A correctly selected wireless router for a summer residence allows you to complement the work process on a personal plot with a complete rest. With it, you can organize and watch movies, and chat on social networks, and surfing Internet resources. Moreover, the coverage of operators is constantly growing, tariffs for such services are periodically reduced, and the list of equipment is impressive. An unprepared potential user in all this diversity is quite difficult to understand. It is about solving this difficult task and the correct choice of network equipment that will be discussed further.
Wireless networking methods
A wireless network in the country can be organized in the following ways:
- Using a smartphone.
- Using a mobile router.
- Using a device such as a stationary router for a summer residence with a built-in slot for installing SIM cards.
- You can also solve this issue using a stationary router, 4G modem and external antenna.
Each of these methods has both strengths and weaknesses. It is about their pros and cons and possible applications that will be discussed further.
Equipment selection
First you need to decide what type of mobile network the router will communicate with. Now there are several types of cellular networks. In this list you can highlight:
- GSM networks. This includes 2G standards (in this case, you can count on a speed of 500 kb / s at best, this standard can also be referred to as GPRS, WAP or EDGE), 3G (if you have such coverage, you can count on a speed of several tens of megabits per second, also in this case there may be the designations UMTS, WCDMA, HSPA + and HSUPA - these are all derivatives of the same technology, and they are compatible with each other) and 4G (the second designation of this type of cellular network is LTE, the maximum speed in them can reach 150 Mbps /from).
- CDMA networks. They are of two types - Rev. A (the transfer rate in this case is 3.1 Mbit / s) and Rev. B (15.6 Mbit / s is the peak speed for such coverage, sometimes referred to as 3G).
- WiMAX - network data is mainly designed to transmit information. Their speed can reach up to 28 megabytes per second. They are sometimes referred to as 4G.
Be that as it may, namely the first type of cellular networks is currently the most widely used. Therefore, it is most correct to focus on them. Moreover, they are backward compatible with each other. That is, 4G-equipment can work in 3G without any problems. And the latter can register and fully function in lower-order networks, that is, 2G or GSM.
Smartphone-based wireless network
The most economical and least justified option for creating a mobile network in the country is the use of a smartphone. Of course, the flexibility of setting up such mobile devices allows you to solve this problem in a matter of minutes. But here with the speed and quality of the coating in this case there may be problems. High speed can be obtained only if there is a powerful signal from the mobile operator (that is, in relative proximity to the tower).
And this condition is not feasible in every suburban area. Yes, and the WiFi transmitter built into the smartphone itself can not give out a powerful signal. Therefore, the coverage area will be small in such a situation. At best, it’s a couple of rooms on one floor. But for testing before buying stationary network equipment, this approach is fully justified.
Option with a mobile router
You can also specifically purchase a mobile 4G router for a summer residence. But such a solution has a number of significant drawbacks. This is the need to constantly monitor the battery level on such a device, and the weak transceiver of cellular networks, and the relatively small radius of action of such a device. The main scope of their use is the creation of a mobile access point to the global web in places with high-quality coverage, that is, within large cities and megacities.
If the cottage is in relative proximity (up to 2-3 km) from the mobile communications tower, then this is the most optimal option, which at low costs allows you to get the maximum result. You can, of course, if necessary find more expensive such devices with an input for the antenna and use it even away from the mobile communications tower. But with this approach, it turns into a regular stationary router with an installed external 4G modem with antenna input. In the second case, its cost is much less, and such use of network equipment is more justified.
Examples of mobile routers
An example of such a mobile router is the E5573 from Huawei. This is an excellent 4G router for summer cottage and not only. The capacity of the built-in battery is 1500 mAh. This is enough for 4-5 hours of work in networks of the 4th generation. There is also support for 2G and 3G.
Another important feature of this device is that it can operate in repeater mode. The only drawback of this model is its high cost, which currently stands at about 6,000 rubles. But in this case, it is more than ever justified: the quality of the equipment is impeccable.
Fixed router with SIM card slot
Today, there are also devices such as a stationary WiFi router for cottages with a slot for installing a SIM card. Such a router, in principle, duplicates the previous one. But only in that case, the device was mobile and it could be transferred to any part of the summer cottage, and in this case the router will be tied to the outlet into which the power supply is installed.
Again, such a system can work normally only in relative proximity to the cell tower, that is, at a distance of up to 3 kilometers. Above this value, the network signal will decrease, and the transmission speed will decrease. Therefore, this device, like the two previous ones, is perfect for the suburbs of large cities and megacities. That is, where the density of the communication towers is high, as well as the signal level of the cellular communication.
An example of a router with a SIM card slot
Now we will figure out which version to choose a router for giving. Which one is better in terms of parameters and characteristics? The answer in this case is one - 4G-N12 from ASUS. It has a slot, there are 4 ports for creating a wired part of the network, there are 2 antennas that increase the WiFi signal coverage area by 1.5 times.
To this it is worth adding a good informative panel and the ability to install on any surface: horizontal or vertical. The router itself supports all existing 4 generations of GSM communications. Another plus of this model is the ease of setup. The only thing needed is to set the parameters of the WiFi network. Everything else will be done automatically - this is connecting to the network of a mobile operator, and setting a profile, and setting values.
Combination "stationary router and 4G modem with antenna input"
But what about those who have a summer cottage away from mobile towers? How to choose a router for their summer residence? What set of network equipment is needed to create such a network? The answer in this case is one: a router with a USB input (into which you can install an external modem), an external modem with the ability to connect an external antenna, a connecting wire and the antenna itself.
This kit will function normally in any place and will allow you to get both excellent signal quality even far from the mobile communications tower, and a high transmission speed. The only drawback in this case is the high cost of the equipment due to the fact that the equipment is expanded with a special version of the modem, non-standard router model, antenna and connecting wire.
Selection of equipment in the case of a stationary router and 4G modem
At the first stage, you need to call the subscriber support phone number and find out the quality of coverage in the place you are interested in. Also in this case, it is necessary to find out the location of the nearest cell tower and to clarify the distance to it.
After we select the model of the 4G modem. It should support all three types of the most common mobile networks, which are based on GSM technology. It should also have an input for connecting an external antenna. Then we select an external antenna. The greater her gain in decibels, the better.
Then we select a WiFi router with an external antenna for giving. It must have a USB port, and it must support the selected 4G modem model at the software level. For greater certainty, it is recommended to check with the seller the compatibility of the 4G modem and router. After that, we buy a set of selected network equipment.
Setting procedure
You can, of course, to attract a specialist to build and configure network equipment. But you can independently perform this operation and configure such a “hybrid” 4G WiFi router for cottages. The installation procedure in this case is as follows:
- Install the SIM card in the 4G modem.
- We select a place to install the antenna. The bracket must be firmly and securely locked. We install the antenna, but do not fix it.
- We select the installation location of the router and modem. The shorter the distance from the antenna to the modem, the better the signal and the higher the transmission speed. There should also be a power outlet nearby to power the router. Install the router and modem. We connect the power supply to the router.
- We forward the connecting wire and connect it to the equipment.
- After the circuit is assembled, we check its correctness and apply voltage.
- Now for fine tuning you will need 2 people. By smoothly turning the antenna in the direction of the cell tower location (this is done by one person), we achieve the maximum signal level (the second person is watching its value). The value of the latter must be monitored on a PC using special application software. After we have reached the maximum value, we fix the antenna in this position.
- At the next stage, you need to configure the router at the software level: set the network name, access code to it, and parameters for connecting to the cellular network.
Example router for 4G modem and external antenna
The best router for a summer residence in this case is Keenetic 4GIII from Zyxel. It supports almost all existing models of 4G modems. He also has an excellent degree of reliability and there are 2 external antennas at once (that is, the signal area of the wireless network will be increased up to two times). At the same time, his cost is very democratic - about 3,000 rubles.
This is the most optimal router for a summer residence. for today. Also, the last considered option for organizing a wireless network allows you to get high speed in almost all cases. It is it that it is recommended to use in all cases, regardless of the range of the base station. He will work everywhere. Only an antenna with an appropriate gain should be matched.