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Products => Computers => Networking & Wireless => Topic started by: free_electron on November 18, 2019, 01:49:33 am

Title: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: free_electron on November 18, 2019, 01:49:33 am
I'm looking for an LTE hotspot that has a wired ethernet port. I want to hook up a device 'in the field' to access the internet. The device only has wired ethernet and using wifi is out of the question as i don't want anyone piggybacking on my hotspot. All i need is something that converts a wired ethernet port to an LTE connection without going through wifi. Again : wifi is NOT an option. Don't want it.

Oh, and it has to be small . it's for traveling. so no industrial looking thing ...

oh another thing : i am looking for a device that supports as many frequencies/bands as possible , especially LTE band 17 is important to me (caribbean / bahamas)
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: oPossum on November 18, 2019, 05:57:36 am
https://mikrotik.com/product/wap_lte_kit

https://mikrotik.com/product/wap_lte_kit_us

Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: free_electron on November 18, 2019, 03:31:43 pm
https://mikrotik.com/product/wap_lte_kit

https://mikrotik.com/product/wap_lte_kit_us

doesn't support band 17.
How come none of the LTE modems support all bands ? I am looking for a modem that supports as many bands as possible. they all are crippled in one way or another.
It seems like you need to swap the LTE cards depending on where you travel to. That has issues ...

But otherwise this mikrotik device looks acceptable.

-edit-

Mikrotik Audience LTE6 kit seems to cover much more  LTE bands , including 17

the Telit LM940 module seems to be the cream of the crop but the question is will it work in the wap_lte ... ( you can buy the mikrotik wap_lte without the pci card and install your own. It is listed as  a compatible peripheral for routerboard...
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: GeorgeOfTheJungle on November 18, 2019, 07:12:24 pm
Your phone + OTG to ethernet adapter?
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: dcarr on November 18, 2019, 08:01:31 pm
We've been using the Cradlepoint IBR600 and 600B.  They have ethernet and support band 17 but the product has been buggy and their support staff has "limited proficiency".

I'm very interested to hear if you find anything good.  We have a large deployment coming up and I'd love to find a viable alternative.
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: SeanB on November 18, 2019, 08:31:32 pm
Pity about the USA and Huawei, they have some pretty small and cheap routers with ethernet, and as well with VOIP as well. OK the one I am using is not tiny, about the size of a half loaf of bread, but does the job reasonably nicely, just limited by the crappy carrier, even crappier rate limiting, and congested cell site. Signal wise i can see it from the window, and will change carrier soon, when the time period is up.
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: jhalar on November 18, 2019, 10:53:40 pm
I use a Netgear 4G modem that only has ethernet ports. I use it as an inline 4G backup to my normal wired internet connection.

https://www.netgear.com/home/products/mobile-broadband/lte-modems/LB2120.aspx (https://www.netgear.com/home/products/mobile-broadband/lte-modems/LB2120.aspx)
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: ve7xen on November 18, 2019, 11:00:08 pm
Cheap LTE devices with Ethernet are pretty rare. The industrial guys like Sierra Wireless and Cradelpoint seem to get away with charging $100s for this privilege, for some reason.

The only reasonable one I'm aware of is Netgear LB1120. It doesn't do band 17 though.
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: free_electron on November 19, 2019, 03:17:33 am
Your phone + OTG to ethernet adapter?
phone is expensive, cumbersome, apps to deal with ... iphone ? android ? ... what phone supports otG to ethernet ? and , will this work as a HOST?
Meaning i hook up a laptop to this ethernet port and i can surf the internet using the phone's LTE modem. The phone basically needs to become a router.

Although GoogleFi using the moto G7 could be a solution. although i am not sure the G7 version google sells supports OTG ..
But then again . leaving the phone on 24/7 wired to a plug ... i'm not confident in that. i'd rather see a device that is meant to be kept on all the time.

It is strange that devices like iphone x and later and latest google phone support almost all  LTE bands. so the chipsets exist and it is technically possible.
Yet when you look for a minipci card they top out at max 22 bands. while the phones cover all 40+ bands.

I really want to have a 'travel system'. Toss it in your bag , and go wherever you want. So i am looking for a 'hotspot' solution but with wired connection.
GoogleFi has the best flat rate connectivity and covers most countries, even remote islands. But i am looking for a mifi or hotspot like device , that has a hardwired ethernet port so i can hook up a router and hang multiple devices off that.
The goal is : in the middle of nowhere , where i can only receive a cell tower with LTE or 4G : fast internet for anything i want to connect.

Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: free_electron on November 19, 2019, 05:01:44 am
i looked again at the phone route. that may not be a bad solution. if i use an asus router that supports usb tethering ( running asuswrt) i would be all set. i can hook up all i want ...

damn moto g7 does not support usb tethering .. grrr. pixel3a is the next in line but 100$ more expensive ...
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: ChristopherN on November 21, 2019, 04:28:59 pm
I use a Raspberry Pi with the Telit LM940 for that. Has the nice benefit of having a full blown linux available to do filtering, security stuff and add some connectivity for odd things like RS232 and IOs.
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: GeorgeOfTheJungle on November 21, 2019, 05:19:32 pm
I would try that with my Android phone, if only I could find my type C OTG cable. I think it's going to work, because many (most?) USB to ethernet adapters nowadays work as generic CDC devices => no custom drivers needed.
Title: Re: LTE hotspot with ethernet port ?
Post by: Halcyon on November 27, 2019, 02:32:38 am
Either the Netgear Nighthawk M1 or M2.