Best LTE Router for T-Mobile with Powerful WiFi: Alternatives to D-Link DWR 921 in Stare Babice

Hello, because I have a weak neostrada connection, I decided to try LTE. I have about 1km to the T-Mobile mast on ul. Kutrzeba in Stare Babice so I decided to try it with T-Mobile LTE.
Well, I have a problem with the router. The package offer D Link DWR 921 but as I checked it does not have the best reviews.
The offer of LTE modems is not very large and the price range is very large. I have read the reviews of probably all available in popular stores on the internet and I still do not know anything because everyone has nothing.
For me, the most important thing is that besides work stability and the best possible LTE signal acquisition, it should have the best range when it comes to wifi. I can add some repeater (quite a big house + garden) but maybe it could be avoided?
What do you recommend? This D Link DWR 921 is actually weak as they write?

Do not take this router, from this forum I learned that it is an old equipment. They gave it to me in Plus. Very poor network diagnostics. Poor WiFi signal on the house (I had to buy extender), my previous router was much better in terms of coverage and I did not have to buy any wifi / extender amplifiers, but it was for a non-sim card. Generally, people here know each other will better speak about this equipment, but I would personally look around for something else.

Who proposed this monument from 5 years ago to LTE in T-mobile? You have to be ignorant to suggest it to you and you would commit an unforgivable mistake. Did you do any T-Mobile tests at your home, what is the offer?

@akso Many thanks for the opinion.
@ matek451 Yes, in T-mobile. That's what I suspected that they might be squeezing something bad. The offer is about PLN 50 net (I do not remember exactly). Equipment without contract for 2 years. With this D link for 3 years. As I check the speedtest on my phone the results are very different. In the part of the house that is further away from the mast, sometimes there is no LTE only 3G and then it shows some 3MB. As I am by the mast side window, the results on LTE are from 10 to 40 MB depending on where I check and at what time.

The consultant in the salon is a smart man but a different one. He has no clue about equipment and even worse about his own network. He wanted to scold you. T-Mobile has got BTS with Kutrzeba own LTE2600 and LTE800, and LTE1800NetWorks which it uses together with Orange. On BTS, the aggregation of these LTE-A bands is so obvious that you need a router with LTE-A bandwidth aggregation to get the best speeds. At T-mobile, this router is B525. There are scripts, programs that will allow for the aggregation of LTE2600 + 1800, LTE2600 + 800 or LTE1800 + 800. Router worth about PLN 500. Only this router is used in the subscription for companies, the rest is museum trash. It is possible that you will need an antenna for the selected band / band, but this is only after testing.

@ matek451 Thanks a lot. You saved me because I was about to order it. It's about B525s (is that on their website)? Maybe it's better to buy it yourself than to take it from them? I do not know if it is possible but the one in the T-Mobile store probably has no USB.
So you may find that I can squeeze more on this router than it shows me the phone? Do you know how it looks in this B525 wifi coverage?

Generally, B525 offers Play and T-mobile in Poland. The Play models have a USB port for mass storage / printer support and the RJ11 port for the phone9 operates a GSM gateway, but VoIP is cut from FW from Play). Those with T-Mobile are neutered, have a blinded USB and RJ11 port and FW T-Mobile is very poor. This is the norm of a German, has long spoiled the equipment from Huawei. That's why these b525 from T-mobile are cheaper and worth from PLN 350-400. but they are suitable for LTE-A support, their functionality is provided by the appropriate script http://www.bez-kabli.pl/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=48555 here you have everything about the B525. In general, with LTE-A routers, it is worth thinking about b715, B618, B525 or E5186 if you would like to buy it yourself. I have E5186 from Plus for 16 months. It works perfectly with the Toolbox 0.9 software, thanks to which I am forced to extort LTE2600 + 1800 in Play and have DL over 160Mb / s. The newest of them is B715 with LTE 9 category aggregating 3 LTE bands, but he is only available in Play and as for now there are no sensible offers on Allegro or OLX. And as for the WiFi range, it is standard on routers working with 100mW similar power allowed by law. If the house is large, several-storey, an additional AP connected to the router using the main LAN cable or PLC transmitters on the electric network is used. The general rule in the home network is the stationary devices connect with a cable and mobile devices with WiFi. And this should be taken into account when constructing or renovating a house / apartment. We put cables to all rooms.

@ matek451 You helped me a lot. In case of this B525 (on the internet, also with the tip s or even s-23a), how do I buy on the open market, is there an option to force the LTE type or will I have to deal with some programs? Is it worth adding about PLN 200-300 to this E5186? Will I feel the difference?
PS I'm a bit afraid of this B525 from T-Mobile because I do not know if I can deal with this replacement of the software as you suggested.

In B525 with T-Mobile you do not change the software, for extorting LTE bands use external programs, scripts on your computer or phone. By joining them with B525 you manage it. You're not risking anything. It's the same with E5186 or B618. E5186 is the first Huawei LTE-A router, the predecessor of B525. You will buy for PLN 500. See B525 on OLX.

matek451 wrote:

Generally, B525 offers Play and T-mobile in Poland. The Play models have a USB port for mass storage / printer support and the RJ11 port for the phone9 operates a GSM gateway, but VoIP is cut from FW from Play). Those with T-Mobile are neutered, have a blinded USB and RJ11 port and FW T-Mobile is very poor. This is the norm of a German, has long spoiled the equipment from Huawei. That's why these b525 from T-mobile are cheaper and worth from PLN 350-400. but they are suitable for LTE-A support, their functionality is provided by the appropriate script http://www.bez-kabli.pl/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=48555 here you have everything about the B525. In general, with LTE-A routers, it is worth thinking about b715, B618, B525 or E5186 if you would like to buy it yourself. I have E5186 from Plus for 16 months. It works perfectly with the Toolbox 0.9 software, thanks to which I am forced to extort LTE2600 + 1800 in Play and have DL over 160Mb / s. The newest of them is B715 with LTE 9 category aggregating 3 LTE bands, but he is only available in Play and as for now there are no sensible offers on Allegro or OLX. And as for the WiFi range, it is standard on routers working with 100mW similar power allowed by law. If the house is large, several-storey, an additional AP connected to the router using the main LAN cable or PLC transmitters on the electric network is used. The general rule in the home network is the stationary devices connect with a cable and mobile devices with WiFi. And this should be taken into account when constructing or renovating a house / apartment. We put cables to all rooms.

Now I am thinking about changing the router .... E5186 is still priced ok, but this B715 is a cosmos (over 1k zlotys). I need to think about it before buying the external antenna for DWR-921.

So far, this B715 has been available in Play for three weeks and for now there is no one on the free market, hence prices. over time they should be lower, so it was with all routers from LTE-A and earlier LTE. In T-Mobile you take B525, you can always sell it and exchange it for another. Of course, do not take DWR-921 because nobody wants it anymore. Antenna only after testing individual bands.

I have one more question because a little poorly with the availability of these routers or B525 from PLAY has any hardware or soft limitations and something different from the operator's logo differs from the original one?

B525 in the subscription T-mobile gave individual and companies is available in the online store, so t-Mobile has them. If you want to take a deal in the salon, it's their problem to download it, you are only interested in this router and if they want to sell you an offer, let them bring it from the warehouse. It is not the time for the client to accept everything, the competition is waiting. If you want to buy B525, B618 or E5186 from the free market, why do you need a subscription at T-Mobile? You buy a router with LTE-A alone and you use the service Free unlimited LTE internet in Play on the card RBM on the card 5 from the RWK. Monthly cost for a minimum of 100GB with full speed is 5 PLN / month. After 100GB, they can cut up to 2Mb / s, in practice even up to 150GB per max. and if it is not enough for you, you use several cards in turn, I use 4 cards from 46 times myself. Without a contract, I have about PLN 600-800GB for PLN 20. Subscription in T-Mobile only makes sense with B525 equipment and unlimited service for 79.99 for individual for 2 years or for 59 net for Companies but also for B525. You have coverage in Play from BTS at Kościuszko. It works with LTE2600, LTE1800, LTE2100 and LTE800 and aggregates of all LTE-A bands, even 3 LTE2600 + 1800 + 800 bands on the appropriate equipment, i.e. B715. B525 from Play is better than with T-mobile because it has USB, supports mass storage and printer (print server) and RJ11 connector to the phone (GSM gateway works on it). In FW, he only has a VoIP cut out. This is not the case of the B525 neuter with t-mobile, but LTE-A LTE-A LTE aggregation with two LTE bands is enough. To sum up, the subscription in T-Mobile is only from B525. And you give this opinion to the consultant in the salon, there is no router there is no contract.

@ matek451 Thanks. In that case, I misunderstood you. I thought that this B525 from T-Mobile is not suitable for anything so I took without the equipment for 2 years (1 quarter for 1 PLN, then 50 PLN net / month for the company) and the router I wanted to buy myself. I have not bought a router yet. The card goes to me but I have 14 days to withdraw. So I think I'll try again, I do not know if it will pass. I arranged it with a consultant on the phone.

And what is this contract for 3 years with the equipment? This for 2 years without what and for how much? When concluding a contract, we always force a consultant to give us the rules prior to giving her consent by e-mail or we ourselves look for the regulations on the operator's website. What do you contract for 2 years without equipment ?, probably expensive and unprofitable. After all, in Play without a contract there is 100GB for 5 PLN / month and you have to buy the equipment yourself. coverage in Play is not worse. Send the courier without signing it for two years, and order a subscription with B525 for two years. The B525 from T-mobile is cut but still worth PLN 400 and the functions of the LTE-A router meet.

@ matek451 Thanks again. You were right. I've fixed my mistake. In fact, I wanted to make senseless. I canceled this order and changed it for 2 years (50 PLN / month net) with B525 for 99 PLN once. Interestingly, the offer without equipment for 2 years was almost the same (1 quarter was for 1 PLN, then 50 PLN / month net) but taking into account how much I would have to spend on this router, the difference is considerable.

The latest WiFi router Huawei B618 provides a good WiFi signal.