Sponsored Links

Nokia FastMile 5G router - Any good?

@shantur the lack of available frequencies is a no for me.
  • Network frequencies: 5G: n78, 4G: B1, B3, B7, B28, B40 (2100, 1800, 2600, 700 and 2300Mhz)
5G is n78 only, so no n28 or n1 or n3 or n7 etc.

4G is missing B20, B8, B32, B38


If I remember correctly half of it is a Nokia N95.

Nokia have basically taped a 5G capable phone to one of their old Alcatel-Lucent routers and shipped it in a cylindrical box

He owned close to 10,000 of these Fastmiles, and needed to update them to later firmware versions prior to sale as earlier firmware versions are atrocious for stability.
That firmware issue is me out of this, an android 9 nokia 5g phone taped to a alcatel lucent router with dodgy firmware updates and poor network support does not endear me to the Nokia Fastmile.
 
Sponsored Links
@shantur - I by chance own one of these routers. It is super powerful, if not over-engineered!!

The response from @meritez is accurate, but it depends where you are situated. If you're out in the rural areas, the modem may not work well for you, but in built up metropolitan areas; such as in the city, band n78 is plentiful and the typical speeds I'm getting on smarty is circa 650megs down and 45megs up!! I'm going to move to an EE sim soon, as I found a data only sim which works out cheaper. Although this unit sits on 5G all the time for me - I have not tested it on 4G to know about the bands or the lack of them, but cellmapper.net shows me that most bands are 1 and 20 these days (around the city of london)

The Nokia router however claims to have a 11dB gain antenna, and there is no less than 20 antennas inside the thing. I opened it up as I was curious what made it so heavy. Its about 2kg+ in weight. Anyways, it looks cool on my windows sill and has served me well.

I too bought the device off tribz. It arrived via timed courier the next working day, so I was well chuffed. Now I'm going to scrap my ISP (sky) internet and save myself some money too.

Cheers!
Bunty
 
I'm looking for a low cost router to use with a Smarty or IDMobile.

Currently trying to decide between the Nokia Fastmile or ZTE MC801A.

My current understanding is that the ZTE has better specs and is more future proof, but I'm reading a lot about performance issues and firmware risk etc.

On the other hand there is far less information out there on first hand experience with the Fastmile. But what I can find is fairly positive.

Both are available used for similar prices.

Am I overthinking it, or are both good options?
 
Last time I looked into the Fastmile -
Appears to be 5G NSA Only
Only n78, no other 5G Bands
No External Antenna Support
No WiFi6

TBH, Im not a fan of the 801 either, too many many reports of Software Issues or being Bricked, reports of External Antenna Ports not active or not switchable, Antenna Ports only support 5G n78 (although this can sometimes help if you are only after the the higher 5G Band), could be Original Non Branded 801s are a different story on Software / Firmware reliability though.
 
Thanks for your input EssexBoy - it is much appreciated.

I think i'll try to nab an unbranded MC801A - CeX appear to have them on sale at a small uplift from the Three versions.
 
Sponsored Links
Thanks for your input EssexBoy - it is much appreciated.

I think i'll try to nab an unbranded MC801A - CeX appear to have them on sale at a small uplift from the Three versio

If you do go down this route, I'd be interested to see what turns up. The reviews suggest the 'unlocked' ones are three branded anyway.
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6024)
  2. BT (3639)
  3. Politics (2720)
  4. Business (2439)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2144)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1899)
  10. 4G (1814)
  11. Virgin Media (1763)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1405)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules