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joemckameyFlag for United States of America

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Router Question

I am looking for a router that when traveling I can either:
a)  connect to the local wifi network OR
b)  connect to my hotspot
and extend the internet to devices I already have configured to work with that router.

The router should hand out the IP addresses like a little private network on the bigger network.  I have devices that need to talk to each other AND access to the internet when I travel and typically they don't talk to each other well when on someone else's network.  I need the router to be able to use my 4g hotspot in case we aren't able to get internet access.

I have used a Hootoo in the past but it just seems to get bogged down with more than one or two devices.

Thanks!
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John
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I use a HUAWEI HUAWEI LTE E8372  for this. It provides high speed (4G) internet access and provides a secure hotspot for other devices to connect to. I use it in this way.

You can also use an iPhone or like to do a similar thing, but my HUAWEI handles more devices.
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skullnobrains

@john : i'm unsure an iphone ( or any mobile phone ) can handle sharing connecting to the local wifi and activate the hotspot at the same time

if one of your existing devices already can do both 4G and wifi, it might be meaningful to configure it as a router...
I have seen two devices detect my iPhone, but I do agree with you that mobile phones are not the best way to do this.

I do however, have and use my HUAWEI card to support multiple devices and that works fine. Done and tested.
it's not about using multiple device : afaik you cannot set the iphone as an access point and be a client of a different access point with an iphone... but maybe recent versions allow that. but as an access point you can handle many clients.

wifi bridges, repeaters, ( most likely including the huawei ) usually can do that by either using ad hoc with specially crafted drivers or using 2 separate wifi devices.
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ASKER

@John Does your HUAWEI card have the ability to use wifi (say from a hotel) OR 4g from cell provider?
The HUAWEI card uses a 4G cellular signal. It then becomes a hotspot sending out a Wi-Fi signal. It does not receive a Wi-Fi signal, just a cellular signal.
SOLUTION
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skullnobrains

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Thanks guys...I also found a term WISP that seems to describe what I am looking for.
Anything good under 100$?
if you buy one, i'd be happy with some feedback if you get a chance, and it might help a bunch of people in your situation as well. thanks to you.
TP-Link TL-WR802N would be an option: http://www.tp-link.com/us/products/details/cat-5506_TL-WR802N.html

Biggest thing is that it comes down to exactly how you're intending to use it, along with the quality of connection available to you at a given location.