Comparing 4G and 5G Routers

[Jim]

I see a few of the leisure shops are pushing 4G mobile routers. I've had a 5g router for a couple of years and would never go back to 4G. What am I missing? Why would you buy a 4G router today?

 

[MichaelT]

We had same dilemma when we got the aerial fitted. Most were selling 5g routers but the aerial was only 4g so pointless IMHO that's why we got a 5g aerial to go with the router. Had a 5g signal all over Spain and mostly in france.

 

[G7UXG]

But is it any better (faster?) than 4G? My experience, just using an iPhone 15 is that sometimes switching to 4G only is more stable than 5G.

 

[Jim]

But is it any better (faster?) than 4G? My experience, just using an iPhone 15 is that sometimes switching to 4G only is more stable than 5G.

In my experience it's faster by at least 2 or 300 mbps.

 

[ChrisL]

Unless you have multiple users or need to upload/download large files, 4g is perfectly adequate for regular use including HD streaming and the hardware is cheaper.

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[Guigsy]

There's not really a definitive difference between 4G and most of the 5G we currently see. It's all just a blurred mess of LTE. Some newer 4G radios support features that early 5G didn't. 4G still rarely stretches it's legs to full speed.

True 5G is 5G SA, and that's rare at the moment, and it's mainly a change in the network from the mast back to the internet, rather than on the radio and device end.

 

[Jabstatt]

Please what is 5GSA.?

Thanks

 

[Steve N Tracy]

4g seems to work fine through my Kuma router in the motorhome and fast enough for watching Hd TV, and as there is little 5g in rural areas it's fine for the moment.
I do use a 5g router at home though and get over 300mbs using a Smarty sim

 

[ChrisL]

Please what is 5GSA.?

Thanks

5G Stand Alone is a core 5G network not a mix of 5G and 4G technologies, it's designed to increase capacity and reduce latency.

 

[Guigsy]

Please what is 5GSA.?

Thanks

5G Stand Alone. It's where all the technology from the tower, back through the provider's gateway to the internet is using new networking technologies that mean packets get routed with much lower latency, can theoretically arrive at the phone via different sources and each mast can support many more devices at once. 5G SA means you can't just plug your mast antenna modem into the same backhaul you've been using for 4G and before. Most of the UK and Europe's network that is using 5G frequencies is still using the old 4G backbone, so they are 5G NSA (non-stand alone), a half way house to true 5G.

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[Kannon Fodda]

Despite now having a 5G capable router, with external aerial, I frequently find on many locations I'm lucky to be getting not even 3G speeds. Pigeon post might be faster Even in a good area to get beyond 70mbps seems like a pipe dream. Perhaps my van's router is on the wrong network (three), but then the phone on 02 is usually as awful.

From everything I'm reading, it's not so much an issue that you might have a 4G only capable router, but what Cat LTE standard the router's aerial connectivity has. If only Cat 4 or 6 you may be very limited in that it can only find one mast's signal and only in certain frequencies, but the Cat 16 + router has ability to connect to more than one signal, aggregating them for a better bandwidth, and a wider range of frequencies. Whilst true 5G signals often have a limited range, most mobile providers have been upgrading in the wider range of LTE frequencies and it is this that can offer the overall speed improvement to most users.

 

[iandsm]

But is it any better (faster?) than 4G? My experience, just using an iPhone 15 is that sometimes switching to 4G only is more stable than 5G.

I find 5G slow to connect and unreliable here in east Suffolk. 4G decent speed and stable.

 

[BrochMike]

What am I missing?

Nothing.

Why would you buy a 4G router today?

If budget was particularly tight.

My old 4g (cat4) works fine most of the time but a recently purchased, not particularly expensive, 5g device can deliver very impressive speeds in the right location (albeit not usually necessary for day-to-day purposes) and certainly provides a more reliable 4g connection just about everywhere else.

a few of the leisure shops are pushing 4G mobile routers

Because they are basically 'old tech' and they still have a lot of them to shift before they become completely obsolete...

Some unscrupulous vendors are still flogging 'bargain' 3g devices to vulnerable customers, despite the imminent switch-off!

Edit: and don't get me started on the misleading ads for "5g" devices which are just 4g LTE (albeit with 5G wifi), which fleabay refuse to address when reported.