[Nighthawk M1] B40 2300MHz and B7 2600MHz signal cannot be improved by external antenna

Question

I am reporting a pretty sad testing result about M1 with external antenna. The signal strength and quality of B40 2300MHz and B7 2600MHz cannot be improved by external antenna!!! Definitely!!!
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I install a pair of antenna on roof to utilize MIMO technology. All the devices are placed at the same place in ground floor. There are two double brick walls and plenty of other obstructive between device and the tower. M1 is implemented by band locking introduced in the post of Telstra M1
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At first, I use M1 Telstra version (SKU: MR1100-1TLAUS). The M1 signal strength of 1800/2100/2300/2600 MHz is around -125 dBm and -100 dBm at 700MHz, without external antenna respectively. When the external antennas are plugged in, the M1 signal strength of 700/1800/2100 MHz is dramatically increased to around -75 dBm, but stays same level (-125 dBm) at 2300 and 2600 MHz!!!
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I cannot believe this frustrated result, so I replace the M1(Hong Kong version, SKU: MR1100-1EEEUS) with M1(Telstra). M1(Telstra) doesn't support 2300 MHz, but same results with M1(HK) at 2600MHz. The signal strength stays same with and without external antenna.
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I replace the M1 with Huawei B525-65a. The B525 signal strength of 1800/2100/2300/2600 MHz are around -115 dBm without external antenna while the signal strength of ALL bands is dramatically increased to -70 – -85 dBm with external antennas.
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This proves the external antenna is working well at 2300 and 2600 MHz, and also proves external antenna cannot improve the signal of M1 at 2300MHz and 2600MHz.
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I don't know if this is a firmware or hardware issue. It's possible to be fixed if it's firmware issue and highly unlikely to be fixed if hardware issue.
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4x4 MIMO antennas are built inside of M1 but only two ports are available for external antennas. I guess maybe the other two antennas inside is in charge of the signal at 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz.
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I tried different circumstance, such as with/without battery, one/two external antennas plugged in, different APNs, etc.
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The M1 does perform better than AC800S and B525 at the "sweet point" where all the signal are at good level, at my home, at the window facing towards tower in upper stairs, both with and without external antenna, M1 achieves 120 Mbps while AC800s and B525 only get 60 Mbps. But in down stairs, M1 has very poor performance compared with B525, because M1 works only at 700/1800/2100 MHz, which cannot get efficient CA modes, but AC800s and B525 still get same 60 Mbps.
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Now the solution is mounting the Nighthawk M1 on roof with/without antenna connected and waiting for possible firmware update, or using AC800S/B525 with external antenna.
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Can some tech support confirm the testing result I reported here?
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Regards,
Bob

BobAu · Answer

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With the help of external antenna, the 700/1800/2100 MHz signal of Nighthawk M1 improved very much from -125 dBm to -75 dBm while the 2300/2600 MHz signal stayed same (-125 dBm). While the Huawei B525-65a signal of ALL BANDS improved from -115 dBm to -75 dBm.
How can we explain this? I guess M1 receives 2300/2600 MHz signal by built-in antenna whatever external antenna plugged in or not.

BobAu · Answer

New test is coming. Let's say two antenna connectors are A and B, and two external antenna ports in M1 are a and b.I tried, A-a only, A-b only, B-a only, B-b only, A-a/B-b and A-b/B-a, all same results.
But found an interesting result, at the first 30 seconds when plugging one external antenna into the left external antenna port, the 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz signal strength did increased from -125 dBm to around -90 dBm, but it shows 3G parameters, the firmware or system seems treating those 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz signal as 3G signal. It's kind of strange.
Please have a look at the screenshot: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4iCCvw33FwEAKbJr6

BobAu · Answer

I cannot edit my post. Regarding "M1(Hong Kong version, SKU: MR1100-1EEEUS)", MR1100-1EEEUS supports B1/3/7/8/20/28/38/40/41 while MR1100-1TLAUS only supports B1/3/7/8/28. I bought&nbsp;MR1100-1EEEUS from Hong Kong, but finnally I think it's an unlocked M1 from EE UK.

BobAu · Answer

All the two M1 devices (MR1100-1TLAUS and MR1100-1EEEUS) have up-to-date firmware.
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I tried two omni antennas, still get the same results.
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Can some tech staff pay attention in my issue? I think this is a common issue on this device: external antennas simply doesn't increase the signal quality on 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz. I am very upset now.

BobAu · Answer

somebody has some issue with me.
https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?r=57668215#r57668215
another:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Mobile-Routers-Hotspots-Modems/MR1100-LTE-antenna-not-recognized/m-p/1592785#M6438

Forum Discussion

[Nighthawk M1] B40 2300MHz and B7 2600MHz signal cannot be improved by external antenna

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