Huawei E398S-81 4G LTE FDD TDD USB Surfstick Review

Comparing with Huawei E398 other branch models, such as Huawei E398u-1, E398u-18 and E398u-15, Huawei E398s-81 should be a special one, it's not because Huawei E398s-81 has different appearance as other models, it's due to Huawei E398s-81 supports the TDD & FDD LTE band simultaneously, which covers the 4G LTE TDD 2300/2600MHz and FDD 2600MHz.  

 

As the one of the most frequency bands for TDD, band 38 (2600MHz) and band 40 (2300Mhz) are invested by many operators who are planning or already launched TDD networks.     Today, we get the Huawei E398s-81 4G LTE TDD FDD Surf stick with HUAWEI logo on it. It seems that it’s SIM card free and unlocked to any operators. Usually, if there is an operator’s logo on HUAWEI E398 modem, it may be a locked one, but the modem could be unlocked by some methods.

 

From the appearance, we could see that HUAWEI E398s-81 is just like other E398 branch models, with the rotatable USB design. There is only HUAWEI 4G on the USB. No other logo was printed on the back.    

As previously mentioned, Huawei E398s-81 could support the LTE bands/Spectrum above: 4G LTE FDD 2600MHz and TDD 2300/2600MHz. This should be the most important difference between HUAWEI E398u-1, E398u-15 and E398u-18.

   

With same appearance of E398u-11 and E398u-15, Huawei E398s-81 has two external antenna connectors beside the two sides of Micro SD slot. If user wants to use data card with MIMO technology, HUAWEI E398s-81 is a good option optional. Here now, only few models of 4G LTE USB Surfstick are available on the market for both TDD and FDD networks. HUAWEI E398s-81 should be a good one based on HUAWEI prestige.

   

Unlike other E398 Modems, Huawei E398s-81 could not work with 3G UMTS network or 2G GSM/GPRS network. So Huawei E398S-81 could only work on 4G LTE networks. If 4G networks are not available in certain place, HUAWEI E398s-81 can’t work. So users may consider this before they buy it.  

   

As the brother model, Huawei E392 4G FDD TDD multi-mode data card also has one similar model, the model number is Huawei E392u-92. HUAWEI E392u-92 supports 4G TDD 2300/2600 Mhz, but HUAWEI E392u-92 can’t support 4G FDD networks.   If you want know more details of them, welcome to buy it from www.4gltemall.com .    

HUAWEI E392u-21 and E392u-92 4G LTE TDD USB Modem

As one of the top telecom equipment supplier, Huawei has been leading the trend of 4G network. To meet the demand for network upgrade, many 4G LTE modems are released with new LTE technology. TDD, as the one of the two most popular LTE technologies, is widely adapted for 4G network in many providers all over the world.     Huawei E392u-21 and E392u-92 are born to support TDD networks. Even though there are many variants for Huawei E392 or Huawei E397, Huawei E392u-21 and E392u-92 should be the most popular two models, because HUAWEI E392u-21 and E392u-92 both support 4G TDD band 2600Mhz, what’s more, HUAWEI E392u-92 supports TDD 2300MHz. What’s more, HUAWEI E392u-21 also supports 4G FDD 2600MHz.     Actually, the 4G Spectrum TDD 2300/2600MHz and FDD 2600MHz are the most popular bands which are commonly deployed and launched to commercial. So the difference between the two 4G LTE dongles is the 4G Frequency band supported. Below are the details of 4G Frequency they could support:   HUAWEI E392u-92: 4G LTE bands: TDD 2300/2600 Mhz 3G UMTS: 900/2100Mhz HUAWEI E392u-21: 4G LTE Bands: FDD 2600MHz/ TDD 2600Mhz 3G UMTS: 900/2100Mhz   Unlike HUAWEI E392u-21, HUAWEI E392u-92 could only work on 4G LTE TDD network. Since then, HUAWEI E392u-21 may support high link speed than E392u-92. Under FDD network, HUAWEI E392u-21 could reach peak download data rate at 100Mbit/s and upload data rate up to 50Mbps. But the maximum speed for HUAWEI E392u-92 to download is 68Mbps while upload peak speed is 17Mbps. When working on TDD network, HUAWEI E392u-21 could also run at this speed.   HUAWEI E392u-92 is somewhat like ZTE MF820T, but it seems HUAWEI E392u-92 is better because E392u-92 works on multi-mode, 3G & 2G network are backward while ZTE MF820T is single mode for 4G LTE TDD 2300/2600MHz. And with external antenna connector, HUAWEI E392u-92 would get high data rate in practical with MIMO antenna.     With the same compact design, HUAWEI E392u-92 and E392u-12 both have 2 external pigtail connectors. With MIMO technology, the transmission rate for data would improve obviously whenever in laboratory or practical usage.   It’s a pity that HUAWEI E392u-21 couldn’t support 2300MHz, which let E392u-92 has its special features. They both work for 4G TDD network and both are good 4G dongles worthy to have if there is 4G TDD network available round you.  

HUAWEI E392u-12---- The Most Popular Surfstick of HUAWEI E392 4G USB Modem

As the flagship of 4G LTE USB Modem, HUAWEI E392 4G LTE Multimode USB Modem like a big tree, derives many branch models, such as HUAWEI E392u-12, HUAWEI E392u-21, HUAWEI E392u-22, HUAWEI E392u-92, HUAWEI E392u-6, HUAWEI E392u-9, HUAWEI E392u-511 etc… They are for different operators in different areas, so they incorporates difference modules to support various 4G LTE bands.


Based on good quality and reliable performance, HUAWEI E392 4G LTE Modem is the first option for many network providers. Which one is the most popular model?

 Before we give the conclusion, let us talk about the 4G network deployment status. From the beginning of 2012, operators all over the world are planning and starting deploying the 4g networks. At this trend, the providers in Asia seems running faster than European operators. Perhaps it’s due to the economic depression in European area.
 

 Per the report of 4G network status, LTE technology is most commonly adopted to use in data transmission. And the LTE Band 1800Mhz is most commonly deployed spectrum, 38% current LTE networks choose 1800Mhz (Band 3). It’s the refarming of GSM 1800Mhz. As we know, GSM is the most common 2G network. And per our information, Band 7(2600Mhz) is also the common FDD network in Europe and APEC areas. Then we look back to HUAWEI E392. The brand model works on band 3 and band 7 has two models HUAWEI 392u-12 and E392u-6.

 

HUAWEI E392U-12 4G Modem support LTE FDD 800/1800/2600 Mhz while HUAWEI E392U-6 4G Surfstick supports LTE FDD 900/1800/2100/2600Mhz. Band 1(2100MHz) is only available at North Amerian and Band 8 ( 900 Mhz) only deployed in few countries. But 800Mhz is a common LTE spectrum in Europe and Asia. [caption id="attachment_17" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="4G 3G 2G Frequency bands 4GLTEMALL"][/caption] In this case, we could conclusion that HUAWEI E392u-12 is the most commonly used 4G LTE Surfstick. If you are a professional journalist or other professional who usually travel between countries and need fast data transmission, it’s necessary to take HUAWEI E392u-12 around. Frankly speaking, comparing with 3G USB modem, HUAWEI E392 seems a little large, but compare with digital camera and luggage carrier, it’s slim enough. 4GLTEmall.com could offer unlocked one. If you want it, welcome to buy it on 4gltemall.com.