Guide To External Antennas For Netgear Routers

If you have a Netgear mobile router, a Netgear external antenna for 4G and 5G can enhance your network connection, giving you faster, more reliable internet speeds. It’s ideal when you rely on internet for your caravan, but often find yourself out of range of local WiFi networks.Maxview’s 4G/5G external antenna is designed to adapt to many Netgear routers. Below, you’ll learn when a Netgear external antenna is useful, which routers are compatible, and how to add an external antenna to your Netgear router.

Do you need an external antenna for your Netgear router?

External antennas are designed to give you a more reliable internet connection, especially when you’re on-the-go in a caravan or motorhome. So it might be a good idea to invest in a Netgear external antenna if:

• You need a stable, reliable internet connection to work as a digital nomad.
• You often travel to rural areas where mobile signals are weaker.
• Your existing internet setup can’t provide you with appropriate speeds for browsing and navigation.
• You want to make use of a Netgear router you’ve already invested in.

Which external 4G/5G antenna is best for Netgear routers?

Maxview’s 4G/5G 2×2 external antenna can be used to boost the signal strength of many Netgear routers.Each antenna kit includes an adaptor that allows you to connect our antenna’s SMA connector to your Netgear router’s TS9 connector.

Left: SMA connectors. Right: TS9 connector.

Which Netgear routers are compatible with the Maxview 4G/5G external antenna?

Our MIMO 2×2 4G/5G external antenna is compatible with most Netgear routers, including:

• Netgear Nighthawk M2
• Netgear Nighthawk M1
• Netgear Nighthawk M6
• Netgear Nighthawk M5
• Netgear AirCard 810 Mobile Hotspot
• Netgear 4G LTE Modem LM1200 (Will need LTE Modem External Antenna Pigtail as an extra from Netgear)
• Netgear 4G LTE Modem LB2120 (Will need LTE Modem External Antenna Pigtail as an extra from Netgear)

Connect your router’s TS9 connector to the antenna’s SMA connectors via the adaptor provided.Please note that the following Netgear router models are not compatible with our external antenna:

• Netgear Orbi Mesh WiFi systems
• Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Router

If your router model isn’t listed here, ask our support team if your model is also compatible with the Maxview 2×2 MIMO external antenna.

Are Netgear Nighthawk routers compatible with external antennas?

Yes. You can use an external antenna to enhance the signal of many Netgear Nighthawk routers.

How to add an external antenna to your Netgear router

There is some installation required to set up your Netgear 4G router external antenna.Follow the instructions in this video to mount your antenna on the roof of your vehicle, then connect to the internal router using the adaptor provided. You can also find an antenna installer to mount your Maxview antenna in the best possible position, maximising internet speeds.When this is complete you can simply connect the SMA cables to the router like this (example below). For Netgear routers, you will need to use the SMA to TS9 connectors that come with every Maxview 4G/5G antenna:

If you have less space on the roof of your vehicle, we also offer a slim 2×2 external antenna that’s compatible with all the Netgear routers listed above. Professional installers will also be able to mount the slim version, giving you a professional finish. But you can also install it yourself if preferred.

Netgear router external antenna FAQs

Find out if an external antenna is the right option for your caravan internet in these FAQs.

How can I boost my Netgear signal strength?

Adding an external antenna to your Netgear router is one of the simplest ways to boost your Netgear signal strength. But there are other options you can try, including:

• Moving your router — Make sure there’s nothing blocking the signal between your router and your device(s).
• Adjusting the router antennas — Ensure in-built antennas are directed for optimal signal.
• Choosing sites near mobile masts — Staying at campsites closer to mobile masts can give you a better chance of getting the best possible signal strengths.

Do I need a 4G or 5G external antenna for my Netgear router?

Your router will determine whether you need a 4G or 5G external antenna. Only 5G-compatible routers like the Roam 5G WiFi system will achieve 5G signals, but they will also pick up 3G and 4G signals. If your router isn’t 5G-compatible, it will only connect to 4G and 3G frequencies.Maxview’s 4G/5G 2×2 external antenna can pick up and boost 3G, 4G, and 5G signals. So it’s compatible with any Netgear router that can connect to an external antenna.

How can I get the fastest possible internet speeds in my caravan?

If you’re struggling to get the internet speeds you need, consider upgrading to the 5G Roam 5G WiFi system.This Roam router uses a 4×4 antenna, which enables it to pick up stronger signals that enhance your internet connection.If you’re looking to replace your caravan Netgear router but aren’t sure which router to choose, use our WiFi selector tool to see which option is best suited to your needs.