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JSchnee21's avatar
JSchnee21
Virtuoso
Sep 19, 2018

New Firmware LAA Support?

So,

 

My Gen1 mr1100 just got a firmware update to version

NTG9X50C_12.05.05.00

 

Of course there are no release notes as usual.  From the chatter on Reddit, and my own investigation it appears this version finally adds the long awaited LAA (Band 46) support that was leaked on the FCC page several months ago, quickly hidden, and then later re-appeared.

 

It seems like even my old Gen1 supports it (acording to the firmware menus) but so far I have not confirmation of it actually working.

 

But here's the thing.  At least on my device, it says that I cannot use LAA because I'm only using the 5.8Ghz Wifi band.  It seems like LAA is only support if you turn off the 5.8Ghz wifi band and use either (or both) 2.4Ghz and/or USB tethering.

 

Sure, I get that LAA shares the 5.8Ghz spectrum and is really just Wifi carrying cellular network frames.  BUT, what practical use does this serve on the mr1100 if I'm forced to connect to this fat pipe with a tiny 2.4Ghz Wifi (most likely 20Mhz) Wifi connection.  Sure I could use USB on my laptop (or Ethernet to my legit Wifi AP).

 

Is this a netgear limitation?  Or will this be the case on all new Wifi enabled deviced that support LAA?  Will the lose their 5.8Ghz connection in order to use LAA?  Will tri-band wifi be required?  (aka 2.4, 5.8, 5.8)?

 

What else is new with the mr1100 firmware?  Will the device finally do proper CA with 4x4 MIMO so I can get speeds over ~110Mbit over conventional cellular?

 

Wanting to love this product, but after 6months the best I can muster is "meh"

 

 

 

Firmware
Hardware

5 Replies

  • JSchnee21's avatar
    JSchnee21
    Virtuoso
    Sep 19, 2018

    Thanks to some postings on Reddit, I found this really great link on AT&T's website which has release notes and a few quick fixes for common issues!

     

    https://www.att.com/devicehowto/tutorial.html#!/stepbystep/id/stepbystep_KM1243913?make=Netgear&model=NetgearMR1100&gsi=l0yJ_qM

     

    "Here is the current update: NTG9X50C_12.05.05.00_ATT_03.12

    The details
    Release date: September 17, 2018
    Firmware version: NTG9X50C_12.05.05.00_ATT_03.12
    File size: 109MB

    The updates
    What's changing: AP isolation and Licensed Assisted Access (LAA)"

     

    I thought I had noticed a new feature for "AP isolation" but wasn't sure.  This feature should prevent Wifi associated clients from being able to "see" and communicate between one another (not generally used in a home setting).

     

    Still no official word on whether the Gen1 mr1100 supports LAA or only Gen2.  

    • JSchnee21's avatar
      JSchnee21
      Virtuoso
      Sep 20, 2018

      Does anyone live in an LAA enabled market?  It would be great to get some preliminary benchmarks using LAA for:

       

      1) Gen1 vs. Gen2

      2) Different modes of tethering (Ethernet, USB, 2.4Ghz)

       

      Markets

      http://about.att.com/story/att_builds_on_5g_foundation_in_more_than_100_new_markets.html

       

      Up to 750Mbit

      http://about.att.com/story/lte_licensed_assisted_access_field_trials.html

       

      I had heard that the mr1100 has an internal routing/NAT performance limitation of around 500mbit from WAN/LAN.

       

       

      • vanillaknot's avatar
        vanillaknot
        Star
        Sep 25, 2018

        I've had an mr1100 since last December. I live outside Pittsburgh, which is supposed to be one of the new LAA markets, but it is possible I live too far away (~40 miles northwest) to be part of that deployment. How or where do I learn whether my area is LAA-enabled? My search foo on this question seems weak.

         

        Also, how do I distinguish Gen1 -vs Gen2 hardware? Just yesterday, I did a warranty replacement of my original mr1100 because it refused to charge the battery. I had surmised that the battery itself is bad, but I was told that AT&T can't replace just the battery, they have to replace the whole unit. OK, fine, now I've got a new mr100 in place, and I don't know where the differences lie.

         

        The new unit woke up almost immediately requesting firmware upgrade, consequent to which I discovered new LAA capability (with configuration restriction as noted) and came looking here for more answers.