Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot Router Review

If you are on a wireless plan, it is imperative to ensure that you are getting the best from your internet connection. It can be frustrating to pay for a fast, unlimited internet plan, only to experience buffering and slow connections on your devices.

It can also be a challenge when you cannot connect all your devices to your network at once. Investing in the best, latest WiFi hotspot device like Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router can help you optimize your network and connect all your devices at once.

As one of the world’s first Gigabit-class LTE mobile routers, the Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router offers ultra-fast combined speeds of up to 1Gbps and connects up to 20 devices, providing the best internet possible.

It is not the cheapest, but it offers much more value for its money thanks to the Category 16 LTE support with 4-band carrier aggregation and offloading capabilities. Being one of the most popular Netgear WiFi routers, we take time in this article to delve deeper into Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router capabilities and functionality.

How Does a Nighthawk Router Work

A WiFi router helps to create a network by sending data packets between the connected devices. The communication can be to or from the internet or from one device to another. The Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router can connect up to 20 devices to the internet.

It can also help you stream media with a connected device from a microSD card or USB device. The routers use IP addresses to communicate between different devices to ensure data is relayed to the correct receiver. A router can also keep your data secure by offering encryption, making it difficult for hackers to steal your data.

Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot Router Review

The Nighthawk M1 mobile hotspot router is a superfast device that delivers incredible download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps. It supports 4GX LTE Category 16 with 4-band carrier aggregation, providing the best possible connection from your internet plan.
The M1 router is effective if you are looking to optimize your internet connection. It helps increase network performance and reduce interference with 802.11ac and dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz dual concurrent WiFi.

It is not the cheapest, but it offers much more value for its money thanks to the Category 16 LTE support with 4-band carrier aggregation and offloading capabilities. Being one of the most popular Netgear WiFi routers, we take time in this article to delve deeper into Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router capabilities and functionality.

Nighthawk M1 LTE Mobile Hotspot Router: Complete Details

The Nighthawk M1 mobile hotspot router is a superfast device that delivers incredible download speeds of up to 1 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps. It supports 4GX LTE Category 16 with 4-band carrier aggregation, providing the best possible connection from your internet plan.

The M1 Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router improves your entertainment experience by streaming media from USB, microSD, or hard drive to all connected devices.

The functionality of the M1 Netgear mobile router extends to your home security. It supports the Arlo smart home security system, working as the base station for the Arlo camera. You also do not have to worry about overloading the device. It comes with WiFi and Ethernet offloading capabilities to relieve network congestion.

nighthawk lte mobile hotspot router

The M1 router is effective if you are looking to optimize your internet connection. It helps increase network performance and reduce interference with 802.11ac and dual-band 5 GHz/2.4 GHz dual concurrent WiFi.

The effectiveness of the Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router goes beyond the performance aspect. It is easy to use and comes with an intuitive Netgear app-driven app that offers a simple way to manage connected devices, monitor data usage, and change network settings.

It also features a powerful, long-lasting battery that keeps you connected all day. You can also use it as a power source for your handheld devices. It comes with a JumpBoost feature that you can use to charge your smartphone. Installation is quick and you do not need any software to set up the router.

Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot Features in Details

You can use the Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router for all your internet connection needs at home or the move or office. You will find it effective in streaming your favorite videos at home, as a media hub on the way. It has a small size that lets you easily carry it with you on your travels, keeping you and your team connected at all times.

You can further use it to secure your internet network in hotels. You only need to connect it to a hotel Ethernet cable to receive secured internet on all your WiFi devices. If you have movie downloads on a USB drive, microSD, or external device, you can connect it to the router to watch the movie on any connected WiFi device.

Nighthawk LTE Mobile Hotspot

Design

The M1 bridges the gap between a hotspot and a travel router. It is relatively big, measuring 4.15 by 4.15 by 0.8 inches. The large size enables it to accommodate the big removable 5040mAh battery and a wide selection of ports.

Also, it comes with TS-9 main and secondary connectors, a USB type-A, a USB Type-C, and an Ethernet port for greater functionality. It has a useful 2.4-inch LCD panel that lets you easily monitor your internet connection, signal strength, and network management information. Also, it is lightweight enough for all your travels, only weighing 0.53 lbs.

Connectivity

The M1 Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router has a Qualcomm MDM9x50 chipset. It supports LTE Category 16 and a host of bands, including 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, and 41. The router does not support 2G networks, but you can use 3G using bands 1, 2, 5, and 8. It has theoretically top speeds of 150Mbps for uploads and 1GBT for downloads.

It has high network attenuation, ensuring strong connections. This Netgear WiFi hotspot device supports dual-band Wi-Fi with three levels of transmission power. You can switch to dual-band mode or medium transmit power within a short distance or the long WiFi range mode for a greater radius.

It works with WiFi 5 and IEEE 802.11 ac standard, guaranteeing improved connectivity. The router further comes with an offloading feature that lets you connect to existing wireless or wired connection for data savings. The offloading feature is useful when staying in a hotel.

Input/output options

The Nighthawk M1 comes with USB Type-A and USB Type-C, with the latter being the router’s charger. You can use both USB ports to connect to media servers and NAS drives. This WiFi hotspot device also works with microSD cards, supporting FAT16, FAT32, NTFS, HFS, and HFS+file systems.

You can also use the router as a base for Arlo surveillance cameras. The unit has an LCD display that lets you learn about your router details, including signal strength and settings. Furthermore, it has an Ethernet port that supports up to 100Mbps. In areas with poor network signals, you can connect external antennas to the two available TS-9 connectors for improved strength.

Usability

The Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router is easy to set up and use. It does not software installation to use the router. You only need to insert a micro SIM card and switch on the router to create your networks. However, it is always good to configure the unit before using it.

You can download a Netgear mobile app from your app store to change the network settings, monitor data usage, and manage the device. You can keep an eye on the volume of data used, network signal, and settings on the LCD display and easily change the details through the app.

Power

You will not have to worry about running out of power. The router comes with a big, powerful removable 5040mAh battery for all-day use. You can use the router to charge your smartphone, keeping you connected even when you are on the move.

For extended remote use, you can purchase a second battery together with the router. If you run out of power, you can quickly charge the battery in about two and half hours.

Buying Nighthawk M1 LTE Mobile Hotspot Worthy

  • Easy management: Netgear mobile hotspot routers are easy to use and come with fundamental management features. They have a user-centric design for straightforward usability. You do not need an IT expert or a complicated user manual to use a Netgear WiFi hotspot device.
  • Flexibility: Whether you need an office, home, or a portable router, the Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router is a multi-purpose device you can use at home or office. It will also work while on the move or in a hotel.
  • Functionality: Netgear hotspot routers come with powerful PoE and PoE+ that deliver up to 30W per port. A single wire can deliver network and power connectivity to all your PoE+ devices like IP Cameras, access points, VoIP phones, wireless access points, security door locks, and other IoT PoE-powered devices. You can use the Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router as a base for your Arlo camera.
  • User-friendly Web-based GUI: You can quickly set your router through a responsive web GUI or mobile app with full access to data monitor, device settings, and parental controls.
  • Quiet operation: The Netgear devices have a silent operation, enabling you to place them on a working desk without worrying about noise. They are also mount-ready, allowing you to place them at the most convenient location for optimal utilization.
  • Easy troubleshooting:You can easily troubleshoot a Netgear WiFi hotspot device if you run into trouble with a straightforward app. You can blacklist and whitelist devices and sites, block entire on a schedule, and set up separate networks.
  • More value: Netgear routers deliver more than what you would expect from a router. While other routers help you create a home network, the Nighthawk mobile router is compatible with the Arlo security system and comes with an improved JumpBoost feature to charge your portable devices. It also supports USB, microSD, and external drives for media streaming.

How to Setup Nighthawk Router

Installing and setting up your Nighthawk router is easy and flawless. You can use the following steps.

  1. Place your router in an open area or at the center of your home.
  2. Download a mobile app or use a web-based GUI to configure your router.
  3. Follow on-screen instructions to set up the router and save the changes.
  4. Change the default username and password.
  5. Test the network with a connected device to see if it is working.
  6. Update the Netgear Router firmware version.

How to Choose a Best Hotspot Device

Internet Speed

Your router’s speed means nothing if your ISP internet connection is not fast. The router speeds will only be as fast as the slowest point of connection between your home and ISP. Although an unlocked Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router can work with all cell phone carriers, it works best on AT&T and T-Mobile networks.

Make sure that your ISP internet connection is fast before you can buy a unit with exceptional speeds. Nevertheless, a super-fast router can improve your productivity as it can hit top speeds when moving a file between devices on the network.

WiFi Technology

Like every other tech industry, WiFi devices are getting better. Despite WiFi 5 still being new, WiFi 6 is already available. The newest, fastest Netgear WiFi hotspot devices feature WiFi 6. A hotspot unit that supports WiFi 6 can hit top speeds with ease.

The WiFi 6 capable hotspot devices offer greater functionality than older units. However, some earlier devices can compete with the latest WiFi 6 units.

The Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router was one of the super-fast routers with speeds of up to 1 GHz. It also supports media streaming to connected devices from microSD cards, USBs, and external storage. Furthermore, the WiFi 6E units with greater capability than WiFi 6 routers are expected to start hitting stores soon.

Internet Coverage

A super-fast router will give you top upload and download speeds. However, if you would like to use the network while in other rooms or outdoors, you will need a router with strong coverage. The Nighthawk LTE hotspot router has three coverage options, enabling you to customize the coverage distance depending on your needs.

Conclusion

Although Nighthawk LTE mobile hotspot router is a bit more pricey and big than most competition, it is a perfect router for those who need greater value. It can connect up to 20 devices and stream media from MicroSD cards, USB, and external devices. It can also charge your portable devices, thanks to its big, powerful battery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is There A Way To Get An Unlimited Hotspot?

Yes. You only need to look for a cell phone carrier with an unlimited wireless plan that supports an unlimited hotspot. However, it is important to note that some carriers reduce the speed once you reach a specific quota.

Can A Hotspot Replace Home Internet?

It depends on how much data you need a month and your mobile plan hotspot data quota. A hotspot can replace low and moderate internet needs, but you may need home internet if you are a heavy data user.

Is 50GB Enough For 1 Month?

It depends on the user’s internet needs and habits. It is adequate for most people with low and moderate internet needs, but it may not be adequate for heavy internet users.

Related Artiles