Testing the Chateau 5G Router

If you're looking for a dual-band router that can easily handle the LTE/5G band then the MikroTik router Chateau 5G router can handle it. You can take it with you wherever you need to go. Working from home or maybe in the garden? With a router from MikroTik it is not a problem.

Are you a newbie when it comes to networking devices? No problem. MikroTik has recently launched a mobile application to make configuring devices easier. Access points are marked with icons, so you won't get confused. It is a great advantage, especially at the beginning.
In addition to LTE, the MikroTik Chateau 5G router also offers Gigabit Ethernet with 5 ports, a USB port (like the Chateau LTE12), and a built-in 5G LTE modem.

The quad-core processor starts at 716 MHz, but it can be overclocked. However, remember not to do it too rapidly in order to avoid hang-ups. On the plus side, the router doesn't overheat or hang up when running at 896 MHz and it's barely audible, like rustling leaves in the wind.

The manufacturer has equipped the device with a powerful CAT12 LTE modem with download speeds of up to 600 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps, which has a band aggregation option. Depending on your needs, you also have bands from CAT4 LTE to CAT20 LTE and of course mega-fast 5G.
But let's focus on our 5G, which at 170 Mbps pick-up is stable. Note that bursts reach up to 250 Mbps for about 10 seconds of download. You won't see much interference during the day, so you can work with confidence.

Among the MikroTik routers, the Chateau 5 can connect using up to 3xCA. However, it behaves quite stably with 2xCA. In this case, the maximum speeds can oscillate between 120-150 Mbps.

If you want a Chateau with 256 MB RAM, there is a MikroTik routerboard to match your brand. In addition, you can use TR-069 technology in it, which gives you the option to decide on access control, manage your clients, and what RouterOS features they will be able to use.

Through the USB port located on the same side as the access points MikroTik routers are equipped with, you can connect hard drives, SSDs, computer accessories containing sim cards or memory cards or other data storage devices. This will be useful when you want to share them via LAN.

Make sure that the uninterrupitble power supply (available from the online store in the UPS category if needed) is plugged in stably.

Comparing the price of MikroTik routers, Chateau 5G is an LTE KIT for special tasks. The RAM size or the number of ports is similar to other models. Yes, it is a bit more expensive among MikroTik routers in the online store, but comparing it with, for example, the Chateau LTE12 it works much more efficiently. It allows you to watch videos in 4k ultra hd, you can connect several devices to it like a smart switch or other network devices and above all you have the ability to control access and above all it is much more functional than the others.

To test the LTE connection we used the online tool Speedtest. For more credibility and reliable results we tested Chateau 5G in two locations (Katowice and Warsaw). The tests were conducted at a distance of about 4 km from 2 Play network transmitters, the next Play network transmitters were located at a distance of 6 km and 8 km. Some of the transmitters were new, so it is difficult to determine with which the device connected.

The modem was tested in two rooms to verify signal differences.

We used AirSurvey software to perform signal mapping. We performed speed tests using WiFiPerf software, and the speed test server was running iperf3 software.
To read the signal levels correctly, please pay attention to the color legend at the bottom of the image.

Now, let's take a look at the speeds we achieved at each point (from 1 to 6, at different distances - basement/ground floor/floor)

Point 1 - Download 115.2 Mbps / Upload 138.9 Mbps

Unfortunately, at points 5 (on the floor above, in a room diagonal to the room where the router was) and 6 (in the basement) it was not possible to get a signal good enough that would allow to send or receive data.

Overall when testing the device the LTE modem works very well. Also the 2 x CA is within a satisfactory standard.

Wi-Fi tests performed slightly worse than LTE tests. Unfortunately, another downside is the placement of the Wi-Fi antennas in the chassis, which probably affects the signal.

Chateau 5G from MikroTik in our tests has lower speeds and range compared to other Chateau LTE models.

Chateau 5G router from MikroTik is a device that performs very well as an LTE/5G router. It is suitable for larger networks with many possibilities of remote management of clients.

Chateau 5G performs very well as an LTE / 5G modem, slightly worse with WiFi (perhaps due to the placement of the antennas). Throughput oscillates steadily at around 175 Mbps during download, with possibilities up to 250 Mbps for a few seconds.
Another big plus are also 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB
port. The downside may be the price, but for its capabilities it is not so exorbitant.