Zyxel LTE5388-M804 4G LTE-A Cat12 Indoor Router with Dual-Band WiFi and Dual WAN

The Zyxel LTE5388-M804 is a 4G LTE-A indoor router that combines mobile broadband, WLAN access point, and LAN gateway functions in one device. Its LTE Cat 12 connection supports download rates of up to 600 Mbps and upload rates of up to 100 Mbps, using three-band carrier aggregation for the downlink. Built-in 4 × 4 MIMO LTE antennas handle mobile connectivity without requiring external antennas, while two SMA connectors are available for external LTE/3G antennas when a different antenna arrangement is required. The router supports LTE FDD bands B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28 and LTE TDD bands B38/B40/B41, together with WCDMA bands B1/B3/B5/B8.

The LTE5388-M804 can operate with either cellular or Ethernet WAN connectivity rather than being limited to a single access method. Dual-WAN failover and failback allow LTE to act as a backup when the primary wired connection drops, or LTE can be configured as the main connection with the LAN port used as the recovery WAN. Primary and secondary WAN management is included for controlling this arrangement. Router and bridge modes, including IP pass-through, also make it possible to integrate the LTE connection into different network layouts, whether the LTE5388-M804 is used as the main router or alongside existing network equipment.

Dual-concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi lets the LTE5388-M804 serve wireless clients across both frequency bands at the same time. The 2.4 GHz radio uses IEEE 802.11b/g/n and provides a wireless rate of up to 300 Mbps, while the 5 GHz radio supports IEEE 802.11a/n/ac with rates of up to 1733 Mbps. Up to 64 WiFi devices can connect simultaneously, giving the router a central role in networks that need to share the mobile or wired internet connection among multiple clients. WLAN functions include automatic channel selection, WPS, WMM, multiple and hidden SSIDs, WLAN scheduling, and MAC address filtering for up to 64 addresses. Wireless security options include WPA2-Personal and WPA+WPA2.

Wired equipment can be connected through two Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports, with LAN1 configurable as an Ethernet WAN port when the router is used with a wired internet connection. The USB 2.0 host port provides an additional interface for USB storage, while the application layout also allows the router to connect with switches, NAS servers and other network devices. IPv4/IPv6 dual stack, DHCP client and server functions, NAT/NAPT, port forwarding, DMZ, DNS/DDNS, an IP firewall, and PPTP, IPSec and L2TP VPN pass-through provide the IP networking functions required to manage traffic between connected devices and WAN connections.

The LTE5388-M804 can be managed through its web interface or the free Zyxel Air app, giving access from either a desktop or mobile device. Management functions cover APN configuration, SIM PIN and PUK settings, SMS, network selection, and operating frequency band selection. Secure remote management is available through TR-069 and the Web GUI, while data roaming can be enabled or disabled according to how the cellular connection should operate. These controls complement the WAN configuration options, making both the mobile connection and the local network accessible from the same management environment.

Physical controls and interfaces are arranged for direct access to frequently used functions. A combined WPS and WiFi on/off button is provided alongside the power button and reset control, while status LEDs indicate power/USB, internet connection, LTE signal strength, and WiFi/WPS status. The router accepts a 3FF micro SIM and includes a switch for selecting between the internal and external LTE antenna connections. Power is supplied through a DC power jack, with peak consumption specified at 24 W. The LTE5388-M804 is intended for indoor operation at temperatures from 0 °C to 40 °C and is supplied with a power adapter, Ethernet cable, RJ11 cable, quick start guide, warranty card, CE declaration of conformity, and safety warning.