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Jim1648's avatar
Jim1648
Initiate
Dec 08, 2024

What Netgear 5G Hotspot Would Work Great With T-Mobile Direct To Cell?

I am looking for a Netgear 5G hotspot that would work well with T-Mobile Direct To Cell service. What are my best choices?

 

Hello Jim,

Hope all is well you and thanks for reaching out to us regarding the Direct to cell and we are excited about this new technology that is evolving here at T-Mobile.

Jim, we do understand that you would like to know a bit more about the Direct to Cell, and as of now T-Mobile and Starlink asked for and received a Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC to operate our T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service over Hurricane Milton’s projected path. Wireless emergency alerts and SMS, including the ability to text 911, are now enabled in Florida as well as the areas previously impacted by Hurricane Helene. We’ll have more to share about how we bring these exciting new services to the market in the future.

However, to answer your question once Direct to Cell is fully launched, if the things below apply you will have access to Direct to Cell.

If your wireless provider uses the T-Mobile network and you have one of the following devices, T-Mobile Starlink is available for SMS messaging:

Mobile Provider

  • All SIM cards and eSIM’s issued by T-Mobile will have access to this service.

  • MVNOs using the T-Mobile network

Devices

  • All Android devices supported

  • iPhone 13 and older are supported

Again Jim, thanks for reaching out to us and I hope the information I provided will be helpful to you. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding case 19201xxx, please feel free to email us back.

Best Regards!

Artisha M.

T-Mobile for Business Offline Care

1 Reply

  • rcpax's avatar
    rcpax
    Luminary
    Dec 18, 2024

    So T-Mobile, your two choices are MR6150 and MR6550. They both have n41, which will be the band that Starlink Direct to Cell service will work on. Initially, it will only be TEXT/SMS service. These devices DO NOT have SMS send capability, so to think about even using them with Starlink Cell service is a bit far off. Once the satellite signals are in your area, you won't have nothing to worry about because if your device has n41, it will pick up the satellite operator and roam to it if that is your ONLY available option. There is nothing special about satellite cellular, it will be like another cell tower but in the sky. Initially it will be SMS/TEXT only at launch, then voice, then data after SpaceX launches more v2 starlink satellites on Starship. Once Starship is fully operational, SpaceX will exponentially deploy more v2 or later satellites with cellular capability, and then maybe we see voice and data. By then, these 2 mobile routers that I have mentioned would probably be second rate as more likely there would be newer generation of Qualcomm 5G chips out by then. MR7xxx is already out but there are no unlocked versions out yet. When Netgear comes out with one, then you can add that to the list of T-Mobile compatible devices