Anyone find a wired usb-to-ethernet adapter that connects a single-port (usbc) hotspot to a router's WAN port?
Driving this is T-mobile's recently-mounted 5G data-only (incl sms) campaign. (Most in the US have likely noticed by now? Or maybe not lol.) It offers 30 GB/mo for $10 postpaid, incl taxes (connection fee easily waived). Measured speeds here rival those of cable (Tmo often way faster) and it's noticeably quicker (much lower latency), though YMMV as performance is highly dependent on location and network congestion.
Data-holics will laugh at the 30 GB unit, but two (or even three) hotspots plugged into the router (running Merlin of course) in dual-WAN config can provide sufficient bandwidth to replace cable for many households. Better performance at lower cost is a strong motivator. (Not to mention longterm profound resentment at heretofore forced dealings with ISP monopoly.)
So with one hotspot connected to router's usb port, just need the second connected via ethernet (WAN port, most readily). After a long search, I find the Internet clogged with devices that will mechanically make the connection but, don't work for two reasons:
So the challenge is finding a powered, or powerable, adapter that is either bidirectional or intended for use with a hotspot. It's hard to believe that identifying such a simple and obvious piece of hardware is so difficult, hence my question here.
Alternate configurations that (may) work:
Keeping this question general (not limited to my hardware) since most any hotspot is usable with Merlin and the hardware bridge between devices should be nonspecific. All suggestions welcome.
Posting here as this concerns 'other' hardware, but please move if it better fits elsewhere.
Driving this is T-mobile's recently-mounted 5G data-only (incl sms) campaign. (Most in the US have likely noticed by now? Or maybe not lol.) It offers 30 GB/mo for $10 postpaid, incl taxes (connection fee easily waived). Measured speeds here rival those of cable (Tmo often way faster) and it's noticeably quicker (much lower latency), though YMMV as performance is highly dependent on location and network congestion.
Data-holics will laugh at the 30 GB unit, but two (or even three) hotspots plugged into the router (running Merlin of course) in dual-WAN config can provide sufficient bandwidth to replace cable for many households. Better performance at lower cost is a strong motivator. (Not to mention longterm profound resentment at heretofore forced dealings with ISP monopoly.)
So with one hotspot connected to router's usb port, just need the second connected via ethernet (WAN port, most readily). After a long search, I find the Internet clogged with devices that will mechanically make the connection but, don't work for two reasons:
- Power is not supplied to the usb side, which causes the hotspots to shut off wired data
- Carrier signals are discovered only on the ethernet side and ignored on the usb end
So the challenge is finding a powered, or powerable, adapter that is either bidirectional or intended for use with a hotspot. It's hard to believe that identifying such a simple and obvious piece of hardware is so difficult, hence my question here.
Alternate configurations that (may) work:
- Easiest is just buy a hotspot with ethernet port and wire it up. - But costs are much higher; single-ports are $20 used, and widely available.
- Unplug one hotspot, or its SIM, each month when that data runs out and plug in the other. - Haha, gimme a break! Who's going to do that?
- Bridge through an intermediary device such as a laptop or rpi. - Obviously not optimal.
- Plug hotspots into separate usb ports on router, or in hub. - Asus-based FW allows only one usb source for dual-WAN. Workaround?
- Do 4., but manually configure an internal bridge between one of the hotspots and the WAN port. - Possible?
Keeping this question general (not limited to my hardware) since most any hotspot is usable with Merlin and the hardware bridge between devices should be nonspecific. All suggestions welcome.
Posting here as this concerns 'other' hardware, but please move if it better fits elsewhere.
