Travel Router

[Great_yarn]

Hello to everyone who reads this, 

So, I'm in kinda of a dilemma rn and I've a few questions to ask about it

I'm looking at this model rn

TP-LINK WR902AC

 

Questions

Spoiler

I've looked around the internet and even search in the forums but there's like only 7 topics on this.

1. How to you connect the router to the hotel's Ethernet cable if it has a splash screen of some sort?
2. Is it possible to use a VPN with this (I'm using Windscribe Pro) and Windscribe currently at the time of writing doesn't support L2TP or PPTP.Is there any other way or do I have to manually install WS on each of my device, (Which i did anyways) 
3. Can i insert a portable hard drive into this and hope that it shows as a network drive? (Not sure how this works)
4. Just to confirm, Can i run the power out of a powerbank. I read online that some of them can but the power is not stable or something. So i just want to confirm I'm using this Powerbank

 

 

This is just some info for me to remind myself as well. Someone can correct me if I mistype anything (Thanks in advance)

Spoiler

Router Mode

1. Basically connect via Ethernet, Router will give of a WiFi signal

Hotspot mode

1. Basically connect via an open Hotspot, Router gives out a WiFi signal for personal use.

Range Extender Mode

1. Basically connects to an existing Wireless signal and extends it. (Almost like a repeater?)

Client Mode

1. Spoiler

   I might be totally wrong on this but here goes.

   Basically uses an existing wireless connection and let the Ethernet port free so that other devices that uses Ethernet only can be used

Access Point Mode

1. Basically an Access Point 
2. Ethernet - router - (Gives out wireless signal) (DHCP Should be disabled)

So, here's the thing, I might be getting one of this as I might be travelling for a few weeks if everything goes according to plan. The main problem is in the question above. And if there's any other recommendation for a portable router it'll be greatly appreciated. Thank you  

Spoiler

It would be better if it doesn't have a powerplug with it (something like this). I would much rather have an extrenal source for power 

 

Btw

When I'm not travelling, I intend to use this as an access point at my house

Now I'm using a powerline cable to a Router (the free one that came with the ISP a longggg time ago) which is not that great 

 

Is there anything else i should be concerned about when getting a travel Router for both Travel/work

and can anyone give me their experience if they use one. 

 

And offtopic

would u rather get something like

This or This

while travelling

 

Thank you

Have a great day

[brwainer]

3 hours ago, Great_yarn said:

I'm looking at this model rn

TP-LINK WR902AC

This model only has a single ethernet port, meaning that if you first go to a hotel where they have ethernet you have to configure the port as WAN, and then if you go to a hotel without ethernet and want to use the unit as a wifi client (wireless for internet, ethernet as LAN) then you have to reconfigure it. I prefer units with two ports, one WAN and one LAN, like the Mikrotik mAP https://mikrotik.com/product/RBmAP2nD . It still requires some reconfiguration when going between hotels with different setups but at least I always have a LAN port available. Note that Mikrotik RouterOS has a bit of a learning curve, but I haven’t done any research on travel routers from other brands.

 

3 hours ago, Great_yarn said:

How to you connect the router to the hotel's Ethernet cable if it has a splash screen of some sort?

If they have ethernet, you plug in and the unit gets an IP (“Router mode” per the page you linked). If using it in “Hotspot” mode, you access its settings page and connect it to their wireless and it gets an IP. At this point the router is on the network but not authorized. Using a computer that is on the LAN/WLAN side of the router, try to browse to the internet. You will get the splash page on your computer, but because you are connected using the router the network will only see the router’s MAC. Once you complete the splash page your router will be authenticated and anything connected to its LAN/WLAN will be online. 

 

3 hours ago, Great_yarn said:

Is it possible to use a VPN with this (I'm using Windscribe Pro) and Windscribe currently at the time of writing doesn't support L2TP or PPTP.Is there any other way or do I have to manually install WS on each of my device, (Which i did anyways) 

It does not look like there is a way with this device. I’m not familiar with WindScribe but if they use IPSec or their own proprietary connection then I would doubt it.

 

3 hours ago, Great_yarn said:

Can i insert a portable hard drive into this and hope that it shows as a network drive? (Not sure how this works)

Yes as long as it doesn’t use more than 1A. See section 4.6 of the user manual. https://static.tp-link.com/2017/201712/20171212/1910012191_TL-WR902AC 3.0_UG.pdf

 

3 hours ago, Great_yarn said:

Just to confirm, Can i run the power out of a powerbank. I read online that some of them can but the power is not stable or something. So i just want to confirm I'm using this Powerbank

Aukey is a good brand and I would expect this to work fine.

 

3 hours ago, Great_yarn said:

This is just some info for me to remind myself as well. Someone can correct me if I mistype anything (Thanks in advance)

  Reveal hidden contents

Don’t use modes 3-5 when travelling. The Router and Hotspot modes will isolate your LAN from the main network, the others are specifically made to share a single LAN. The main difference is that Modes 3-5 don’t run NAT and DHCP on the unit and they bridge the incoming connection directly to their LAN.

 

3 hours ago, Great_yarn said:

And offtopic

would u rather get something like

This or This

while travelling

Retracting cable units are great as long as you don’t put extra stress on them. Flat cables on their own are nice but they are harder to keep neatly wrapped up with a velcro strap or whatnot. When I travel I have a longer (3 meter) regular cable wrapped with a velcro strap and a short (1 meter) flat cable that I roll up and stick in a small pocket in my bag.

 

I’m a network engineer in the Hospitality industry (my company is the second largest wired/wireless LAN Service Provider in the US but we focus on high end hotels and customer service so we aren’t likely to become #1) so I travel fairly often and with a lot of technology.

In my laptop bag (maximum size allowed as a “Personal Item” on planes, and I bring this everywhere even when not working):

-laptop and power brick

-Nintendo Switch and power brick

-wireless keyboard and mouse

-USB powerbank with USB-PD

-HDMI cable , many USB cables (lightning, Micro-B, C) mostly Anker PowerLine, short/flat ethernet cable

-Mikrotik mAP-Lite, for odd networking requirements in a pinch

In my backpack (maximum size allowed as carry-on on planes, it is designed for use as a primary travel bag):

-clothes and toiletries

-Mikrotik mAP

-USB charger with Type-A and Type-C

-Roku Streaming Stick

-Ethernet, Power, USB cables

 

Even at a hotel where all they provide is wireless, I still use my own router because it makes using the Roku easier especially if you want to use YouTube remote control from a phone. It would be similar if you brought a ChromeCast or Fire Stick with you.

[Great_yarn]

8 hours ago, brwainer said:

This model only has a single ethernet port, meaning that if you first go to a hotel where they have ethernet you have to configure the port as WAN, and then if you go to a hotel without ethernet and want to use the unit as a wifi client (wireless for internet, ethernet as LAN) then you have to reconfigure it. I prefer units with two ports, one WAN and one LAN, like the Mikrotik mAP https://mikrotik.com/product/RBmAP2nD . It still requires some reconfiguration when going between hotels with different setups but at least I always have a LAN port available. Note that Mikrotik RouterOS has a bit of a learning curve, but I haven’t done any research on travel routers from other brands.

 

Ah, the one that u gave me doesn't have 5Ghz support. but thanks for the recommendation. I will also use it to host a ftp server from my phone using 5Ghz with ES File manager, Truthfully, it's faster than transferring by cable. lol. I'll check out the other products also. But I won't be sure if i can find them here. I'm based in Malaysia but would travel to SG to find one if it's cheaper

 

8 hours ago, brwainer said:

If they have ethernet, you plug in and the unit gets an IP (“Router mode” per the page you linked). If using it in “Hotspot” mode, you access its settings page and connect it to their wireless and it gets an IP. At this point the router is on the network but not authorized. Using a computer that is on the LAN/WLAN side of the router, try to browse to the internet. You will get the splash page on your computer, but because you are connected using the router the network will only see the router’s MAC. Once you complete the splash page your router will be authenticated and anything connected to its LAN/WLAN will be online. 

Ohh, Okay, I get what you mean.

8 hours ago, brwainer said:

Yes as long as it doesn’t use more than 1A. See section 4.6 of the user manual. https://static.tp-link.com/2017/201712/20171212/1910012191_TL-WR902AC 3.0_UG.pdf

ah ok then thanks

8 hours ago, brwainer said:

Retracting cable units are great as long as you don’t put extra stress on them. Flat cables on their own are nice but they are harder to keep neatly wrapped up with a velcro strap or whatnot. When I travel I have a longer (3 meter) regular cable wrapped with a velcro strap and a short (1 meter) flat cable that I roll up and stick in a small pocket in my bag.

Ohh,

 

 

I think I get it now,

Thanks for everything,