Those modems are great, but as a primary internet source you need an unthrottled cell provider. Most cell service throttles at a level that makes long term streaming an iffy proposition.

T-Mobile doesn't throttle until about 20GB and does not count streaming.

My cable based IPS throttles at ~150GB, but counts streaming

That Netgear is essentially a 5G hotspot, right? 5G radio on one end, WiFi access point and Ethernet jack on the other? So it will work standalone, no need for anything but power and a 5G signal? Can you power it from a USB battery?

That Netgear is essentially a 5G hotspot, right? 5G radio on one end, WiFi access point and Ethernet jack on the other? So it will work standalone, no need for anything but power and a 5G signal? Can you power it from a USB battery?

Also, what antenna would you use if on a vehicle (van, boat)? So you have plenty of room for a tall aerial, but has to be omni directional.

It is not a "hotspot" as it is much larger than the regular hotspots. The 4G unit is NOT WiFi. You must supply a WiFi router. And it is 12V.

The 5G unit "will" supply WiFi, but it does not exist yet. It does contain an internal battery AND it appears to be USB-C for power.

Well, it looks like AT&T released it!!!

https://www.att.com/buy/connected-devices-and-more/nighthawk-5g-mobile-hotspot-pro-black.html

At $509, it is not cheap!

I can get unlimited DSL for $95 a month at 10MGPS that's not too bad and Ill have the house phone again lol

If you are with T-Mobile, an extra line is like $20/mth.

We got a "free" phone line with our Frontier DSL. It's really just a filter that lets the phone use the DSL. I've never used it.

This is interesting, and I've seen the same from other providers, or higher streaming limits. My concern is that the "streaming" means streaming video to a smartphone or pad-otherwise its just data-how does the carrier distinguish when its going to a modem-ie not thru an app native to the smart device.

How do they distinguish on a tablet or phone?

They have to add in a phone, some regulation will not allow them to only put in a DSL data line, has to include a phone.

I don't know the exact mechanism, but I can guess. They probably have a list of the IPs and/or DNS addresses for all of the major streaming services, and allow unlimited data from those addresses. That's probably why when T-mobile first started their unlimited streaming, it was for a selected list of providers and they had a caveat that said something like "we are adding more streaming providers in the future."

Netflix probably has a pretty fixed list of load balanced IPs or DNS names, same goes for Hulu or anyone else that streams. There are also devices that watch for specific protocols or signatures for common streams. They could be using that instead. I think it would be easier to just allow all Netflix.com addresses, but like I said, I don't know the exact mechanism.

I would hope they distinguish by ip. With a phone or tablet and a direct cell connection its easier as the apps "talk back" to the carrier. I've never tried-can you stream video thru a browser these days on your phone or does it force you to use an app for the service? I just tried netflix thru safari and it directed me to the app. The carrier knows that data going to a netflix or prime app etc is streaming video content. I guess they could monitor the ip directed from a browser, but I wonder if in practice that occurs.

Either is possible. IP could be a moving target based on multiple data centers all over the US and dynamic expansion based on load/use, but name could be setup to point to any/all of those IPs, so one entry that never /rarely changes vs many, many entries that could change regularly.

I have cellular LTE on my laptop. And the streaming is through my browser. I expect it is based on WHERE the data is coming from.

I use my phone for a casual hotspot. This thing looks perfect for a mobile setup (RV, etc) or to bring to a vacation cabin, remote work site, etc. $509 is a little ambitious, though.