Wireless Joint

Hi everyone -

So I am trying to future proof myself and am currently running a CBA850/T-Mobile. Of course when looking at the 5G coverage map they say 5G is available in my area but how much marketing is there to believe .

I have bands (according to cellmapper.net) 2, 4, 12, 25, 66, 71 in my area within a 1-8 mile range of each other. Flat / trees. I am currently using two of these - https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/4g-lte ... l-antenna/ connected to the Cradlepoint CBA850.

Are there currently any routers out there whereas I can buy a 5G modem when they are out? Will this suffice -

Router - will this support Band 66 and 71? I think T-Mobile is using sub 600mHz?

https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/lte-routers/wg3526-p/

Antenna - also curious will this be a better antenna in general than the two listed above?

https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/wifi-a ... d-antenna/

Your CBA850LP6 is different than the other options out there. It came with a modem. Routers like the WG3526 you have to purchase a modem separately. The modem choice is where you want to look into 5G capabilty.

The WG3526 does not support the latest "5G" modems, as the 5G modems are longer, so it wont fit. The WG1608 on the other hand DOES support the longer 5G modem cards.

thewirelesshaven.com has the WG1608 in stock, its just not listed ... yet. Give it a day or so. They will show up.

The only true 5G modems available right now are hard to get and cost a lot more than 4G LTE modems. By at least 2x cost, BUT some of the latest Quectel modems coming out that are 4G support the NR 5G bands that are basically converted 5G bands. The EM160 by Quectel is an example of this. It has 4 antenna ports, for 4x4 MIMO, and is quite capable and has similar firmware to the Quectel 5G modems; like the RM500Q-GL.

Both the EM160 and RM500Q are on order and will arrive as soon as Quectel gets them to The Wireless Haven.

There are posts on here that list the available 5G modems. I only know of 2 ways you can use a Sub6 NR 5G modem. 1 is the WG1608 router, the other is a usb3 to M.2 5G modem adapter enclosure. Those are still being improved on, but will also be on thewirelesshaven.com pretty soon.