February 4th, 2026

The rise of 5G technology is reshaping how we access the internet, especially for mobile users such as RV enthusiasts, remote workers, and travelers. Possibilities are also opened up to home and business needs. Winegard’s 5G connectivity solutions, including the Basestation 5G, Gateway 5G, and ConnecT 5G, harness these networks to provide reliable, high-speed internet on the go and in stationary applications.

5G, the fifth generation of cellular technology, delivers faster data speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect many more devices simultaneously than previous generations like 4G LTE. This means you can stream 4K video, video conference, and access cloud services seamlessly even in remote locations.

Unlike standard 4G LTE, 5G networks are designed to handle high-capacity data demands. New 5G modems leverage multiple 5G frequency bands. Here we outline the types of 5G bands in use today:

• Low-Band 5G (Sub-1 GHz)

  • Travels long distances and penetrates buildings well

  • Provides broad nationwide coverage

  • Delivers reliable speeds similar to advanced 4G LTE, with improved efficiency

  • Ideal for rural areas and wide-area mobility

• Mid-Band 5G (1–6 GHz)

  • Balances speed and coverage

  • Offers significantly faster speeds than LTE while maintaining good range

  • Forms the backbone of most 5G networks today

  • Well-suited for mobile users, RVers, and everyday connectivity needs

• High-Band 5G (mmWave, 24 GHz and above)

  • Delivers ultra-fast speeds and very low latency

  • Has limited range and struggles with obstacles like walls and trees

  • Best for dense urban areas, stadiums, and event venues

  • Enables bandwidth-heavy use cases like 4K streaming and large data transfers

One of the key advantages of 5G is greatly increased performance over 4G LTE. The new generation of cellular networks brings high performance to users on the go and in stationary applications. From dense urban areas to remote rural locations, 5G offers high performance connectivity to fuel a variety of online uses. Here we compare the key performance metrics for full 5G and 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap):

Integrating 5G connectivity with Multi-WAN router features ensures continuous internet access by combining cellular, WiFi, and satellite sources. This reduces downtime, allowing users to maintain a consistent online experience, whether streaming content, checking emails, or accessing cloud services.

Not all 5G hardware provides the added reliability of Multi-WAN routers. For example, having a single 5G smartphone offers only one connection to the cellular network. To increase internet dependability, a Multi-WAN router is required to benefit from multiple internet sources that can be set up for failover or load balancing. Failover provides automatic switching from one internet source to another when the primary internet source goes offline. Load balancing brings multiple internet sources together for increased reliability and simultaneously using all your internet sources.

While full 5G offers ultra high speeds, 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) is a lite version designed for devices that don’t require maximum bandwidth. 5G RedCap modems still benefit from increased speeds, lower latency, and energy-efficiency when compared to 4G LTE modems. The key advantage of 5G RedCap is cost savings. The 5G RedCap modems are more inexpensive when compared to full 5G modems.

For many users, 5G RedCap provides sufficient speed and coverage for everyday internet tasks—like email, browsing, and streaming lower-resolution media. Full 5G is ideal for heavy users who want maximum performance for 4k streaming, online gaming, large file transfers, and more. However, 5G RedCap is a solid option for many people who rely on internet with decent speeds at a lower hardware cost.