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Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

AML1618
Aspirant

difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

What is the difference between MR2100 & MR1100

Message 1 of 27

Accepted Solutions
Blanca_O
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Hi @AML1618

 

Thank you for your interest. 

 

Nighthawk M2 Mobile Router (MR2100) 

- LTE CAT 20, DL support up to 2Gbps speeds

- 3GPP, Rel. 14

- 5CA with 20 simultaneous Downlink layers

- 4x4 MIMO

- 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

- 11ac Dual band dual concurrent 

 

Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router (MR1100) 

- LTE CAT 16, DL support up to 1Gbps speeds

- 3GPP, Rel. 12

- 4CA with 10 simultaneous Downlink layers

- 4x4 MIMO

- 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

- 11ac Dual band dual concurrent 

 

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team
 

View solution in original post

Message 3 of 27

All Replies
TeeJay74
Virtuoso

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Please check the MR2100 documents to know more.

https://www.netgear.com/support/product/MR2100

 

Message 2 of 27
Blanca_O
NETGEAR Moderator

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Hi @AML1618

 

Thank you for your interest. 

 

Nighthawk M2 Mobile Router (MR2100) 

- LTE CAT 20, DL support up to 2Gbps speeds

- 3GPP, Rel. 14

- 5CA with 20 simultaneous Downlink layers

- 4x4 MIMO

- 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

- 11ac Dual band dual concurrent 

 

Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router (MR1100) 

- LTE CAT 16, DL support up to 1Gbps speeds

- 3GPP, Rel. 12

- 4CA with 10 simultaneous Downlink layers

- 4x4 MIMO

- 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C

- 11ac Dual band dual concurrent 

 

Regards, 
Blanca 
Community Team
 

Message 3 of 27
TeeJay74
Virtuoso

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Hey,

 

Let's hope that Netgear enables 6CA/7CA support for MR2100 later(license thing). I think many cell operator's who have enough spectrum available are interested in this 6CA/7CA feature. It looks like there is no support for this at the basestation side yet.
 I also hope that 5G hype does not slow down 4G evolution, which still has untapped potential like this 6CA/7CA.

Message 4 of 27
AML1618
Aspirant

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Thanks,  greatly helps me understand

Message 5 of 27
Apollon
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Does MR2100 have a static DNS support, lacking in MR1100?

Will there be a US version anytime soon, with FDD-LTE bands B2,B4,B12 support?

Message 6 of 27
Apollon
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

@Blanca_O Care to reply to the questions in my previous post?

Message 7 of 27
TeeJay74
Virtuoso

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

MR2100 DNS mode choices are 'Auto' and 'Manual'. I have not heard anything about US-version so far.

Message 8 of 27
Apollon
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

I may have misspoken, calling dynamic DNS, such as No-IP, or dyndns.org "static", but either way your response has nothing to do with my question. Auto/manual DNS options are regular network configuration options, and not related to dynamic DNS feature I'm asking about. 

 

Regarding US version - I was hoping to get a reply from Netgear staff, who would know for certain. 

Message 9 of 27
nhantenna
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

"Regarding US version - I was hoping to get a reply from Netgear staff, who would know for certain."

 

You would have to max out an M1's capabilities before an M2 is going to help at all performance-wise.  I'm not sure that is possible to do in the United States at this time.  Anyone out there getting the theoretical 1000Mbps download on an M1 in the United States?

 

Perhaps the M2 is cheaper to manufacture and then it would make sense for Netgear to replace the M1 in the United States from a cost perspective.

Message 10 of 27
Apollon
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

I disagree with you that I'd have to max out an M1's capabilities before an M2 is going to help - that makes no sense. M1 supports only 4CA, M2 supports 5CA. M1 has CAT16 LTE modem, M2 has CAT20. More carrier aggregation, and faster, newer LTE modem both will help with speed. Both, average speed and max speed attainable. Same way older phones with CAT6 LTE are getting much slower speeds in the exact same area than phones CAT12 LTE modems....There are several threads right here, on Netgear forums, where people who already have M2 say they get much faster speeds than with M1. It has nothing to do with utilization % of the max theoretical speed of the modem.

 

@Blanca_O  - you can run, but you can't hide.

Message 11 of 27
nhantenna
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

"M1 supports only 4CA, M2 supports 5CA."

 

The M2 could have 5000CA.  If you are not using all 4CA on the M1, the M2 will not go faster than the M1.  The cell tower gives the same data pipes to the M1 and M2.

 

For example, your current cell tower supports 2CA.  M1 negociates 2CA with it.  That's the limit.  Connecting a 5000CA M2 will not go faster than the M1 in this situation.  In other words, you would have to use all of the M1's capabilities to the max before a M2 will help increase speeds.  You have to use all the M1's tricks CA, LAA, etc to get that max speed.

 

It all depends on your carrier and cell tower.  Where I live in rural United States our cell towers do not support CA yet (or LAA, or 5G, etc)

 

As for the faster modem in the M2, the M1 modem is plenty fast.  1000Mbps fast.  We get 20-50Mbps in our area.  An M2 is not going to help much here.  But it still warrants a M1 vs M2 side by side speedtest.  M1 vs M2 connected to same cell tower to see how they fare.  Is the faster M2 modem 0-2% faster?  10% faster?  If M1 vs M2 is that close in speed it is hard for normal everyday users to recognize that small speed difference.  For example, a web page that loads 3% faster is not noticeable to a normal user.

 

Message 12 of 27
nhantenna
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

"where people who already have M2 say they get much faster speeds than with M1."

 

to clarify, i am only talking about the united states.  united states does not have m2 yet.

 

wireless carriers in other countries are wildly different than what you will find in the united states.

 

m2 may perform really well in other countries and terrible in the united states.  only way to know for sure is to test the m2 where you live.

 

it must match up to your cell tower capabilities.  if you do not have a 5CA tower, then you can't use 5CA on your modem.

Message 13 of 27
Apollon
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

I'm network and software engineer, among other things, and really didnt need that 101 class, or any "cliarifications". In my area, my carrier just upgraded the cell towers in 2018 with the newest hardware available, and all towers here support multiple carrier aggregation. When I say "mulltiple" I dont mean 2 or 3 - I mean enough to max out all nighthawks CA capabilities. Your speculation that CAT20 LTE radio is only 2-3%, or even 10% faster than CAT16 is unfounded and incorrect. Look up LTE category specifications, specifically supported speeds, before posting. 

 

Either way, I'm not interested in an argument, or even in a discussion - I posted in the thread with the sole purpose to have my 2 questions answered by Netgear staff (Hi @Blanca_O , how you doin'? Smiley LOL), not to get opinions/speculations from users. Would have used live chat support, in order to avoid exactly this type of  "chiming in" from regular users, if Netgear provided one. 

Message 14 of 27
Schutti
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Nighthawk M2 Mobile Router (MR2100) -

LTE CAT 20, DL support up to 2Gbps speeds - 3GPP, Rel. 14 - 5CA with 20 simultaneous Downlink layers - 4x4 MIMO - 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C - 11ac Dual band dual concurrent

 

Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router (MR1100) - LTE CAT 16, DL support up to 1Gbps speeds - 3GPP, Rel. 12 - 4CA with 10 simultaneous Downlink layers - 4x4 MIMO - 256QAM DL / 64QAM UL CA 3C, 7C - 11ac Dual band dual concurrent

 

I cannot see really much advantage of the M2.

 

Upload CA only with 3C or 7C is very poor.

Show my one net operator with 2x2x20 Mhz on Band 3 or Band 7.

Useless.

Whrere is UL-CA 3_7 or 3_1 or 20_7

Message 15 of 27
JSchnee21
Virtuoso

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

"You would have to max out an M1's capabilities before an M2 is going to help at all performance-wise.  I'm not sure that is possible to do in the United States at this time."

 

Unfortunately, the MR1100 is clearly under performing in the United States when compared with AUS and EU.  Compared to my iPhone XSM, my MR1100 is generally only half as fast on downloads and roughly the same (or better) on uploads.

 

So while I agree that from a theoretical -- paper spec sheet perspective  - the MR2100 is unlikely to be any faster than the MR1100 given the mismatch between theoretical capabilities of the hotspot and a carrier's actual, deployed capabilities in the field.  But in reality, the MR1100 is such a dog, that many are holding out hopes that the new version will be better.

 

In practice, if the MR2100 was as fast as my iPhone (albeit with better RF sensitivity), I'd gladly pay $399 for it.  But, I would not pay $1 for the "5G" M5 Fusion which lacks Ethernet and LTE antenna jacks.

 

Soon, I may just need to buy a nice Samsung LTE table and use that for a hot spot for my iPad and laptop (-:  

Model: MR1100|Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router
Message 16 of 27

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

LTE CAT 20, DL support up to 2Gbps speeds sounds great, 

but what about wi-fi connection? Is it still 2x2 mimo as it is in MR1 1100 ?


With ethernet limited to 500Mbps and Wi-Fi connection limited to 867 Mb[s (2x2 mimo 5gh 80mhz wide channel) we will never reach more than 867Mbps ....

Message 17 of 27

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

@Apollon you know YOU can always choose NOT to respond to "regular users" "chiming in". Otherwise you are only encouraging the silly unwashed plebs to engage with your higher intellect...

Message 18 of 27
Duncant
Aspirant

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Any ideas when this will be released in the UK?

Message 19 of 27
TeeJay74
Virtuoso

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Hopefully during Q3, EE UK model expected first.
Message 20 of 27
Binno
Aspirant

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

For your kind info please the MR2100 has just been uploaded on the Netgear UK web site . Availability coming soon.

Message 21 of 27
mckenzieaj
Aspirant

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

In Australia you seem to be able to only buy the Telstra model.  The firmware has removed the IP Passthrough (Bridge Mode) option.  A frustrating step back from the MR1100.  Hopefully this returns soon!

 

 

Message 22 of 27
Apollon
Apprentice

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

@TeeJay74 Any updates on US availability? We're in Q3 2019 already, and the device is already widespread accross EU and AUS. That available version doesn't support any North American LTE bands.

Message 23 of 27
TeeJay74
Virtuoso

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

Hi,

 

No real updates about that. Checked Netgear US website and did not find MR2100 there. I think product should first appear US website when release is approaching.

Message 24 of 27
JSchnee21
Virtuoso

Re: difference in Nighthawk M2 MR2100 & M1 MR1100

OMG, is the MR2100 ever coming to AT&T?  I cannot believe the MR1100 (which I have) is still $250 and is slower than ever -- I never break 100 Mbps on this device, usually its more like 10-60Mbps.   And this is on the "5GE" Philadelphia network.  In contrast I get over >100Mbps nearly everywhere on my iPhone, sometimes >200Mbps.

 

My ZTE Velocity2 (no longer offered for sale) is just as fast as the MR1100, and much more stable.  I've thought about getting a Velocity Explore or Express, but honestly the Netgear firmware is so poor, and so infrequently updated, I'm fairly skeptical.

 

 

Model: MR1100|Nighthawk M1 Mobile Router
Message 25 of 27
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