Three gateways have shipped with Verizon’s 5G Home Internet service. This is an overview of each one with links to manuals, software revision history, and more.
You can see which model you have by looking at the bottom of your unit.
WNC-CR200A: Get This If You Can
Released in 2023, this is the newest of the Verizon 5G Home Internet gateways. Physically, it’s taller than the previous gateways and slightly grey instead of white. It features better Wi-Fi coverage and signal strength indicators right on the front panel. Some users have reported higher bandwidth than the previous models as well.
If you have a choice, this is the one to get. You may be able to choose if you go to a Verizon store instead of signing up online and getting it in the mail.
Most users that have tried to “upgrade” to this model from an older one have been forced to newer plans that were more expensive. So if you have an older device, and it’s working fine, I’d suggest just sticking with it.
There is no software revision history that I could find online.
ARC-XCI55AX
This model is slightly newer than the ASK below, but there isn’t much of a difference in terms of features or functionality. It’s housed in the same white cube as the previous model, but with different hardware inside.
It is theoretically possible to hack your own 5G antennas onto this unit if you’re adventurous and don’t mind violating the terms of service. It’s not pretty though.
ASK-NCQ1338/FA/E
The ASK-NCQ1338 is the original Verizon 5G Home Internet router. Functionality is similar to the ARC-XCI55AX (above). Verizon has continued to update software for this unit, improving performance, stability, and security over time.
Although this is the oldest model, don’t fret too much if you receive it. It still works fine today (it is what I currently use).
On the bright side, the ASK features a removable SIM card, which you could theoretically put into your own gateway if you don’t mind violating the terms of service.
Note, the user manual is for the older version of firmware. I haven’t found a manual that covers the System 7 Update and later.
Can You Trade Up?
You might be wondering if you can contact Verizon and “trade up” for the latest model if you have an older one. While a few people online have reported that they were able to, others have said that when they did so, they lost their favorable grandfathered plans and had to get a new current plan with less favorable terms. So, I personally wouldn’t do it because I have a 300Mbps plan for the current price of a 100Mbps plan.
Questions? Comments? Please leave a note below! – Brian
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