4g Router Recommendations? Huawei B818?

LVincent2204 on 04/02/2022 - 14:00
Last edited 04/02/2022 - 14:02

I’m currently using a Telstra smart gen 2 router with a Telstra phone SIM card from the previous JB Hi-Fi contract with gift card deal and am pretty happy with it. My contract is expiring soon and am willing to stick with 4g especially got a few cheap sims from Kogan, Amaysim and etc.

I tried an Amaysim SIM card in the router but not working. Did some research online and found out the router needed to be rooted. Followed the steps from Whirlpool with no luck. So now I’m looking for a 4g router.

Did some research again and found out the best bet might be a Huawei b818. I’m in Gold Coast so not many choices. The cheapest ones I could find on eBay were secondhand around $200.

My questions are:
1. Is the Huawei b818 working with phone SIM cards? A bit confused since I saw almost all of them were listed ‘Unlocked’ while some of them were also mentioned ‘ Not working with phone SIM cards’ by the sellers.

  1. Any other recommendations or suggestions? Really appreciated.
Internet Huawei B818 Mobile Broadband Modem

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 04/02/2022 - 14:08
    +1

    Did some research online and found out the router needed to be rooted. Followed the steps from Whirlpool with no luck. So now I’m looking for a 4g router.

    There are 2 types of Telstra smart gen 2. One made by Technicolor, the other by Arcadyan. Only the Technicolor is rootable. You can see which you have by looking at the sticker on the bottom. The Arcadyan Model number is LH-1000.

    Is the Huawei b818 working with phone SIM cards? A bit confused since I saw almost all of them were listed ‘Unlocked’ while some of them were also mentioned ‘ Not working with phone SIM cards’ by the sellers.

    Possibly some were SIM locked, most should be OK.
    B818 is the best 4G modem by a long way, you should see significantly better speeds over the Smart Modem Gen 2.

    • Vincent2204 on 04/02/2022 - 15:19

      Mine is the Technicolor one but never mind. Not a pro, I gave up. I think I will definitely get a B818. Thank you.

  • AndyC1 on 04/02/2022 - 14:17
    +2

    The B818 comes in a few different models. The different models are retail and then OEM versions for the different mobile/MNNO. Watch which model you get as the different firmware are NOT the same and have different features added or removed. By added I mean logos and by removed I mean the ability to do some things or the bands the B818 support/allow.
    See https://www.4gltemall.com/blog/tag/huawei-b818-specification… for some info.

    You are better asking this question on whirlpool or looking at the mega B818 thread on whirlpool or searching whirlpool.

    I have an Optus B818-263 and I tested it in the first half of 2020 with a Belog Phone sim and a Vodafone phone SIM and they both worked with no hacking/tinkering/changes to anything, except the APN which is expected. I found the Belong was the fastest and then Optus and then last by a mile was Vodafone.

    You may find that other B818 may be locked to the suppliers network or locked to data sims etc. Optus love to play games with their 4G modems and SIMS and plans where I have had one Optus branded 4G USB dongle and data SIM work fine, but then upgrade the plan and they send out another SIM and it stops working in the USB dongle , but works in the B818.. So much for using 4G while on holidays!!!!

    The ebay and gumtree price for a B818 should be around the $150 as it used to be able to be bought outright for $216 from Optus. I have seen it cheaper. The ones that have not been used or are like new are still used and come with probably No warranty.

    • Vincent2204 on 04/02/2022 - 15:45

      Thanks got the link. I’ll check it through. Cheers.

      • AndyC1 on 04/02/2022 - 16:11
        +2

        If you do get a B818 then get the LTEHMonitor and LTEInspecteur apsp as they will allow you to optimize the bands and show the Wireless statistics and allow you do change a bunch of things that are not in the web interface.

  • jv on 04/02/2022 - 16:16

    Router Recommendations?

    I still use my Triton occasionally. It is great.

  • DarkOz on 11/02/2022 - 07:59

    I was with Optus 4G running on a Huawei B818 and previously Optus 4G on a Huawei B525. The Huawei B818 is a really good 4G modem/router and much much better than the B525.

    OP, I have sent you a PM. Please check it.

  • fritz272 on 13/02/2022 - 10:32

    hi - also have a B818-263
    it is on an optus plan but way to slow and i am bout to cancel.
    i just tried to put in my telstra 5G sim card and it is flying - 174 down and 6 up -so happy with that.
    Is that all i need to do, or is there updates for telstra i should look at doing on the device?
    many thanks

    • ESEMCE on 15/02/2022 - 14:43

      Back on Optus, use the LTEHMonitor and LTEInspecteur apps to try to tweak the bands that the modem uses to force it to use Band 40 as a first preference.
      It might not be the strongest signal, but that's where the majority of Optus' bandwidth is.

      • bfg100k on 02/10/2022 - 20:10

        sorry for jumping on an old thread. Just got a used B818 (upgraded from a B525) and my download speed doubled from 80Mbps to 160+Mbps (upload remained the same at 15Mbps). In my experience, Optus on Band 40 has consistently performed poorly (hovering around 100Mbps down and a pathetic 2Mbps up) in my area (NSW Castle Hill). I seem to get more reliable and fastest connection on Band 1 or 7.

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