Longer Term Test Of The Netgear Nighthawk M2 Router | Product Reviews
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- See: bit.ly/M2TravelConnected
I test the Netgear Nighthawk M2 Router on our Yorkshire Tour, to find out what it's like to use in a Motorhome over a two week holiday.
The unlimited Vodafone Max sim I used is £30 a month
We do Motorhome Reviews, Motorhome Days Out, Help, Hints and Tips on Motorhomes, Motorhome Tours in the UK and Europe, we visit Motorhome Shows, and spend over a third of our year living in a motorhome. In fact all things motorhome!
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Thanks!
Excellent review Bob. Certainly a great piece of kit ;))
Good review and great to have the extended test. I was considering this unit but couldn't justify the cost. In the end I went for the TP-Link M7650 . Have been away for 5 days at Moreton in Marsh and it's preformed perfectly. Had 5 devices connected at most times so 5 days surfing, watched 4 films on Amazon prime and some you tube stuff, listened to digital radio for about 5 hours in total and used just over 12 gig. Currently using Giffgaff. Keep up with the excellent and enjoyable videos, I find reviews like this particularly helpful.
Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks Don and Bob, I was about to invest in a Huawei pocket router, but do like TPlink products and find the M2 a bit pricey for our first shot. Certainly seems decent though
great video bob thank you for going into great detail of what this awesome router can do, i ordered 1 of these lastnight, got a good deal as it should of been around £380 i got mine for 300 on amazon they have a deal going at the moment it seems. cant wait to test this beast out tomorrow i hope its as good as i think it will be :) was gonna go for the nighthawk m1 but thought what the heck ill pay an extra £60 and get the m2, anyways great video take it easy.
Nice one bob nice bit of kit there .kev
Hi Bob, thanks for the original video and this update. Helps make a call on what to use in the camper. One question I have for you, how do you 'Tether' your Sky box to it, is this as simple as connecting an Ethernet cable?
Yes we used an ethernet cable to connect the Sky box and M2 as they both have LAN cable sockets.
Just heard that the new Netgear Nighthawk M5 is due for release in November 2020 and might cost around £500 (not official but info via Netgear UK)
Great review Bob. Is the Vodafone Max SIM one from a normal smart phone that includes calls and texts or is it a specific Mobile Broadband SIM for a MiFi?
Yes, it's a phone SIM, the only unlimited data they do.
Thank you.
Hi Bob did you get an external aerial in the end? Just wondering which to get
No, not yet, not sure I will either.
Hi Bob can you use it on 12v to charge it or do you have to use the 220v plug to charge it
You charge it with a USB lead, so yes you can charge it with a 12v USB adapter.
Hi Bob love the videos - can I ask did you get a good signal with this without the need for an antenna external to the motor home? Just waiting to take delivery of our first Campervan in a few weeks & we have found all your videos very helpful! 👍
These trips this year, the Internet has not been good, it may be down to the Internet itself with more people using it. I am considering getting an external aerial.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo thanks for taking the time to reply. I’ve ordered one & will give it a try before I get an antenna thx
Thank you 🙏, I’m ok as I have two batteries to do the recharging as I will be romote at times ( just wish I could like you take my sky box ) but I have a lot of apps , but it’s mostly the sims . The unlimited is what I’m going for and I have a 20gb for phone , but I mostly do WiFi calls so could I reduce on my phones sim ?
Just remember WiFi calling uses data as well. 20gb a month would be fine if you're not uploading videos. I use about 80-100 gb a month doing that!
@@BobEarnshawMoHo not on my phone no , I download a movie now and then onto iPad , but mainly using the norm and watching tv / lots of tv - movies and I don’t want to go without as much as possible. Just that I was a technophobe until three years ago when I didn’t even have an email , Bob . My first iPad I opened I asked where the instructions were ....well everyone roared 🤷♂️ and I’ll not ever live it down , so as you can see it’s all new . I’m looking forward to getting this router and if I have any questions which I’m hoping I won’t as it seems straight forward I’ll be in touch .
Until then I’ll watch your channel with a smile , Thankyou Bob 👍 .
Hi Bob. Great video. Could or would this work on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean? If purchasing for 2 / 3 international trips per year, presumably I would need to buy a local SIM card of the countries being visited?
I doubt you would get a signal in the middle of the oceon, but on coastal seas, and on the country yes. Don't forget, since we left the EU, most contracts now come with a limit on the amount of roaming data you can use.
Hi Bob, please can you recommend an external aerial for use with my Netgear?
No, as I've not tried any I'm afraid. Just used it out of the box. I could do with trying one as I have been struggling this week with poor mobe signals.
Hi guys , just come across this and love you two . I’ll be buying a nighthawk M2 shortly as I’ll be leaving home behind and traveling n backpacking for a while , can you give me more info on how to use the Nighthawk with IPhone n iPad or simply more about saving on using the phone and yes it’s well worth it .
How long does it take to charge phone and tablets etc . If you could help me out on this please cos all I’ll be using it for is music , tv apps and phone calls .
The charging is only for emergencies, wouldn't rely on it for charging your phone and laptop! Using it for just normal phones and laptop Internet, it lasts pretty much all day. As for connecting it's very much like your home router.
Got a couple questions can I take my phone SIM card out of my phone and put it in the device? Also what size sim fits into the router as I think my phone sim is a micro sim? Also what actual speeds upload and download do you get from this as 4G at best is about 100mb isn’t it?
Yes, you can use a phone sim for it but you obviously can't make phone calls. Think it takes a standard sized sim. The actual upload and download speeds depend on the signal, thought I showed some speeds on the video, but downloads anywhere from less than 1mb/s to 50mb/s, never had anything like 100mb/s.
Hi Bob & Jenny How long will the battery last if its not wired up to the mains
Around 4-5 hours if fully charged, depending on the what your doing with it.
still thinking about getting a rooter :)
Hi Bob & Jenny looking to get one of these for our caravan which is going to be sited in March
Checked network has 4 & 5g
Just though I would ask does this keep items that have been connected setting for ex TV alexa & phones
When it has been turned off when we are not there
Also is this like ordinarily Internet if son in law wants to connect his phone just searches on his mobile Internet settings for the m2 and then I give him password and he connect up
Thankyou for your help
It remembers the settings if that 's what you are asking, and works the same way as domestic Internet, as long as you have a good mobile signal.
Bob
So I assume there is a monthly charge for the sim , what was the monthly cost for your 2 week trip ?
The unlimited Vodafone sim is £30 a month. I used over 115GB in just over 2 weeks.
Bob Earnshaw cheers
Nigel any suggestions?
@@Sauditakeover I've removed him he was just being rude to others.
Hi there, thank you for the video. I’m between the m1 and the m2. How about the stability of the M2? Do you need to reboot it every once in a while? Is the download consistent? How about the reception in rural areas? Sorry for all these questions, but it’s as you said, it’s a lot of money and The only thing I can rely on is you experience as a owner. Thanks in advance. Cheers from Belgium. Ps. I just bought an Adria camper an and I’m looking forward to buying a very good/stable router for my travels. :-)
I think it helps any router to be rebooted occasionally. We tend to do that when we move into a different area. I tend to be more concerned with upload speeds, but it is very dependent on signal strength and quality. Given a good signal the M2 is excellent in urban areas, though we would probably benefit from a roof mounted Antenna in rural areas. I've tried a portable antenna and it hardly makes any difference.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo Thank you. Much appreciated. Take care. :-)
We are moving to a remote area and there is no landline Internet. So mobile internet is what we have to use. Will this M2 be ok as a permanent modem?
It depends how good the mobile signal is, you may need to add an aerial.
Now there's Skylink RV
Ive got the Nighthawk M2 - to reduce the cost I bought it on a 30 day contract which meant I only paid about £100 for it. After a week I gave my 30 days notice which meant I only paid for data for the 2 months. At the end of the contract I then contacted the telephone company to get an unlock key so I could use it with any provider. I work in networks and I rely on a good internet connection and this has delivered the goods wherever I have been.
That sounds great deal mate. Can you tell me which network you with went with.
I bought a Vodafone unlimited sim for £30 a month, although there are better deals around now.
For all who want a comparison between iPhone and Netgear M2.
On the same EE SIM card I got 23mb down in my iPhone 7+ and 53mb when in the m2 that was with 1 bar of signal on the M2 but 3 on the iPhone. Upload was up to 2mb on the phone and 7 - 8mb on the m2.
My broad band gives me similar download speed although it’s usually faster.
That’s about 2 miles from the mast that I can’t see directly.
When next to the mast I got 120mb download on my phone.
I’ve tried the pointing x pole 1 antenna and the download and signal was worse, on the first try. Maybe I need to play around a bit more.
I have read that the m2 is 4 mimo but 2 antenna ports drop it back down to 2 mimo so that may affect the download
I will be in Dorset soon where I know the signal on EE is bad so will be testing the antenna there before I send it back.
M2 is at £320 on amazon at the mo the m1 £280. I got the m2 as it’s faster and newer chipset so hopefully faster when in poor signal areas.
I found that using two little aerials made the signal worse, so I've continued with the unit on its own.
Hi, just watched video about M2 router, what does this do above the M1?
I don't know, never had the M1.
From what I've read, the M1 has aax download speed of 1gb where the m2 has max download speed 2gb and the m1 is not touch screen but m2 is. There maybe othere bits but thats all i know, i like the look of the m1 but just got a deal on m2 for £200 so I've just treated myself to the m2
Sorry if missed an actual speed test using an app. I use a very standard mifi (4G) without even external aerials and easily get 40 down and 20 up and a few can connect. Cheap as chips and more would be a waste for it's intended use, namely high quality streaming/ vid uploads / web surfing etc. Now if I had to also set up for people playing games / needing high speed file transfers over say a closed LAN I might need to think again. Thanks for the review but my experience says I would not be looking in this high end direction for simple streaming etc - no offence.
Thanks for watching. I did get similar speeds with a good signal.
Do you find the device adequate on its own, or have you added an external Ariel?
It is adequate but an external aerial would help in poor signal areas.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo Thanks for your reply. Found your channel recently and working my way through your videos. Getting a MH in the near future and using the information gleaned to create a shopping list of the nice to haves.
Bob, ordered today via your Amazon link on your other Netgear video.
hi bob i would think it would work ok with a amazon 4k fire stick for catch up etc
We've been using it with an HD Firestick for 3-4 years. I've just bought an Avtex AMR985 Mobile Internet solution, I will have a video out on that in a week's time.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo thats a wifi antenna should give a better signal well for that money id be very disapointed if it wasnt that good bob
It wasn't much more than the Netgear without an aerial, but we'll see how we get on.
I was looking at this Netgear my father in law is in a sited caravan next door would it reach them with a good signal?
Yes, it's within 20 metres or so, should be OK.
Cheers for the reply what sim only contract would you suggest?
Mine worked well for 4 years and its now giving me major grief with taking 1 to 3 hours to access the internet.
Looking to see what else is available to connect to the internet in outback Queensland Australia.
Update - its taken me several all nighters trying to find why connecting to the internet has been so hairy pulling difficult.
My computer has started using Microsoft Edge and along with the latest Norton 360 updates these 2 things had made changes to my system.
I've disabled the Microsoft Edge and reversed the Norton changes and I can now get the internet within 1 second.
I suppose Starlink comes to mind. I've never used it, but plenty have on UA-cam.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo Yes lots recommend it but I'm a self funded retiree and at 125 dollars a month and the 925 dollars initial setup fee its a tad too much,
Bit much for us too!
Hi just managed to buy a m2 new in box unlocked unwanted gift for bargain price £250 very pleased
Good to hear, thanks.
Expensive but worth it if you are downloading. Great video once again.
Or uploading, in our case.
You can connect up to 20 people. Have you tried?
Most I managed was 8 devices connected simultaneously. Short of sharing my WiFi with the rest of the campsite, difficult to do.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo you should try 20, and see if its still can handle it. I have the M2 but never tried.
Perhaps I'll do a follow up at a rally.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo yeah that would be great, i hope they make a 5G version of the nighthawk id definitely get it.
Is the Netgear Nighthawk M2 compatible with 5G networks?
No, it's not a 5G Router, there is a newer one the Netgear M5 which I believe is.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo Thank you
@@BobEarnshawMoHoOne online article said the M2 can do 5G downloads
It's wrong. It's a fast 4G+ router not 5G. See this from Netgear www.netgear.com/uk/home/mobile/m2/
@@BobEarnshawMoHo Thank you for the clarification.
I’m sorry I disagree. Still feel it’s very much over priced. It does little more than my HUAWEI 5785, which is a fraction of the price.
Absolutely useless at my place, 4G!! Non existent unless you hop on a horse and ride up a big hill to the 500m mark. Modern technology not made for rural NZ.