 LTE-A discussion thread

[jcheek]

Hi All,
I was very encouraged by the insight obtained in this discussion forum so far - as I am very much a novice in this domain, it was very helpful. (Thank you to all concerned).

Hi and welcome

I recently bought a LTE-A router, through Telkom Mobile with great expectation for "Super fast" internet. However, after a day with the router I was advised to get the additional antennas to get "real LTE speed". I then bought the Poynting XPOL-0002 and I am hopeful that it will help.

However, I have some important concerns regarding the upload speed and stability. I did a test through speedtest and I was getting downloads of anything between 15Mbs an 50Mbs (later in the day), with uploads of 0.2 to 1.0 respectively.

Reading between the lines, I'm guessing that this test was done on Telkom Mobile indoors, using only the B5186's built-in antennas ?
If so, the 50Mbps peak speeds would suggest that you have fairly good signal, but it's variable.
That's quite normal for an "indoor" test.
Indoors is a problematic signal environment. Signals have to travel through walls, they get reflected off things, and the signal paths and reflections change as people move around inside the house and around the modem. LTE is quite good at dealing with - and even benefitting from - these reflections, but variability is a result.
Just getting your antenna outdoors and up on the roof usually gives a massive improvement. There are still multiple reflections (off buildings etc), but relative to indoors it's a much "cleaner" and more consistent signal environment.

When doing a test with my cell phone I was getting a fairly consistent 20-25Mbs DL and 10-15Mbs UL.
It seems that with the "super fast" Router I struggle to match my cell phone data speeds. I do a lot of video conferencing and working from home and find that I struggle with Skype and resort to using my cell phone as it is more "reliable" (but costly).

From the high upload speed, I would guess that the cellphone test wasn't done on Telkom Mobile, but on MTN or Vodacom LTE ?

• For technical reasons, the MTN and Vodacom LTE systems (FDD) produce up- and download speeds that are closer to symmetrical. On Telkom's TDD LTE system, the "split" between up- and download speed can be adjusted (by Telkom, not by you). I believe I read somewhere that Telkom run their TDD links at a 4:1 down:up ratio, but in practise most users seem to see more like 10:1. The 15-50Mbps (down) and 0.2-1.0Mbps (up) speed test you mention earlier in your post would support that.
• It may also be that you happen to have better signal on whichever network you used (MTN or Vodacom) than on Telkom Mobile at that specific location.
• Also, bear in mind that poor Wi-Fi performance could also have had an effect on your tests. To establish a baseline, do some initial speed testing using an ethernet cable to connect to the E5186 (rather than Wi-Fi).

Incidentally, higher upload speed might be one reason to select MTN or Vodacom over Telkom Mobile if you do a lot of conferencing. That said, if you invest some effort in good signal arrangements, you should be able to get sufficient upload speed even on Telkom Mobile. Fortunately, your XPOL-0002 (hopefully -V2) antenna can be used on any of the three networks.

SO what are the possible "root causes"?
- Antenna placement (direction) and "push settings". I understand that the 5861 does not allow for this?

If by "push settings" (?) you mean the ability to "force" the E5186 to use external antennas in preference to its internal ones - don't worry. Your XPOL-0002 has the required characteristic to be properly detected by the E5186.
If you mean the ability to back up the E5186's configuration settings, then that may be an issue (This post seems to indicate so.) But that's a comparatively minor issue.

Location? I live in Midstream and I understand that we are supposed to have LTE-A coverage?

Depends exactly where in Midstream you are. If you haven't already done so, check whether you are in LTE-A coverage here. There isn't much LTE-A coverage yet, but it's coming slowly.
But even if you don't have LTE-A coverage (yet), you can achieve really fast speeds even on "plain" LTE.

- Internal set-up (Router location in the house?)

Doing a test on your roof with just the E5186 (using its internal antennas) will give you a good idea of what you can expect with a roof-mounted antenna installation. As mentioned, you can expect a substantial improvement in signal levels and connection stability just by getting the antenna up on the roof.

Other resources to poke around in :

• The Huawei B593 thread. (the E5186's "plain LTE" brother)
• The Antenna installation and alignment thread.
• The Poynting antenna thread.
• The six videos in this post.

 

[paazoka]

Hello
I received the tp-link antenna yesterday and used it on e5186 router it didn't work nothing changed signal weak after that I used it on b593 router choice the external antenna from the page it work perfect from one signal to full signal
That's mean e5186 not see extrnal antenna need another framware
This is it

Install

Weak signal before install

Feeding two bort I don't know wich one is number one or a

After install

I hope some one give me firmware for e5186

Sorry about my English

 

[Azimuth]

Planning on getting a data contract from Telkom after they sort my account out. (It's been a good couple of months and still no progress with getting them to cancel my non working copper line and stop invoicing)

Once that is sorted, I wonder how long til they replace the B593 that they bundle with the data contracts with the E5186?
I should probably hold out for that.

Although my account probably won't even be sorted by then...

The E5186 is only worth it if you get LTE-A signal and speeds > 100Mbps. Even then, if you're a VoIP user and want to go with Telkom LTE-A, you may want to take a step back as VoIP is not yet supported on Telkom LTE-A.

I personally feel that until the E5186 has gone through several revisions I'd rather stay away. The current version is akin to an engineering sample that was released too early.

 

[Coza]

Hey guys,
I picked up my E5186s this morning on the 50gb package.

regarding the RJ11 ports, is there a way to use the same simcard for voice calls, or would I need to use a Voip provider?

has anyone else used this device for voice calls using the rj11 ports?

 

[jcheek]

regarding the RJ11 ports, is there a way to use the same simcard for voice calls, or would I need to use a Voip provider?

See this post and the few that follow for a clue. The B593 is the E5186's "plain LTE" (not LTE-A) little brother, but it may well work the same way

 

[Azimuth]

@Coza are you using the E5186 for LTE or LTE-A?

 

[Leadership4Good]

The XPOL-0002 does NOT cover the 2300MHz band Telkom LTE uses. The XPOL-0006 or LPDA-0092 should be used.

And be 100% sure you are pointing to the best tower. I have access to two towers but the best one is not the one with the strongest signal.

Thank you @MtnUser. Bit frustrated as I explicitly asked the sales person at Poynting about that and they indicated that it does!!! I will be taking it back today.

 

[Azimuth]

Like jcheek said, if it's v2 then it does cover 2300MHz. If you recently purchased the antenna, it will be v2.

 

[Leadership4Good]

HI Azimuth (Attention: @jcheek and MtnUser as well).

I returned the antenna this morning and they did not hesitate to take it back ,when I indicated the reason for returning it. SO I don' t know if it was indeed v2?

However, I must report a very disapPoynting service experience. When I asked about the XBOL - 0006 and the LPDA antennas (as mentioned by MtnUser. They indicated that they do not have stock of the XBOL - 0006 as Telkom has bought out a lot of their stock. When I asked them when they will have stock ,they could not give me any idea as to when they may have some. I then said, will you be able to notify me when you have stock and the reply was rather disapPoynting as they said it will be a "very long time" (hinting that they aren't interested in letting me know).

SO I am home without an antenna and back to square ONE.

Does anyone have have any other alternatives? The LPDA antenna was priced at R2400 (too much for me). However, the XBOL - 0006 was R1400 and so I was prepared to pay for that one (and in that price range).

Suggestions please (thanks again for the comments and advice to date)?

 

[Alacrity]

Does anyone have have any other alternatives? The LPDA antenna was priced at R2400 (too much for me). However, the XBOL - 0006 was R1400 and so I was prepared to pay for that one (and in that price range).

Suggestions please (thanks again for the comments and advice to date)?

The LPDA-0092 can be used for many applications while the XPOL-0006 is 2300MHz (TM LTE) only.

 

[Azimuth]

I have spare XPOL-0002-v2 and LPDA-0020. (PM me)

The "v2" bit is marked clearly on the box.

Check the Poynting thread below for consolidated info on their antennas.

Other resources to poke around in :

• The Huawei B593 thread. (the E5186's "plain LTE" brother)
• The Antenna installation and alignment thread.
• The Poynting antenna thread.
• The six videos in this post.

 

[jcheek]

I returned the antenna this morning and they did not hesitate to take it back when I indicated the reason for returning it. SO I don' t know if it was indeed v2?

Best phone back and ask!

The LPDA-0092 can be used for many applications while the XPOL-0006 is 2300MHz (TM LTE) only.

MtnUser is quite correct there. The XPOL-0006 is an outstanding antenna for Telkom LTE, but .. that's all it does, broadly speaking. No other LTE, and no 3G fallback. As he also says, both the XPOL-0002 and the LPDA-0092 (and many other Poynting antennas) support multiple bands in addition to Telkom's 2300MHz. That may or may not be important to you.

The XPOL-0002-V2 should actually be ideal, but I couldn't be sure from your opening post if you actually tried it outdoors.

Does anyone have have any other alternatives? The LPDA antenna was priced at R2400 (too much for me). However, the XBOL - 0006 was R1400 and so I was prepared to pay for that one (and in that price range).
Suggestions please (thanks again for the comments and advice to date)?

Start with a quantitative assessment of your actual signal conditions and see what you actually need. It might even be that you could get away with one of the smaller Poynting outdoor external antennas if you decide against the XPOL-0002. Visit the Poynting thread as suggested and check out some options.

 

[sajunky]

@Leadership4Good. If you are Telkom only customer, then you don't need expensive wide-band antenna. Narrow band antenna is better, as it works as a filter, throwing away all side band noise, it also has more flat (Gaussian-like) amplitude and phase characteristic, so quality of the signal is better. You will get faster speed and stability with the same signal strenght comparing to multiband LDPA's. LDPA's are popular for multiband convenience, not a quality.

 

[Leadership4Good]

Thanks @Azimuth, @MtnUser,@jcheek & @sajunky

I only have a need to use the Telkom signal (home office use), a handful of users. In this instance if the XBOL 0006 is not available (for the foreseeable future) according to Poynting, what is the cost-effective alternative?

With the XBOL 0002, I was still getting bad upload speeds between 0.5 and 1Mbs and the signal quality definitely varied drastically during the peak times - not very stable.

 

[sajunky]

Speak to Telkom and raise complain. If you are lucky, they will install proper antenna in your premises.

 

[Coza]

LTE

 

[Leadership4Good]

Thanks @sajunky. I spoke to Telkom and they have the XPOL - 006 antenna available ONLY for the uncapped deals linked to their "Future hood" promotion. There is a requirement for one of their base stations to be in your suburb it would seem.

Are their any alternatives to Poynting - as they are unable to help.\\

 

[sajunky]

Thanks @sajunky. I spoke to Telkom and they have the XPOL - 006 antenna available ONLY for the uncapped deals linked to their "Future hood" promotion. There is a requirement for one of their base stations to be in your suburb it would seem.

You spoke to a different department. They will also install antenna's with repeaters when signal is poor. Speak about signal quality, dropping voice calls, etc... they will send technician. When technician comes, explain that you need proper external antenna for data connectivity. Maybe you find that repeater will be usefull too.

 

[YHF]

The stock issue at Poynting has been sorted out and there is close to 500 units of XPOL-0006 in stock. Please speak to Julene (in Samrand) or any of the sales people and they will assist. Apologies for the bad service that you had experienced.

 

[Leadership4Good]

@YHF -

Thanks for the note. Much appreciated. I will give her a call.