Vodafone UK Launch New 5G TCL HH500V GigaCube Router
New customers of Vodafone‘s ultrafast 5G mobile based broadband packages may be interested to know that they’ve just introduced a new router to the bundle, which is named as the TCL HH500V GigaCube. In addition, their plans are currently half price for the first 6 months of service.
According to the announcement, Vodafone’s new 5G based TCL GigaCube HH500V router is “capable of speeds up to 2.8Gbps,” but that is of course a theoretical figure and you’re highly unlikely to ever get even close to that in the real-world today. Otherwise, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 chipset, includes dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (4X4 MU-MIMO) and can connect up to 64 devices at once.
On top of that the router includes 1 x 2.5Gb LAN / WAN port, 1 x Gigabit LAN port, 1 x TS9 port (external antenna), 1 x nano-SIM slot, memory of 256MB NAND flash + 512MB DDR3L and has the following dimensions – 115 x 115 x 204 mm (weight 900g), as well as the usual ports for power and a WPS button.
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So far as we can tell, it also supports the following 5G bands (n1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79) and 4G bands (B1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46). Overall, this is a pretty solid piece of kit and one that would normally retail for just shy of the £400 mark. Suffice to say that customers would be better taking it as part of Vodafone’s 5G broadband package.
The plans themselves normally cost from £30 per month for a 100GB data allowance (plus £100 upfront), rising to £40 per month for 200GB (£50 upfront) or £60 per month for unlimited usage (£50 upfront) on a 24-month minimum contract term. As above, these are currently discounted at half price for the first six months (i.e. £15, £20 and £30 per month respectively). Offer ends 29th November 2021.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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I got that router from Amazon tcl home station link hub 5g cpe £400 brand new unlocked
Hi Paul, could you tell me if that router allows fall over through the wan socket, please ? Vodafone last HUAWEI gigacube didn’t have that facility and it was getting tedious to disconnect/reconnect the cable with either connection failed. Thanks in advance for looking this up for me. 🙂
I wouldn’t know as no 5g coverage in my postcode yet so it’s still sealed wrapped until 5g is here
Ok no problem. Hoping you’ll get 5G soon in your area 🙂
2.5G ethernet is a nice addition. But only 1xTS9 ?? So you’re not going to be doing MIMO with external antennae then I guess.
The main problem I see with 5G CPE at the moment is it’s price. I was tempted to upgrade to a Huawei 5G CPE 2 the other day, until I see that the price gougers now want £450-500 for it when it probably is worth about $50.
Which marketing droid thought up the name “Gigacube”? It’s a cylinder!!
I’ve had two of the things and they’re crap both died within weeks of each other
lol, I ordered this a couple weeks ago. It just arrived. But they’re sneakily sending out the old CPE, the Huawei one, not the TCL.
The Huawei model was a fine piece of kit in its day, but the TCL one is newer, supports more 5G bands, and has a better theoretical maximum speed. So I’m unimpressed.
Anyone knows where I can find TCL 5G CPE cheaper than amazon please let me know
I’m using it right now in 5g nsa
I’m really not impressed at all.
You cannot select 4g bands.
You cannot select 5g bands.
TS9 connectors are 5g only i guess.. as i do not have any gain
Worst 5g router tried so far.
I prefer by far zte mc801a, chateau 5g, mr5200, zte mu5001, huawei cpe pro, cpe pro 3 – all tested routers..
In few days i will post a video, in italian.. but the quick review is A BIG NO.