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Is there such a thing as a (portable) travel router/wifi access point which will create it's own wifi network for your devices, and provide internet access via 4G unless there's an existing wifi network it can connect to - in which case it does so [I]automatically[/I]? (Seems to be loads of devices that have a switch that can manually select said mode).
Doesn't have to be a "travel" one particularly, doesn't need a battery, 240V would be fine probably as it would no doubt only actually need 9-12v to power it.
Spent a fruitless hour searching last night & concluded this product doesn't actually exist... unless someone knows different?
(Found some dude in the US who'd made his own with a RPi, sounded relatively complicated though plus relied on some paid subscription software although was quite clever in that it could seamlessly switch from Wifi/phone tethering/4G without interrupting a download!)
I've got more data than I could ever use on my phone so I just use the hotspot on that.
You may get that answer a lot.
You may be able to get what you need using multiple devices but I'm not sure such a thing exists in one 'box', which by the sounds of it is the same conclusion that you've come to.
Look on the Japan travel forums for pocket wifi. Devices like this seem to be essential so you don't come away with a roaming charge as expensive as the flights.
that just seems to be a 4G travel router, pretty standard, useful but not capable of using an existing WiFI network in preference to 4G?Look on the Japan travel forums for pocket wifi.
yeah, I think it [I]might[/I] be possible with a travel-router in "wifi" mode and a £270 Unifi 4G failover module, I'm not that desperate though 🤣You may be able to get what you need using multiple devices
What are you trying to achieve? The difficult bit is the automatic connection to exiting wireless networks.
I have use one of these to provide VPN when required:
GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Wireless Mini Portable VPN Travel Router
And a ZTE 4g Mifi device
These give me a known network and a known VPN network when needed.
tell me about it. Why is that so complicated?! 🤣What are you trying to achieve? The difficult bit is the automatic connection to exiting wireless networks.
Just toying with the idea of running a Home Assistant server in my van, purely for testing/experimental/my own amusement purposes 😃. It's supposed to be "smart" so would be nice if it could automatically use free WiFi if available, e.g. at home or a campsite etc, seems a big ask though!!
the auto prioritisation is hard.
You could get a 4G (travel?) router running openwrt and see what it can do with travelmate added on?
seen openwrt mentioned a few times. Yeah, quickly reading the travelmate github, [I]if[/I] it could be configured to use WiFi as main then 4G as a failover that could work... 🤔You could get a 4G (travel?) router running openwrt and see what it can do with travelmate added on?
Looks like there might be options just using an android phone.
Whatever you use, I'm guessing that the automatic connection is only going to work after initially confirming you want to use it and having added the correct creds.
The android phone would deal with the network prioritisation with a dedicated mifi router providing network of last resort - or maybe the phone could handle that too?
yeah I did not think that was possible but looks like it might be...Looks like there might be options just using an android phone
however, I am going mad or would this device provide the exact functionality I'm after?
https://www.draytek.co.uk/information/our-technology/wireless-wan-wifi
even madder if so, I'm sure we used to have one at work years ago, so should be sitting in a drawer/box somewhere unless it was thrown out/given away!!
Was gonna say on my android phone I enable the WiFi hotspot and if the phone is connected to WiFi then the hotspot uses that, if not then it will use 4g.
By default the phone will try to use WiFi unless it's really slow and it will then switch to 4g. Poco X3 for reference.
Is there such a thing as a (portable) travel router/wifi access point which will create it’s own wifi network for your devices, and provide internet access via 4G unless there’s an existing wifi network it can connect to – in which case it does so automatically?
You've just described a phone. What am I missing?
Wireless Hotspot feature provides, uh, a wireless hotspot. The WAN side connects to known Wi-Fi networks and hands off to the cellular network otherwise.
No?
don't know, possibly nothing 🤣 I was unaware that's how the hotspots worked... certainly didn't USED to be (i.e. WiFi connectivity/hotspot functionality were mutually exclusive)You’ve just described a phone. What am I missing?
The slight fly in the ointment is that a LAN port would be [I]really[/I] handy (which obviously a phone won't give you!)
Aaaaah I see what you mean. You might be right and me wrong, I'd have to test it.
Hmm. Interesting.
The slight fly in the ointment is that a LAN port would be really handy (which obviously a phone won’t give you!)
This will give you a lan port
GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Wireless Mini Portable VPN Travel Router
Also worth remevering a lot of WiFi in travel locations has sign on screens that I think a router will struggle with.
I use my phone for this, works fine. Phone plus wap if you want an ethernet port?
TBH I'd ditch the idea of using other wifi and just go with a dedicated mifi solution. I get 75gb of 4g for £15 per month - it's really not worth the pain of trying to use crappy public wifi networks IMHO.
This will give you a lan port
GL.iNet GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) Wireless Mini Portable VPN Travel Router
the problem with that solution is, you have to manually switch between modes
yes certainly, if the phone [I]does[/I] work like that i.e. it can use a WiFi connection for internet WHILST ALSO broadcasting an AP/working as a router for stuff to connect to, that might well work!I use my phone for this, works fine. Phone plus wap if you want an ethernet port?
but actually yeah, coming round to this being the easiest solution 🤣 The only minor disadvantage is, won't work in the rare situation where there IS a WiFi network, but no cell signal!TBH I’d ditch the idea of using other wifi and just go with a dedicated mifi solution. I get 75gb of 4g for £15 per month
Would something like this work...
https://www.motorhomewifi.com/product/4g-smart-compact/
I guess depends how deep your pockets are! We have a wifi extender and directional antenna in our van when we are site can normally point it towards reception or a cafe and get some signal but just use our phones when away from any wired wifi.
Ive just posted this, so it’s still recharging.
And I’m not sure if the wi-fi security protocols are up to date.
But, I think it lets you use a variety of networks.
https://singletrackmag.com/classifieds/advert/zoom-travel-wi-fi-router/
It’s in the STW classifieds, under ‘Zoom wi-fi travel router’.