Phone USB tethering

[BeachGuy]

ISP connection went out today. Trying to get correct settings for tethering phone to USB for phone failover(?). GT-AX6000 running Merlin 3006.102.4. It seems to enable USB mode in USB application: 3G/4G(?). Then under WAN: Dual WAN, enable Dual WAN, 2.5G WAN primary, USB secondardy as failover? That didn't work. I noticed when Dual WAN is disabled, primary WAN is 2.5G WAN, the next line shows "4G / 5G Auto Mobile Tethering Yes/No". This doesn't show up when Dual WAN is enabled. Yes I read ASUS doc but it didn't help.

 

[bennor]

@BeachGuy, see the following (if you haven't already) Asus Support document on How to set up a smartphone to share the network to the router (USB Tethering). It may, or may not be relevant to what you are trying to achive.

[Wireless Router] How to set up a smartphone to share the network to the router (USB Tethering)? | Official Support | ASUS Global

And some other possible relevant links:

ASUS Router 3G/4G USB Adapter Compatibility List for ASUS wireless routers and DSL modem routers | Official Support | ASUS Global

[Wireless Router] Plug, Share & Surf: Turn Your ASUS Router into a 4G/5G Hotspot Instantly (4G / 5G Auto Mobile Tethering) | Official Support | ASUS Global

How to set up backup WAN with Personal Hotspot / USB Tethering?

ASUS Router supports iPhone, Android phones, or USB dongles as backup WAN to ensure persistent internet connectivity.

routerkb.asuscomm.com

 

[BeachGuy]

Yes that is relevant and I figured it out. Under the USB settings there is no "Android phone", only "auto" and "legacy" (I chose auto). Also APN configuration, auto or manual. I previously had on auto but chose manual, USA, Verizon (even though Spectrum Mobile they use Verizon backbone) and left the rest as is. Thanks for your help!

 

[original-birdman]

When I tested this (a few years back) all I did was enable USB tethering on my Android phone, connected that to the Asus router over USB and it just worked,

 

[BeachGuy]

Ok thanks. I got it working by enabling usb modem/usb tethering. That enabled dual wan with the phone as failover

 

[Pocah.H]

Ok thanks. I got it working by enabling usb modem/usb tethering. That enabled dual wan with the phone as failover

I am looking at doing this.

Can you tell me, once you have configured it, can you just disconnect the phone, and the Asus Rotuer is OK?

The reason I ask this is because I want to perform a trial run, to set everything up, then would ideally like to just plug and unplug the phone to the USB port as needed, without having to set anything in the router.

My own experience with using a failover modem on an RJ45 is that it should be fine - but you never know! I thought I would ask!

 

[original-birdman]

Yes. It just shows as Not Connected.

 

[interwebsurfer]

I have been having exact same problem. In both stock firmware and latest Merlin FW, tried tethering on both USB ports using my Pixel 9 phone. Immediately after disconnecting primary WAN to force a failover, status just displays "Disconnected" like in attached images. So far, tried all the configurations mentioned above, but no luck so far.

@BeachGuy could you suggest where I might be going wrong or exactly the steps you took to make it work.

 

[BeachGuy]

I have been having exact same problem. In both stock firmware and latest Merlin FW, tried tethering on both USB ports using my Pixel 9 phone. Immediately after disconnecting primary WAN to force a failover, status just displays "Disconnected" like in attached images. So far, tried all the configurations mentioned above, but no luck so far.

@BeachGuy could you suggest where I might be going wrong or exactly the steps you took to make it work.

These are the steps I used...

Connect to phone using USB cable as backup WAN

Must turn on “Mobile Hotspot” on phone and “USB tethering”

 

[Viktor Jaep]

I purchased a USB-C to ethernet adapter. I think you connect the phone to that and then the ethernet into the 2.5 WAN port, enabling the "4G / 5G Auto Mobile Tethering (Yes)". I will test this weekend.

Just curious if this worked for you? You would think none of the USB settings in the UI would matter in this case, as it would treat it as a regular network device.

 

[BeachGuy]

Just curious if this worked for you? You would think none of the USB settings in the UI would matter in this case, as it would treat it as a regular network device.

No I cancelled that order, don't need it. The USB/phone works fine as described above. Maybe the USB-C to ethernet adapter would work better, I didn't try it.

 

[Viktor Jaep]

No I cancelled that order, don't need it. The USB/phone works fine as described above. Maybe the USB-C to ethernet adapter would work better, I didn't try it.

I might try it, because I've had issues in the past with USB side of things. Great idea.

 

[interwebsurfer]

Just followed your exact steps, but no success. After turning off Primary WAN modem, Asus router goes to the same "Secondary WAN disconnected" mode, added a pic below.

Also noted few differences in the screenshot you shared vs mine - maybe could be due to differences in Merlin FW versions, however differences are more than one and not sure if it might make sense to go back a version
1. Primary WAN only shows up as "2.5G WAN" - in my router shows up as "2.5G/1G WAN"
2. I can't set a "Detect Interval" of less than 10 seconds and get a popup asking me to set a value between 9 and 999 seconds, where as I see that you were able to set an interval of 3 seconds. Not sure why this difference exists either - despite being same router models, and FW versions being pretty close to each other.
3. The cable I am using shouldn't have any issues, since I also have an RT-AX92U (on Merlin 3004-Gnuton firmware), and Android-USB tethering with same phone via USB as second WAN is working perfectly.

Could the router have some issue or a restriction based on router's country of sale? or might these be quirks of different FW versions. I'm at my wits' end. Any suggestion or advise is much appreciated!

 

[interwebsurfer]

No I cancelled that order, don't need it. The USB/phone works fine as described above. Maybe the USB-C to ethernet adapter would work better, I didn't try it.

I tried this as well, since I happen to have an old Dell USB-C to LAN/multi adapter (added a sample image of the adapter below). It does work after keeping the tethered phone as Ethernet WAN in Dual WAN options. But prefer not to use it, since the adapter is quite bulky, moreover the additional LAN cable adds to the clutter.

 

[BeachGuy]

I would try the USB/Ethernet cable these guys are talking about

 

[sfx2000]

Interesting to watch this play out - USB tethering used to be one thing, but many have taken this into the same context as DSL and Cable...

I get it, everybody want to save some cash - but the 4G/5G providers have caught on this, and putting measures into play...

More relevant now that here in the US, the majors are leveraging into the Fixed Wireless space to compete...

Getting the best performance over 4G/5G is going to take a convo with your provider and getting you on the right rate/comm plan, and perhaps a device upgrade...