frater secessus
Well-known member
I read @RvNaut's informative Starlink thread with interest. As it happens I don't have the upfront or monthly funds to support SL, so I will describe my use of an LTE router to get usable signal in the boonies.
These routers work basically like hotspot pucks with these differences:
{Edited to add: I don't require signal because I am addicted to facebook or whatever. Last time I camped in zero bars I was repeatedly aggressed by a screaming lunatic. I was worried I would have to take defensive action without the benefit of being on the line with 911 at the time. Never again.}
Wifi repeating: when in town I use it to repeat WIFI from Planet Fitness or wherever, then it fails over to mobile data when the WIFI access point is no longer available. Woot! I have a small 2.4ghz GL.iNet router I used before, but this one is 2.4/5 which I wanted as an upgrade anyhow.
This particular device is ~$110 new and worth it at that price, but I am pleased with the open-box deal. Me no have excess money. There are name-brand routers in this space, typically running $200 and up. Thinking here about the Netgear Nighthawk line with external ants, Mofi, etc. There are also some that come in around $99 (search youtube for "4G LTe Router with a STANDARD SIM - lowest rates, best features") but I have no experience with those. If someone has one please chime in.
drawbacks
It is based on OpenWRT/LEDE (yay!) with a propreitary UI (Boo!) that hides stuff power users might want to play with. I would prefer vanilla OpenWRT with SSH access but we gets what we gets at this price point.
Not on the AT&T Whitelist. Might work if activated in an approved phone first, dunno.
If you don't tweak TTL the carrier might require a hotspot fee as one would use on a phone.
This is not the newest, sexiest hardware available. The Cat 4 modem is limited to 150 Mbit/s down and 50 up. My cheap data plans don't have anywhere near that speed so this is no biggie to me. All I need is usable data.
The phone's (or tablet's) SIM now lives in the router. This is no biggie for me because I use Google Voice for text and calls and the router covers my whole campsite. I have a grandfathered voice-only SIM I carry in the phone in case I need to make a call away from camp.
other things I considered
These routers work basically like hotspot pucks with these differences:
- typically have external antennas (sometimes detachable for mounting elsewhere)
- no battery, run off wall wart in a house or straight off DC in a van
- usually have ethernet ports for folks who want to use them
{Edited to add: I don't require signal because I am addicted to facebook or whatever. Last time I camped in zero bars I was repeatedly aggressed by a screaming lunatic. I was worried I would have to take defensive action without the benefit of being on the line with 911 at the time. Never again.}
Wifi repeating: when in town I use it to repeat WIFI from Planet Fitness or wherever, then it fails over to mobile data when the WIFI access point is no longer available. Woot! I have a small 2.4ghz GL.iNet router I used before, but this one is 2.4/5 which I wanted as an upgrade anyhow.
This particular device is ~$110 new and worth it at that price, but I am pleased with the open-box deal. Me no have excess money. There are name-brand routers in this space, typically running $200 and up. Thinking here about the Netgear Nighthawk line with external ants, Mofi, etc. There are also some that come in around $99 (search youtube for "4G LTe Router with a STANDARD SIM - lowest rates, best features") but I have no experience with those. If someone has one please chime in.
drawbacks
It is based on OpenWRT/LEDE (yay!) with a propreitary UI (Boo!) that hides stuff power users might want to play with. I would prefer vanilla OpenWRT with SSH access but we gets what we gets at this price point.
Not on the AT&T Whitelist. Might work if activated in an approved phone first, dunno.
If you don't tweak TTL the carrier might require a hotspot fee as one would use on a phone.
This is not the newest, sexiest hardware available. The Cat 4 modem is limited to 150 Mbit/s down and 50 up. My cheap data plans don't have anywhere near that speed so this is no biggie to me. All I need is usable data.
The phone's (or tablet's) SIM now lives in the router. This is no biggie for me because I use Google Voice for text and calls and the router covers my whole campsite. I have a grandfathered voice-only SIM I carry in the phone in case I need to make a call away from camp.
other things I considered
- cell booster. Ruled out because of high cost and requirement of phone{s} to be in close proximity to the repeating ant. No wifi repeating.
- PepLink BR-1 mini. Well regarded, but doesn't do Wifi repeating without a separate $100 license. So price as required for my use would be ~4x the cost of the little Chinese router. Not a hard call for me after I consulted my checking account balance.
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