MR6500 Help

Topics for Netgear Nighthawks MRxxxx Series Hotspots
Post Reply
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Hello,
I am pretty new to modding on routers, and for the past couple of days I've been reading.

My main issue is the internet speed is horrendous when using my sim with the MR6500, the speed is around 40 Mbps, while my older router does 200+Mbps.

Some guidance would be appreciated.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Quick update I am using a sim in the router and from the looks of it, only the LTE bands are active.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Ok, looking into it more looks like my m6 router is not set to the correct band hence bottlenecking my speeds.

My older router uses the B20 band and dual-band mode (ENDC) is N78.

Now i need to figure out how to set them up and get it to work.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

So far unsuccessful in trying to do this, I am going to wait on some help before I do something irreversible.
Orlimar1
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Orlimar1 »

What plan are you trying to use in it? Other modem/routers have very simple band locking to allow you to choose which bands YOU want to use. They also allow simple imei or ttl changes.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

@Orlimar1 I am sorry, but I did not understand what u ment by plan.
Orlimar1
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Orlimar1 »

DonKx wrote: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:19 pm @Orlimar1 I am sorry, but I did not understand what u ment by plan.

What cellular company are you using? Also which (exact name) plan are you using?

So say T-Mobile and a $10 Business Magenta tablet plan/line.

The mr6500 was made specifically for ATT. So if you're using someone else it may not be the best experience. For example T-Mobile's 5g band n41 is where they get their crazy speeds. The mr6500 doesn't receive n41.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Oh, well, I am using the router outside the US. The sim is from a cellular company called Zain in the Middle East.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Hmm, looking closer, they carrier Zain offers the MR6400-1Z1MES. Should I be fine flashing that fw onto my router and see for results, or will that brick my router ?
Orlimar1
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Orlimar1 »

I know I've seen people talking of swapping the fw on those nighthawks. I'm sure if you Google it you should be able to find it. However I'm sure there are always risks involved.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

i already have the fw for ig ill proceed
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Still got the slow speed issue, it looks my router is only utilizing the 4g bands ? Idk what I am doing wrong.
Orlimar1
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Orlimar1 »

DonKx wrote: Wed Mar 19, 2025 3:42 am Still got the slow speed issue, it looks my router is only utilizing the 4g bands ? Idk what I am doing wrong.
What exact carrier and exact plan are you using in it?

Has the plan been setup for 5g use?

APN correct for 5g?
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Zain

Yes

I think so ?
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

Do I have to manually set up the APN ?
Orlimar1
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Orlimar1 »

Since that device is made for AT&T I'm the USA I'm guessing thenapn is set to either broadband or broadband. Very doubtful those work for Zain. But if you've changed the firmware to an unlocked mr6xxxx device that may be a moot point.
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

i managed to swap the firmware around, i just need to unlock the correct bands
Orlimar1
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Orlimar1 »

DonKx wrote: Thu Mar 20, 2025 6:11 am i managed to swap the firmware around, i just need to unlock the correct bands
I’m just providing a data point. Here in the US on that device if you use apn broadband it’s LTE only. Same device but if you have a 5g plan you have to use nrbroadband to get 5g access/bands.
Dry_run26
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2025 12:30 pm
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Dry_run26 »

I'm in Kuwait also with same issue! it was working fine till a couple weeks ago when service went black and came back and my puck has been throttled. looking for a way ahead as well so i can actually have good speed again.

i am on LTE B3 Radio Band and 5GSUBB6 PS Service Type
DonKx
Posts: 13
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:13 am
Has thanked: 0
Been thanked: 0

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by DonKx »

hmm @Dry_run26 can you let me know how you have your router setup ?
Orlimar1
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2020 2:38 pm
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 7 times

Re: MR6500 Help

Post by Orlimar1 »

Dry_run26 wrote: Fri Mar 21, 2025 12:32 pm I'm in Kuwait also with same issue! it was working fine till a couple weeks ago when service went black and came back and my puck has been throttled. looking for a way ahead as well so i can actually have good speed again.

i am on LTE B3 Radio Band and 5GSUBB6 PS Service Type
Does the plan you're using throttle after using a certain amount of hotspot data?

If so have you made adjustments for ttl's? If you look at your account have you maxed out your hotspot usage and are now being throttled?
Post Reply

Return to “Nighthawks MR1100 - MR5200 (M1...M5...)”