Do I need to go with a custom built router or should just get MOFI 4500?
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:10 am
Hello, I would appreciate an advice from knowledgeable folks regarding whether or not I need to build a custom router for 300$-400$. Sorry for the very long post just want to provide all necessary info on the subject.
This summer I plan to go on 2 month long vacation in Europe and most of the time will stay in pretty rural area. I will have to take my laptop with me (that's how I could get 2 moths) and therefore need an internet connection that could be used for VPN, RDP, SSH, moderate downloads and web browsing. Stability has priority over speed, i.e. 15-18 Mbps down and 3-5 Mbps up would be enough, I think I would not go over 50-70GB of data in 30 day period. There is DSL connectivity available but it is really slow like 3Mbps down/1Mbps - this is close to nothing.
Local data/hotspot plans are very different from North America - very depriotorized, with pretty limited traffic. Situation is slightly better when it comes to unlimited (capped at 50-70GB) smartphones / VIP plans but those plans don't support smart phone tethering/modems i.e. I will not be able to connect the laptop. Its worth mentioning that all those plans are pretty cheap and I am ready to pay the premium for what I need but I simply cannot because this is not how it works over there.
Now equipment:
a) I really like my Samsung 10 (global version), all required bands, aggregation, private DNS, 2 SIMs, the network provider does mind against using it on unlimited smartphone plans. It has very decent hotspot implementation, wifi sharing - works great with captive portals in hotels. Main problem is the lack of external antennas and therefore it cannot provide stable connectivity in the place where I plan to stay. Another issue is that it is quite problematic to root it and therefore selection/locking RF bands and doing some other useful things like changing DHCP range of built-in hotspot for example is not possible;
b) My laptop supports certain models of Sierra m.2 modems but I think it is too much hassle to install it and use external antenna with it i.e. it looks like to be the least attractive scenario
c) get MOFI4500-4GXeLTE-SIM4-COMBO. It supports all necessary bands, uses Sierra Wireless modem, allows modifying TTL, band locking, full control over the router settings. I read its manual and watched some youtube videos and it is not clear if one can modify Sierra Wireless settings like IMEI if required. It seems the general consensus is that Quectel modems are simpler to deal with. With MOFI I can use different antenna setups and I think it will work satisfactory unless the provider detects it (I am guessing since I don't know that sure). If it happens then most likely it will become useless because as modem it will not provide satisfactory speed. Some people say that MOFI WiFi is not very good - I don't care in this case. It is interesting that MOFI does not support WiFi sharing in case if the captive portal requires authorization otherwise it would be very versatile travel router.
d) build a custom router, it can be either M2M NEXG H721 or WE826-GO 4G (it closely resembles MOFI!), any WiFi card and the modem either Sierra or Quectel. If Quectel supports changing IMEI then it definitely will be Quectel E12 since it supports all bands (on the other hand I never did that and I can only guess how useful it can be in my situation - may be I am totally wrong about it and I don't need it at all). In other words I am getting all what I need if I go with a custom setup. Although I am not sure if WiFi sharing would be possible. But if the modem configuration is the same as in MOFI then I would rather go with MOFI just to save some time.
And finally. I spent some time reading local forums in Europe - looks like the general trend is to get a cheap Huawei 3G modem (sold by the local providers), change the firmware to fix TTL (most adventurous users would even change IMEI to make it look like a table or a smartphone) and use it on a smartphone plan.
What I do not understand is why all those wireless network providers don't want to make extra money on people like me (with special needs so to speak) - let's say, typical plans could range between 15-50$. Let me pay 100$ or even more but make it simple and usable. Then I would forget about building my own router to tweak TTL etc and will buy the equipment straight from the company providing the service. Win-win siutation!
What would you say?
Thanks for the reading.
This summer I plan to go on 2 month long vacation in Europe and most of the time will stay in pretty rural area. I will have to take my laptop with me (that's how I could get 2 moths) and therefore need an internet connection that could be used for VPN, RDP, SSH, moderate downloads and web browsing. Stability has priority over speed, i.e. 15-18 Mbps down and 3-5 Mbps up would be enough, I think I would not go over 50-70GB of data in 30 day period. There is DSL connectivity available but it is really slow like 3Mbps down/1Mbps - this is close to nothing.
Local data/hotspot plans are very different from North America - very depriotorized, with pretty limited traffic. Situation is slightly better when it comes to unlimited (capped at 50-70GB) smartphones / VIP plans but those plans don't support smart phone tethering/modems i.e. I will not be able to connect the laptop. Its worth mentioning that all those plans are pretty cheap and I am ready to pay the premium for what I need but I simply cannot because this is not how it works over there.
Now equipment:
a) I really like my Samsung 10 (global version), all required bands, aggregation, private DNS, 2 SIMs, the network provider does mind against using it on unlimited smartphone plans. It has very decent hotspot implementation, wifi sharing - works great with captive portals in hotels. Main problem is the lack of external antennas and therefore it cannot provide stable connectivity in the place where I plan to stay. Another issue is that it is quite problematic to root it and therefore selection/locking RF bands and doing some other useful things like changing DHCP range of built-in hotspot for example is not possible;
b) My laptop supports certain models of Sierra m.2 modems but I think it is too much hassle to install it and use external antenna with it i.e. it looks like to be the least attractive scenario
c) get MOFI4500-4GXeLTE-SIM4-COMBO. It supports all necessary bands, uses Sierra Wireless modem, allows modifying TTL, band locking, full control over the router settings. I read its manual and watched some youtube videos and it is not clear if one can modify Sierra Wireless settings like IMEI if required. It seems the general consensus is that Quectel modems are simpler to deal with. With MOFI I can use different antenna setups and I think it will work satisfactory unless the provider detects it (I am guessing since I don't know that sure). If it happens then most likely it will become useless because as modem it will not provide satisfactory speed. Some people say that MOFI WiFi is not very good - I don't care in this case. It is interesting that MOFI does not support WiFi sharing in case if the captive portal requires authorization otherwise it would be very versatile travel router.
d) build a custom router, it can be either M2M NEXG H721 or WE826-GO 4G (it closely resembles MOFI!), any WiFi card and the modem either Sierra or Quectel. If Quectel supports changing IMEI then it definitely will be Quectel E12 since it supports all bands (on the other hand I never did that and I can only guess how useful it can be in my situation - may be I am totally wrong about it and I don't need it at all). In other words I am getting all what I need if I go with a custom setup. Although I am not sure if WiFi sharing would be possible. But if the modem configuration is the same as in MOFI then I would rather go with MOFI just to save some time.
And finally. I spent some time reading local forums in Europe - looks like the general trend is to get a cheap Huawei 3G modem (sold by the local providers), change the firmware to fix TTL (most adventurous users would even change IMEI to make it look like a table or a smartphone) and use it on a smartphone plan.
What I do not understand is why all those wireless network providers don't want to make extra money on people like me (with special needs so to speak) - let's say, typical plans could range between 15-50$. Let me pay 100$ or even more but make it simple and usable. Then I would forget about building my own router to tweak TTL etc and will buy the equipment straight from the company providing the service. Win-win siutation!
What would you say?
Thanks for the reading.