What is 4G LTE Data?
What is 4G LTE Data exactly and how does it relate to mobile hotspot connectivity speeds? Well, for starters, 4G LTE is not a measurement of internet speed. It is referencing the stage(s) in which cellular data has grown and become better and faster. There was first 2G, then 3G, 4G and very recently rolled out was 5G. Each rollout has resulted in overall better performance but the G is really nothing more than a marketing symbol.
In regards to 4G LTE, we will focus on the very large speed range and frequencies that make up the 4G LTE rollout. For evidence that 4G LTE is only a marketing term, the LTE stands for ‘Long Term Evolution’. Now, onto the semantics. 3G speeds are capped at 0.6Mbps or 600Kbps, while 4G LTE speeds can be as low as 1Mbps (1,000 Kbps) but as high as 100+Mbps (100,000+ Kbps). The common 4G frequencies on the cellular towers are LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 12 and 14. This can vary depending on the carrier, plus there are GSM frequencies and then there are CDMA frequencies.
The GSM frequencies are associated with carriers AT&T and T-Mobile (as well as their *MVNO’s) while the CDMA frequencies are associated with Verizon and the former Sprint (and their *MVNO’s). Varying bands will determine signal penetration outside, into a vehicle or into building material.
Bands 2 and 14 will generally be used to penetrate into a vehicle, while bands 5 and 12 are more geared to getting inside of a wall. Band 4 usually works best out in the open. However, any of these bands if close enough to a tower will work in all 3 scenarios. Bands 5 and 12 work best when inside 3 miles from the tower.
*An MVNO is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator that has the ability to qualify for 2nd tier access to the major carrier’s network with so many lines purchased. It needs to be noted that cellular data reseller companies are not MVNO’s, despite some bloggers inept content creation without doing research or having any knowledge on the matter.
What is 5G?
What is 5G? It’s the latest in cellular bandwidth evolution. Or, is it just another way to market? This newest launch from the major carriers is a little bit different than the other G’s we’ve seen in the past. Its’ transmission can vary from carrier to carrier.
Another glaring fact remains the same no matter the carrier, and that is it cannot just be sent right from the antenna on the tower to the SIM card in the cellular device. Repeaters are required to bounce these frequencies from the tower to the SIM card in the device, as they cannot (as of right now) go directly from the tower miles out to the SIM card in the device like 4G frequencies can.
Simply put, unless you’re in a city that has had an antenna upgrade on the tower to the 5G frequencies with repeaters (or, you’re a couple hundred yards from an upgraded tower) and a device with bands 66 and/or 71, then you will not see any benefit of 5G. Therefore, it is too early to tell if 5G is better than 4G because it simply isn’t anywhere near as deployed as the last G.
In addition, speed tests have been done comparing MIMO aggregated 4G with bands 66/71 (5G) with little to no difference as a test result. Now, this isn’t an anti 5G article, so we’re not implying that 5G is a waste of money with no benefits.Once fully deployed, it could literally change internet accessibility for the whole of the planet.
But… as of right now, we simply cannot see that to make the claim that 5G is better.
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4G LTE FAQ’s
Verizon first launched the nations first 4G LTE in December 2010. The next year, it was reported that AT&T would upgrade its network to HSPA+ category 21 throughout the year. On September 18th, 2011 AT&T first launched LTE service in 5 U.S. metro areas. Two years later, T-Mobile would roll out their 4G LTE in 7 markets on March 26, 2013.
4G LTE technology does not have set speeds like wireline internet does. Cellular data technology speed and performance is predicated on many different factors not limited to land terrain, building structure types the service is used in, natural and/or man made barriers, frequencies used on the nearest tower, tower congestion, usage and the type of device that plan’s SIM card is inside of.
Certain types of directional and omni-directional antennas can enhance limited or weak signals. For example, let’s say the location you want to use this service is in has good outdoor and even in home frequency strength. However, one is trying to use this service in a thick brick house with a metal roof. Well, that metal roof is going to repel those frequencies and block them from coming inside the dwelling.
So this is where the outside antenna would come into play. A bracket would fit onto the outside near a window with the antenna over the facia board. A coaxial cable would then run from the antenna to inside of the home and directly into the cellular hotspot device. That way, it is bypassing the obstructing metal roof, and the strong outside frequencies are turned into strong in home frequencies.
The Future of 5G
We know that technology has come a long way, and we have a pretty good idea of how far it can go. The only thing is that we are not there yet. However, this paragraph will delve into where we think 5G will go and what it could do. Once 5G has the ability to reach out into rural America, it can change the game of the demographics and positioning of where people live, globally. It will give the ability of metro dwellers to migrate into smaller locales.
This could have a positive economic and environmental impact on the planet, and balance out where people live. When fully deployed, the future of 5G will be exciting and new.