How to: WLAN and mobile internet for small business

[lifespeed]

Hi,

I am trying to set up a portable network with internet access via cellphone tower. The initial configuration will be one laptop as 'server', one netbook as client. Both will serving as bar code scanners, relying data over the network to the laptop. Also, I will soon add a credit card reader that (I assume) will want an ethernet connect for internet. What is the appropriate hardware to do this?

I had thought I might plug the laptop ethernet into a wireless N router and let the netbook play the client role over wireless N. I would think that is reliable enough, but if not we can bring a long ethernet cord.

One catch is the laptop has to supply internet access to the router WAN port via the cellular 'air card', while also living on the LAN/WLAN side of the network to communicate with the netbook to accept barcode scanner data.

Am I correct in thinking the wireless router is the way to go? Do I even need a router, instead setting up an Ad Hoc network with both computers internal wireless cards, USB for cellular internet, and the laptop ethernet port for credit card machine?

 

[lifespeed]

It occurs to me the main issue with doing this is the laptop with cellular internet access will need to connect to the router WAN port. However, this same computer also needs to have a LAN-side local address to participate in the local network.

Do routers have a mechanism for accessing 'local' addresses on the WAN port, or pass-thru, while retaining the router function for internet via WAN port?

 

[stevech]

Hi,

I am trying to set up a portable network with internet access via cellphone tower. The initial configuration will be one laptop as 'server', one netbook as client. Both will serving as bar code scanners, relying data over the network to the laptop. Also, I will soon add a credit card reader that (I assume) will want an ethernet connect for internet. What is the appropriate hardware to do this?

I had thought I might plug the laptop ethernet into a wireless N router and let the netbook play the client role over wireless N. I would think that is reliable enough, but if not we can bring a long ethernet cord.

One catch is the laptop has to supply internet access to the router WAN port via the cellular 'air card', while also living on the LAN/WLAN side of the network to communicate with the netbook to accept barcode scanner data.

Am I correct in thinking the wireless router is the way to go? Do I even need a router, instead setting up an Ad Hoc network with both computers internal wireless cards, USB for cellular internet, and the laptop ethernet port for credit card machine?

Cradlepoint travel and SOHO routers. WiFi and wired clients. Verizon/Sprint/AT&T 3G cards, PCIe or USB.

Excellent. Used Cradlepoint for several years. Just plug it in and it goes. Like a toaster. I use Verizon all around the US as their coverage is second to none.

Sold on Newegg at good prices.

 

[teknojnky]

if your in a 4g area, rover 4g puck

http://rover.com/

 

[lifespeed]

Good advice, I have heard of Cradlepoint.

Any reason why the USB air card couldn't be a tethered smartphone? The data plan already costs me a pretty penny. I have no intention of buying another device and paying for another monthly 'plan' just to use a few MB of data once in awhile.

 

[stevech]

tethered to a smart phone??? Confused me.

I have an Android Incredible on Verizon 3G. Some freeware allows me to connect a laptop's USB to the phone and "USB tether" the laptop off the phone. You can also pay $20/mo more to Verizon for a WiFi hotspot created by the phone.

I use a Cradlepoint CTR500 + a Verizon USB modem and have for years, well before I got the Android phone. I've used that CTR500 for lots of things beyond just servicing my laptop via cat5 or WiFi. Very handy. In airports, I move the Verizon USB modem from the CTR500 to my laptop to get on the 'net, when I need to do things that are too much for the 'Droid.

 

[lifespeed]

update

We bought a cradlepoint MBR900. It worked flawlessly with the verizon aircard, whose model number escapes me at the moment, but it is quite recent.

It does not, however, work with the Nexus One or Motorola Droid Android phones in tether mode. Apparently the router must contain a 'driver' for the phone, and these phones are numerous. Perhaps a future firmware update . . .

Anyway, it was a good solution to the mobile internet for several small business computers.

 

[stevech]

With an HTC Android, one can have a cheap app that tethers a PC via USB to the HTC, and the PC uses the HTC to bridge Verizon's EV-DO to the PC via USB. This avoids the tethering fee from Verizon.

A config I used most often:
My HTC connects to the Cradlepoint Travel Router (CTR500) WiFi as a simple WiFi client with EV-DO as the WAN. Works great all day when no wired Internet is available, which at work sites, is common for me (IT policy says no guests on their LAN, and I'm a visitor). Truthfully, on EV-DO, even an 1Mbps or less average, the response time on email and web browsing isn't much different than when I use a 20Mbps cable modem at home. Now this doesn't apply to streaming video or big FTPs, but I don't do that in my work day. The Cradlepoint + Verizon modem just sit on a table inside the work area.

 

[hceuterpe]

With an HTC Android, one can have a cheap app that tethers a PC via USB to the HTC, and the PC uses the HTC to bridge Verizon's EV-DO to the PC via USB. This avoids the tethering fee from Verizon.

A config I used most often:
My HTC connects to the Cradlepoint Travel Router (CTR500) WiFi as a simple WiFi client with EV-DO as the WAN. Works great all day when no wired Internet is available, which at work sites, is common for me (IT policy says no guests on their LAN, and I'm a visitor). Truthfully, on EV-DO, even an 1Mbps or less average, the response time on email and web browsing isn't much different than when I use a 20Mbps cable modem at home. Now this doesn't apply to streaming video or big FTPs, but I don't do that in my work day. The Cradlepoint + Verizon modem just sit on a table inside the work area.

I think if you want to tether your phone directly to the Cradlepoint and use it as a the WAN, I think the phone needs to support functioning as a DUN. It lists my old Sprint mogul, and I know I could do that. It doesn't list TP2, and so far I haven't found an app to make that work. It seems like PAN connections even via USB don't work. Those are actually somewhat of a hacked solution.