A Guide to 4G LTE Routers

If you have Wi-Fi at home, you probably already know a little about these routers. If you don’t, a router is that little gizmo that looks like a decoder that provides you with internet – 3G, 4G, 5G depending on how advanced it is. 

By definition, an LTE router or long-term evolution router is a type of network router that can provide broadband internet connectivity to devices via ethernet or Wi-Fi.

What Is LTE?

LTE has been around since 2004 and it builds on the existing cellular standards of the universal mobile telecommunication system. Some identifying features of this technology include:

• Low latency of about 10ms, which is crucial especially for more advanced uses including carrier ethernet services. 
• Full duplex communications. 
• It is mobile, which means it can support moving devices up to 350 km/hr. 
• Individual channel bandwidths are between 1.4 and 20 MHz.

Benefits of a 4G Router

The very basis of routers is offering internet connection. 4G LTE routers use mobile data to share internet connection with multiple devices via ethernet or Wi-Fi. Some of the benefits include:

Cost Effectiveness 

The best thing about 4G routers is that you don’t need to buy broadband service—as is the case with traditional Wi-Fi routers. 

On top of that, you don’t even need another fixed line or cable. All you really need is a sim card and a subscription to a cellular data plan from your carrier ethernet services provider or mobile service operator and you are good to go.

Ease of Use

The logistics of these routers are not that complicated. The architecture includes an integrated 4G LTE modem and a built-in SIM card slot – micro-SIM I might add. 

All you need to do is insert the micro-SIM and then turn on the router. Add a few more configurations and enjoy superfast 4G 5G internet depending on the network you are using. Getting 4G LTE internet has never been easier.

Support for More Connections

LTE antennas and Wi-Fi enable you to share your 3G/4G connection with multiple wireless devices. I’m very certain you have all the devices in your house connected to your Wi-Fi connection. All the wired and wireless devices get the internet and everyone is happy.

Powerful Compatibility

Over the development of 4G 5G LTE technology, the routers have been widely tested to be compatible with different ISP services in more than 100 countries so there is universal compatibility with 2 advanced antennas to deliver a smooth internet connection.

How Do 4G Routers Work?

Modern day routers now support wireless router and 4G/3G modes. The 3G/4G settings can be used as backup internet in the unfortunate event the broadband connection is down. 

If the mobile network isn’t stable, you can then switch to the fixed network. The catch is that in router mode, there has to be a SIM card to generate the Wi-Fi signals.

On the other hand, in wireless router mode, the WAN port of the router establishes a connection with the network port or the modem providing the internet.

Do I Need a Router?

After learning just about everything there is to learn about 4G LTE routers, I suppose the next logical question is: do you need one? There is no fixed answer for this because it always depends on your situation. 

The first consideration is what you need the router for and how you will be using it. It could be for a temporary office, a mobile booth or in some remote area. 

In cases like these there is a high chance of no wired or wireless access so portable Wi-Fi is the only answer. In areas like this, cellular data works a lot better than fixed networks or public Wi-Fi. 

Cellular data isn’t always recommended because it has limited client access. In its place, consider plug and play 4G Wi-Fi routers.