Best router for usb modem

So, you decided to buy a modem for your laptop. Which one to choose? Prices and functionality of different models can differ considerably, and you will reasonably want to get the maximum at minimum costs. Let's consider the parameters that are considered key for this type of device.

Top 5 Best Routers for Country Living with 4G SIM Card – Internet in the Village, Rating 2023-2024

A WiFi router with a 4G SIM card is not a new phenomenon. But it is in the last couple of years that such routers have become particularly relevant in the market. This is due, firstly, to the fact that the well-known pandemic has played its role. A huge number of people switched to remote work and began to live in the country. Which means that there was an urgent need for a WiFi router with SIM card support from any operator. Secondly, these devices have become more affordable and the model range of different brands is varied. In this rating we have compiled the top of the best, according to the editorial board of WiFiKA.RU, routers for 2022 – 2023 to work with the Internet via SIM-card, which are perfect for use both in a private house or at home, and on vacation in the countryside or even in a trip.

All wifi routers in the rating support work with SIM-cards of all domestic mobile operators 3G and 4G (LTE)

5th place – Keenetic Runner (KN-2210)

Last on our list today is the Keenetic Runner KN-2210. If you've been reading this site for a long time, you're probably used to the fact that routers from this manufacturer (formerly Zyxel Keenetic) have always been highly rated by us for their reliability, easy setup and at the same time wide functionality. However, their price was a bit higher than similar models of other brands. In this case, the price to quality ratio failed a little bit. Yes, the router remained reliable in operation and user-friendly. It also has a huge number of settings.

However, the high price in this case is not justified by the reduced technical data. So, there is no 5 GHz WiFi support – only 2.4 GHz with speeds up to 300 mbps. The antennas are two 5 dBi (MIMO 2×2). This might be enough for a small country house you go to on the weekends. But if you live permanently out of town, plan to create a smart home system and essentially transfer not only home use of the Internet, but also full-time office work, then you want to get a bit more features. This includes gigabit LAN and WAN ports just in case if you need to move the router into the apartment.

The undoubted pluses are the ability to expand the existing wireless network by installing an additional Keenetic router and combining them into a mesh system, the main advantage of which is seamless wifi roaming.

7 best wifi routers with USB

In today's world, Wi-Fi routers are among the most common and important household equipment. With their help you can access the Internet from a variety of devices: computers and laptops, smartphones and tablets, TVs and other equipment. However, routers differ in cost and functionality. If going online to watch movies and videos on YouTube is usually enough for the simplest model, other tasks may require more advanced equipment. Therefore, today we have compiled a rating of the best Wi-Fi routers with USB. What are the features of such equipment and what model to buy? Let's find out.

The presence of a USB connector in the router is not mandatory. But this port will allow the owner to connect to the router 3G and 4G modems, external drives and even printers. Some models have several connectors soldered in at once, which expands their capabilities.

When choosing a router with a USB port, take into account:

1. Compatibility. The presence of the connector does not mean that it supports modems and other devices. Sometimes it only allows you to connect printers and flash drives, and in some cases it is limited to updating the firmware.
2. Speed. Be guided by your tariff. If it's 100 Mbit/s or lower, then any model will provide such bandwidth. If your provider provides up to 1 Gbps, then you should buy a more expensive device.
3. Wi-Fi bands. Only the most affordable models work at 2.4 GHz. The more expensive ones are characterized by 5 GHz. Standards also differ: Wi-Fi 4 in basic solutions, Wi-Fi 5 in more expensive, Wi-Fi 6 in premium.

1. Keenetic Extra.

First-rate model for small apartments and affordable tariffs. The device allows you to transmit data at speeds of 100 Mbit / s for a wired connection and up to 867 Mbit / s when using Wi-Fi. The popular router, according to customer reviews, can simultaneously work in 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. In the second case, the equipment provides up to 23 dB of effective power, which is achieved by 4 separate antennas. The router's interface and the list of available settings are almost identical to the manufacturer's top models. But additionally, the older Keenetic models offer 1 Gbps ports.

Which Wi-Fi router is better to choose

Products of excellent quality and with excellent speeds are produced by TP-LINK. Also in the review of the best Wi-Fi routers with USB input is a cool model from ASUS, which is not bad for fans of online gaming. If you want to spend less money, then choose Keenetic. This brand offers both quite affordable and more expensive solutions with better characteristics. And the best ratio of cost to quality showed the budget products netis.

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How to distribute mobile Internet from 3G-4G modem via wifi router?

Once you've decided on a location, let's move on to the practice of setting up wifi internet distribution.

A patch cord (Ethernet cable), which was included with the router, connect one end to the LAN connector on the router, and the other end to the computer network card

On the computer (Windows 7) go to the network settings section of the chain:
"Start – Control Panel – Network and Internet – Network and Sharing Center – Manage network connections – Change adapter settings".

Right click on the item "Local Area Connection" and go to "Properties" go to the menu "Internet Protocol version 4" and check the "Get IP automatically" and "Get DNS server address automatically" and save the settings.

On the bottom cover of the router, find the IP or WEB address to enter the admin, as well as username and password

Open the browser on your computer and enter the IP address into the address bar, then in the pop-up window – login and password from the sticker.

Find the router menu item "USB modem" (3G/4G, USB settings, etc.), activate it and enter the data for your operator in the fields shown in the image.

USB-port capabilities on the router

I often get questions like: "Why do I need a USB-port on my Wi-Fi router? Above I have listed the basic functions, but let's understand in more detail. Plus I will give links to some instructions that may come in handy to you after choosing and buying such a router.

As I wrote above, the functions mainly depend on the manufacturer and the firmware on which the router is running. But if you take devices from the most popular manufacturers (ASUS, TP-Link, D-Link, ZyXEL) , there USB input is used approximately for the same tasks. Which we will look at below.

For external hard drives and USB sticks

Here everything is simple. You need to take USB flash drive or external hard drive (HDD) and connect it to the router. If necessary we add some settings and share the drive from any device connected to the router.

• File sharing on a USB storage device. This is normal network access to a drive that is connected to the router. On your computer, the drive will appear in the Network tab. Or you can connect it as a network drive. From Android devices you can access e.g. via the program "ES Explorer".
• FTP server. You can set up an FTP server on the router and access the drive not only in the local network, but also via the Internet.
• Media server (DLNA server). Another useful feature. It can come in handy for viewing photos, videos and listening to music stored on the network drive on the TV (mostly on the TV). The TV must also be connected to the router.
• Download Master, or offline downloading of files. This is when the router can itself download files (torrents) on the hard disk or USB flash drive connected to it. Without a computer or other devices. The new models from TP-Link and ASUS definitely have this function. I use it myself, it is very convenient. Especially when the Internet is slow. You can schedule the download for the night.
• ASUS routers have also AiDisk (file sharing over the Internet), and Time Machine.

Router with USB input. What to look for? What model should I buy?

There is nothing special in the choice. Look at the number of ports and the version. There are routers with one or two ports. I haven't seen more than that. Also look at the version of the USB port. There is USB 2.0, and USB 3.0. The latter will have a higher speed. The specifications of the router always specify what standard port. If there are two, one will probably be 2.0 and the other 3.0.

I'm against advising any specific models. You have all the information you need. So, it will not be difficult for you to choose a router. Especially since the presence of USB is only one of the points on which you can navigate. You also need to look at the other characteristics of the router, its price, etc. Most likely, you can also find an article with tips on how to choose a router for your home or apartment.

Below I will show you a few router models that have this very USB input.

Xiaomi Mini Wifi and Xiaomi WiFi MiRouter 3.

This is probably the cheapest router with a USB port on the market.

The port is there, but what about the software, settings and how everything is organized there, everything is sad. It's hard to figure out. Access via an app from a mobile device, an app in Chinese, etc. I looked and read, and even lost the desire to configure file sharing. Therefore, as a router specifically for file sharing, I would not recommend this router. But the input is there.

Yes, there is alternative firmware, etc. If you are a fan of poking around in the settings, you can buy it. And if you want no problems, quick setup and forget it, then it is not the best option.

This is an inexpensive router with USB input from TP-Link. It is kind of declared to support 3G/4G modems. Well, and support for all the functions I wrote above.

Models with the ability to connect the SIM card directly

To work these routers does not require an external modem: a SIM card with mobile Internet will be enough.

Keenetic Runner 4G (KN-2210)

Web center for Internet access with up to 300 Mbps speed via Ethernet cable or SIM-card.

The model has a built-in LTE/4G/3G modem Qualcomm Snapdragon X5, compatible with SIM cards of any operator, and supports Mesh Wi-Fi in the 2.4 GHz band.

The device has 2 external antennas with 5 dBi gain for Wi-Fi and non-removable LTE/4G antennas.

With official support, you can set parental controls or enable cyber threat protection.

HUAWEI E5576.

Compact modem that provides high-speed stable connection in the 2.4 GHz band with the ability to configure and manage through a mobile app.

The router is equipped with a built-in 3G/4G LTE module and is a powerful access point that allows you to connect up to 16 devices.

The model has a compact size and is great for setting up at the cottage or outdoors, as it has a built-in 1500 mA*h battery for 6 hours of operation.

• price;
• black or white color of the case;
• compactness;
• own battery of 1500 mA*h;
• can work as a router and as a repeater;
• convenient management through the application;
• signal range.

HUAWEI E8372H-153

Compact installation with the ability to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously and convenient management via the application.

Specifications and appearance

Before you buy a pocket Wi-Fi, you need to understand the technical characteristics of such devices:

Pocket Wi-Fi are very compact. Outwardly, they often resemble an ordinary USB flash drive and due to this they fit in your pocket without any problems.

Despite their small size, the configuration of such devices is quite serious. In addition to the router it includes a power cord, an Ethernet cable, a case and a user manual.

What to Pay Attention to

In this section, I will briefly summarize what is important in choosing a 4G router:

1. Built-in SIM or via modem – if you do not want to bother, take the built-in (described in detail in the first selection of my rating)
2. The standard of mobile Internet is 4G better than 3G. And now this speed is already felt even in the regions.
3. Wi-Fi – 802.11n is enough to work with 4G. 802.11ac is good, but for mobile Internet it is a pure overpayment. Take it only if you need a fast local network.
4. Battery or network – if for home, it is enough to take from the network, if for travel, then only with batteries.
5. LAN ports – if you plan to use at home and connect via wire. For example, when there is a desktop computer and you need to plug it in somewhere. Point to the fact that these routers do not always have a lot of LAN ports, so pay attention.

That's the science of choosing – there's nothing complicated here. But if you have some other specific task, I recommend describing it in detail in the comments. Most likely the selection will be different for your purpose. This way you will help yourself and your future readers. Thanks in advance everyone, hope I was able to help, your favorite WiFi Guide portal!

Best Modems of 2022 Rating

Category	Place	Name	Rating
The best 3G and LTE usb modems	1	Huawei E3372h	9.1 / 10
Best mobile 4G modems	1	Huawei E8372	9.2 / 10
	2	Alcatel Link Zone	8.5 / 10
Best stationary 4G modems	1	HUAWEI B818-263	9.5 / 10
	2	MikroTik Chateau	9.4 / 10
	3	MikroTik wAP LTE kit	9.3 / 10
	4	HUAWEI B535	9.2 / 10
	5	HUAWEI B315S	9.1 / 10
	6	ZTE MF283	8.7 / 10
Best ADSL modems with WiFi	1	Keenetic Duo (KN-2110)	9.6 / 10
Best ADSL Modems	1	ZYXEL Keenetic Plus DSL	7.5 / 10

Huawei E3372h

Quite a popular modem with various carriers. For example, MTS offers it under the trade name 827F, Megafon calls the device M150-2, and Beeline did not even change the name of the device and just added its own name. The device is easy to unlock, so it is not difficult to remove the connection to the provider who sold it at an attractive price or promotion. At least for a trained user. In addition, enthusiasts have prepared some alternative firmware, significantly increasing the stability of the modem and improving a number of other indicators. In particular, the speed of exchange when distributing the Internet through some "people's" routers. Despite its relatively compact size, the E3372h design contains a pair of CRC9 connectors for connecting external antennas such as LTE MIMO. Of course, the device also supports 3G networks, but the ability to enable registration mode only in LTE networks is provided by the settings.

The best mobile 4G modems

Huawei E8372

The Huawei E8372 is a 4G modem and Wi-Fi router in one device. Such a modem is indispensable in trips, in the country house, as an emergency and temporary solution. Choosing the Huawei E8372, you should pay close attention to its modification, which determines the list of supported LTE bands. Don't want to find yourself without Internet one day? Then go for E8372-h153 model with Band 20 support. The second option is to buy the same device in an MTS salon. However, there it is called differently – MTS 8211F. The undoubted advantage of the recommended device is the availability of alternative firmware and a very active user community.

An excellent option if you do not have wired Internet at home, as well as for cottages in the suburbs. It is convenient to take on trips, as it is compact. Also this modem is not tied to a particular operator, i.e. you can insert any SIM card.

Alcatel Link Zone

In the "field" it is usually easier to organize a temporary access point on the smartphone. But what to do if you can "catch" the Internet just sitting on the roof of the cottage, or leaning on top of a tree in the yard? Conventionally, of course, although for some, maybe literally. Besides, no smartphone will last long in the continuous 24/7 mode, but the recommended Alcatel Link Zone modem will. But it is better to take out the battery beforehand, and also to choose a more powerful power adapter – the manufacturer has frankly saved money on the complete one. Finally, this mobile router fits in your pocket, so you can play online games with your friends almost anywhere. All in all, the device is useful and quite versatile. Among the important drawbacks are the noticeable heating during long exchange via LTE and the impossibility to swap the IMEI and set the necessary parameters to use smartphone tariffs.

Rating of the best 4G modems

The decision to include a particular 4G modem in the rating was made as a result of a careful analysis of the characteristics of the products. When studying them, we took into account numerous features:

• Type of connection – via USB port or remotely;
• Availability of Wi-Fi and the number of simultaneously connected devices;
• Supported standards – 2G, 3G, 4G;
• Time to connect to the network;
• The maximum distance to the laptop from the modem when it is distributed via wi-fi;
• The speed of download and data transfer;
• Stability of the signal;
• The ability to install a flash card and its maximum size;
• The presence of a built-in antenna and input for connecting an external one;
• The range of operating temperatures;
• The battery capacity and the duration of its work without recharging;
• Supported operating systems on the PC.

When deciding to include the 4G modems presented here, we were also guided by their affordability, warranty duration, ease of adjustment, quality level of the body and the ergonomics of the devices.

The best 4G modems with USB connector

These modems work exclusively via USB and are connected directly to a laptop or desktop PC. It is not possible to connect more than one piece of equipment to them. Usually they look like an ordinary flash drive. Of the models on the market, two are the fastest and most stable, and it is the modems that are described in this category.

MTS modem 832 FT 3G/4G LTE

The high-speed 4G modem 832 FT from the mobile operator MTS provides an Internet connection of up to 100 Mbps. It supports the most common communication standards – 2G/3G/4G LTE, which allows it to be used almost everywhere. Its setup is quite simple and doesn't require any specialist assistance thanks to the built-in programs. The model is equipped with a memory card slot up to 32 GB, so the product can act as a flash drive.

To work in conditions of poor network coverage in the modem built a special antenna, which allows you to catch the signal faster and maintain a stable connection more confident.

Samsung GT-B3730

This is one of the fastest 4G modems of the premium class, adapted to work with all Russian operators. It is easily reprogrammable, depending on the selected cellular company. The language of the control menu can be either English or Russian, depending on the type of firmware, but the instruction is always provided in Cyrillic. This model supports two popular communication standards – 3G and 4G. However, the data transfer rate in the second case does not exceed 100 Mbit. The signal modem picks up well, but just in case there is a slot for an external antenna.

Samsung GT-B3730 is powered through the USB port. In reviews point out that with frequent and careless connecting and removing the device from the laptop jack can loosen.

Q&A

The first serves only one Internet user, the device to which it is connected. A router, also called a router, provides communication between multiple devices on a local network. Many devices combine these capabilities by connecting to the Internet and distributing data to multiple users.

Provides data exchange between your computer and the World Wide Web: it receives a request from your computer and broadcasts it to the Internet. The response received is transmitted to the operating system and processed by the application that sent the request.

Yes, if this function is provided by the manufacturer. All users, except the laptop to which the gadget is connected, receive data via Wi-Fi.

In most cases, it is enough to insert the gadget into a free USB port and wait for the automatic installation of drivers. Thanks to Plug&Play technology, user participation in the configuration is minimal and boils down only to selecting the preferred network.

VyborExpert.ru recommends

Many devices had to be discarded because, according to feedback from real users, they are either too unreliable, or their setup requires "dancing with tambourine" without a guaranteed result. Our editorial board recommends paying attention to the following models:

• ZTE MF79U – An interesting universal variant with antennas included;
• Huawei E8372H-320 – a reliable gadget with the functions of a router;
• Anydata W140 – an inexpensive device with a minimum of settings.

Of course, this is only our opinion, which reflects the preferences of the team. Your right to disagree with it, as these models may not meet your requirements.

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