No internet at home outside the city? It's not a problem! MikroTik comes to the rescue!

MikroTik is a renowned Latvian manufacturer of networking equipment, specializing in creating professional solutions for building and managing computer networks. Founded in 1996, the company has gained international recognition for its innovative approach, high-quality products and reliable software solutions.

Often, telecom operators are reluctant to invest in fiber optic infrastructure in suburban areas because it is not profitable for them. What's more, even in large cities, there can be problems with Internet access in some neighborhoods. The reason for this may be the difficulty of obtaining permission from local authorities, who do not want to interfere with the aesthetics of public spaces by strung fiber optic cables. Alternative methods, such as running cables underground, may also be limited for technical reasons.
However, nowadays, the Internet has become a "product of first necessity." - It should be available in every home and apartment!

In such situations, LTE routers, which use the SIM card of any mobile network operator to deliver Internet "over the air," come to the rescue. However, the mobile signal can often be attenuated by thick building walls, layers of thermal insulation or long distances from base stations. As a result, internet speeds can be slow, and in homes far from cities - the signal can be almost zero.
Today, the LTE standard is widely available and is displacing older technologies such as 2G and 3G, which are gradually disappearing from the market in favor of more modern solutions with higher bandwidth. As a result, network equipment manufacturers are offering LTE routers that allow you to "capture" the mobile signal and transmit it to your home or apartment via a network cable (twisted pair).
Today we will test four outdoor LTE routers from MikroTik, a well-known network technology company. How will they cope with this task and what results will we get? Let's find out!

MikroTik offers both outdoor LTE routers and Wi-Fi-enabled models for home use. In this article, we will look at four outdoor routers/antennas that can be used both in cities with good network coverage and in suburban and rural areas with minimal or no signal coverage.

SXT LTE6 kit

The SXT LTE6 kit is a compact LTE Category 6 router, designed to work in remote areas but still covered by mobile network coverage. With LTE Cat.6 technology, it can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbps for downloads and up to 50 Mbps for uploads, ensuring a stable Internet connection even in demanding conditions.

The new generation SXT LTE6 kit is equipped with two SIM card slots. If you run out of your data bundle with one operator or have network problems, the router will automatically switch to a backup card, ensuring continuity of your connection.
In addition, the device has two Fast Ethernet ports with PoE in and PoE out support, allowing it to power other devices such as IP cameras or other devices that use PoE.
The built-in LTE Cat.6 modem supports dual-band aggregation, which increases the capacity and stability of the mobile connection, guaranteeing higher data speeds.

LHGG LTE6 kit

LHGG LTE6 kit is another router from MikroTik, which provides a reliable solution for the so-called "last mile of the Internet". - that is, regions where the mobile signal practically does not reach. Thanks to a large antenna with 17 dBi gain and a built-in LTE Cat.6 modem, the LHGG LTE6 kit enables speeds of up to 150 Mbps download and 50 Mbps upload, even in heavily remote locations.

The LHGG LTE6 kit is equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port, allowing users to take advantage of the full potential of LTE Cat.6 modem speeds, allowing users to enjoy fast and stable internet even in locations far from mobile operators' transmitters.
In addition, the LHGG LTE6 kit is a fully weatherproof router, which means that it can be mounted outdoors without worrying about operation even in strong winds or heavy rain. This solution significantly reduces the need for frequent servicing of the equipment, making it an ideal choice for demanding locations.

LHG LTE18 kit

The MikroTik LHG LT E18 kit is an enhanced version of the LHGG LTE6 kit, equipped with an even more powerful LTE Cat.18 modem. What does this mean for users? Dizzying download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 210 Mbps!
Like the LHGG LTE6 kit, the LHG LTE18 kit model has a large antenna with 17 dBi gain, allowing it to operate stably even in areas with very poor mobile coverage. This is ideal for those who need maximum performance in hard-to-reach locations.

The built-in high-performance, high-gain antenna supports a wide range of LTE bands, reaching up to 2.7 GHz. In addition, it provides excellent signal coverage at lower frequencies, allowing for a stable connection even in difficult field conditions.
MikroTik guarantees reliable operation for as many as 200,000 hours, which translates into nearly 23 years of continuous service. This makes the LHG LTE18 kit the perfect solution for users who want maximum durability and connection stability.

ATL LTE18 kit

MikroTik ATL LT E18kit is another outdoor weatherproof LTE router from MikroTik. Equipped with 4x4 broadband antennas, it provides a fast and stable connection in both suburban areas and large cities.
Thanks to a state-of-the-art ARM processor and a powerful LTE category 18 modem, the ATL LTE18 kit can achieve impressive data speeds of up to 1 Gbps!
The router has built-in 4 high-gain antennas for mid-band frequencies(1.7-2.7 GHz) and 2 antennas for lower frequencies (700 MHz-1 GHz, LTE Band 28). This makes the ATL LTE18 kit capable of supporting the signal of virtually any mobile operator around the world.

MikroTik ATL LTE18 kit housing is distinguished by its unusual futuristic shape, resembling a UFO saucer - and this is no coincidence! Thanks to this design, snow and ice do not settle on the surface of the antenna, which ensures the router's uninterrupted and stable operation even in extreme winter conditions.
In addition, such an aerodynamic form reduces wind resistance, making the ATL LTE18 kit better able to cope with harsh weather conditions, providing stable Internet access even during strong storms and gales.

It's time for real tests of LTE routers from MikroTik! Our test zone is located on the roof of the Batna24 building. Before starting the tests, we carefully analyzed the map of telecom transmitters to pre-determine the direction of antennas for the best results.
Of course, we will adjust and correct each antenna to find the strongest signal, which we will monitor in WinBox software.
We will conduct tests on two mobile operators - Orange and Play. We will measure data speeds using SpeedTest, choosing the same server each time to ensure all routers have identical test conditions.

Test #1 - MikroTik SXT LTE6 kit.

The first device to be tested is the MikroTik SXT LTE6 kit.
✅ Mounting is very simple - you mount the device using the dedicated bracket included in the kit.
📡 Mounting is done with zip ties, which we will attach to our test mast.
Now it's time for the first measurements!

The next step is to insert the SIM card, connect the RJ45 cable (patchcord) that connects the router to the PoE power supply (injector), and then connect the device to the computer. The connection scheme is simple and reliable.
📡 Checking the signal in WinBox
We open the dedicated WinBox program from MikroTik, where we check the values of RSSI, RSRP and other signal parameters. If necessary, we gently adjust the antenna setting to get the best reception parameters.
🛜 Internet speed test
Next, we go to the SpeedTest website, select a server in Myskov and run the test.

Results obtained:

SXT LTE6 kit	Download (Mbps)	Upload (Mbps)
Orange	22.53	39.08
Play	81.12	56.62

Test #2 - MikroTik LHGG LTE6 kit

The second device we test is the MikroTik LHGG LTE6 kit - a router that is great for places where mobile coverage is minimal or practically non-existent.

The configuration process is the same:
✅ We insert the SIM card,
✅ We mount the antenna on the mast,
✅ We point it towards the mobile operator's transmitter,
✅ We connect the router via patchcord to the PoE power supply, and then to the computer.
Now let's check how the LHGG LTE6 kit performs under real conditions!

As before, we use WinBox to check the signal quality and make adjustments to the antenna setting to get the best reception parameters.
📡 S peed test
After all adjustments are made, we run SpeedTest in the browser, selecting the server in Myskow.

Results obtained:

LHGG LTE6 kit	Download (Mbps)	Upload (Mbps)
Orange	41.71	43.27
Play	33.42	31.18

Test #3 - MikroTik LHG LTE18 kit

The third device in our tests is the MikroTik LHG LTE18 kit. Structurally almost identical to the LHGG LTE6 kit, but equipped with a more powerful LTE Cat.18 modem, which allows it to achieve much higher data speeds.

📡 The setup process looks identical:
✅ We insert the SIM card,
✅ We mount the router on the mast,
✅ We connect the power supply via PoE.

🚀 S peed test
We take a measurement of internet speed on SpeedTest website, choosing the same server in Myskow.

Results obtained:

LHG LTE18 kit	Download (Mbps)	Upload (Mbps)
Orange	100.88	44.05
Play	102.46	37.62

Test #4 - MikroTik ATL LTE18 kit.

The last device tested is MikroTik ATL LTE18 kit. Its advantage over other models is the universal mounting system, which allows you to hang the antenna in any position - on a pipe, mast or building wall.

📡 Adjustment and testing
Once the device is properly fixed and the strongest signal is found, we proceed to testing.
✅ We check speeds on Orange and Play operators,
✅ We connect to the same SpeedTest server in Myskovo,
✅ We start the measurement.

Results obtained:

ATL LTE18 kit	Download (Mbps)	Upload (Mbps)
Orange	20.41	29.98
Play	114.82	32.47

The tests carried out clearly show a significant advantage of devices equipped with LTE18 modem over models with LTE6. This is due to the use of a more modern communication standard, which allows for the aggregation of more bands and increased bandwidth.
🔹 MikroTik SXT LTE6 kit - the optimal solution for areas with good LTE network coverage. Thanks to its compact design and simplicity of configuration (can be installed without WinBox), it is an excellent choice for users who need a stable connection near the operator's transmitters.
🔹 MikroTik LHGG LTE6 kit - recommended for places where the mobile network signal is weak or unstable. The built-in antenna with a gain of 17 dBi provides much better signal reception and allows efficient use of the Internet even in areas far from base stations.
🔹 MikroTik LHG LTE18 kit and ATL LTE18 kit - advanced solutions for users requiring the highest data speeds. Thanks to the LTE category 18 modem, these devices can achieve download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 210 Mbps (with appropriate network conditions and operator support). In tests, the advantage of LTE18 over LTE6 was clearly noticeable, especially in terms of connection stability and higher throughput.

MikroTik LTE devices can be used in a variety of usage scenarios:
🏡 S ingle-family homes and apartments in urban and suburban areas - the optimal choice for those seeking an alternative to traditional cable connections.
🏕️ Recreational plots and rural farms - the ability to provide stable internet even in areas with limited telecommunications infrastructure.
🚐 Campers and mobile offices - the perfect solution for frequent travelers who require reliable Internet access in changing locations.
🏞️ Resorts and mountain huts - an effective way to provide Internet in places where standard connection methods are unavailable.

The choice of the right model depends on the individual needs of the user and the specifics of the location. MikroTik LTE routers offer a stable and efficient Internet connection even in harsh conditions, where traditional solutions prove insufficient. Tests have clearly shown that devices with LTE18 modems are the best choice for users expecting the highest speed and stability of connection, while LTE6 models are a good option for less demanding locations with good LTE network coverage.
With a wide range of available models, MikroTik makes it possible to customize a solution for any environment, ensuring reliable connectivity in any situation.

Author:
Aliaksandr Roslikau