No bridge mode on MR1100 and IP pass through mode details

[Hogwild]

Hi everyone:

I have good home router that handles my wired connection quite well. However, I'd like
to connect a 3G/4G LTE modem or hotspot to that same router as a backup for times when
that ISP goes down.

I am weighing the pros and cons of connecting a USB modem dongle right into
the back USB port of the router with the flexibility of having something like an
MR1100. Of course, the MR1100 also acts as an independent router, is portable
(for a router) and works on battery.

However, I noticed the MR1100, and many other hotspot/routers don't have
a true bridge mode, only an IP pass through mode. Some searching in Google reveals
that not a lot of people seem to agree precisely what IP pass through mode is,
and what its repercussions are.

My questions:

1. Are there any hacks/mods to put the MR1100 or other models into
true bridge mode?

2. If not, what are the repercussion of using IP pass through mode?
Specifically, I don't want to mess up my VoIP in any way. But is there
also anything else I should be aware of?

[Didneywhorl]

As long as you can disable DHCP and the firewall on the passthrough device, its not really much different than true IP passthrough/Bridge mode. IMO at least.

I'm not familiar with the MR110, maybe Rich Hathaway can chime in.

[Rich Hathaway]

Ip Passthrough is bridge mode for mr1100
I don't/have not ever needed to bridge it to anything so......
Some peeps have reported it to not play nice with other routers and such but I'm afraid I am of no help
with bridging the connection for it, it has always worked fine on Verizon by itself for me
If you have trouble getting it to render data after bridging it then try using one of the generics on it you may get by better than on the AT&T builds.

[Hogwild]

Thanks. Well, I did some asking on other forums about what IP pass through mode is, and there was almost no consensus. Some people said it was basically the same thing as bridge mode. Some definitions I read and some accounts from other people said it was most definitely not, and the diferences might break functoinality on some apps. Of course, true bridge mode disables NAT, but I don't know what this does. Maybe some testing will be in order.

Hm....if only the IT industry could create some standards.