Using a MiFi or similar to provide back up WAN on RT-AC68U

[yanky79]

I was hoping to use my Verizon Jetpack MiFi 6620L (Novatel is the actual manufacturer) as a back up WAN connection via the USB port. The MiFi has a specific tether mode that can be enabled either permanently or ad hoc at power on. I have attached the device to the USB port and it is recognized as a Novatel 6620L. I have tried both options in the USB settings, as a modem (with several different setting that I have found on these forums) and flipping the "USB Modem" to off, in the hopes that it would see the connection simply as network traffic. But nothing seems to work. I am not seeing any suspicious log entries that would point me to the cause.

My assumption was that the process would be the same as tethering using an Android phone; but I must be missing something.

And thoughts?

 

[Makenza]

I use the same MiFi device, as primary wan, no downtime, tethered to RT-AC68U.

Here are my USB Modem settings:

Location: USA
ISP: Verizon
Network Type: Auto
APN Service:  VZWINTERNET
Dial Number:  *99***3#
PIN Code: (blank)
Username: (blank
Password: (blank)
USB Adapter:  Auto

On the MiFi itself, I suggest you disable the option where the mifi asks you what you want to do everytime you plug a USB device in, and set it to default at tethering instead of charging.
It's smart enough to know to switch between charging/tethering.
(MiFi also charges while tethering to RT-AC68U.)

Keep in mind, these SAME SETTINGS will work if you are using the Pantech UML290, 295, or even the other version of jetpacks that are 4G LTE.

I hope it works out for you.

 

[CaptainSTX]

I have tested three WiFi hotspots from T-Mobil with my ASUS router running V378.50 and they all have worked with default settings that the router selected when the hotspot was plugged into the USB port. My Samsung V100T does require that I change one setting on it and that is to take it out of the media server/storage mode and put it in a tethering mode. The router sees and reports the Samsung device in either mode but it will only work as a standby WAN connection in the tethering mode. Neither of the ZTE units required any adjustments.

My suggestions:

1. As above make sure your device is in the tethering mode.
2. Under the USB and WAN modes on the router be sure the router knows that your WAN connection is connected on the USB port.
3. Be patient. In the fall over mode it can take 30 - 60 seconds for the USB connection to be recognized and the switch over to happen. When testing the USB connection make sure to unplug the Ethernet cable to the WAN port.
4. Once you get connected check if your JetPack allows you to turn of its WiFi. No need to have it on while using the USB cable.

 

[naturalblaze]

Have we you had any issues with really slow internet browsing with this setup? I recently went with this setup as well. I live on a mountain and could only get P2P internet which was pretty solid but pretty expensive and they capped my data and I kept going over as I work 100% remote. I get pretty good 4G and my job gave me a Verizon jetpack (Novetel 6620L) and purchased a directional antena which has been great 20-30 up and down. Tethered the jetpack to my rt-ac68u and it shows up and connects fine. Strangest thing is web pages dont seem to load completely or hang completely when loading. I can tether to any of my Linux or Windows pc's and don't see the problems at all or can connect to the Jetpacks wifi and the problem disappears as well. Also doesnt appear if I'm using a vpn tunnel but that kills my bandwidth. Have you experienced any of these problems ? I have tried about everything I can think of from possible dns, mtu, and so many different configs I have lost count.

 

[Joshua Price]

I currently have a 551L modem and looking to switch to a XLTE model. I used to have the mifi 2100 that worked with my cradlepoint but when they switched me to the 4G device the new mobile hotspots wouldn't work with the MBR1200 model as it doesn't support wan over wifi.. I switched routers last year to the ac68 as my main router in my taxi but the 551L isn't happy with it in a couple of areas. Mainly the router doesn't switch between 4g/3g, it only stays in 4G mode. It also doesn't allow access to amazon and certain other websites (the same sites work when using vpn though, strange right?.)

I've been using the cradlepoint mbr1200 to handle the wireless 551L modem and have the ac68 internet wan cat5 plugged into the lan1 port on cradlepoint. Since using this setup I've had no problems, not even with accessing the sites like amazon that weren't connecting without using vpn. Not sure why the ac-68 doesn't like certain sites when using the 4g data.

My needs for upgraded hardware are simple but specific.

The main use is in my taxi cab, using the ac68 I share a 4TB drive hooked into the usb3.0 dataport via a firestick plugged into a 12 inch screen running kodi. I want to upgrade my modem to a XLTE model that will work with the AC68 with external antenna ports. I'd like to have a full featured hotspot but if it's got problems I'd stick with the usb only device.

Can someone point me in the right direction?