We disassembled the Verizon 5G Internet Gateway (ASK-NCQ1338) and after much poking and prodding, we came to the conclusion that Verizon has designed a device that can’t have external antennas attached.

Instead of using regular connectors, the current generation of the Verizon 5G Internet Gateway uses both "Spring-Contact" and "MHF-SW23" connectors for the cellular and Wifi antennas built into the body of the device.

The picture below displays an example of some of the many "Spring-Contact" and "MHF-SW23" connectors present within the Verizon 5G Internet Gateway (ASK-NCQ1338).

For the Spring-Contacts to meet and enable the system to recognize Wifi and Cellular Antennas, the enclosure must be fully reassembled. From our testing there isn't a way to feed cables into the Verizon 5G Internet Gateway (ASK-NCQ1338) and reassemble the unit.

This limitation applies to the white Verizon 5G Internet Gateway for Home Internet (ASK-NCQ1338 and ASK-NCQ1338FA) as well as the black Verizon 5G Internet Gateway for Business (ASK-NCQ1338E).

Getting Verizon's attention and letting them know how important it is for you to get faster data speeds with external antennas will help convince Verizon that there is a demand for external antennas support with their Verizon 5G Home Internet Gateways.

You can let Verizon know why improved data speeds are important to you and why you want their future systems to support 4x4 MIMO external antenna connections by sending a message to their Executive Leadership: https://www.verizon.com/about/our-company/leader/contact/922789

If you want the biggest possible improvement in performance, the ProLink Outdoor 5G Modem is the upgrade to consider. Instead of keeping your modem indoors and fighting through walls, ProLink combines a high-gain directional antenna and a Qualcomm X62 modem, right where the signal is strongest.

Because ProLink sits outside, where signal is strongest, it can deliver better speeds, lower latency, and more stable connectivity than most indoor gateways - even those that do support external antennas.

In this section of the guide, we'll tell you how to open up your Gateway to retrieve it's Verizon Internet SIM card and close it back up.

Before you get started, you will need the following:

• A #1-size phillips-head screwdriver
• A thin prying tool or flat-head screwdriver
• A secure container to keep screws and small parts safe while you work

Important note:

Be careful not to damage your Verizon Home Internet Gateway while disassembling.

Waveform does not make any guarantees nor take any responsibility for damage caused to your unit when following these instructions. Please proceed at your own risk.

Step-by-Step Guide to Removing the Verizon 5G Internet Gateway SIM card

Step 1: Power off the Verizon 5G Internet Gateway and unplug the power cable.

Step 2: On the bottom of the device, use a prying tool to push the rubber pad to the side.

Step 3: Use a prying tool to remove the square plastic cap (as shown below) to access the Verizon Internet SIM card.

• Note: If the square plastic cap is held in place by a screw, remove the #1-size phillips-head screw before attempting to pry off the square plastic cap.

Step 4: Retrieve the Verizon Internet SIM card. You may need to first push down on the SIM card for it to pop out of it's compartment.

Step 5: Reassemble in the system in the reverse order of these steps.

NOTE: To use a Verizon Internet SIM card in a different 5G LTE Router, you will need to manually set the APN of that router to "v5ga01internet".

By using external MIMO antennas placed outside your building, you can bring the faster LTE data rates from outdoors into the 5G LTE Router with much less signal loss.

Here are the best steps for optimizing the position of your Verizon Internet Gateway (ASK-NCQ1338):

1. Look up your nearby towers. This can be time consuming and difficult to get right - we've listed our suggestions in an article on the Best Ways to Locate Nearby Cell Towers
2. Run speed tests with your Verizon Internet Gateway at the windows closest to each nearby tower (If you have multiple floors, perform this process on each floor).
3. Place your Verizon Internet Gateway at the location with the fastest data speeds.

This process is simple but effective if you haven't already optimized the position of your Verizon Internet Gateway, however this method will likely provide only a small improvement to data speeds compared to Option #1.

Most people assume that better speeds come from simply boosting signal strength. In reality, strength alone doesn’t determine performance, especially on 4G LTE and 5G networks.

What truly limits 5G performance indoors are three major factors: wall penetration loss, interference (noise), and cable loss. An outdoor modem solves all three at once, enabling performance that an indoor gateway like the Verizon ASK-NCQ1338 simply can’t reach.

Here are the four main reasons placing the modem outside, at the signal source, is so impactful:

If your goal is achieving the best possible speeds and reliability from Verizon’s 5G network, placing both the antenna and modem outdoors is the single biggest upgrade you can make.

Documentation

For Home Internet (ASK-NCQ1338, ASK-NCQ1338FA)

• Support Overview
• User Guide, User Guide (FA)
• Interactive Tutorial

For Business (ASK-NCQ1338E)

• Support Overview
• User Guide
• Interactive Tutorial