Reddit reviews NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Router MR1100-100NAS - Up to 1Gbps Speed | Connect Up to 20 Devices | Create WLAN Anywhere | Unlocked to Use Any Sim Card-Contact Your Carrier for Data Plan
We found 5 Reddit comments about NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Router MR1100-100NAS - Up to 1Gbps Speed | Connect Up to 20 Devices | Create WLAN Anywhere | Unlocked to Use Any Sim Card-Contact Your Carrier for Data Plan. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
CONNECTED & PROTECTED ANYWHERE Create your own secure WLAN and share it with others when traveling for business or on holiday when outdoors or to replace your home DSL coverageSTAY PRODUCTIVE This MR1100-100NAS can share WiFi internet access with up to 20 devicesUnlocked device will accept all SIM cards; works best on AT&T (contact AT&T for data plan) and T-Mobile (contact T-Mobile for data plan) networks.Unlocked device for 3G/4G LTE internet access around the world using your provider's SIM cardDATA SHARING & MEDIA STREAMING One USB port shares storage for data or personal media streaming with connected wireless devicesLONG BATTERY LIFE 5040 mAh rechargeable battery powers all day continuous use and allows easy charging of other USB devicesINTUITIVE COLOR DISPLAY Large 2 4 inches LCD screen provides data usage monitoring mobile signal strength and network management information
First, go to Antenna Search and locate the tower you want to pull from. Then find the contact person for that tower by clicking on it. Email that person explaining your problem, and then you'll have a local expert helping you out.
When I ran in to this issue I got 2 yagi antenna, the proper low loss cabling, the adapters to connect to the antenna and to my hotspot, a mounting pole, and put them at a 45 degree angle pointed right at my tower. Then I set the band priority on the hotspot based on what the tower tech told me was the optimal band coming from that tower.
When you get in to the world trying to optimize your LTE connection, you will probably want to join up with the LTE Hacks group on facebook.
u/chrisprice tried to say the MR1100-100NAS I linked to was not compatible with t-Mobile, I talked with Netgear, and he is spreading missinformation
This link IS NOT for the international version
Please read comments below
There is a non att version of the nighthawk now: NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot Router (MR1100) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G5KWZ3H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tRwoDbQ21H39E
you definitely want the nighthawk. the lb1120 is missing a lot of bands. even if the site near you isnt broadcasting the full suite of bands yet, it will eventually and youll want to be able to take advantage of it.
edit:
just to expand so it doesnt sound like im not explaining why:
lb1120: LTE Category 4 (up to 150 Mbps): B2, 4, 5, 12
mr1100: LTE CAT 16, 4-band CA and 4x4 MIMO
LTE/4G Bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 14, 29, 30, 66
having b14 and b30 will be very helpful as theyre deployed a lot in suburban/rural areas and b66 will be helpful too if att deploys it in your area.
definitely worth it to be futureproof.
you can grab an unlocked/unbranded one on amazon warehouse for $245, just damaged box, im actually getting one myself today.
NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Router MR1100 - Up to 1Gbps Download Speed | WiFi Connect up to 20 Devices | Create a WLAN Anywhere | Unlocked to Use Any SIM Card https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G5KWZ3H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YYLHDbMKZRFWG
NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot Router (MR1100) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G5KWZ3H/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_lYd7CbDZDTCE0
I was pulling from these reviews and misremembered what the person said. They said it was AT&T capped at 20gb not 50gb. Seemed expensive too they mentioned something around $80 for that initial 20gb.
Cellular is going to be pretty awful for gaming, but if that's the only option, then it is what it is.
If You Are Set On Cellular
If you are really set on Cellular/LTE, I like your LHG LTE idea. This unit mounted 10M high with a cheapo rohn tower would definitely do the trick. Fresnel zone is going to be BIGGER in the LTE bands than in 5Ghz (lower frequency is bigger fresnel), so you may need to go higher on the tower. I can't give you feedback here without knowing how far from the tower your friend is. IIRC most cell phones have between 0 and -3dB gain antennas, which means an antenna bringing +17db may actually get you to "four bars" at your friend's house.
There are much better LTE CPE (customer premise equipment) devices, such as this netgear integrated router. You are looking for a device with a higher category number to have the opportunity to have more throughput from your link if the carrier supports it and allows it.
You can also probably find an "unlimited" cell phone plan SIM and then modify the router to not decrement TTL on packets that it NATs. That will allow you to use the unlimited data tied to your phone SIM without the carrier knowing.
Please Find A WISP
Having said ALL OF THAT, as a guy who runs a WISP, you really should spend some time looking for a WISP. I'm not aware of any WISPs that make a habit of re-selling cellular carriers' service. Those companies are called MVNO's (mobile virtual network operators) and they are a different beast. A WISP is going to bring a lot of things to the table, including probably more speed, maybe lower latency, and maybe no data caps. As /u/jimbouse said, there's almost certainly one that services the area near your friend's house.