Need Help with Finding a Wireless Router

[michaeljs]

Hi, I'm having some trouble deciding on a router that will keep up with my needs.

This is critical: it must have multiple antennas since I'm planning to use it bridge my broadband wireless hotpot.

It needs to handle a Roku 2, 2 laptops, a desktop, a tablet, my phone, and a printer all connected simultaneously.

The router also needs to have the following features:
-At least one USB 3.0 port and one USB 2.0 port
-Printer and file sharing via USB
-Remote access

I'm planning to stream music, ISOs, and hard disk images, make backups remotely, host servers, use a VoIP service (I'm looking into Vonage), and more using this router. In short, I need an all-around powerhouse.

I've compiled a list of routers I'm considering purchasing:
-Archer C9
-Archer C2600
-Netgear AC1750
-Netgear Nighthawk R7000

 

[bill001g]

Having multiple antenna is not what allows the device to work as a bridge to your wireless hotspot.

The device must have a feature called client-bridge. This is generally sold as a device called a range extender or repeater.

I suspect none of those routers have that feature. Even if they do many wireless hotspots do support connecting to them with a repeater, they even have limits on the number of clients.

A mobile broadband connection is not a good performance option so even if you were to find a way to get this all to work a fast router would provide no benefit because it is being held back by the mobile broad band.

The only way I am pretty sure you could get this to work is to buy 2 device. A special kind of cleint-bridge that can act as a router and accept the wan port at the connection to the hotspot. This gets around the restriction in the hotspot. You can then use any router running as a AP connected to this client bridge.

Before you get real far in this project be sure you can actually afford the internet connection on the broadband. So far I have found none that do not have caps or extra charges when you run them in tethered mode (which is what hotspot is). Even if they say unlimited it is normally only when you use it from the phone or they cut the speed way back after you hit some number and you get unlimited slow speed.

 

[michaeljs]

Having multiple antenna is not what allows the device to work as a bridge to your wireless hotspot.

The device must have a feature called client-bridge. This is generally sold as a device called a range extender or repeater.

I suspect none of those routers have that feature. Even if they do many wireless hotspots do support connecting to them with a repeater, they even have limits on the number of clients.

A mobile broadband connection is not a good performance option so even if you were to find a way to get this all to work a fast router would provide no benefit because it is being held back by the mobile broad band.

The only way I am pretty sure you could get this to work is to buy 2 device. A special kind of cleint-bridge that can act as a router and accept the wan port at the connection to the hotspot. This gets around the restriction in the hotspot. You can then use any router running as a AP connected to this client bridge.

Before you get real far in this project be sure you can actually afford the internet connection on the broadband. So far I have found none that do not have caps or extra charges when you run them in tethered mode (which is what hotspot is). Even if they say unlimited it is normally only when you use it from the phone or they cut the speed way back after you hit some number and you get unlimited slow speed.

Thank you for the prompt answer!

I've actually put a decent amount of time finding both a suitable hotspot (Franklin R850) and wireless broadband service. Through Unlimitedville I was able to score unlimited wireless internet service via Sprint. The service truly appears to unlimited, as several other users report using 30GB to upwards of 300GB of data a month (with no throttling). And I only pay $42.99/mo for the service.

Speed is also not an issue. Here's the hotspot's result on Speedtest.net:

And my DSL's result:

The TP-LINK TL-WA801ND appears to be capable of acting as a client-bridge. I'll just have it run on WISP mode.

However, will I be able to connect another router to the TP-LINK TL-WA801ND via an ethernet cable while it's on WISP mode?

 

[bill001g]

Not sure what wisp mode is but you can hook another router via ethernet since it does not know that is not a pc. Normally I would recommend running the second router as a AP but when you use mobile broadband you seldom get a routable IP. It mostly is related to the UPnP issue with game consoles.

Be very careful just because sprint does not enforce the rules does not mean they can't at any time. The sprint unlimited contract clearly says it is not unlimited for tethered/hotspot.

 

[michaeljs]

Not sure what wisp mode is but you can hook another router via ethernet since it does not know that is not a pc. Normally I would recommend running the second router as a AP but when you use mobile broadband you seldom get a routable IP. It mostly is related to the UPnP issue with game consoles.

Be very careful just because sprint does not enforce the rules does not mean they can't at any time. The sprint unlimited contract clearly says it is not unlimited for tethered/hotspot.

I'll just have to track my data usage and connection speed. It seems that during peak periods (one seems to be 1200 to around 1700?) my data speeds drop drastically but they're recovering at the moment. I usually use the internet at night when saturation is at the lowest.

Thanks for all of the pointers. However, do you have a recommendation as to which router I should use? I'll just connect it to the WISP bridge via the WAN port.

 

[bill001g]

I would go a mid point router like something that claims 802.11ac at 1200m. This tends to be the optimum match to most end equipment. It will use 2 antenna feeds to match most end equipment. If you would buy more it will not be used by most devices. If you want a little cheaper a dual band 802.11n at 600m would also be a good match to most end equipment.

It should be more than fast enough for any mobile broadband internet. You really only need the really fast routers if you are using wireless inside your house to transfer files say from a nas....then again if you really want speed you should use ethernet and since the lan ports are a switch the data does not pass though the router cpu or wireless radios so they are irrelevant to speed.

 

[Alex_479]

Did this idea work?