Need a Cheap 4G Wi-Fi Router

Windows7forever on 20/12/2023 - 17:49
Last edited 20/12/2023 - 17:52

I have been using an old Android phone to hotspot my burner sim for data sharing but the battery has become swollen due to heat from being plugged in 24/7.

I don't want to risk a bulging battery exploding or causing a fire so I'm looking at a better solution.

Will this product do the job?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003891640625.html?spm=a2…

It doesn't cover all the Aussie frequencies such as B28, but the rest seem compatible.

I just need something cheap to use at home that is unlocked and will work across all three Aussie networks (I have a habit of sim slutting). High speeds are not essential.
TIA.

Internet Mobile Broadband Modem

Comments

  • kfp187 on 20/12/2023 - 18:08
    +2

    Grab a used B818. Can be purchased off marketplace etc for $80.

    • Windows7forever on 20/12/2023 - 19:40

      Looks good. I forgot I have a $200 D-Link router (dlink dwr 956) but the sim slot stopped reading sim cards a while back, so I put it into storage. Maybe i should try and fix it before i buy a new one.

      • kfp187 on 20/12/2023 - 19:44
        +3

        Bin it. The B818 is the best 4G modem you can get. Has a heap of the bands that telcos use, Cat 19 so you’ll get almost 5G speeds…

  • conant on 20/12/2023 - 18:10

    One year ago I got a 818 it is great working 24/7 with belong sim.

  • AndyC1 on 20/12/2023 - 18:52

    Be careful with your "burner sim for data sharing" as some mobile network's check if the SIM is in a modem and will block it from working in the modem if the plan is for a phone only. The YES we get hacked company is the main culprit for this. I do not know if T or V do the same.

    • Windows7forever on 20/12/2023 - 19:34

      I suppose they can check the IMEI number of the device. Fortunately I mostly use budget carriers which are less scrupulous than the big three telcos. Thanks for the heads up.

  • imnotgoingtopayrrp on 20/12/2023 - 19:17

    Kogan did a good little 4G to WiFi router and also did cheap sim and data plans. I used one when I was on the road full-time.

  • ozbargainsam on 20/12/2023 - 20:18

    I just got this but didn't do my research about band 28 (700mhz) not being supported. I'm about to go and set it up - hopeful that maybe Optus does have a non-b28 transmitter in the rural area I'm gonna use it in.

  • GordonD on 20/12/2023 - 20:43

    Will this product do the job?

    Optus and Telstra both sold Huawei E8372s just like that device. You have to get the version for the carrier you are going to use because they come restricted to the 4G bands the carrier selling them uses, and pre-configured to log in to that carrier. The login can be changed if you know how, but the bands that are accessible aren't. I know Telstra is still selling theirs. You can get them for $49 on ebay. Haven't looked for a while to see if Optus still is.

    I would not buy one from an overseas supplier because of the issue of what bands they do or don't support.

  • GordonD on 20/12/2023 - 20:52
    +1

    OP, I've had two 5G phones - one an Oppo and the other a OnePlus - that I use for internet access on continuous charge for literally years, with no battery problems whatsoever. Not being able to cope with continuous charging used to be a thing with mobile phones. Anything reasonably recent has a half-decent or better chipset in it that turns off charging when the battery is full. If that's the way you've been doing it for years, just getting a newer model phone might solve the problem.

    (I use Huawei E8372s when I was happy with 4G, but switched to phones when I moved to 5G.)

    • Windows7forever on 21/12/2023 - 11:46

      I was using a 2014 budget android phone so that's probably the cause. I'm looking to upgrade my phone soon so I may keep this one for hotspotting as it's a newer device.

  • GordonD on 20/12/2023 - 21:13

    TP-Link TL-MR100

    TP-Link M7000

  • cashless on 20/12/2023 - 21:14

    I have an opened (but more or less unused) ZTE 910V lying in my drawer.
    It has been unlocked.
    Telstra sold these as 4GX wifi
    It has B28

    PM me if interested

  • mitt on 21/12/2023 - 00:22
    +1

    B818 routers 2nd hand of FB marketplace are the best option.

    The wifi cube 3 is also an option. Looks like a smaller b818. Its newer & has faster wifi standards but a lower cat of 4g connection. Unless you are streaming a lot of data very fast you wont notice a difference though.

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