Portable travel routers are very popular among the youngsters of today who are always on move. They are the multi-taskers who perform tasks on the internet. So, the portable router enables them to access the internet almost everywhere. Most portable routers basically allow the users to share a single USB 3G/4G modem connection wirelessly.
Your biggest advantage with a portable travel router is to comfortably use your laptop, tablet, or smartphone anywhere anytime. If you want to break free of the desk and work incessantly at any place of your choice or share that connection with other devices like your smartphone or tablet or your co-workers, a wireless travel router (commonly known as a pocket router) is a great mobile accomplice to carry along. If you are a traveling professional you must have experienced that in many hotels you have stayed in, they add up huge charges in your bill for internet usage. For those who have similar needs, the best alternative is to carry your own travel router.
Benefits of Portable Travel Router
The reason that it is more preferred when compared with its usage and that of tethering, is that it is a great accomplice when it comes to traveling.
A larger area of operation. Area of operation refers to the circumscribable area in which you can use this device. It depends upon the operator that you have chosen.
Compact size. Size does matter when you travel. The quality that makes this product worth carrying is its compact size.
Battery-powered. Travel routers are battery-powered which means you can use them anywhere. By anywhere I mean literally, any place you want to be. It is most suitable for travelers, professionals, and nature enthusiasts.
What to Look for in a Portable Router for Travel
What exactly to look out for when thinking of buying a portable WiFi? That is the real question that many people must have encountered when they decided to buy their first portable router system. The features that you must consider while buying a portable router are enumerated here:
Browsing speed. Get a portable router that offers high connection strength irrespective of location or the service provider.
Good battery backup. If you are planning to vacate for hiking, boating, or other adventure sport and still want to be connected, get a portable router with a huge battery backup.
Network coverage. The network package that you have chosen must be the ideal one for your internet needs. It should have a strong signal in the area you wish to use the internet. It is the one point that must be considered primarily.
Compatibility. This plays a very important role in picking up the best router. It all depends upon the devices that you wish to connect with the portable wifi. Ex: The TP-Link N Router is compatible with 120+ LTE/HSPA+/HSPA/UMTS/EVDO 3G/4G USB modems.
USB ports. It should have a 2.0 USB port along with the provision of the other ports. It must concede your mobile devices.
Size. It can be pocket-sized or smaller.
3G/4G Connection strength. The signal strength must opt with care and proper knowledge.
Top 5 Best Portable Travel Router
1 TP-Link N300 Wireless Portable Nano Travel Router
This is a pocket-friendly router that can quickly create a secure WiFi hotspot. You can use this hotspot and share it with your family as well. It has an external power of about 5V/1A with a quick WiFi speed of 300 Mbps on 2.4 G hertz band. This provides lag-free video streaming and gaming. You can encrypt the network with SSID and password. This mini router supports Client, AP, Repeater, and WISP operation modes.
2 GlocalMe Mini Turbo 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
The second-best router is The GlocalMe Mini Turbo. It is a 4G equipped portable router which has a mode of local auto selection. There are many benefits of this router such as there is no requirement for a sim card. You can just connect it with your phone and you are good to go. It has a memory storage capacity of about 8 GB and works on an operating system portal. The connectivity technology it uses is of WLAN. It has a smart sensor inside it that detects the best network connection for you that is fast and stable.
3. GL.iNet Portable Mini Travel Wireless Router
This router has about 4.1 stars out of 5. With the best ratings of about 7187 people. The best thing which differs in this router apart from the other ones is that it has 2 Ethernet Posts. With a Lan port bandwidth of about 10/100 Mbps, it provides a data transfer speed of 300 Mbps. It is energy efficient and just uses 5 Volts of voltage. Although it is mini, it has a large storage of 128MB, RAM, 16MB Flash ROM, dual Ethernet ports, UART, and GPIOs available for hardware.
4. GL.iNet Wireless Pocket Router
The little black box type portable router by GL.iNet is such a good router due to the presence of again 2 Ethernet ports and a USB 2.0 Port. You can use it as a wireless means and even if you want to use it indoors. It has the facility of wire connected to it. You can attach it through a USB to your laptop. It has a large capacity of about 128MB RAM, 16MB NOR Flash, dual Ethernet ports, UART, and GPIOs available for hardware. It is pocket-friendly and has a 5V DC adapter which comes with it separately.
5. Macaroon Mobile High-Speed Wi-Fi Portable Router
The last one added to the list is the one that has free-roaming around the world. It also works without the sim card. This portable router can be used in both ways as wired or even as wireless. The data speed it gives is 150 Mbps with a WiFi standard of about 802.11a which is considered to be fast WiFi.
Are You Ready to Buy a Travel Router?
The technology is easing out the life of traveling businessmen and professionals, who have to connect as they move between places. A mobile router is an ideal device to avail the facility of internet around everywhere and anytime. Today there are many options in the market to choose the best travel router for you. Portable routers are easy to carry and suit best for almost everyone on the move. They are sleek, compact, easy to use, and more comprehensible than the usual routers. In crux, they are effective, handy, and efficient making them highly demanded gadgets worldwide.
Nice Article. Very informative.