Educate me Please. Why would you use a travel router?

FrankFalcon

Hi all

I am looking for advice and education here. 

I read a well know PC magazine and it recently recommended purchasing the TRAVEL router TP Link TP-WR1502X. I was curious to know what was so good about it so I did a bit of research and YouTubing. It appears that one of this devices main qualities is that you can take it outdoors, power it up with a power bank and connect to its network. However, what I don’t understand is…
If this device can find a network, let’s say on the beach or in the middle of a field… then why wouldn’t my wife and I just simply connect our iPhones to that network without the use for the travel router or its required power source. 

Please tell me…What am I missing? 

Grumpy_chap

Some considerations.

The travel router can probably support multiple connected devices.

You may wish to use devices without a SIM (WiFi only)

The router won't drop internet if a call comes in.  Often, using a phone as hotspot can't be done at the same time as making a call.

FrankFalcon

Grumpy_chap said:

You may wish to use devices without a SIM (WiFi only)

Agghh! Yes. Like my wife’s iPad. Never even thought of that! That’s one thing, yet so obvious. 

Thank you. 

PHK

Additionally, people often use Travel Routers with SIMs that will connect to several networks so that you are more likely to be able to get a signal. 

Also, in places where the signal is low then a travel router that can have an aerial or aerials attached will pull in a stronger signal compared to a phone. 

FrankFalcon

PHK said:

Additionally, people often use Travel Routers with SIMs that will connect to several networks so that you are more likely to be able to get a signal. 

Also, in places where the signal is low then a travel router that can have an aerial or aerials attached will pull in a stronger signal compared to a phone. 

Yes, again. So obvious. 

Thank you 

MyRealNameToo

But this travel router doesnt have its own SIM and is dependent on tethering to a phone or a usb 4G dongle. 

As a standalone device its a little limited other than where maybe you are having to pay for a wifi connection so can get away with a single payment or on an open wifi the router can setup the VPN so individual devices dont have to. 

Vitor

Why You Need a Pocket Router: Hotels, Airports, Airplanes, Cruise Ships - Stay Connected Anywhere!

FrankFalcon

Hey guys

Thanks for the excellent info here. I have loved following this thread and have to admit I have been caught in situations that are described in the video (Cruise Ship etc). I am fortunate enough to be able to afford any device and I have to admit that after spending the last few days on a sun lounger on holiday, following the replies/links/videos, I have gained loads more knowledge, but am stuck which device is best. Battery powered or not etc. 

Thanks for the heads up all. 

If anybody has any personal recommendations feel free to let me know here. 

Cheers all. 

Grumpy_chap

FrankFalcon said:

 am stuck which device is best. Battery powered or not etc. 

Surely, that depends on where you wish to use the device:

FrankFalcon said:

take it outdoors,
let’s say on the beach or in the middle of a field… 

FrankFalcon said:

Cruise Ship etc). 
on a sun lounger on holiday

I have, in the past, used the EE 4GEE mi-fi purchased from Argos and they did everything I wanted them to do.

Frozen_up_north

There are both mobile data "travel" routers that are pocket sized and can run from batteries, or home routers with a SIM slot that can either run entirely on a mobile network using an internal SIM, or can use the mobile network as a backup to the house broadband.

Obviously in weak signal areas you could use a mobile network router in an upstairs room on the side of the house closest to the mobile mast, whereas using your mobile as a "hotspot" would be difficult under that scenario.

As someone who travels a lot, I often find hotel and some house WiFi pretty terrible. Depending on local mobile coverage, I prefer to just use my phone directly on the mobile networks as it often has a much better data rate and is more consistent than hotel /B&B/Air B&B WiFi. Even large hotels stuggle with WiFi around breakfast time and the free WiFi in Premier Inns is a joke. One Air B&B we used claimed to have 300 Mb/s fibre broadband, it was far more erratic than the 5G from my iPhone!

We have a second home that uses a TP-Link NX200 5G router with an EE data SIM from Scancom, these data SIMs are ones that you pay up front for and throw away when they reach their cut off date, you can buy them from Amazon or direct from Scancom.

As mentioned by others, using a phone as a "hotspot" is fine for temporary use, but is not as reliable as a proper router. My iPhone tends to drop the hotspot at times and needs to be powered from the charger, or a battery bank, as it runs the battery down fairly quickly when running a hotspot. It is OK for occasional use, such as using my laptop when away from home in the car.

Vitor

- If anybody has any personal recommendations feel free to let me know here.  -

I use this - GL.iNet GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) Wireless VPN Encrypted Travel Router– Easy to Setup, Connect to Hotel WiFi & Captive Portal, Phone Tethering, Range Extender, Assess Point, Pocket-Sized, Open Source, NAS : Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

It runs a Tailscale client so all traffic is routed back to my Tailscale Exit Node, the VPN tunnel can't be snooped by the hotel etc.