Wondering what is LTE Advanced? In this post, we try to answer it for you. LTE or commonly known as the 4G network has changed the way we used to access the internet. We all know it provides incredible speed that is even beyond 3G networks. In many countries, various network carriers are seeking ways to expand their 4G LTE coverage. However, many of them have already introduced LTE – Advanced or LTE-A in some areas. Technically, LTE-A is advanced / faster version of the already fast 4G network.
What is LTE Advanced? Quick Introduction
Since LTE-A is quite newly introduced, it is pretty harder to find how exactly fast it is compared to conventional 4G LTE network. However, some theoretical figures are floating around the internet. It is said that maximum download speed (theoretical) for a 4G LTE network is 150 Mbps, while for LTE-A network it is 300 Mbps. Following is a quick comparison table between various types of networks:
| Network |
Theoretical Maximum Download Speed |
Typical Real World Download Speed |
| 3G |
7.2 Mbps |
3 Mbps |
| 3G HSPA + |
42 Mbps |
6 Mbps |
| 4G LTE |
150 Mbps |
14 Mbps |
| 4G LTE Advanced (LTE – A ) |
300 Mbps |
42 Mbps |
As the table implies, a real-world speed of a typical 4G network tops up to 14 Mbps. This speed highly depends on the type of device you are using and other factors related to it. Moreover, how many people are on the network also affects the network speed. Just like that, an LTE-A network would never provide you with a 300 Mbps of download speed. However, it can deliver a consistent speed ranging between 42 Mbps to 90 Mbps. So we can say that an LTE-A network is at least three times faster than standard 4G LTE network.
List of Devices with LTE-A Support:
After knowing how good an LTA-A network is, you might be interested in looking at some devices which offer LTE-A support. Following is a list of routers and portable mobile hotspots which come with LTE – Advanced support. We have covered all the important technical details and specifications of the listed devices. So without any more delay, here we begin:
1. Verizon Wireless Jetpack AC791L:
MODEM
| Connectivity Technology |
wireless |
| Cellular Band |
GSM 850/900/1800/1900 / UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 / CDMA2000 1X 800/1900 / LTE 700/1700 |
| Cellular Protocol |
CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO Rev. A, EDGE, GSM, HSPA, LTE, UMTS |
| Features |
built-in USB charger |
NETWORKING
| Network / Transport Protocol |
ARP, ICMP/IP, IPSec, PPTP, RARP, TCP/IP, UDP/IP |
| Features |
VPN support, Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) |
| Data Link Protocol |
IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n |
| Compliant Standards |
IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n |
| Connectivity Technology |
wireless |
MISCELLANEOUS
| Service Provider |
Verizon Wireless |
| Encryption Algorithm |
AES, WPA, WPA2 |
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
| OS Required |
Android 2.1 or later, Apple MacOS X 10.6.8 or later, Apple iOS 4 or later, BlackBerry OS 5 or later, Microsoft Windows 7 SP1, Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Windows 8 |
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
| Min Operating Temperature |
32 °F |
| Max Operating Temperature |
95 °F |
| Humidity Range Operating |
0 – 86% |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
4.3 in |
| Depth |
0.8 in |
| Height |
2.7 in |
| Weight |
5.78 oz |
Buy it here:
2. AT&T Unite Explore Cell Phone:
MODEM
| Connectivity Technology |
wireless |
| Processor |
Qualcomm MDM9240 |
| Memory |
256 MB |
| Cellular Protocol |
EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSPA+, LTE |
NETWORKING
| Features |
Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) |
| Data Link Protocol |
IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n |
| Connectivity Technology |
wireless |
| Features |
Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) |
CHASSIS
| Built-in Devices |
2.4″ touchscreen display |
MISCELLANEOUS
| Service Provider |
AT&T |
| Color |
black |
CABLE DETAILS
| Type |
USB cable, battery cable |
| Included Qty |
1 |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
4.3 in |
| Depth |
2.7 in |
| Height |
0.7 in |
| Weight |
4.9 oz |
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3. Verizon Wireless Jetpack MiFi 7730L:
MODEM
| Connectivity Technology |
wireless |
| Processor |
Qualcomm MDM9640 |
| Memory |
128 MB |
| Max Transfer Rate |
12 Mbps |
| Cellular Protocol |
CDMA, CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO Rev. A, UMTS, eHRPD, EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSPA, LTE, LTE Advanced, LTE B13 |
| Antenna |
Internal |
NETWORKING
| Data Link Protocol |
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n |
| Compliant Standards |
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n |
| Connectivity Technology |
wireless |
CHASSIS
| Built-in Devices |
2.4″ touchscreen display |
MISCELLANEOUS
| Compliant Standards |
FCC |
| Service Provider |
Verizon Wireless |
| Color Category |
black |
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
| Min Operating Temperature |
14 °F |
| Max Operating Temperature |
131 °F |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
4.3 in |
| Depth |
0.7 in |
| Height |
2.6 in |
| Weight |
5.4 oz |
SERVICE & SUPPORT DETAILS
| Type |
limited warranty |
| Full Contract Period |
1 year |
Buy it here:
4. Cradlepoint ARC CBA850:
GENERAL
| Enclosure Type |
Desktop, wall-mountable |
| Status Indicators |
LAN, USB, 3G, 4G |
| Routing Protocol |
Static IPv6 routing |
| Manufacturer |
CradlePoint, Inc. |
MODEM
| Type |
wireless cellular modem |
| Max Transfer Rate |
300 Mbps |
| Cellular Protocol |
DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, LTE, WCDMA |
| Antenna Qty |
2 |
NETWORKING
| Form Factor |
desktop, wall-mountable |
| Type |
Router |
| Connectivity Technology |
wired, wireless |
| Data Link Protocol |
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Network / Transport Protocol |
DDNS, DHCP, DNS, FTP, ICMP/IP, POP3, PPTP, SMTP |
| Features: |
ALG support, DHCP client, SMS remote control, SSH support, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), URL filtering, VLAN support, cloud managed, content filtering, firmware upgradable, port forwarding, power over Ethernet (PoE), DHCP relay, reset button, virtual server support, DHCP server, DMZ port, DNS proxy, IP address filtering, IPv6 support, MAC address filtering, NAT support |
| Compliant Standards |
IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3at, UPnP |
| Routing Protocol |
static IPv6 routing |
| Remote Management Protocol |
CLI, HTTP, HTTPS, SNMP 1, SNMP 2c, SNMP 3, SSH, TFTP, Telnet |
ANTENNA
| Antenna Qty |
2 |
| Antenna Form Factor |
external detachable |
INTERFACE PROVIDED
| Interface |
Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T, console |
| Qty |
1, 2, 3 |
| Connector Type |
9 pin USB Type A, RJ-45, SMA |
CHASSIS
MISCELLANEOUS
| Service Provider |
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless |
| Color |
white |
| Color Category |
white |
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
| Min Operating Temperature |
32 °F |
| Max Operating Temperature |
122 °F |
| Humidity Range Operating |
10 – 85% (non-condensing) |
CABLE DETAILS
| Type |
network cable |
| Included Qty |
1 |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
4.8 in |
| Depth |
4.8 in |
| Height |
1.7 in |
SERVICE & SUPPORT
| Type |
limited warranty |
| Full Contract Period |
1 year |
Buy it here:
5. Sierra Wireless AirLink Raven RV50X:
GENERAL
| Form Factor |
external |
| Authentication Method |
LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+ |
| Height |
1.3 in |
| Depth |
3.3 in |
| Manufacturer |
Sierra Wireless |
MODEM
| Cellular Band |
LTE AWS/TDD/700/800/850/900/1800/1900/2100/2600 / HSPA/HSPA+ AWS/850/900/1800/1900/2100 |
| Cellular Protocol |
AWS, HSDPA, LTE |
| Antenna Qty |
3 |
NETWORKING
| Type |
Gateway |
| Connectivity Technology |
wired, wireless |
| Data Link Protocol |
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, RS-232, USB 2.0 |
| Network / Transport Protocol |
DDNS, DHCP, DNS, IPSec, PPPoE, TCP/IP, UDP/IP |
| Features: |
ALERT notification, DHCP server, VPN support, Virtual Route Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) support, cloud managed, firmware upgradable, manageable, port forwarding, routing, DMZ port, DNS proxy, Dead Peer Detection (DPD), MAC address filtering, NAT support, SMS remote control, SNMP trap, VLAN support |
| Routing Protocol |
GRE, VRRP, static IP routing |
| Remote Management Protocol |
HTTP, SNMP, SSH, Telnet |
| Encryption Algorithm |
SSL |
| Status Indicators |
Power, link/activity |
| Authentication Method |
RADIUS, TACACS+, LDAP |
ANTENNA
| Antenna |
External detachable |
| Antenna Qty |
3 |
| Antenna Form Factor |
external detachable |
CHASSIS
| Built-in Device |
GLONASS, GPS, LED panel |
MISCELLANEOUS
| Compliant Standards |
UL 60950, CB, IC, FCC, RoHS, MIL-STD 810G, IP64, WEEE, REACH, PTCRB |
| Encryption Algorithm |
SSL |
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
| Min Operating Temperature |
-40 °F |
| Max Operating Temperature |
158 °F |
| Humidity Range Operating |
0 – 90% |
MOBILE BROADBAND
| Mobile Broadband Access |
Yes |
| Cellular Protocol |
AWS, HSDPA, LTE |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
4.7 in |
| Depth |
3.3 in |
| Height |
1.3 in |
CAPACITY
SERVICE & SUPPORT
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6. PEPLINK Balance 30:
GENERAL
| Device Type |
Router – 4-port switch (integrated) |
| Authentication Method |
LDAP, RADIUS |
| Authentication Method |
RADIUS, LDAP |
| Status Indicators |
Power, status |
| Encryption Algorithm |
256-bit AES |
| Manufacturer |
Microcom Inc. |
NETWORKING
| Form Factor |
desktop |
| Type |
router |
| Connectivity Technology |
wired |
| Data Link Protocol |
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet |
| Network / Transport Protocol |
DHCP, PPPoE |
| Features |
3G/4G USB Dongle Support, DHCP reservation, dynamic DNS server, e-mail notification, firewall protection, load balancing, port forwarding, static IP mode, DHCP server, DNS proxy, DoS attack prevention, Quality of Service (QoS), Syslog support, UPnP Media Server, VPN support, the broadband usage meter |
| Remote Management Protocol |
SNMP 1, SNMP 2c, SNMP 3 |
| Data Transfer Rate |
100 Mbps |
INTERFACE PROVIDED
| Interface |
Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX |
| Qty |
3, 4 |
| Connector Type |
RJ-45 |
MISCELLANEOUS
| Encryption Algorithm |
256-bit AES |
| Color Category |
black |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
10.2 in |
| Depth |
5.2 in |
| Height |
1.4 in |
| Weight |
2.2 lbs |
PERFORMANCE
| Type |
routing throughput |
| Value |
50 Mbps |
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7. Sierra Wireless AirLink MP70:
GENERAL
| Authentication Method |
RADIUS, TACACS+ |
| Authentication Method |
RADIUS, TACACS+ |
| Routing Protocol |
VRRP |
| Manufacturer |
Sierra Wireless |
MODEM
| Type |
wireless cellular modem |
| Max Transfer Rate |
300 Mbps |
| Cellular Protocol |
LTE, LTE Advanced |
NETWORKING
| Form Factor |
desktop |
| Type |
Router |
| Connectivity Technology |
wired |
| Data Link Protocol |
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Network / Transport Protocol |
DDNS, DHCP, PPPoE, TCP/IP, UDP/IP |
| Features |
DHCP server, DMZ port, Dead Peer Detection (DPD), LDAP support, MAC address filtering, NAT support, firmware upgradable, port forwarding |
| Routing Protocol |
VRRP |
| Remote Management Protocol |
CLI, SNMP, SSH, Telnet |
INTERFACE PROVIDED
| Interface |
Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T, Wi-Fi |
| Qty |
1, 3, 4 |
| Connector Type |
5 pin Micro-USB Type B, 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), RJ-45, RP-SMA, SMA |
CHASSIS
| Built-in Device |
Beidou, GLONASS, GPS, Galileo |
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
| Min Operating Temperature |
-22 °F |
| Max Operating Temperature |
158 °F |
| Humidity Range Operating |
0 – 90% |
MOBILE BROADBAND
| Cellular Protocol |
LTE, LTE Advanced |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
7.5 in |
| Depth |
4.1 in |
| Height |
1.8 in |
| Weight |
26.81 oz |
CAPACITY
| Type |
maximum VPN sessions |
| Value |
5 |
SERVICE & SUPPORT DETAILS
| Type |
limited warranty |
| Full Contract Period |
3 years |
Buy it here:
8. Cradlepoint COR IBR1100:
GENERAL
| Frequency Band |
2.4 GHz / 5 GHz |
| Capacity |
Concurrent IPSec VPN sessions: 5 |
| Authentication Method |
RADIUS, Radio Service Set ID (SSID), Secure Shell (SSH), TACACS+ |
| Authentication Method |
Secure Shell (SSH), RADIUS, Radio Service Set ID (SSID), TACACS+ |
| Status Indicators |
Power, signal strength, WLAN, LAN, USB |
| Encryption Algorithm |
DES, Triple DES, MD5, AES, WPA2-Enterprise, 384-bit SHA-2, 256-bit SHA, 512-bit SHA-2 |
| Routing Protocol |
OSPF, RIP, BGP, VRRP, GRE |
| Manufacturer |
CradlePoint, Inc. |
MODEM
| Type |
wireless cellular modem |
| Max Transfer Rate |
300 Mbps |
| Cellular Protocol |
DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, LTE, LTE Advanced, WCDMA |
NETWORKING
| Form Factor |
desktop |
| Type |
wireless router |
| Connectivity Technology |
wired, wireless |
| Data Link Protocol |
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n |
| Network / Transport Protocol |
DDNS, DHCP, DNS, FTP, ICMP/IP, IPSec, L2TP, POP3, PPTP, SMTP |
| Features: |
ALG support, DHCP client, DHCP relay, DHCP server, DMZ port, DNS proxy, DiffServ Code Point (DSCP) support, DiffServ support, IP address filtering, IPSec NAT-Traversal (NAT-T), IPSec Virtual Private Network (VPN), IPSec passthrough, IPv6 support, MAC address filtering, MIMO technology, Multicast Proxy support, NAT support, Quality of Service (QoS), SMS remote control, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) support, Stateful Packet Inspection Firewall (SPIF), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) support, URL filtering, VLAN support, VPN support, cloud managed, content filtering, firmware upgradable, load balancing, manageable, port forwarding, rugged, virtual server support |
| Compliant Standards |
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.1x, UPnP, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED |
| Wireless Protocol |
802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Routing Protocol |
BGP, GRE, OSPF, RIP, VRRP |
| Remote Management Protocol |
CLI, HTTP, HTTPS, SNMP 1, SNMP 2c, SNMP 3, SSH, TFTP, Telnet |
| WAN Ports Qty |
3 |
| Key Features |
USB port, VPN support, firewall |
INTERFACE PROVIDED
| Interface |
Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX, GPIO, RS-232 |
| Qty |
1, 2, 3 |
| Connector Type |
4 pin USB Type A, 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9), R-SMA, RJ-45, SMA |
| Type |
USB 2.0, WAN / LAN, antenna, management |
ANTENNA
| Antenna |
External detachable |
| Antenna Form Factor |
external detachable |
CHASSIS
| Built-in Device |
GPS, LED panel |
MISCELLANEOUS
| Encryption Algorithm |
256-bit SHA, 384-bit SHA-2, 512-bit SHA-2, AES, DES, MD5, Triple DES, WPA2-Enterprise |
| Color Category |
black |
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
| Min Operating Temperature |
-22 °F |
| Max Operating Temperature |
140 °F |
| Humidity Range Operating |
5 – 95% (non-condensing) |
MOBILE BROADBAND
| Cellular Protocol |
DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, LTE, LTE Advanced, WCDMA |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
5.3 in |
| Depth |
4.4 in |
| Height |
1.4 in |
| Weight |
16.12 oz |
CAPACITY
| Type |
concurrent IPSec VPN sessions |
| Value |
5 |
SERVICE & SUPPORT DETAILS
| Type |
limited warranty |
| Full Contract Period |
2 years |
Buy it here
9. Cradlepoint AER – wireless router:
GENERAL
| Frequency Band |
2.4 GHz / 5 GHz |
| Authentication Method |
RADIUS, TACACS+ |
| Authentication Method |
RADIUS, TACACS+ |
| Encryption Algorithm |
DES, Triple DES, SHA, MD5, AES, 384-bit SHA-2, 256-bit SHA, 512-bit SHA-2 |
| Routing Protocol |
OSPF, RIP, BGP, VRRP, NHRP, static IP routing, GRE |
| Manufacturer |
CradlePoint, Inc. |
MODEM
| Type |
wireless cellular modem |
| Max Transfer Rate |
300 Mbps |
| Cellular Protocol |
DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, LTE, WCDMA |
NETWORKING
| Form Factor |
desktop, rack-mountable |
| Type |
wireless router |
| Connectivity Technology |
wired, wireless |
| Data Link Protocol |
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n |
| Network / Transport Protocol |
DNS, FTP, IPSec, L2TP, POP3, PPPoE, PPTP, SMTP |
| Features: |
ALG support, DHCP client, DHCP relay, DHCP server, DNS proxy, GRE tunneling, IP address filtering, LLDP support, MAC address filtering, Quality of Service (QoS), RADIUS support, VLAN support, load balancing, power over Ethernet (PoE), reset button, security lock slot (cable lock sold separately) |
| Compliant Standards |
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.1x, UPnP, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED |
| Wireless Protocol |
802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Routing Protocol |
BGP, GRE, NHRP, OSPF, RIP, VRRP, static IP routing |
| Remote Management Protocol |
CLI, HTTP, HTTPS, SNMP 1, SNMP 2c, SNMP 3, SSH, Telnet |
| Integrated Switch |
13-port switch |
| Key Features |
USB port |
INTERFACE PROVIDED
| Interface |
Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T, console |
| Qty |
1, 2, 4, 9 |
| Connector Type |
4 pin USB Type A, RJ-45, SMA |
| Type |
USB 2.0, WAN / LAN, antenna, management |
CHASSIS
MISCELLANEOUS
| Rack Mounting Kit |
included |
| Encryption Algorithm |
256-bit SHA, 384-bit SHA-2, 512-bit SHA-2, AES, DES, MD5, SHA, Triple DES |
| Height (Rack Units) |
1 m |
| Color Category |
black |
ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS
| Min Operating Temperature |
32 °F |
| Max Operating Temperature |
122 °F |
| Humidity Range Operating |
10 – 85% (non-condensing) |
MOBILE BROADBAND
| Cellular Protocol |
DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, LTE, WCDMA |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
| Width |
12.2 in |
| Depth |
10.6 in |
| Height |
1.8 in |
CABLE DETAILS
| Type |
network cable |
| Included Qty |
1 |
CAPACITY
| Type |
concurrent IPSec sessions |
| Value |
40 |
Buy it here:
Conclusion:
That’s it for the list of Wi-Fi and routing devices based on latest LTE Advanced technology. We hope this post helps you to understand the basic functionality of LTE advanced technology and how various wireless devices utilize it. We hope this list of LTE advanced devices help you to choose the right product according to your requirements. For any further queries, request or suggestions, feel free to use the comment section below. Thank You!
Disclosure: We are a professional review website that sometimes receive compensation or free units from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
