The new Comlink wireless gateway/router is essential for one crucial reason: It is one of the leading 5G home internet Service in USA. Unfortunately, we cannot directly answer whether it is a better option than cable for two reasons.

First of all, what Comlink officially calls High-Speed ​​Internet Gateway (5G21-12W-A) is “5G”. The quality and bandwidth of the wireless signal you get from your home will depend on a few things. Most notably, the distance to the gate to the nearest 5G cell tower. You will also need to compare what we have found with what your competing broadband ISP brings. Fortunately, the Comlink rating system is flexible enough that you can set a one-month trial.

In my case, unfortunately, the cable is still the best option for my family of four, living in a house. With lots of streaming devices and game laptops. The Comlink 5G router provided enough bandwidth for almost half of my family, but not enough for the four of us and most of our devices.

However, we have never heard of all that the fast-paced Comlink Internet gate can offer. Although Comlink called my house “covered” by its 5G home internet service Provider the truth was not so simple.

Specifications and setup

The Comlink router system is all-encompassing: after verifying your eligibility, for $ 50 a month, ( 90Mbps $119 / mo , 90Mbps $ 124 / mo ,and 90Mbps $ 124 / mo ) No annual contract, either. If you decide that the service is not yours. You can call Comlink, and the company will send you a pre-paid label to repair and replace the 5G21-12W-A hardware.

The price of Comlink is already higher or lower than the cheapest cable contracts. Comlink promises unlimited internet with no data caps or throttling to get started. However, Comlink claims that the service is “not intended for improper use. So they do not plan to download the Linux distribution via BitTorrent.

Thanks to an integrated map, Comlink knows if your home will be close enough to a cell tower to get a good signal. If you feel confused, you can visit a site like CellMapper.net and find out how close you are to the nearest cell tower and which towers are used.

Physically, the Comlink router reminds me of the Harman Kardon Invoke. This clever cylindrical speaker is now being discontinued. Which, like the Comlink router, has a color display at the top. It measures 8.5 inches high by 4.75 inches wide and is powered by a wart-wart-shaped plug with a long six-foot-long cable. That helps, as you will want to place the gate as close to the outside wall or window as possible to get the highest signal available.

Inside is a four-horned Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) radio to create a wireless network for your clients to connect to. You can also tap its two-gigabit ethernet ports to connect to a wired network. 5G home internet service in USA

The Comlink gate has some disadvantages:

• A USB-C port
• A UPS port for uninterrupted power supply
• An RJ-11 phone jack behind the track

But none of them work — at least as far as I know. I tried to connect a USB cable, but that didn’t work. I didn’t have a UPS to test.

The 5G21-12W-A has an internal battery. Which allows the gate to be used free-well, kind. Setting up the router requires you first to turn it on. Let it start, and then move around the house or apartment to get the best signal. The LCD screen at the top conveys this signal information in real-time. Or it will shut down after a few seconds unless you tap it awake. You can also “swipe” with a few screens, telling you the number of connected devices, any service messages from Comlink, and more.

Here’s another problem: While on battery, an ethernet or Wi-Fi connection may not be used. That is strange. As I drive through my 5G21-12W-A gate to check the signal strength. The battery level drops by only one or two percent. Which means that it should provide a real internet connection in the event of a power outage. 

You might also think that a “wireless” gate can be set anywhere. Unlike a cable gate that can only be positioned near the entrance to a coaxial cable house. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Usually, the ideal location would be near a window. Which is not partially blocked by the match screen. And location matters more than you can imagine. Your wireless network should also be configured to take into account the place of the gateway.

While the 5G21-12W-A gate reported that my house was washed with a “weak” signal (2 out of 5 bars) everywhere. I was able to set up a “good” alert (3 out of 5) in the corner. In my son’s room, near his window. And that, in the middle of his Legos, became my wireless entry point!

Performance and usage

I have been using the gateway of Comlink 5G21-12W-A for about three weeks, connecting wireless entertainment devices like the Xbox game console. As well as my son’s tablet and PC. Looking at how much they are used for the summer holidays, I thought they would be a great test of whether the Comlink  signal remains unchanged. According to my children, the movement went down three times in that time — usually a few seconds, but once longer.

Increasing speeds, especially if you upload a video to YouTube. Or support files or images in the cloud, have reached less than 90 Mbps. Which is much faster than 90 Mbps my cable provider, Comcast, offers, with its 90 Mbps service. System. This test was performed on a wireless client near the router, with no other devices connected to the gate.

My kids did not report any problems while playing or chatting with their friends via Zoom or Facebook Messenger. And downloaded game updates regularly. I also streamed 4K / 60fps video from YouTube without any problems. Finally, I redesigned my video streaming test while simultaneously performing the speed test and saw a download speed of 111Mbps. Video streaming dropped 102 frames out of 18,000 — nothing remarkable. Google’s Stadia game service also reported a 59Mbps connection and authorized the connection as a service representative.

Comlink home internet service? 

I got close to my hands with the Comlink High-Speed ​​Internet Gateway (5G21-12W-A) from a very timely perspective . Breaking the cords for American consumers. Biden’s management is already aiming for broadband domination, but it will be up to the FCC to make changes. From my experience, I can’t say if it’s possible to use the full power of the Comlink gate.

I think there are a few places where 5G is available, but the cable is not. In the meantime, the operating profit may lie in cable broadband (or the most difficult fibre broadband service). Are unlikely to have access to 5G broadband over broadband or fibre cable. Which has left them at the mercy of DSL or satellite service providers or — if they are lucky — a more affordable, more efficient WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider). However, not everyone needs faster broadband.

If you are a small family streaming video, checking email, and downloading Windows updates in the background, the T-Mobile route is worth checking out. Most broadband connections are now able to accommodate these needs. And high-speed broadband (greater than 200Mbps) is a requirement. 

And then there are the prices, of course. Here, things change dramatically. The price of $ 119/ a month is quite attractive, Add data caps and possible overtime costs, and costs also go up quickly there, too.

Remember, Comlink does not ask you to cancel your cable or change broadband providers. For $ 50, you can simply call or contact Comlink and sign up for a monthly fee. 5G home internet service in USA. A Comlink representative said later in the month, if you choose to cancel, Comlink will send you a prepaid label to repay the Comlink High-Speed ​​Internet Gateway (5G21-12W-A) and lend you your credit accordingly. . Even with the current limitations of Comlink, that is an attractive gift.