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Forum Discussion
Nighthawk M6 Pro Hotspot
I have done more reading and research online for this over the past few weeks than I would have liked and I am more conflicted now than when I started. Unsure what MESH system would work or IF it wo...
Am I understanding it correctly that I could get an external long range antenna like the TP-link AC1200 Omada SDN or Wavlink outdoor weatherproof WiFi Range Extender Access point with Passive POE Dual band and run into the building to plug into my Nighthawk M6 Pro via Ethernet cable and it would work to improve the WiFi signal?
There are two issues:
- Metal building which blocks any time of radio signal (AT&T 5G LTE or WiFi), and
- Distance to the AT&T 5G network.
If the M6 is located outdoors, where the building does not block access to the AT&T 5G LTE network, then the WiFi network created by the M6 will struggle to provide a decent signal inside the building. If the M6 is located outdoors, its performance may be a affected by the strength of the AT&T 5G LTE network signal. That is why the M6 has two T9 antenna connectors. (To get a stronger link to AT&T.) In addition, the M6 is almost certainly not designed to be exposed to weather.
Mounting the M6 indoors allows the WiFi network created by the M6 to be exposed to the interior of the the building. Up to 32 devices (wired and WiFi) can be connected directly to the M6. Whether the M6 network will be sufficient depends on:
- How many devices there are (more than 32?)
- The dimensions and construction of the building. If it is under 2,000 sq. ft. there is a good chance that the M6 WiFi may cover the entire space. People install mesh WiFi networks when the space is not conducive to WiFi. (For example, my ISP feed is in a corner of the upstairs and a WiFi router placed there does not provide a good signal to the opposite side of the house downstairs. that is why I replaced my single WiFi router with the Orbi back in 2016.)
- However, when the M6 is placed indoors, the metal building may degrade the AT&T 5G signal so much that the M6 simply doesn't work.
Netgear addresses the problem of low 5G signal (because of distance or building structure) with an external antenna. Part number 6000451 https://www.netgear.com/home/mobile-wifi/hotspots/omnidirectional-mimo-antenna/
The product description does not indicate the length of the antenna cable, but it appears very short (to me). It might be a struggle to put the antenna outside and route the cable through the wall to the M6. Is there a window that faces the AT&T antenna?
Amazon shows lots of antennas designed for this situation, such as
The M6 has two antenna connectors, so a 2x2 antenna is the solution. (not a 4x4 antenna).