The Huawei E5186 LTE-A discussion thread

[WesleyR]

What speeds do you currently get MtnUser?

 

[Azimuth]

Perhaps there is differentiation between prepaid and postpaid?

 

[Alacrity]

What speeds do you currently get MtnUser?

It depends on what Telkom wants to give since it varies between 35 and 70Mb/s. But mostly about 45Mb/s

 

[Alacrity]

Perhaps there is differentiation between prepaid and postpaid?

I'm using prepaid

 

[WesleyR]

Hmmm, now I'm wondering what deal to go for... and which router to get... so confusing.

 

[Alacrity]

Hmmm, now I'm wondering what deal to go for... and which router to get... so confusing.

The E5186 does not have support for VOIP like the B593 but my signal strengths is better on the E5186 than on the B593. I don't use the VOIP so I prefer the E5186.

I had more issues with the B593 than I do have with the E5186. But my B593 was probably the very first one delivered so that might explain why I had some problems with it.

 

[Azimuth]

Hmmm, now I'm wondering what deal to go for... and which router to get... so confusing.

The B593 is on its nth firmware revision (as well as some chipset/radio changes). The E5186 is on its first. Unless you have LTE-A, get a B593s-601 and be done with it.

 

[Alacrity]

The B593 is on its nth firmware revision (as well as some chipset/radio changes). The E5186 is on its first. Unless you have LTE-A, get a B593s-601 and be done with it.

The B593 is the "bells and whistles" model while the E5186 is the "speed freak" model

 

[WesleyR]

Thanks gents, will ask them if I can get the B593 on that deal I mentioned earlier.

 

[WesleyR]

According to (http://www.telkommobile.co.za/futurehood/) it says "You're Covered. Your area has LTE-A coverage."

 

[Azimuth]

WTF. Apparently so am I. I suspect that the coverage map is broken.

Edit: LTE-A radiation is dark blue not light blue. The lookup for that particular page is incorrectly configured. Closest LTE-A to your area is Rosebank or Midrand.

 

[WesleyR]

lol, like everything else in SA... ;-)

 

[Alacrity]

WTF. Apparently so am I. I suspect that the coverage map is broken.

I also saw the problem and ask for the LTE-A demo and they are coming this afternoon to demo the LTE-A for me.

 

[Azimuth]

See the edit to my post.

 

[WesleyR]

 

[Azimuth]

I think it will be a while before LTE-A is offered outside of those exclusive areas. It's a cash cow right now and no clever exec wants to ruin that.

 

[Mark051]

If anyone can update us on the fallback to 3G restriction, as well as VoIP, please post.

I'm using the router for VOIP, and so far works perfectly.
Quick question, How does one know if connected to LTE-A or LTE. On the router dashboard, it only tells you connected to 4G

 

[Azimuth]

Sweet, prepaid or postpaid and which VoIP provider?

Good question re: LTE-A reception. At a guess I would say if you get in excess of 90Mbps you are getting LTE-A reception (stating the obvious).

 

[Mark051]

Sweet, prepaid or postpaid and which VoIP provider?

Good question re: LTE-A reception. At a guess I would say if you get in excess of 90Mbps you are getting LTE-A reception (stating the obvious).

Ok, Thanks - Thought as much
Post-paid, on a 50GB HomeOffice LTE

Switchtel

 

[Azimuth]

Snap! Great to know and thanks for confirming VoIP *does* work.

Would you mind posting more on VoIP and LTE-A? The reason I ask is because TM LTE can suffer from terrible jitter at times and VoIP quality can nosedive. I documented my journey over a long period here. LTE-A should resolve this ... how has your experience been?