I am using PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi that came with R051 modem. It has nice promos (Rocket SIMs are not forever), but is only LTE Cat 4 and is slow, especially on 5 Mhz channels that operators seem to use here. So I am looking for something better. No 5G reception in my area yet, but I expect it to be here in a couple of years. Still would prefer to buy 5G modem now so I don't need to replace it again soon. Newer chipsets with 5G also tend to have better LTE capabilities.
As I understand, PLDT Home SIM card locks to IMEI and will not work when transferred to another openline modem. So I will need to change IMEI on the modem I buy to my old R051's IMEI (or just any IMEI from a list). It's critical that the modem allows to change IMEI. Band/PID lock for LTE would also be a plus.
Here is the list I got:
Unicom VN007 - poor reception, proprietary (questionable) chipset. No information on IMEI change or band lock, The cheapest.
Oppo 5G CPE T1 - Snapdragon X55 chipset (good), LTE Cat 20/18 (good), external antenna ports, 8 antenna diversity (theoretically better reception), while some complained on poor reception when it was not able to see 5G while a phone was. Looks like not possible to band lock or change IMEI. Oppo firmware is a mystery.
ZTE MC801A - Snapdragon X55 chipset (good), LTE Cat 22/20 (highest of all), has antenna ports, but not clear if it's possible to change IMEI. Very little information about firmware in general.
Huawei 5G CPE Pro - fist iteration of problematic proprietary Balong 5000 chipset with no CA, LTE Cat 19/13 (lowest), no WiFi 6, but much more information on how to band lock or change IMEA, customized firmware is expected.
Huawei 5G CPE Pro 2 - improved Balong 5000 chipset and WIFi 6, but not antenna port. Too expensive.
Overall, Huawei 5G CPE Pro 2 is probably the best choice despite not having an external antenna port. Theoretically, they can be retrofitted (but I have doubts about how efficient it can be - connectors on the board are usually for measurement and tuning, not for feeding external antennas). Also if Smart uses Huawei equipment for base stations at Palawan, it will likely have better compatibility with Balong 5000 chipset. The problem is that it's overly expensive.
The cheaper choice is ZTE MC801A, which seems to be a great modem, but not being able to change IMEI would make it useless when Rocket SIM cards supply runs dry.
What would you recommend? Maybe there are tricks & instructions on how to change IMEI on those guys which I have not found?
As I understand, PLDT Home SIM card locks to IMEI and will not work when transferred to another openline modem. So I will need to change IMEI on the modem I buy to my old R051's IMEI (or just any IMEI from a list). It's critical that the modem allows to change IMEI. Band/PID lock for LTE would also be a plus.
Here is the list I got:
Unicom VN007 - poor reception, proprietary (questionable) chipset. No information on IMEI change or band lock, The cheapest.
Oppo 5G CPE T1 - Snapdragon X55 chipset (good), LTE Cat 20/18 (good), external antenna ports, 8 antenna diversity (theoretically better reception), while some complained on poor reception when it was not able to see 5G while a phone was. Looks like not possible to band lock or change IMEI. Oppo firmware is a mystery.
ZTE MC801A - Snapdragon X55 chipset (good), LTE Cat 22/20 (highest of all), has antenna ports, but not clear if it's possible to change IMEI. Very little information about firmware in general.
Huawei 5G CPE Pro - fist iteration of problematic proprietary Balong 5000 chipset with no CA, LTE Cat 19/13 (lowest), no WiFi 6, but much more information on how to band lock or change IMEA, customized firmware is expected.
Huawei 5G CPE Pro 2 - improved Balong 5000 chipset and WIFi 6, but not antenna port. Too expensive.
Overall, Huawei 5G CPE Pro 2 is probably the best choice despite not having an external antenna port. Theoretically, they can be retrofitted (but I have doubts about how efficient it can be - connectors on the board are usually for measurement and tuning, not for feeding external antennas). Also if Smart uses Huawei equipment for base stations at Palawan, it will likely have better compatibility with Balong 5000 chipset. The problem is that it's overly expensive.
The cheaper choice is ZTE MC801A, which seems to be a great modem, but not being able to change IMEI would make it useless when Rocket SIM cards supply runs dry.
What would you recommend? Maybe there are tricks & instructions on how to change IMEI on those guys which I have not found?