Anyone who uses the Internet via a 3G USB modem sooner or later wonders how to distribute the Internet over a Wi-Fi network. If we have one 3G / 4G modem, no matter what Internet provider (I, for example, have Intertelecom), we can connect the modem to only one computer. In this case, the Internet will only be on one computer to which the modem is connected.
And since now there are a lot of smartphones, tablets, laptops and many other devices that can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi, we need to somehow distribute the Internet from a 3G USB modem. Yes, there are now modems that have a built-in Wi-Fi router that can distribute the Internet over Wi-Fi. In addition, they can work autonomously. But they also have their disadvantages: a small network radius, many devices cannot be connected at the same time, etc. And if you already have a regular USB modem, then do not throw it away.
In this article, we are going to talk about real, ordinary routers that support 3G / 4G modems. Almost every manufacturer now has several models that distribute the Internet from USB modems without any problems. At the same time, these routers support the connection of regular cable Internet RJ-45. If you have the opportunity to connect a cable Internet instead of a modem, then you will not have to change the router.
Routers that support 3G / 4G modems
We have a USB modem, and we need to organize a Wi-Fi network so that the Internet from the modem can be distributed to all your devices via Wi-Fi, and, for example, a stationary computer can be connected via a network cable.
For this business, we need to buy a router to which our modem can be connected. The router will receive Internet from the modem and distribute it to your devices. This is how it all works:
Basically, nothing is complicated. Only, there are some nuances in choosing the router itself. Since not all routers support USB 3G modems. And those that support, do not know how to work with all modems.
The manufacturer Asus, for example, has a lot of models that support USB modems. For example: Asus RT-N18U, RT-AC56U, RT-N14U, RT-N66U, RT-N10U B, etc. I wrote about setting up a 3G modem on Asus routers in the article How to connect and configure a 3G USB modem on an Asus router?
Tp-Link also has several models: Tp-Link TL-MR3420, TL-MR3220 and a few more. ZyXEL has many good models: Zyxel Keenetic DSL, Keenetic Omni II, Zyxel Keenetic Viva, Zyxel Keenetic Extra and others.
As you can see, the choice is large. In the characteristics of a router that can work with a USB modem, as a rule, you can see something like: WAN port - USB 3G / 4G. Well, they also support normal Ethernet.
If the router has a USB connector, this does not mean that it is exactly compatible with 3G modems. It is necessary to clarify this information. See specifications, or ask consultants in stores.
It is not difficult to choose a device, but the compatibility of the router with the modem must be checked.
Checking the compatibility of the router with the modem
The main thing that you need to know and what you need to make sure of when buying a router for a modem is compatibility. You need to check if the router (which you are going to purchase) supports your modem. Since most likely you already have a modem.
As I wrote above, the router you have chosen may simply not work with your modem. Therefore, be sure to check the devices for compatibility.
How do you know if a router is compatible with your modem? The best way is to see a list of compatible devices on the router manufacturer's website.
Compatibility pages for some router manufacturers:
- Compatibility of 3G / 4G modems with routers Tp-Link - http://www.tp-link.ua/ru/comp-list.html (select the required model under the heading "List of compatible 3G / 3.75G USB modems"). Save the .xlsx file to your computer, open it and see the list of modems.
- Router compatibility list Asus with modems - https://www.asus.com/event/networks_3G4G_support/. Look in the list for the country, modem model and provider. At the very top are the routers for which this list is suitable.
- List of USB modems that are compatible with all routers Zyxelthat run on the new firmware version of NDMS V2 OS (second generation) - http://zyxel.ua/kb/2222
- To see a list of compatible 3G modems with routers D-Link, on the official website, find the page of the desired router. Supported modems will be listed there.
I can say for sure that the Asus RT-N18U router works great with the Huawei EC 306 modem from Intertelecom.
You may also find useful an article on increasing the speed of the 3G Internet by setting the 3G modem for the best reception. And instructions for installing CDMA antenna.
At my home, the Huawei EC 306 modem is connected to the Asus RT-N18U. In addition, I recently connected an unlimited tariff from Intertelecom. Everything works stably. It happens, however, that the Internet sometimes disappears, but this is most likely some kind of malfunction at the base station. However, wireless internet is not as stable as wired internet.
Alternatively, by connecting a modem to a laptop, you can try to distribute Wi-Fi from the laptop itself. Here's how to set up Wi-Fi sharing in Windows 7. If you have Windows 10, see this article.
This topic is very popular now on setting up a router with a USB modem. People have many different devices that they want to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. And the Internet is only on the computer, via a modem. So you need to somehow get out of this situation. And installing and configuring a router with support for USB modems is the best solution.
