WombatWireless™ X vs. 4G+: What’s the Best Rural Broadband Option for You?
If you live rurally, choosing the right internet connection can feel like comparing apples to oranges — especially when both are wireless. So what’s the real difference between WombatWireless™ and our 4G+ service?
Let’s break it down so you can confidently choose the service that best suits your property, lifestyle, and devices.
🛰️ What Is WombatWireless™ X?
WombatWireless™ X is our custom-built fixed wireless broadband service. It uses dedicated towers we’ve installed around the Hutt Valley and rural Wellington to beam internet directly to a dish on your property.
This isn’t cellular or Starlink — it’s a professionally installed, long-range, point-to-multipoint system with a managed network behind it.
✔️ Best for: permanent homes, rural blocks with a clear line-of-sight to our towers, families, and home offices.
📶 What Is WombatWireless™ 4G+?
WombatWireless™ 4G+ is a managed rural broadband service powered by the One New Zealand mobile network, enhanced with professional-grade hardware, signal optimisation, and local support.
Unlike typical mobile broadband services — where a provider merely ships you a box without guidance—we test your signal first, recommend the best hardware for your location, and install it for peak performance.
We offer indoor router setups and outdoor integrated modems, which combine the 4G modem and directional antenna into one weatherproof unit. This eliminates coaxial cable loss, gives us more flexibility on placement, and boosts real-world speeds—especially in signal-challenged areas.
🧠 What does the “+” in 4G+ mean?
4G+ refers to LTE Advanced, a faster, more efficient version of standard 4G. It can combine multiple frequencies (carrier aggregation) to deliver better speeds, lower latency, and more stability — but only if your equipment and signal are properly tuned. That’s why our managed install matters.
✔️ Best for: properties without direct line-of-sight to WombatNET towers, remote or off-grid homes, temporary setups, caravans, baches, and customers who want professional help setting things up right the first time
🔍 Key Differences (That Actually Matter)
1. How the Signal Gets to You
• WombatWireless™ X: A fixed wireless signal is transmitted from a WombatNET tower directly to a receiver on your property. It’s a private, managed network — not public infrastructure.
• WombatWireless™ 4G+: Connects via One NZ’s 4G network using licensed mobile spectrum, enhanced with directional antennas and/or outdoor LTE modems, optimised for your site.
What this means:
WombatWireless™ X offers remarkably consistent speeds. 4G+ can vary depending on mobile tower congestion, but our tuning, antenna placement, and LTE Advanced support push it far beyond “off-the-shelf” 4G setups.
2. Speed & Performance
• WombatWireless™ X: We fully manage the network from tower to backhaul. Traffic is shaped 24/7 to prevent bottlenecks and ensure steady performance.
• 4G+: We use signal-testing tools to choose the right modem, antenna, and tower. When installed correctly with the right LTE bands, 4G+ can deliver excellent speeds — especially when leveraging LTE Advanced (carrier aggregation).
Real-world insight:
Most providers will just courier you a modem. We don’t. We install and test on-site to make sure you’re using the strongest band, placed at the optimal location, and getting maximum performance. This often results in double the speeds of an off-the-shelf plug-and-play 4G connection.
Tip: If your Netflix buffers only at night, network congestion may be the culprit.
3. Installation & Equipment
• WombatWireless™ X: Requires external dish install with clear line-of-sight to our towers. Once installed, it delivers rock-solid service.
• 4G+: Offers both self-install and managed options, but almost all Wellington-based users opt for the managed install. We may recommend:
•A directional antenna with cable run (limited to ~5m due to coax loss), or
•An integrated outdoor modem (modem + antenna in one), connected via Ethernet, which we can mount further from the indoor Wi-Fi router for optimal signal.
Why this matters:
The integrated outdoor modems eliminate coaxial signal loss, allow longer cable runs (100m+ via Ethernet), and maintain signal integrity — crucial for marginal reception areas.
4. Flexibility & Portability
•WombatWireless™ X: Installed to your house — not portable.
•4G+: You can unplug the modem and take it with you to another spot with 4G coverage (perfect for baches or tiny homes).
5. Latency
•WombatWireless™ X: Low enough to support cloud gaming, Zoom, VoIP and even CCTV backhauls.
•4G+: Higher latency and jitter due to the way mobile networks route traffic — still usable, but less ideal for time-sensitive stuff.
🧠 So, Which Should You Choose?
| Scenario | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Farming property with clear view to a hill? | WombatWireless™ X |
| Renting or moving soon? | 4G+ |
| Want to stream 4K, game, or run a business from home? | WombatWireless™ X |
| Living in a dead zone with no towers nearby? | We may need to test both options |
| Already have a good 4G signal indoors? | 4G+ might be the easiest place to start |
💡 Real Talk from Alex
We’ve built our network from the ground up — installing our own gear on hilltops, water tanks, and rural land. Our goal isn’t to sell you something that “kind of works.” It’s to deliver a connection that actually fits your life.
Not sure which service fits you best? Our team can run a free desktop assessment to check tower coverage and signal strength at your exact address.
👉 Contact us now to find the right fit.
👉 Learn more about WombatWireless™ X
👉 Learn more about WombatWireless™ 4G+
