This post was last updated on September 6th, 2019 at 10:04 am
In this tutorial, you will learn almost everything you need to know about a 3G Wireless routers. As long as you own an electronic device such as a computer, a smartphone, a satellite decoder, a game console, you need a router.
Table of Contents
What are 3G Wireless routers?
A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks, commonly specialized hardware. This creates an overlay internetwork, as a router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. When a data packet comes in one of the lines, the router reads the address information in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in its routing table or routing policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey. Routers perform the “traffic directing” functions on the Internet.
From the above definition, it means a router doesn’t work for itself, it simply works on behalf of other networks. It is like a middleman between two networks. the source network and the destination. e.g the 3g modem you connect to your router supplies the internet, the router converts it to a wifi connection that your decode, computer, or game console can use. Now let us proceed to the meaning of a wifi router.
What is A Wireless Router
A wireless router is a device that performs the functions of a router but also includes the functions of a wireless access point. It is commonly used to provide access to the Internet or a computer network. It does not require a wired link, as the connection is made wirelessly, via radio waves. It can function in a wired LAN (local area network), in a wireless-only LAN (WLAN), or in a mixed wired/wireless network, depending on the manufacturer and model. examples of wifi routers are azsky G3, Tp-link routers, Huawei routers, Vodafone routers etc…
And of recent, we now have a 3g/ 4g router (also known as mobile broadband routers. For example, your smartphone with inbuilt wifi hotspot can serve as a good example of a mobile broadband router. However, it is not convenient using your smartphone(which serves many other more useful purposes)as a router, hence the need for dedicated mobile broadband routers.
What is a 3G/4G router(Mobile Broadband Router)
A stationary device that converts cellular signals (3G, 4G, LTE) to Wi-Fi and vice versa. It creates a local Wi-Fi hotspot to provide access to the Internet as an alternative to cable, DSL and other wired services that are either not available in the location or are more costly. All laptops and tablets, which have Wi-Fi built-in, as well as all desktop computers with Wi-Fi adapters, can share the hotspot for Internet access.
A mobile broadband router is typically a stationary device; however, portable cellular hotspots may be branded by their vendors as mobile broadband routers as well.
Instead of plugging the carrier’s cellular modem (air card or 3g modem) into one laptop, it is plugged into the mobile broadband router, which turns the service into a hotspot. examples of modern mobile broadband routers are hame 3G wifi router, T1 WIFI ROUTER + POWER BANK + CLOUD STORAGE, M1 wifi router + power bank + 3g dongle and so on
Who are Eligible to use a Router?
Many people can use a router, especially a modern-day mobile router. I will itemize those who can use a router, before then, to use a router, you need at least an electronic device that can use either a Lan / Ethernet port or a wifi capability. In other words, if you have a decoder, a smartphone with wifi network, a game console like play station, Xbox, Nvidia shield, Nintendo … or a computer. Then no matter your income, your level of exposure or your educational background, a router will make your online experience better. One outstanding thing is that modern routers, now comes with a power bank capability meaning when your battery is dead or about to die, you can easily recharge your mobile phones battery with your router. Now to who can use router/router combos specifically.
- Those without 4G/LTE or 5G network
Of course, it is reasonable to use the fastest available internet network in your area. Therefore, if 4G/LTE is out of your reach, you will surely want to resort to 3G connectivity. As we already know, 2G/Edge is a deal-breaker in modern times.
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Hardcore gamers
If you own a mobile gaming console like PSP(play station portable) or Nvidia shield, or your game ready iPhone, or your android phone loaded with a lot of games, for you to keep your charge or to recharge your device in other to enjoy a seamless gaming experience, you need a router combo like T1, M1 or at worst hame. those routers mentioned above will supply both internet access as well as battery charging capabilities to your device.
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A nuclear or Extended Family
You can easily buy one large data bundle, load it inside an independent sim card and place it inside your router. You can then create a password for it and give it to your families they can all be in their comfort zone and enjoy internet browsing. that way you can keep things in check especially among your kids.
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Travellers
It doesn’t matter if you a business traveller or a tourist freak, as long as you have cause to leave the environment where you will have easy access to a wall socket to charge your phone, you need a router combo(mind you, a router combo has a power bank functionality).
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Hardcore Internet Surfer(Just Like Me)
Each and every one of us has its internet needs. Mine is to download software, conduct research does very light chatting and update my site. Others are mainly to send emails, others especially women love nothing but chatting and downloading music. whichever category you fall into, you need a router combo to keep you charged up
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Businessmen /women
If you receive endless calls and you attend different conferences of seminars, you may have little time to connect your phone to the mains and charge. what you need is internet on the go and charging on-the-go only a router, can give you that.
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Dwellers in Areas with Poor Internet Connection
If you stay in a location where there is generally poor Network signal on all available ISP Imagine, whenever I use an airtel sim for my internet needs with my router, I will need to place my router in an extreme corner in the room, while my electronics remain positioned in the living room. It is not my wish to place my router that far away, but the only area where I can receive a strong 3g airtel network is in my room.
- Office, Hotels and Companies: You can buy and use powerful routers such as TP-Link, T1 etc.. to network connections wirelessly or through LAN cables in your Hotels, Offices or Companies
Importance of 3G Routers
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Convenience
well this cannot be over-emphasized. A router can give you access to a wireless internet connection with its inherent convenience over a wired connection. secondly you can easily carry your router about. In fact, hame is not as big as a techno phone.
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Cost-effectiveness
Especially in Africa where data bundle subscription is very expensive. The more money you pay, the more Data bundle you receive. Why not pay big and share it with friends and families instead of you allowing ISP to cheat you. e.g some men pay #5000 per month in Nigeria to get just 3gb of data, most times they only use 300mb before the plan expires and they have to resubscribe.
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A router saves power
It saves the battery lifespan of your mobile devices e.g game consoles or mobile phones. We all know that browsing with either 2g, 3g or 4g network of your mobile phone consumes more battery power than browsing on your phone through wifi connection
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Mobile (OTA) Software Updates
some smartphones especially tablets, iPads, comes only with wifi network. This indicates that you can only access the internet on such devices, with the help of a wifi hotspot which a router readily provides. Furthermore, in other to update the software of most smartphones, you need only a wifi connection. Finally, to download most heavy games data, you need a wifi connection
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Advantages to your Computer or Decoders
A router grants the fastest and most stable connection to your decoders or computers. in fact, older satellite receivers can only connect to the internet via a router. You can also connect several computers simultaneously wirelessly with a router
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One-for-All Connection
Imagine a situation whereby you want to receive an important email or chat message on your phone, you want to watch satellite tv on your IKS decoder, and you want to open a website on your computer. Hitherto, this would have spelt three different internet package or bundles, however with a standard router, you can perform all the task with one single connection.
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Miscellaneous
we have many more advantages like making all your kids happy at home cos they can all start browsing and stop browsing simultaneously.
Disadvantages of a 3G Router
- First off, a 3G router is not the fastest around as we already have devices that support 5G networks. Apart from this, 4G is the new global standard for acceptable internet speed.
- The first setup requires a computer: If you really want to customize your router, you need a computer to the first customization like assigning your name, your password, choosing your network mode e.t.c
- The second inconvenience is that you need to use your money to buy the router(Although the router is not very expensive compared to its functions)
- The final demerits have to do with the African continent. Routers are not popular in Africa, Most people have to order for it, or buy a branded one. I personally ordered for mine
General Features/Specifications of 3G WiFi Routers
802.11 b/g/n, 802.3/802.3u supported, Wireless speed rate up to 150Mbps
※ Support smart mode, 3g router mode, AP mode, Repeater mode
※ Support DLNA protocol, a free app for ios or android devices
※ Wireless Storage, share files from U disk wirelessly
※ Built-in 6600mAh battery
※ Support most type of the 3G/4G(WCDMA / CDMA)& 4G LTE dongle
※ One 10/100M self-adaption Ethernet interface, both LAN/WAN compatible work
※ Support Local/Remote web manage with multi-language
※ Easy server link setting through web manage
※ 5V DC Micro USB power adaptor universal work with all USB device power
Types of Routers
We have standalone routers e.g tp-link, Vodafone, g3, t1 etc. and we have branded routers or routers locked to an Internet Service Provider e,g mtn Nigeria Hynet, Etisalat mifi, ZTE routers locked to a network, swift 4g router, spectranet Nigeria routers e.t.c. I am generally advising you to buy a standalone router instead of a branded one.
1.T1 Wifi + Power Bank +Wireless Storage Capabilities
2. M1 Wifi Router + Power Bank + 3G Dongle
3. TP-LINK 3G/4G Wireless N Router
4. Vodafone/Huawei Routers
5. Hame MiFi WiFi_A1 USB Broadband Hotspot + Power Bank
6. Azsky G3 WiFi Router + Dongle
How to Setup A Router for the First Time
To configure a router for first use, you can read up my article here
WHERE TO BUY A ROUTER?
You can buy a router from major electronic shops or online. especially from those who sell computer accessories.
nowadays a portable wifi router is very helpful because you can travel with it and you need not worry about the mobile network it has support sim and network connection so you can easily access the wifi and do your work anywhere you go. this blog also helps to understand requirements of the portable wifi router.
The information is really helpful I personally didn’t know much about router and adaptors but reading this I surely do have some knowledge about these. I would recommend others also to go through this at least once the time wouldn’t go in vain for sure.
You’d need some pretty fast 3G to be able to use your mobile connection as a wifi connection for multiple devices, no? I tether my phone to my laptop quite often and even just that one connection strains my 4G a lot. I can’t imagine trying to use it as a connection for several devices.
@Marviss, which network are you subscribed to?
Hey!
The 3-G wireless routers work very fast. Nice speed wireless router to connect multiple devices.
anybody wit an mtn hynet router should pls kindly send d imei
Oga lemmy can I use My HTC hero as a wifi Hotspot?
Is it possible to unlock the Spectranet Portable Multi user MIFI or Multiuser Hub?
Where in Abuja or Lagos can one buy an Azsky G3 Wif Router + Dongle? What is the average cost?
@Albert, you can use any phone that has wifi hotspot compatibility as a wifi router. I don’t know where you can get g3 in Abuja
Dear Lemmy.
Pls can you send the prices of each router you spoke about to [email protected]. I need to have them ASAP to promotes to my clients that asks for a better viewing.
Pls treat as important and serious.
Thanks.
D bb 10,wil it wk wit bb subcription on d decoded,or u need 2 be on data buddle? What abt all htc phones?
@Niki peter, bb 10 will work with bb 10 plans and it can be shared via wifi hotspots. bb 10 plans are different from normal blackberry bundles
pls lm am Nana from ghana, pls i hv dis Ericsson W35 router thats made for only Airtel network. pls i will be very happy if u can help me decode it to enable me use other networks as Aitel data is costly. Thank you
@Nana, I don’t know how to decode it. But you can try dc-unlocker software
For the router stuff, r u aware u can unlock ur swift 4g lte or spectranet 4g lte to serve u as universal sim router, u can still even use if for the swift or spectranet network if u want. all u need is 4wrd me ur imei den i send u the unlock code with the procedure to input the code.
@Majek Pls help me decode my router Vodafone R206 the imei is – 860566021076962, and how can I unlock the sim or put the unlock key codes?
pls i have this home used vodafone router model HG553. how do i find the password for the wifi because it requires me to provide password anytime i connect. i need help
@enouch it is on the body of the router or in its manual. Though you can also see it when you open the router’s dashboard on
How much is qsat account my own is nierly finish
LM Can I use WiFi adapter on my q13 and use my Android phone ( I.e Techno M3) WiFi without necessarily using a router? Pls help me cos using GPRS/SIM has not been interested on my decoder, sometimes it work with the sim and in less than 5 to 30min will go off and may not comeback for days.
@joseph you can use it that way thanks. Buy a wifi adapter And connect qsat to your phone’s mobile hotspot via the wifi adapter
LM Can I use WiFi adapter on my q13 and use my Android phone ( I.e Techno M3) WiFi without necessarily using a router? Pls help me cos using GPRS/SIM has not been interested on my decoder, sometimes it work with the sim and in less than 30min will go off and may not comeback for days.
@Joseph yex you can use it that way
Well done oga sir for your concise write up, but you should have mentioned the price range for each router/adapter.
Thank you.
@adamu prices varies and it can be misleading
Is it true that strong decoders can be used for internet browsing? If yes how?
Thanks lemmy, i dnt think is ADMIN, its demanding for 8 characters
pls help me to recover d passwords for d router.
Thanks
@jojo 8 characters should be the password of your wifi connection unless you have Changed the default login password then it should be admin. If you forget your router login password, it’s either you continue using your router like that or look for a way to reset your router password
please can some body guide me on how to use Qsat DLNA with android phone
my tp-link mr3420 not working with huawei ec122 cdma after upgrade from from windows 7 to windows 8.1.any solution?
write about cable modem.
@mungitu cable modem is not working free with any standalone decoder in Africa, so it has virtually no value for Africans currently.
We have huawei B970 3g universal simslot routers for sale in Ghana. Price ghc270. Call 0243048511
Help!Help!!Help!!!
Pls i am pleading to anyone who knows how unlock modem should help me out
Lemmy, please wat is the name of the cable to be used to connect an Azsky dongle (rs232) with the qsat Q13g? I want to order for it online bhu I don’t know the name, thanks.
Thank you for the info Oga lemmy.If I want to use my blackberry hotspot as Internet for my qsat.Do I still need a wifi router or just a wifi adapter?
@Dandayo, you can only use a blackberry 10 hotspot. in that case, you only need a wifi adapter for your decoder
pls Lemmy, am so much interested in that Azsky g3. once is available in Africa, u notifies us. thanks.
Thanks for the information. I didn’t know much about routers and adapters but now I do. I need one for my phone and qsat. Please do I need an adapter on my qsat before it connects to the T1?
@nana if you want to use wifi with qsat you must use a wifi adapter with your qsat. Otherwise you can use a lan cable to connect your router to your qsat
Oga lemmy, pls can someone use wifi router with wifi connectivity of strong 4922A without wifi adapter attached to the decoder. And also, since the azsky g3 router is yet to be officially out, can u help someone to order for one. Thanks.
@phemmy, pls don’t mix things up, no decoder will detect a wifi hotspot without a wifi adapter connected to the decoder
hi lemmy,
pls how do i recover the password of my router, i must have mistakenly pressed the reset button?
The router name huwei.
Thanks
@jojo, are you sure the default password is not “admin” ?
Hi Lemmy, you don’t inform us when G3 was released as you promised. Only for it to surface here. Pls how can I get one.
@starpryde, it was not officially released. Still not in the market in Africa per say. This is because it was produced with Dongle function.