Which 5G Router is best for use with an external 5G Antenna?

The Best 5G Router for Use with External Antennas

If you’re looking for a 5G router with an embedded 5G modem and SIM slot for your home, office, or M2M/IoT remote management and monitoring applications, and you know that the indoor cellular 5G signal is poor (or you only receive LTE/4G signal indoors), but the outdoor signal is strong, then you will likely need an outdoor 5G antenna.

Choosing the Best 5G Router for External Antennas

1. External Antenna Connectors

The first consideration is whether the 5G router has external antenna connectors. For instance, the Huawei 5G CPE PRO 3 router does not have any external antenna connections. While you can modify it to include 4×4 MiMo antenna connectors for an additional £150 to £200, it might be more cost-effective to purchase a 5G router that already includes these connections.

2. Number of External Antenna Connections

Next, consider the number of external antenna connections. Many 5G routers, such as the Zyxel NR5101, come with only two external antenna connectors. However, the 5G modem inside the router typically uses four antennas. This means you won’t get optimal performance from a router with only 2×2 MiMo antenna connections. While such routers will work well with a 2×2 MiMo 5G antenna, they won’t provide the best 5G internet connection in terms of data throughput and stability if the router is in a poor signal location but the antenna is outdoors with a strong signal.

3. Optimal Solution: 4×4 MiMo External Antenna Connections

The best solution is a 5G router with 4×4 MiMo external antenna connections. Some home and office 5G routers, like the EE 5G Router (Zyxel NR5103), feature this but use TS9 antenna connections. Most 4×4 MiMo 5G antennas have SMA connections, so you would need TS9 to SMA adapters, which add extra cost and potential signal leakage.

Recommended 5G Router

For the best performance, choose a 5G router with 4x SMA antenna connections for 5G. This setup allows direct connection to your 4×4 MiMo 5G antenna without the need for adapters. We recommend the Teltonika RUTX50, which provides reliable, secure, high-speed 5G internet connectivity, especially when used with an outdoor 4×4 MiMo 5G antenna.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you select the best 5G router for use with external antennas, optimizing your internet connection for both speed and stability.