Is there a router I can connect a USB 3G modem to?
Does anybody make a modem/router (gateway) with a USB connection so that I don't have to use an ADSL (telephone line) for broadband?
In other words, can I connect a mobile 3G dongle and still have my home network?
Not for the faint-hearted but certainly a budget option:
Take an ASUS wireless router, most of which come with one or more USB ports. Replace the firmware with open-source OpenWRT (www.openwrt.org).
Connect a Nokia mobile phone with the USB cable provided to the ASUS (I used an old 6680, but new-fangled HSDPA models like N95 should work as well and they give you more oomph). The Nokia acts as the modem and can be controlled with the venerable AT command set.
Install and configure ACM driver and PPP on OpenWRT. This is the hard bit and requires a fair deal of patience/smokes/coffee/wine and not to forget, Linux admin skills. Guidance and help is available on the OpenWRT forums.
There is 2 that I know of that are a great deal cheaper the the ones suggested.
Draytek Vigor2800VG http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=2690 hurry though as it is just about to be replaced by a updated more expensive model that will do the same job. http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2820.html
These Vigor routers are the small business choice as they are very reliable and have VPN access as standard.
The other one is the Linksys WRT54G3G 54Mbps Wireless Broadband Router for 3G/UMTS http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=3193 don't know how reliable this one is.
123Telecom (www.123telecom.co.uk) do a complete solution called Dual Route which includes a standard ADSL2 compliant router which has a 3G Datacard slot, the datacard, and an airtime package for main use or just for emergency backup. They also have a USB dongle 3G version available, although this isnt mentioned on their website. I think the router may even be free with an annual contract paid up front.
The sonicwall device only accepts PCMCIA cards. The best solutions seem to be from CradlePoint (linked from first post or go to http://www.cradlepointsolutions.com/shopDetails.asp?CatId=13&SubCatId=9&ProductId=49)
Sarian (http://www.sarian.co.uk) do some nice routers, in various combinations of wired (ISDN, xDSL, etc) and GPRS/3G/HSDPA. They're mainly aimed at remote point-of-sale and telemetry apps. One really nice feature is that most can support 2 SIMs so can failover to a second network if the first one goes down. They've just been bought by Digi, so it'll be interesting to see how things pan out on that.
A bit more expensively, Cisco have just launched a SOHO router (the 880 series IIRC) and one of those supports GPRS/3G. Otherwise Cisco can sell you an 1800 series router with a 3G interface card (£££).
Alternatively, Checkpoint's UTM-1 Edge firewall/router box can take a USB dongle and use that as a backup link.
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Is there a router I can connect a USB 3G modem to?
Does anybody make a modem/router (gateway) with a USB connection so that I don't have to use an ADSL (telephone line) for broadband? In other words, can I connect a mobile 3G dongle and still have my home network?
This topic is closed for new posts.
Posted Wednesday 30th April 2008 13:16 GMT
Keith Costello
3G Router User #
Yes, there are a number of vendors making routers that fit that description. See the following link for a number of them:
http://www.evdoinfo.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,115/
Posted Wednesday 30th April 2008 13:16 GMT
Alastair
kinda.. #
but it aint cheap:
http://sonicwallonline.co.uk/TZ190/index.php
Cheers
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 09:30 GMT
Bonnie
..sorta #
Not for the faint-hearted but certainly a budget option:
Take an ASUS wireless router, most of which come with one or more USB ports. Replace the firmware with open-source OpenWRT (www.openwrt.org).
Connect a Nokia mobile phone with the USB cable provided to the ASUS (I used an old 6680, but new-fangled HSDPA models like N95 should work as well and they give you more oomph). The Nokia acts as the modem and can be controlled with the venerable AT command set.
Install and configure ACM driver and PPP on OpenWRT. This is the hard bit and requires a fair deal of patience/smokes/coffee/wine and not to forget, Linux admin skills. Guidance and help is available on the OpenWRT forums.
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 09:30 GMT
Neil Howell
3G Router User #
Two model come to mind:
Netcomm N3G002W, this provides both USB and Expresscard/PCMCIA slots. It is only new to the Australian market this week
D-Link DIR-451 model that will support them.
hopefully they are available in your country.
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 09:30 GMT
Jamie
2 Options #
There is 2 that I know of that are a great deal cheaper the the ones suggested.
Draytek Vigor2800VG http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=2690 hurry though as it is just about to be replaced by a updated more expensive model that will do the same job. http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2820.html
These Vigor routers are the small business choice as they are very reliable and have VPN access as standard.
The other one is the Linksys WRT54G3G 54Mbps Wireless Broadband Router for 3G/UMTS http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=3193 don't know how reliable this one is.
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 09:30 GMT
Steve James
Router with ADSL and 3G connectivity #
123Telecom (www.123telecom.co.uk) do a complete solution called Dual Route which includes a standard ADSL2 compliant router which has a 3G Datacard slot, the datacard, and an airtime package for main use or just for emergency backup. They also have a USB dongle 3G version available, although this isnt mentioned on their website. I think the router may even be free with an annual contract paid up front.
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 09:55 GMT
Anonymous Coward
not really #
The sonicwall device only accepts PCMCIA cards. The best solutions seem to be from CradlePoint (linked from first post or go to http://www.cradlepointsolutions.com/shopDetails.asp?CatId=13&SubCatId=9&ProductId=49)
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 15:50 GMT
Gareth Hunt
Router that takes 3G SIM card #
Here's something similar The Ericsson Fixed Wireless Terminal W25 takes a sim card and does most of the usual things, Also supports HSDPA @ 7.2Mb/s
http://www.ericsson.com/solutions/enterprise/products/w2x.shtml
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 19:51 GMT
Anonymous Coward
And another three options for you... #
Sarian (http://www.sarian.co.uk) do some nice routers, in various combinations of wired (ISDN, xDSL, etc) and GPRS/3G/HSDPA. They're mainly aimed at remote point-of-sale and telemetry apps. One really nice feature is that most can support 2 SIMs so can failover to a second network if the first one goes down. They've just been bought by Digi, so it'll be interesting to see how things pan out on that.
A bit more expensively, Cisco have just launched a SOHO router (the 880 series IIRC) and one of those supports GPRS/3G. Otherwise Cisco can sell you an 1800 series router with a 3G interface card (£££).
Alternatively, Checkpoint's UTM-1 Edge firewall/router box can take a USB dongle and use that as a backup link.
HTH, and good luck.
Posted Thursday 8th May 2008 11:24 GMT
Anders Ekström
3G router for USB modem #
Hi,
check out the new Dovado UMR. You can connect most of the USB modems on the marked today.
http://www.infoferenda.eu
This topic is closed for new posts.