MR1100 Netgear SKU S112B vs. AT&T SKU 6420B Test Results

[SFermindi]

In an attempt to fine tune band locking before installing a HiBoost Smart Link 4K signal booster, I did some testing to compare bandwidth performance of my two MR1100s using AT&T LTE 4G service (with no antennas attached). I used the same SIM card in each of the units (tethered to PC using same bands) and got some interesting results. The AT&T unit (SKU 6420) achieved a max 50mb download speed, while the unlocked Netgear unit (SKU S112B) unit only achieved a max 25mb speed. What's up with this? That's a huge difference! Does AT&T recognize unlocked hotspot units and throttle performance? Here are the specs:

US Tower bands used: LTE Only, Band 12, Band 30, Band 2 + Band 4 + Band 12 + Band 30 (1.8 miles from tower)

Netgear MR1100SS-1A1NAS (from label inside unit)

Current Firmware: 12.06.11.00
SKU=S112B
GUI Version=MR1100-1A1NAS-04.01.70.02
Hardware Version=1.0
PRI Version=03.12
Note: The firmware on this unit was originally AT&T and flashed to Netgear

AT&T MR1100-2A1NAS (from label inside unit)

Firmware:12.06.39.00
SKU=6420B
GUI Version=MR1100-1A1NAS_04.01.70.23
Hardware Version=1.0
PRI Version=06.14

Any relevant information or experience is appreciated and may assist others in configuring the optimal setup. I will additional data on results of signal booster setup after installation.

[SFermindi · Accepted solution]

Solved. Simply swapping a SIM card to a backup MR1100 unit does not normally work. IMEI # of device being used is registered to AT&T account. According to AT&T technical support, both the SIM card ID and IMEI # should match their records in order to connect. However, sometimes unlocked units will connect to cellular service but with degraded performance. Solution for me is to keep backup unit and register the IMEI # with AT&T is if it needs to be used. If it had not connected after SIM swap, I would have known this immediately.

[JohnPeng]

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@SFermindi wrote:

In an attempt to fine tune band locking before installing a HiBoost Smart Link 4K signal booster, I did some testing to compare bandwidth performance of my two MR1100s using AT&T LTE 4G service (with no antennas attached). I used the same SIM card in each of the units (tethered to PC using same bands) and got some interesting results. The AT&T unit (SKU 6420) achieved a max 50mb download speed, while the unlocked Netgear unit (SKU S112B) unit only achieved a max 25mb speed. What's up with this? That's a huge difference! Does AT&T recognize unlocked hotspot units and throttle performance? Here are the specs:

US Tower bands used: LTE Only, Band 12, Band 30, Band 2 + Band 4 + Band 12 + Band 30 (1.8 miles from tower)

Netgear MR1100SS-1A1NAS (from label inside unit)

Current Firmware: 12.06.11.00
SKU=S112B
GUI Version=MR1100-1A1NAS-04.01.70.02
Hardware Version=1.0
PRI Version=03.12
Note: The firmware on this unit was originally AT&T and flashed to Netgear

AT&T MR1100-2A1NAS (from label inside unit)

Firmware:12.06.39.00
SKU=6420B
GUI Version=MR1100-1A1NAS_04.01.70.23
Hardware Version=1.0
PRI Version=06.14

Any relevant information or experience is appreciated and may assist others in configuring the optimal setup. I will additional data on results of signal booster setup after installation.

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You can capture model.json from both devices and send PM to me check. 

- Logon to the webui (http://192.168.1.1 ) as an administrator
- Navigate to URL http://192.168.1.1/model.json via the same browser window
- Capture the results (by selecting all + copy) and send it back

Both devices are AT&T branded. But SKU 6420 supported an extra LTE B14 since AT&T added the support after S112B was launched.

Thanks

[SFermindi]

Thanks for reply John. Sending PM with output files. Also interesting is that I ordered new replacement SIM card and retested with both units. Glad I did this since new SIM increased DL speed dramatically on MR1100-2A1NAS with AT&T firmware. It went from 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps! Unfortunately, I got worse DL speed than earlier test when inserted into MR1100-1A1NAS. According to AT&T tech rep, older SIM cards are provisioned with 3G/4G while newer ones are 4G/5G. 3G was taken down recently in my area and wondering if this had an affect (even though there is no 5G on tower I connect to).

[SFermindi · Accepted solution]

Solved. Simply swapping a SIM card to a backup MR1100 unit does not normally work. IMEI # of device being used is registered to AT&T account. According to AT&T technical support, both the SIM card ID and IMEI # should match their records in order to connect. However, sometimes unlocked units will connect to cellular service but with degraded performance. Solution for me is to keep backup unit and register the IMEI # with AT&T is if it needs to be used. If it had not connected after SIM swap, I would have known this immediately.