4G dongle. how to integrate into network

[mattyg]

So, Openreach/BT have cancelled an order thats been ongoing for 3 months. So we've lost the 4G dongle we were using (BT Hybrid system)
I've bought a PAYG EE one that creates its own wifi network. I've had to connect all the devices to the dongles wifi. However our hardwired network printers aren't working. I know why but is there a way to get our Unifi AP to talk to this Wifi dongle??

Just to add this is at our takeaway not home

 

[Avalon]

If you have an old router or AP & switch, you can run bridge mode, I’ve done so with Ubiquiti gear before, but it’s usually been the older P2P stuff rather than a Unifi AP. Depending on the single, you may be able to use it with a conventional router, but support can be hit and miss based on the chipset revision etc.

 

[mattyg]

The guys managed last night to just transfer online orders over to our Till system. I've ordered the full EE 5g Hub so hopefully only a couple of days of messing around.
Spoke to a BT contractor who confirmed BT are utter ***** when it comes to anything not straightforward...Openreach not much better. Theres a cable coming into the building that is in a conduit that they could attach and pull through but no, Nobody wants to try that.

 

[NetMan]

Never had a dongle that provides its own Wi-Fi but I have a rather convoluted setup after cancelling my Virgin Media broadband because it went down so often.


USB 4G dongle > old laptop > (MyPublicWifi running on the laptop) > Network port on laptop > LAN port on my disconnected Virgin Media router (DHCP turned off on the VM router)

Result = internet access via the remaining LAN ports on the VM router and via the VM Wi-Fi



Downsides:
Uses more power than a dedicated 4G / 5G router would
Double NAT – never caused me any issues but I'm not trying to run a games console
Had a few problems in the past with older versions where the software didn't start automatically when the laptop rebooted

Upside:
Free just using a very old laptop I had lying there not doing anything.

Its got some fancy features for user authentication including QR codes, acceptable use policy agreement, bandwidth limits etc. none of which I've used.

MyPublicWiFi - Virtual Access Point

MyPublicWiFi: Turn your computer into a WiFi Access Point or Multifunctional Hotspot with Firewall, URL Tracking, Adblocker and Bandwidth Manager.

mypublicwifi.com

Another option is to buy an unlocked second hand 5G router and stick the SIM in that.

 

[SpellowHouse]

Erm, I am not quite sure what you are on about, so forgive me if I talking rubbish.

Check the type of router you have. Asus routers, for example, you can plug a 4G dongle in to the USB port. Then the router just works as normal, providing internet access for all your items in the home. You can configure the router to switch to 4G when your home broadband fails. The ASUS can also do USB tethering with a phone that you probably already have. This approach is a lot simpler than having a separate 4G router. You can use a 4G router, though, in addition to your existing router, you just need one that can act as a modem which (being a numpty) I forget the name of, but I think it's Passthrough. Zyxel 4G routers have that functionality. Set it as Passthrough and it will attach to the WAN port of any router.

 

[mattyg]

Erm, I am not quite sure what you are on about, so forgive me if I talking rubbish.

Check the type of router you have. Asus routers, for example, you can plug a 4G dongle in to the USB port. Then the router just works as normal, providing internet access for all your items in the home. You can configure the router to switch to 4G when your home broadband fails. The ASUS can also do USB tethering with a phone that you probably already have. This approach is a lot simpler than having a separate 4G router. You can use a 4G router, though, in addition to your existing router, you just need one that can act as a modem which (being a numpty) I forget the name of, but I think it's Passthrough. Zyxel 4G routers have that functionality. Set it as Passthrough and it will attach to the WAN port of any router.

The EE dongle has a USB for power only. So its like a mini wifi access point. No option to hardwire it to a network.. It was only a temp fix to get us back up and running. As the proper 5G hub turned up today so that will be connected to the network via a switch