LB2120 with external antenna

Star

Mar 26, 2020

By way of an update...

After no return calls or responses to email from Netgear, I decided to try it again today. For some unknown reason it is now working. With the antenna disconnected I am getting around 6-12mbps down and 12mbps up.

With the antenna connected I am getting around 24mbps down and 24mbps up.

I can only attribute the previous issues to some carrier level issues as I have not changed anything. Possibly majorly high demand due to people working from home.

Some things I have noticed after some in depth investigation:

This modem only supports LTE Cat4
This modem does not seem to support carrier aggregation - at least this is what I have read, would be great to know for certain
Other modems support LTE Cat6 and above
Most LTE Cat6 modems and above seem to support carrier aggregation - if you want to know more, here is a good article: https://www.3gpp.org/technologies/keywords-acronyms/101-carrier-aggregation-explained
Nighthawks are:
- M1 (MR1100) - Cat16
- M2 (MR2100) - Cat20
Very few modems / wifi hotspots / routers had the combination of:
- 1G ethernet ports
- External antenna support and
- Supported bridge / IP passthrough mode
- Unless willing to spend > AU$300-400

I currently have an LTE Cat6 modem on order and will update my findings when I have them - i.e. to see if speeds increase. When I am able to return to work I may also borrow the M2 that my network team uses.

BTW, having raised a case with Netgear, this has been my experience:

Raised a case online
Told I need to call within 48 hours or the case would be closed
1st call - told I was second inline and was approx. 355mins(6hrs?!) from the next technician and would I like a call back = yes I would :)
Submitted the document attached to this thread to the case
Received an email next day that my case would be closed in 24 hours without a call
As a result I made a 2nd call - I am still the second person in line, however this time no option for a call back
Today, check and the case is closed

This has to be customer service at its absolute best :)

LlamaLarry
Luminary
May 07, 2020
What modem did you switch to? I would also like to know if it has CA.
- Sheaj544
  Aspirant
  May 16, 2020
  I am quite curious too ?
  
  I have picked up a second one of these to play with Dual Wan and to really just get more data for our home.
  
  The first in my case is flawless with Vodafone, 100Mb/s down most of the day, Uploads even more stable throughout the day with 35-40 Mb/s.
  
  Do i hear NBN is defunkt :o
  
  Second LB2120 for Optus with their recent deal on 500GB Mobile Broudband.
  
  Pretty abysma speeds so far and it varies heaps. 30 - 60 Mb/s down and a WHOPPING 7-9 Mb/s UP.
  
  Just patheric really, cant even get double digits, more the fault of Optus and made worse by the 4G Modem for not allowing Frequancy selection.
  
  Come on NETGEAR, is this NETgear or S**tGear. with a High Gain external antenna i would thave thought to get more than single digits for the upload. It seams to be stuck on the B40, 2300mHz frequancy 20 Mhz width. There is no ability to manualy select 1800 Mhz, 25 Mhz wide band, where one could only hope the uplaod speed would increase.
  
  Shame. guess its toygear after all. No support for OpenWRT either. Guess im out of luck.
  
  Anyways, What was the Cat 6 4G Modem you have picked up ? curious to hear your findings :D
  
  Happy Hunting
  - mackov83
    Star
    May 16, 2020
    LlamaLarry apologies, I had not seen your message until Sheaj544 responded. I bought the Huawei B525s-65a and went through a process and installed what's called the 'factory' firmware. This gives you access to features that most telcos block from use - i.e. bridge mode, band steering etc. Sheaj544 if you are on Optus, I'm guessing you likely have the locked down version of this exact device!
    
    You can get them on eBay or GumTree second hand for anywhere from $50 (I wouldn't spend more than $150 or so). I saw many people stating in their ads they 'no longer needed it because they upgrdaded to NBN'. Unfortunately, vendors, telcos and NBN are misleading the public with marketing BS. With LTE (unless directly under a tower) will never get the advertised speeds without a high gain external antenna.
    
    To be fair, I did end up testing the Nighthawk M2 and got similar speeds to the Huawei, but the LB2120 never came close. It does not support carrier aggregation whatsoever. Also, while the M2 marketing suggest speeds of 1gbps, it is highly unlikely you would ever reach that either.
    
    Also, Sheaj544 , by the sounds of it you are also in Australia. Therefore I would highly recommend checking out:
    1) rfnsa.com.au. This allows you to get details on the local towers nearby, as well as it's capabilities - freq, throughput etc. My nearest tower is 800m away. Keep a lookout for the 'cellID'
    2) Aus Phone app - allows you to get a good idea of what bands are reaching your location the strongest, and focusing on them

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