Many customers tell us that with Teltonika routers, they achieve internet connection speeds that are noticeably lower than those obtained with their latest generation phones. In this post, we’ll explain why, how to compare different devices and technologies, as well as the factors that can influence the connection speed of your router.
How to compare connection speeds between different types of devices?
If you have noticed that your Teltonika router reaches lower speeds than other LTE devices (phones, tablets, or even other routers) when used under similar or identical conditions, this is due to the fact that different devices use different technologies.
We see an example of how LTE speed can vary between two different devices.
Let’s assume we have two different LTE devices and we want to compare their speeds. One is LTE Cat 4 and the other is LTE Cat 6. Both are in identical conditions: same location, same time of day, same type/contract of SIM card, etc. If we focus solely on the download speed, we might obtain the following measurements.
Download speed on the LTE Cat 6 device is 100 Mbps, and download speed on the LTE Cat 4 device is 50 Mbps, as shown in the following graph.
Given that both results are clearly below the theoretical maximum speeds for both technologies and since both devices were tested under identical conditions, we could expect similar results in both cases. However, this is not true. LTE Cat 6 not only offers a higher theoretical speed but also includes additional technologies that allow for more effective use of the same radio resources. In our example, the most logical explanation for this discrepancy in speed is that LTE Cat 6 supports the aggregation of 2 carriers (2CA).
Carrier aggregation (CA) allows for the assignment of multiple frequency blocks to a single device connected to the network, thereby increasing the aggregated connection speed. In this sense, 2CA is simply the aggregation of two frequency blocks (CC).
LTE Cat 4 does not support carrier aggregation. Consequently, in most cases we will have lower speeds on LTE Cat 4 devices than on LTE Cat 6 devices, or in other words, we can expect higher speeds in the RUTX range than in the RUT2 or RUT9 range under the same conditions.
Some latest generation phones can support 3CA, 4CA, or even 5CA depending on the LTE category and therefore achieve speeds higher than Teltonika routers.
Finally, we also have differences in the number of points in the QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) constellation among different LTE categories, which allows for the transmission of a greater number of bits per symbol or Hz, thereby achieving higher speeds.
In summary, if we want to compare connection speeds among different LTE devices, we must ensure they support the same or similar LTE technologies.
Speeds on Teltonika devices
Teltonika offers gateways and routers that incorporate different LTE categories. Each category provides different maximum upload and download speeds.
Teltonika devices belong to the following LTE categories:
| Cat. LTE | Máx. Vel. Bajada (Mbps)* | Más. Vel. Subida (Mbps)* | Dispositivos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat M1 | 1 | 1 | TRB255 |
| Cat 1 | 10 | 5 | TRB141, TRB142, TRB145 |
| Cat 4 | 150 | 50 | RUT240, RUT850, RUT950, RUT955, TRB140, TRB245 |
| Cat 6 | 300 | 50 | RUTX09, RUTX11, RUTX12 |
Note that these values are theoretical maximums. These values can only be reached under ideal laboratory conditions not available in deployed mobile networks.
What affects the connection speed?
In addition to the LTE category and carrier aggregation, the following factors also affect the connection speed of our device.
- Bandwidth. The different bands available for each operator provide different channel bandwidths. In general, greater bandwidths offer higher speeds. Unfortunately, this is not a parameter that we can configure on the device, but rather depends on the base station we are connected to and the operator of our SIM. Information about the band used and other parameters can be consulted on the web server and also with the following SSH/CLI command: gsmctl -K
- Base station load. The connection speed can be affected by the traffic load that the base station we are connected to is handling. The greater the number of connected devices, the lower the speed. Therefore, the speed may be reduced during peak usage times.
- Frequency bands. Under certain conditions, different frequency bands can also affect connection speeds. Bands with higher frequencies typically provide higher speeds. However, in low-frequency bands, the waves traverse the medium more effectively and therefore can provide higher speeds in areas with a large number of obstacles such as urban areas or high population density.
- Location and signal level. If your router is in an area of poor coverage, it will have a low signal level, which will result in a decrease in connection speed. In these cases, it is recommended to use outdoor antennas with higher gain.
- Network connection hardware. If you connect to the router via a 100M Ethernet interface and your router supports higher LTE speeds, you won’t be able to enjoy them.
- Physical obstacles. Physical obstacles such as walls, buildings, or trees obstruct the signal between your device and the base station, which can decrease the speed compared to what we would achieve in line-of-sight conditions. Even the materials these obstacles are made of determine this decrease to a greater or lesser extent..
- Service mode. The factor that most affects the speed of a mobile device is the service mode in which it operates (2G/3G/4G). You can check the mode your router is using through the LEDs on the front panel.
- Weather conditions. Adverse weather conditions such as rain, strong winds, lightning, or extreme temperatures can also reduce connection speed.
Tips to improve speed
We give you some tips that can help improve the speed of your router.
- Antenna orientation. Try different locations and orientations of the antenna(s). Access your router’s web server and go to the «Mobile» section on the «Overview» page to check if the signal level changes with the orientation of the antenna. Leave the antennas positioned at the highest signal level. For more information, visit the page. Mobile Signal Strength Recommendations .
- Use different antennas. In some cases (for example, if the router is very far from the base station), it can be difficult to achieve an acceptable signal level with the antennas that come with the router. In these cases, we recommend using high gain outdoor antennas.
- Frequency bands. Some Teltonika routers allow manual adjustment of frequency bands. Try different bands until you achieve maximum speed. To learn how to adjust the bands, you can watch this video.
- Location. Try moving your router to different locations in search of the strongest signal. Try placing it next to a window or another transparent material. If you have a window with a direct view of the base station, this is the best location.
Puedes consultar esta misma información en inglés en la wiki de Teltonika.
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