Learn more about the Netgear Nighthawk M5 5G router

The 5G mobile broadband router is expensive, but also has a number of benefits.

I started off with a MiFi hot spot[,] but realized it wasn't enough. I bought an MVNO plan on AT 5g wifi;T for unlimited data, then added a similar plan on T-Mobile with data caps.

For example, all the MVNO plans I've used required that you bring your own device. You can technically use your phone for this, but my internet experience took a turn for the better when I got the

I've used the M1 in the past, and this story will be uploaded using it. I dropped and broke the case though, so the data cable doesn't work anymore. However, I prefer using a laptop over a tablet because they have their own battery source.

Netgear is releasing their newest 4/5G router, the Nighthawk M5. This model is comparable to the other routers they have released like the M1. It includes a touchscreen and support for 5G connections, making it worth an extra $800.

Rural Broadband Needs A Hot Spot

If you have DSL, fiber, or good cable internet to your home there is no reason to get a mobile hot spot. If you live in a rural area with poor internet, a mobile hot spot may be necessary to ensure that there is enough connectivity and long battery life for many devices.

I recommend purchasing the Netgear Nighthawk M5 unlocked so you can pick your preferred carrier. Netgear is an unlocked device, but they are often locked by carriers. The M5 works on both AT&T and T-Mobile, just not with one SIM card at a time.

"The lack of mmWave support is a good thing for people who want to use it in rural areas. To use it, the M5 would need to support different radio frequencies, which would mean no MIMO antenna support.

The M5 in "The Wild

The Nighthawk M5 is about the size of an American cheese slice and an inch thick. It's the same size and thickness as the M1, though it's enough that you wouldn't notice unless they're side by side. Like its predecessors, the M5 is a black square plastic hockey puck with an Ethernet port, a USB 3.1 Gen-2 port for charging, and TS-9 antenna ports on the back of the device.

Settings such as turning on your Wi-Fi and connecting devices can be controlled with the M5's small dashboard touchscreen.

Setting up the M5 through the touch screen was very easy and I had no issue connecting with my home network. It was also very simple to use the web interface to configure more complicated tasks like configuring the IP range for devices or using a custom DHCP server. There are also mobile apps that are compatible with iOS and Android.

One drawback to the M5 is the lack of battery life in testing, where my usage was a little under 13 hours. However, this can be mitigated by using the stand for a surface for the M5.

The M5 can run on battery when required, but it's best to have the device plugged in via USB-C during use. The battery life will be extended significantly through this method and it'll only be used as a last resort.

The M5's wireless range is less than the M1, at about 50 feet of a clear connection to the router and 25 feet if there are walls in between.

The issue with the Nighthawk M5, is that it does not work well in rural America. Even though I have access to three carriers in the US and Mexico, I never got past 45 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up. This is because my average speeds are about 25 Mbps. Mobile broadband plans also cap data at 50 to 100 gigabytes which means people may not spend their evenings on Netflix due to a limited amount of data left.

Nighthawk routers are good because they offer excellent reception, can be extended with antennas, are easy to use and configure, and offer reasonable WiFi range.

This WiFi router has a built-in C-band antenna. Though it is not yet common to find this in hot spot routers, the M5 can certainly help you improve your AT&T or T-Mobile signal. The price of this device is pretty steep, but if you have some money then there is nothing better than the M5!