Choosing a 4G internet modem: TCL Linkhub HH130V1 LTE vs Huawei B535 - experiences and opinions

Hello, I would like to ask you a question about the TCL Linkhub HH130v1 LTE router, I have 4G Internet in Orange and my contract is expiring, I am considering choosing a new modem, currently I have Huawei B535. I use a transmitter located almost 7KM away using a double directional external e-waste antenna. I have forced 2100 2600 and the internet works at 20mb-30mb/s, Ping in online games is quite satisfactory. The range at 2100 is 2 lines, 2600 is barely there, but it`s still the best configuration from what I tested. I call the antenna "electronic waste" because after setting it to 800, 1800, 2100, it somehow pulls the signal from a remote BTS in the opposite direction, which has the 800 1800 bands. I wonder if using a router that aggregates 4 bands (I mean TCL Linkhub HH130v1 LTE, but I`m not sure if this is actually the case because I can`t find the specification for this thing) will be able to download the signal from the BTS located 6 km away on 4 bands. And here I have an important question, does anyone know if there is any software for this router that allows for band enforcement.

The name is directional, so I assumed it should work at a certain constant angle
And are you able to determine whether, with a router supporting 4 bands, the best BTS will still be the one closest to the BTS, or is there any option to aggregate all 4 bands from the farther one?

The option of forcing BTSA over PCI sounds very nice, do you know if such devices are available in Orange or possibly another operator? I am considering Huawei B618 or B818, but availability is difficult, I have to confirm in the showroom if they have any more. A new ZTE is expected to appear in the next few days, unfortunately I don’t know what model yet. However, I have a feeling that such options only remain in more expensive equipment

I have the option of switching to ZTE MF258K, but from what I see, it has its own antenna and I do not see any such inputs for the antenna I have. I looked at the specification of this ZTE and for a user who is not very knowledgeable in this area, it looks very encouraging, from what I read, the choice of bands is possible in this model, just like in the case of my Huawei. Can anyone tell if this set will be able to catch the same range as my current one?
My current antenna is an older model of this one:
https://allegro.pl/oferta/antena-dual-3g-4g-l...1eWVyOzljNzVkYmVjYWQ2MWQ0OTVlN2E2OWU1NjY0OTI2 NDc0NTEyM2EzNGY4ODdmNWMyNzg1Y2Y2YTZiZDdlM2I1Mjg=

And first, I would like to ask for screenshots of the band management application on the B535 for each LTE band in turn, i.e. LTE2600/2100/1800/800. These technological wonders from Signaflex for Kołaki/Wola? You checked in the direction of Regimin.

These wonders are located in Regimin, I have never tried it on my own, moving the antenna to the other side of the building is not very practical for me. And I rather reject BTS in Kołaki, it seems to me that it is quite crowded.



I am unable to connect to 1800 and 800 on Regimin, it automatically changes to Kołaki

On LTE2600 the signal parameters are terrible, on LTE2100 a bit better but that`s not surprising, I advised against Signaflex, in the case of the B535, i.e. a router with 2CC CA and a NetWorks station where there are 4 or 3 LTE bands, the logical choice is the Dual LTE1800-2600MHz directional antenna because you use usually with LTE2600+2100, because this aggregation works on 15+15=30MHz of the band, or if the station does not have LTE2600, then with LTE2100+1800 on 25MHz. You are not interested in LTE800, so buying a broadband antenna was pointless. And the fact that Janusz buys from this dealer does not mean that he sells antennas. Marketing works wonders and 99.9% of people do not have even the slightest knowledge about mobile Internet, antennas and equipment.

So what do you propose? Will ZTE with its antenna give better results? I have the ability to change, so if possible, of course I prefer to change. I have big discounts on the bo and installment of this router, so it’s not a problem for me. Today I’m going to test it on the Play transmitter. If the results turn out to be quite "cool", I’m considering using 2 routers at once, one for Play and the other for Orange.

The key parameters are the signal parameters on LTE2600 and LTE2100, force them one by one on B535, disconnect the antenna, put it outside the window and do tests, show screenshots from the application and speed tests.

I'll figure something out tomorrow, I tested Play initially, and I don't have LTE coverage from Play on both my phone and the router without an antenna at home. Under the antenna, it is a pure lottery, it connects to a different BTS on each band. Nevertheless, it seems to me that Play would provide a higher transmission speed if the antenna actually worked in a specific direction. Tomorrow, when I have time, I will test the stability in online games, because I can't really complain about the Internet with Orange in this case.

Ok, I had some time and did a few tests without any antenna connected (what I wrote earlier that Play has no coverage at home is wrong information, I forgot to switch the antenna mode to internal).

Orange on the opposite side to the external antenna (BTS pins):


Play on the side opposite to the external antenna (I did not check 2600 because the transmitters on this side do not have the 2600 band):


Play from a window near an outdoor antenna:


Orange from the window near the outdoor antenna:


As it turns out, the most interesting signal is from Play, from BTS, from what I found out from Leśniewo Górny.


What do you think?

Throw away this attenuator pretending to be an antenna to an electrical scrap yard, the parameters on the router itself from the window are 9dB better on LTE2600 and LTE2100, and I wrote, don`t buy anything from new-electric, Signaflex and their clones. And Play is not surprising because BTS Janowięta operates on LTE2100+1800+800 and in the window there is poor coverage on LTE2600 from the Hospital.

I need the antenna because I use the Internet on the other side of the building and without it I have no way of placing the router in the right place. As for the antenna, it collects the signal from a transmitter located a little further away, in the city, if the antenna was directed there, the signal would probably be slightly better than from the router itself. The problem is that I don`t really want to use transmitters from the city if I can`t select a specific transmitter, I tried to do that once and the router can change between transmitters, which disqualifies this solution. But in general, you are probably right that the antenna is of very low quality.
In general, the best solution would probably be to switch to Play with a router that aggregates 3 bands. But I don`t really feel like taking out a subscription with Play, because in my case the costs will be up to twice as high per month as in Orange. I`m considering buying a prepaid one with 100GB for 30 days, a very cheap option, but unfortunately I won`t have a router here.
Therefore, if you could still express your opinion about ZTE MF258K. Can changing the current B535 to the ZTE one and placing its antenna in the current place so that the signal can be reconciled with the BTS in Regimin improve the speed? I am considering connecting one router to my parents (the current parameters from Play are completely sufficient for them), because they complain a lot about cable Internet, and I would use a better second one personally.

I do not deny the need to use an antenna, I wrote earlier that only capacitive bands count and that without an antenna you have no chance of getting them. But we are talking about the antenna, not Signaflex silencers. What you have does not improve the signal parameters, but significantly worsens them at 2100/2600MHz with Regimin. The test on B535 alone in the window showed sufficient signal parameters on LTE2600 and weaker on LTE2600, an effective Dual LTE1800-2600MHz antenna should improve them further.
As for PLAY, 500GB/month on 5 cards for PLN 4 each, i.e. PLN 20/month is a small cost. LTE2100+1800 aggregation, as I wrote from Janowiąty, but the LTE2600 test shows that there is a chance of aggregating 3 LTE2600+2100+1800 bands from the BTS at the Hospital. To Play with LTE2100+1800 from Janowiaty, all you need is a B535, aggregation of 3/4 LTE bands in Play or Orange, better equipment and an effective antenna are required. Where is this MF258k from, how much does it cost?

With Orange, the 500GB subscription is PLN 30/month and PLN 25 for MF258k, i.e. PLN 55 in total, I won't get a better offer anywhere in terms of price.

In the case of MF258k, those on unbranded software work OK, those from Play are problematic. I don`t know those from ORANGE because they are not on the market or in the offer for individual customers, the offer is OK. The antenna gain in MF258K is about 7-9dBi, but it has a very wide radiation angle in the horizontal plane, it should improve the signal parameters to about -100dBm on LTE2600 and to about -90dBm on LTE2100/1800 with Regimin.