Best way to add 4g backup
- Thread starter EvilRob
- Start date
I don’t think the Vodafone router can be put in modem only mode so if you go down the Draytek route if double NAT is likely to be an issue for you then budget for a modem - second hand BT one from eBay will do the job.
I ran a similar setup to what you want using a small multi-NIC silent PC running pfSense. Then used a BTOR modem and 4G router upstream (4G runs CGNAT anyway so no point worrying about double NAT) for failover WAN. Infinitely configurable and has run well for years moving between different ISPs and connection types. Downsides are cost and needing to learn a bit more about networking to configure it. Something like a Draytek will likely be easier and cheaper if it meets your needs.
If budget is of ultimate concern then Mikrotik is worth investigating but I have no personal experience to recommend.
I ran a similar setup to what you want using a small multi-NIC silent PC running pfSense. Then used a BTOR modem and 4G router upstream (4G runs CGNAT anyway so no point worrying about double NAT) for failover WAN. Infinitely configurable and has run well for years moving between different ISPs and connection types. Downsides are cost and needing to learn a bit more about networking to configure it. Something like a Draytek will likely be easier and cheaper if it meets your needs.
If budget is of ultimate concern then Mikrotik is worth investigating but I have no personal experience to recommend.
Thanks. This seems like it's a bit more complicated than it should be. I don't mind the networking part, but feels like too many devices needed to achieve something fairly simple.
Anyone have any experiences on how well failover to 4g works? Is it seamless if I was on a video meeting for example?
Anyone have any experiences on how well failover to 4g works? Is it seamless if I was on a video meeting for example?
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2008
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You'll be able to buy a DrayTek with an internal VDSL modem that'll also support a 4G connection. They make models that'll support 4G internally or via a supported 4G dongle. They'll also support an Ethernet WAN so you'd be okay with Virgin.
You'll need the connection details from Vodafone which, from what I've seen, are available if you ask. Assuming you have those details you'll have a single box that'll do everything.
You'll need the connection details from Vodafone which, from what I've seen, are available if you ask. Assuming you have those details you'll have a single box that'll do everything.
Cheers bremen.
I decided just to switch to Virgin Media and ordered it today, so supporting VDSL in interim is no longer a requirement.
Something like this D-Link 4g router might work in between the Virgin Media Hub 3 in modem mode and the primary Google WiFi puck. It can be had for around the £50 mark. Just a bit concerned that you get what you pay for and it might not handle a 350Mbps Virgin connection very well. That said, all it'd be doing is routing from Virgin modem or built in 4g modem to Google WiFi which shouldn't be taxing.
Any thoughts?
I decided just to switch to Virgin Media and ordered it today, so supporting VDSL in interim is no longer a requirement.
Something like this D-Link 4g router might work in between the Virgin Media Hub 3 in modem mode and the primary Google WiFi puck. It can be had for around the £50 mark. Just a bit concerned that you get what you pay for and it might not handle a 350Mbps Virgin connection very well. That said, all it'd be doing is routing from Virgin modem or built in 4g modem to Google WiFi which shouldn't be taxing.
Any thoughts?
Soldato
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2008
- Posts
- 12,082
Why do you need failover anyway?
In the 17 or so years I've had cable and/or DSL broadband I've only had a few days of downtime. Nowadays if I have a problem I can temporarily tether to my phone to keep work-related things going. I deliberately have a slightly OTT data plan to allow for it.
In the 17 or so years I've had cable and/or DSL broadband I've only had a few days of downtime. Nowadays if I have a problem I can temporarily tether to my phone to keep work-related things going. I deliberately have a slightly OTT data plan to allow for it.
Work from home, in web conferences all day and often give webinars to 50+ customer attendees. I've had the odd issue with connection dropping in the past - even if it reconnects in a minute or two, it's sub optimal when on customer meetings/webinars. So, would rather have something that seamlessly switches over rather than requiring a manual tether. Cable + VDSL is an option but cable + 4g is more economical.
Given the IP change going from one provider to another in the failover scenario you describe, have you tested the way your VC set-up will handle that? I’d not expect it to be seamless as you appear to want, but that likely depends on the server side of things.
As someone has already mentioned Draytek is the way to go on this.
Basically on the Draytek you set up the 4G WAN, then select it as fail over only if the primary WAN fails.
You would be looking at one of the 2862 series modem/routers. Some such as the 2862Ln have the 4G interface built in, the basic 2962n or ac you would have to add a 4g dongle. I might be tempted by the n or ac and add a dongle due to price difference.
I don't have 4G fail over, but do own an older 2860n that I've had 6 years, and it's an incredibly solid piece of hardware.
Basically on the Draytek you set up the 4G WAN, then select it as fail over only if the primary WAN fails.
You would be looking at one of the 2862 series modem/routers. Some such as the 2862Ln have the 4G interface built in, the basic 2962n or ac you would have to add a 4g dongle. I might be tempted by the n or ac and add a dongle due to price difference.
I don't have 4G fail over, but do own an older 2860n that I've had 6 years, and it's an incredibly solid piece of hardware.