5G router - which is best / are they unlocked?

shopper150 · 9 Aug 2021 at 21:24

i'm looking to buy a 5G router to use at home.
It seems like the Huawei CPE Pro 2 is the only game in town.
What is the best way of buying one of these with flexibility of using SIM only deals?
Vodafone seem to have a 30 day contract with the device costing £325.
Does anyone know if they are SIM unlocked?

WJA96 · 10 Aug 2021 at 05:12

Mikrotik Chateau 5G is also an option.

Efour · 12 Aug 2021 at 22:18

I have a Huawei CPE Pro 2 but I bought it unlocked.
I run it in Bridge mode to a TPlink AX6000 but i think it would be a fairly capable router on its own but it has only 2 Ethernet ports so you'll need switches or run everything wireless.

James Peach · 18 Sep 2021 at 18:33

Efour said:
I have a Huawei CPE Pro 2 but I bought it unlocked.
I run it in Bridge mode to a TPlink AX6000 but i think it would be a fairly capable router on its own but it has only 2 Ethernet ports so you'll need switches or run everything wireless.

Where did you buy it unlocked from? I just ordered a Pro 2 from Three and am really disappointed to learn that they ship it with bridge mode removed.

James Peach · 18 Sep 2021 at 18:35

shopper150 said:
i'm looking to buy a 5G router to use at home.
It seems like the Huawei CPE Pro 2 is the only game in town.
What is the best way of buying one of these with flexibility of using SIM only deals?
Vodafone seem to have a 30 day contract with the device costing £325.
Does anyone know if they are SIM unlocked?

BTW I had one with Vodafone and for some reason I couldn't game on it; I had "double nat" or whatever that is.

Efour · 18 Sep 2021 at 21:54

James Peach said:
Where did you buy it unlocked from? I just ordered a Pro 2 from Three and am really disappointed to learn that they ship it with bridge mode removed.

I got it from Finland but can't you order one from bang good or one of those China import EU suppliers.

I guess you might be paying import duty now but it shouldn't be a huge sum.

James Peach · 24 Sep 2021 at 15:16

I got one off amazon and it has bridge mode! Fantastic.
But I wonder whether the old one that Three sent me is unlocked. I doubt it but who knows.

James Peach · 24 Sep 2021 at 17:04

I just called three and spoke to two people; both of whom tried to assure me that the router is unlocked to any carrier but I'm worried about selling it on eBay as unlocked in case it might not be. Anyone have any knowledge?

Efour · 26 Sep 2021 at 11:13

Cant you just get a free sim card from another company and put it in?

4g whatever if it works after set up ... its probably unlocked.

or worst case scenario you get a peed off ebay buyer you say sorry to...

James Peach · 2 Oct 2021 at 10:42

Good shout. I have done that. It's locked. I'm in communications with Three who seem blithely unaware that that they are running a mobile communications company.