Getting the best out of your Zyxel 5G/LTE router

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If you are setting up a new Zyxel G/LTE router, there are some simple things you can do to ensure all users experience optimum speed and reliability, says Patrick Hirscher, EMEA Wireless Market Development Manager

We have seen really strong sales of our 5G/LTE products over the last 18 months. This has been driven partly by the increase in home working, the need to provide access to people outdoors in the hospitality sector, and by growing awareness of 5G/LTE as a solution for areas in which it is difficult to get fast or consistent fixed-line broadband speeds. In addition, Zyxel has a growing reputation in this market as a supplier or fast, reliable products.

But of course, while just about everyone is familiar with broadband these days, not so many people know that much about 5G/LTE and how to get the best out of it. In this short article, I want to share a little knowledge and best practices that will really help when you are setting up your new 5G/LTE router.

Simple steps

We talked with our EMEA Support Team and asked them about their experiences of getting the best out of our LTE/5G devices.

There are really just two simple steps you need to take to make sure your router gives you the best possible performance.

First of all, when you are setting up the router, it’s important to be mindful that they use directional antennas. In other words, they work best when they are pointing directly towards the nearest cellular mast. You may know where this is – or you may want to use the “Zyxel Air” app to help you locate the position of the mast with the strongest signal. You can download this from any app store and use on your mobile phone. 

Positioning the router will ensure you get the most stable and consistent performance, so it’s important to take the trouble to get this right.

Second, just make sure there are no obstacles that will or might get in the way of the signal. This may seem obvious, but it’s worth thinking about. While permanent physical obstructions may be obvious – outbuildings or trees and bushes, for example. Others may come and go – vehicles, or outdoor furniture, for instance. It’s often a good idea to position the antenna as high up as possible, so that any possibility of some obstruction getting in the way is minimized.

Switching bands

If you do these two simple things before you try using your device, it should all be plain sailing and your router should work perfectly. If you do experience any issues though, there are a couple of things you can try. First of all, try switching signal bands. In some areas you may find that 3G gives you a better signal than 4G, or that 4G is better than 5G. You can do this using the web interface for the router It’s also worth checking that everything is OK with your service provider and that they have no issues in your particular area, or that there is nothing to cause an unexpected obstruction or interference.

If you are still having issues, there are plenty of online resources that you can look at on our Zyxel Community or Support Campus. Just type your query into the search box and you should find what you need. And, of course, you can always contact your trusted Zyxel partner or your nearest Zyxel location.

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