Forum Discussion
How do I get the new Arcadyan Gateway with the external Antenna Ports?
I signed up for Tmobile home internet in December of 2022. It worked pretty well, but was limited to band N71. In the spring of 2023 I started having reliability problems with the signal. I used the ...
What you experienced is consistent with Tmobile's current policies on "upgrading". There are YouTube videos of folks that have succeeding in upgrading but won't go into details because they probably did things an average person wouldn't/couldn't do.
I have one suggestion. The new gateway with external antenna ports has a $99 option for a small external antenna. You can try to tell them you want the antenna and then have them explain to you it only works on the newer gateway. Then ask them to swap out for the newer gateway. If they agree to that the risk is that you may be stuck with a $99 antenna but you could try to return it later saying it didn't improve anything but the newer gateway "magically" made everything better. Failing that you could try to sell on eBay at a slight loss assuming $99 means you own and not that you paid a fee to use it but still belongs to Tmobile. If you also want the mesh extender that only comes with the newer gateway that would be another or addtional reason for them to upgrade you.
One other suggestion is add a new home internet line, you can get up to 2 lines per account. You should get the new gateway and once you do you cancel the old line and return the old gateway. There is a chance you won't get the newest one. The only way to be sure is to go to a physical store and walk out with the new version.
Disclaimer - this is purely an opinion and suggestion from someone not affiliated with Tmobile so please proceed at your own risk.
What you experienced is consistent with Tmobile's current policies on "upgrading". There are YouTube videos of folks that have succeeding in upgrading but won't go into details because they probably did things an average person wouldn't/couldn't do.
I have one suggestion. The new gateway with external antenna ports has a $99 option for a small external antenna. You can try to tell them you want the antenna and then have them explain to you it only works on the newer gateway. Then ask them to swap out for the newer gateway. If they agree to that the risk is that you may be stuck with a $99 antenna but you could try to return it later saying it didn't improve anything but the newer gateway "magically" made everything better. Failing that you could try to sell on eBay at a slight loss assuming $99 means you own and not that you paid a fee to use it but still belongs to Tmobile. If you also want the mesh extender that only comes with the newer gateway that would be another or addtional reason for them to upgrade you.
One other suggestion is add a new home internet line, you can get up to 2 lines per account. You should get the new gateway and once you do you cancel the old line and return the old gateway. There is a chance you won't get the newest one. The only way to be sure is to go to a physical store and walk out with the new version.
Disclaimer - this is purely an opinion and suggestion from someone not affiliated with Tmobile so please proceed at your own risk.
