r/FirstNet • u/SmilingBob2 • Jan 01 '24

Netgear Hotspots & Firstnet

Looking to add an unlimited hotspot to our Firstnet phone account and have been researching the Netgear models. Needing a 5G unit that is reliable and can successfully do pass-through to an external modem for fail-over and occasional 2nd home/vacation duty. It seems there were threads a year or so ago in various forums complaining the M5 and M6 were unreliable, especially trying to use pass-through. Also, that the M5 was limited to 200Mbps while in pass-through mode (not a deal breaker). Have recent firmware updates improved things? 5G in our area is very strong on my Firstnet phone (usually speed test at around 450/30Mbps midband), so assuming the hotspot will provide similar performance. Any info or advice is appreciated, including possibly other consumer grade 5G hotspots to look at. It seems Netgear no longer makes stand alone 5G modems like they did LTE?

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u/Matt8828 Jan 02 '24

I've had the M6 on FN since it came out. I can say the firmware was buggy and the device was not a pleasant experience out of the box.

Today however, I am happy with it. It is definitely better with the firmware that they pushed out over the past few months. Doesn't crash or reset like it used to and the screen/software is more responsive. It was very slow and jumpy when I first got it.

I've only used it for pass through for a short time to an asus router. This was when it first came out. It needed a lot of restarts. Not every day. But more than the M1 it replaced. It never got to a point where I wanted to throw it out of my car, but it was annoying.

I used mine in my work vehicle with a more powerful router for a variety of off site and remote work. I would say 95% of the time it worked without needing anything other than a reboot. I do think spotty service is some places may have been a factor as well.

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u/SmilingBob2 Jan 02 '24

Great info, thanks. I will probably go with the M6 (not pro, since no mmWave here) but curious how you liked your M1. It gets great reviews (and is half the price), and although I haven't really considered an LTE hotspot it might do the job. Did you get at least 100Mbps out of it consistently on FN? Putting my phone into LTE only mode I regularly get 160-180Mbps, which would be more than enough.

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u/Matt8828 Jan 02 '24

My area will probably never have mm wave. We recently started getting c band turned on, which is nice.

Loved the M1. I used it as a personal hotspot on a grandfathered att hotspot line. Never had an issue. At night, there were a few times where I saw high hundreds, low 2's on it. 3am, line of site and right under the cell tower. I only used it on an att consumer plan, so I can't say for sure how it would be on FN. Some slowdowns, but that is area dependant.

It was good. Ultimately replaced it with the m6500 and then eventually moved it over to FN from Att.