Question Mobile hotspot tethering to Ethernet

[Mhoram]

My HughesNet satellite internet service is inadequate and expensive. A personal hotspot gives better performance, but of course I don't want to burn up my iPhone. I'd like to use a T-Mobile Franklin T9 Mobile Hotspot as a primary internet connection in my home. We have a typical array of home network devices: PC's, a Mac, printers, Dish Network etc. Pretty much everything except phones/tablets is hardwired through a 16-port gigabit switch. I've gotten conflicting info from T-Mobile about whether the T9 can be tethered from its USB Micro port (it appears that it can't). So how do I connect this wireless hotspot and make it available to my Ethernet network? Full disclosure, I'm barely literate when it comes to networking.

I've read about several possibilities;

1. Connecting the hotspot wirelessly to my Windows 10 desktop PC, and using Network Sharing. The main drawback there is that it's tied to operation of my PC. I want an unattended 24/7 gateway.
2. Connecting the hotspot to a wireless router that has Ethernet ports. My Nighthawk router died a couple months ago, so I can shop for a new one that meets requirements. As I said, it will probably have to be a wireless connection from the hotspot to the router.
3. Using a "wireless Ethernet bridge". The articles I've read on this go back to 2010, and devices are only available used or refurbished.

Are any of these solutions simple and reliable? Are there better ones I'm not aware of? I'm not reluctant to spend what is needed.

Thanks in advance. I've been on this site a few times, but not registered. Most of the posts I've read have been pretty relevant and concise.

 

[bill001g]

The problem is getting the drivers for the router. First there would have to be a linux driver which many devices do not have. After that you would have to actually recombine something like a dd-wrt image with the driver included. You can not just load drivers into a router.

The best options is buy a inexpensive bridge and connect it to the wan port of a router. Most so called "extenders" have the ability to run in client-bridge mode. Other wise I would use a ubiquiti loco outdoor bridge. Just because it is only $50 and easy to setup. You need to pick 2.4 or 5g band.

Be careful tmobile like to pretend they offer unlimited but then you see the fine print. Even when it is not running tethered after you hit some limit they will drop your speed if their network becomes busy.

 

[kanewolf]

DO NOT buy a Ubiquiti LocoAC. They do not work with conventional WIFI. They only work in pairs. You want either a locoM2 or locoM5.

 

[doczenith1]

My HughesNet satellite internet service is inadequate and expensive. A personal hotspot gives better performance, but of course I don't want to burn up my iPhone. I'd like to use a T-Mobile Franklin T9 Mobile Hotspot as a primary internet connection in my home. We have a typical array of home network devices: PC's, a Mac, printers, Dish Network etc. Pretty much everything except phones/tablets is hardwired through a 16-port gigabit switch. I've gotten conflicting info from T-Mobile about whether the T9 can be tethered from its USB Micro port (it appears that it can't). So how do I connect this wireless hotspot and make it available to my Ethernet network? Full disclosure, I'm barely literate when it comes to networking.

I've read about several possibilities;

1. Connecting the hotspot wirelessly to my Windows 10 desktop PC, and using Network Sharing. The main drawback there is that it's tied to operation of my PC. I want an unattended 24/7 gateway.
2. Connecting the hotspot to a wireless router that has Ethernet ports. My Nighthawk router died a couple months ago, so I can shop for a new one that meets requirements. As I said, it will probably have to be a wireless connection from the hotspot to the router.
3. Using a "wireless Ethernet bridge". The articles I've read on this go back to 2010, and devices are only available used or refurbished.

Are any of these solutions simple and reliable? Are there better ones I'm not aware of? I'm not reluctant to spend what is needed.

Thanks in advance. I've been on this site a few times, but not registered. Most of the posts I've read have been pretty relevant and concise.

I have a franklin t9 through the T-Mobile test drive program. I was able to tether it to my Asus AC68U router. I didn't have to make any changes to the t9's settings.

 

[KookaBeane]

I have a franklin t9 through the T-Mobile test drive program. I was able to tether it to my Asus AC68U router. I didn't have to make any changes to the t9's settings.

How did you tether the Franklin T9? The Franklin T9 doesn't seem to be able to tether through the USB port. The USB port only seems to be for charging or power.

Mhoram: I basically have the same question and have scoured the internet for a solution. I too would like to solve this but can't find a solution. The only difference is that I choose the Franklin T9 because it can be connected to an external LTE antenna. The Franklin T9 was the only offering through the Calyx Institute that has that option. The Inseego 8000 used to be offered, but is no longer available. The Inseego is tetherable through the USB. I own an Inseego 8000 through Sprint directly. It has a cap on data so its not preferable to use. I do have it connected to an LTE antenna on the roof 50' high to get a decent signal from the cell tower.

bill001g: Not worried about a cap on data. My Franklin T9 Hotspot it through the Calyx Institute. No cap and through the sprint network.

Yeah, I see no one has really attempted to answer this question how to integrate the Franklin T9 Hotspot into an existing lan with a router. I'm thinking it can't be done. To complicate my issue even further I intend to use Starlink when thats available this year and hopefully use the Franklin T9 as backup. It looks like it's going to be cumbersome switching between networks without being able to integrate them together through a router.

Whoa is me, lol.

 

[KookaBeane]

The problem is getting the drivers for the router. First there would have to be a linux driver which many devices do not have. After that you would have to actually recombine something like a dd-wrt image with the driver included. You can not just load drivers into a router.

The best options is buy a inexpensive bridge and connect it to the wan port of a router. Most so called "extenders" have the ability to run in client-bridge mode. Other wise I would use a ubiquiti loco outdoor bridge. Just because it is only $50 and easy to setup. You need to pick 2.4 or 5g band.

Be careful tmobile like to pretend they offer unlimited but then you see the fine print. Even when it is not running tethered after you hit some limit they will drop your speed if their network becomes busy.

Wait... I think maybe you have answered this. Please excuse my ignorance, lol, please bear with me in trying to understand.

So... router. In the wan port goes the bridge. The bridge is connected to the Franklin T9 let's say on the 5g band. That's it?! Really. Gee, I've been complicating this.

Could I still use the 5g band on the router?

Also, if I throw in another router from the Starlink, would I use a dual wan port router? Would that work?