4G Router

Scream · 10 Jun 2019 at 10:50

Can anyone recommend a reliable 4G router? Need something that will provide Internet to an IP camera network.

Needs to be able to reconnect automatically if the 4G network goes down as the network won’t be easily accessed.

Will be sticking with either EE or Vodafone depending depending what’s best for that area of installation.

Thanks

Rroff · 10 Jun 2019 at 10:58

Not sure I'm in a position to recommend but I'm using a TP-Link TL-MR6400 and have used a couple of others in that range (backup connections) and while they are pretty decent and good features they seem to lock up atleast once a month and not recover without being power cycled! most other general cable/dsl routers I've used even the likes of Asus can do like 600 days uptime before falling over :s

Scream · 10 Jun 2019 at 11:36

Thanks for that. Nothing worse for me when a client phones the hell out of you saying it’s not working.

Even if the router supports VPN would be a bonus.

Rroff · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:03

TBH in terms of uptime stability and 4G the best results I've had from USB dongles (plugged into an Asus RT-N66U and other routers) and my Xperia Z tablet. I don't have an extensive amount of experience of dedicated 4G routers themselves though outside of the TP-Link and some cheapy noname brands that were poor.

bremen1874 · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:11

Do you need to connect into the cameras over the 4G connection or are they only 'dialling out'?

Unless you specifically go looking for an agreement that provides a routable address you'll end up with CGNAT.

Scream · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:18

Cameras working through a cloud environment such as Hik-Connect to avoid this issue of needing to dial back

WJA96 · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:20

Mikrotik SXT-LTE (v2), Teltonika RUT X11 and Mikrotik wAP-LTE are all good options and won't fall over regularly.

I've also used the TP-Link MR200 in various versions and the newest AC1200 units are very stable. The Rev 1.0 was a disaster and needed rebooting every day.

4Gon.co.uk (I don't think there is significant range overlap to make them an OcUK competitor) are an excellent source of assistance on this sort iof thing. They also have 4G SIM cards with fixed IP addresses, although they're definitely not cheap!

Rroff · 10 Jun 2019 at 12:34

WJA96 said:
I've also used the TP-Link MR200 in various versions and the newest AC1200 units are very stable. The Rev 1.0 was a disaster and needed rebooting every day.

Annoyingly the Rev1.0 of a lot of those routers has SMA connectors while the new revision are fixed

but the older ones were definitely meh for uptime and my rev 2.0 MR6400 still freezes once a month as above - didn't have such a problem they needed rebooting daily though fortunately.

Shame as otherwise seem solid - I get 30/10 with stable latency on 4G with the MR6400 despite being several KMs without direct line of sight from the mast.

Actually quite impressive for the conditions.

malachi · 10 Jun 2019 at 13:08

Im using the TP-Link TL-MR6400, so far its working great for my Hive on 4G.

Scream · 10 Jun 2019 at 13:14

What 4G network are you using with these routers?

Also, has anyone used the networks very own router for example EE’s 4G Router? You would think they should be stable?

Caged · 10 Jun 2019 at 22:23

The new Teltonika devices such as the RUTX08 are very impressive. Remote management platform available for a very low cost as well so you don't even need static IP SIMs or anything - just set them to dial a VPN tunnel back to you.

Rroff · 11 Jun 2019 at 01:51

Scream said:
What 4G network are you using with these routers?

Also, has anyone used the networks very own router for example EE’s 4G Router? You would think they should be stable?

I'm currently using Vodafone and Virgin Mobile (EE) both much of a muchness for me.

IIRC the BT and EE own/supplied 4G devices are supposed to be fairly good for stability.

WJA96 · 11 Jun 2019 at 11:25

We tend to use EE SIMs as they can be had with fixed IP addresses but if you're in the right area Three SIMs look incredible value on a £/Gb basis.

malachi · 11 Jun 2019 at 23:39

Three sim in my router.

Scream · 12 Jun 2019 at 09:18

Caged said:
The new Teltonika devices such as the RUTX08 are very impressive. Remote management platform available for a very low cost as well so you don't even need static IP SIMs or anything - just set them to dial a VPN tunnel back to you.

I am very interested in this. Cheers

Scream · 12 Jun 2019 at 09:21

WJA96 said:
We tend to use EE SIMs as they can be had with fixed IP addresses but if you're in the right area Three SIMs look incredible value on a £/Gb basis.

I didn’t think they had a fixed Sim. Must check one that I have. Would it be a pay monthly sim or will the PAYG sim have them also?

WJA96 · 13 Jun 2019 at 04:23

Scream said:
I didn’t think they had a fixed Sim. Must check one that I have. Would it be a pay monthly sim or will the PAYG sim have them also?

They’re not fixed IP by default, you need to pay (a lot) extra for it (hence the not cheap comment).

Apparently you can now get O2 and Vodafone with fixed IP addresses as well;

https://www.4gon.co.uk/4g-sim-tariffs.php

Scream · 14 Jun 2019 at 00:31

Stupid prices. Cheaper to get a new landline in.

WJA96 · 14 Jun 2019 at 04:24

Scream said:
Stupid prices. Cheaper to get a new landline in.

You must live in a big city. There is a legal obligation to install a telephone. Not a broadband connection. And if we’re talking about a wind generator in the Irish Sea, then they won’t even put the phone in. These products are VERY specialist and if you need it, you NEED it.