Choosing your own equipment

Choosing your own equipment

While JMS Internet offers multiple hotspot and router solutions that are certified for use on the cellular networks of your choosing, we understand some customers would prefer to select other equipment. This document was prepared to help you become a more informed consumer. 


Router and hotspot manufacturers can be very elusive about the the modem inside their devices. We  believe they do this to make you believe a higher price means faster speeds. If you are unsure about the particular modem in a device you are considering, search Google for: "device model name" + modem. You should also be able to find this information in the technical specs, at the very back of the device's user manual. If you are still unable to find this information, we are happy to help. Please send us an email, with the models you are considering and we will get back to you within 1-2 business days.

CAT (Category) Ratings and Release Numbers are universal performance standards and essential in choosing the right device. They specify the maximum performance capabilities of a data modem/device, including download/upload speeds, carrier aggregation, and antenna configurations.

LTE devices: A "CAT 18" device will have slower data speed capability than a "CAT 20 device".
5G devices: A release number of 15 is slower than a device with a release number of 19.

Release / Qualcomm / MediaTek
15
X55
T750
16
X60 / X65 / X70
T800
17
X75
T830
18
X80
T930
19
X105 not available 5/2026
not available 5/2026

Carrier Aggregation: Release 15 / X65 and newer can combine more "lanes" of data across different frequencies simultaneously, which significantly increases real-world speeds in crowded areas. Higher releases, can expand on the number of "lanes" of data (Release 16, 17, etc. / X70, X72, etc.).
Why carrier aggregation matters

Imagine you are at a crowded football stadium trying to upload a video of a touchdown.

Everyone around you is on the same "lane" (the standard 5G frequency). Because 50,000 people are trying to use that one lane, your video takes ten minutes to upload.

A modem with more lanes, like the Snapdragon X75 or X105, doesn't just sit in that crowded lane. It reaches out and grabs a "lane" from a tower across town, a "lane" from a lower frequency that travels through walls better, and a "lane" from a high-speed short-range band. It stitches them together instantly.

While everyone else is fighting for space on the one crowded road, your modem has built its own private multi-lane superhighway, allowing your video to post in seconds.

Why the "Number" Matters

When you see a spec like 5CC or 6CC (Component Carriers), that is literally the number of lanes the chip can use at once.

  • Qualcomm X55: Usually supports 2 or 3 lanes.

  • Qualcomm X105: Can support up to 6 lanes.

More lanes don't just mean "faster top speed," they mean "more consistent speed" when the network is crowded, which is where you actually notice the difference.

 

InfoAs of April 2026, there are no consumer data devices available for purchase that feature a Release 19 modem.

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