In urban environments, connecting to the Internet is easy. It is enough to simply leave a request for connection to the city provider (one of many). Within two or three days, they will connect you and even offer some promotional conditions as a new subscriber. But what about users who live, for example, in the private sector, in remote areas of the region? City providers usually can’t reach there, because you have to spend a lot of cable or expensive equipment, which either does not pay off at all, or only for a very long time. So you can understand the providers.
Fortunately, there are other solutions. For example, you can use a USB modem to connect to the Internet over a third (3G) or even fourth (4G) generation network. However, in this case, this modem has to be connected to a laptop. But how to connect a USB modem to a router and make the Internet accessible for any Wi-Fi device? This option is actively practiced by users who are not reached by the city provider.
We figure out how to connect a USB modem to a router
Just note that to solve this problem, any router will not work. We need a special model with a modem connection function, that is, a router with a USB port for the modem. Next, we will explain in detail what needs to be done.
So, setting up the router for the USB modem is as follows:
- Install the software from the disks that come with the router and the USB modem.
- Disable the verification of the PIN code on the SIM card. It is necessary. If there is a check that the router simply cannot understand, there will be no Internet. You can disable this using a regular mobile phone. Just insert the SIM card into the phone and turn off PIN verification in the settings.
- Plug the modem into the USB port on the router.
- Connect to the router from the laptop, go to the control panel. To do this, write down the address in the address bar of the browser, and you will be taken to the desired place. You can see the desired address on the device panel itself. In addition, it is also always indicated on the information sticker and in the instructions.
- In the router menu we are looking for the buttons "Connection", "Internet", "Turn on the modem connection". These buttons may be slightly different, but the essence should be approximately as follows. We are interested in the function of the modem connection. It needs to be turned on.
- After turning on, restart the router. You can do this by clicking the reset button in the menu bar. The router itself can also be physically reset: remove the plug from the outlet and insert it back.
Now you know how to connect a USB modem to a router. Usually this process is carried out simply, and no difficulties arise, but they still are not excluded. For example, the modem must first be configured on the computer. An unconfigured modem will not work with the router.
The advantages of this method
A router with a USB port for a modem is a good and practical solution, which has its pros and cons. So, the relative ease of connection can be attributed to the advantages. That is, you need to stretch any cables, drill holes, etc. Just connect the USB modem through the router, and you're done. True, the benefits end there.
Minuses
The main disadvantage of such a connection is the high cost of equipment and tariff. At a minimum, a router for a USB modem will cost more than a standard Wi-Fi router without a USB port. You also need to buy the modem itself, which can cost even more than the router itself. Depending on the operator you choose, the cost of the tariff can also be more or less high. But in any case, the subscription tariff will cost more than the one that the city provider offers.
Connection speed
If the urban network involves connecting to the Internet at a speed of up to 100 Mbps per second, then a modem of such speeds will definitely not be able to offer. Even if he uses a fourth-generation data network (4G), the real speed will be in the region of 15-20 Mbit per second, which, admittedly, is pretty cool. But, most likely, the modem will use some kind of technology of the third generation network (3G), and if the actual (and not advertising) speed is at least 5 Mbit per second, then this is already good. At a minimum, you can watch movies online at that speed. Therefore, before connecting the USB modem to the router, make sure the true speed of the Internet.
Is there any other way?
Some users often wonder if it is possible to connect the router to a USB modem without a USB port. Of course, this can be done, but it is extremely difficult. The idea is to open the router itself, solder the USB interface there and flash it with special firmware that will “see” the USB port. But few people practice such a scheme. However, there is another interesting way.
Wi-Fi distribution from a laptop
If you have a modem, but there is no router with a USB port for the modem, then you can connect to the Internet and create a Wi-Fi network at home using a regular laptop. Just the laptop itself will replace us with a router. The main thing is that the laptop has a working Wi-Fi adapter.
The easiest way is to use the Connectify program. By the way, it is available on the Internet for free, but it also has a paid version with wider functionality. We are free. Download it, install it on your computer and run it.
There we need to fill in the lines:
- Hotspot Name is the name of your network. In the free version, it will be standard, you can not change it.
- Password line - enter the password here, which will be used to access the network.
- Internet to share string. There you need to select the source of the Internet signal from the drop-down list, which will be used for distribution via Wi-Fi. Choose our modem:
- In Share Over, select Wi-Fi.
- In Sharing Mode, select WPA2 encryption.
Now click on the big button below - Start HotSpot. So we turned our laptop into an access point. Now it will give out Wi-Fi instead of a regular router.
If you can’t configure this program for any reason, you can use others. For example, the free program MyPublicWiFi offers the same functionality. In addition to it there is a myHotSpot program with similar capabilities. You can not use any programs at all. The built-in tools of the Windows 7 operating system allow you to make an access point out of a laptop, but you will have to tinker with them. It is best to use third-party programs.
That's all. Now you know how to connect a USB modem to a router and distribute Wi-Fi from a laptop without a router at all.