Zyxel’s Versatile Travel Router Supports Wired and Wireless Broadband

At a Glimpse

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Portable router gives Wi-Fi hotspot via USB modem
• Very good documentation to help you finished apparatus
• Reasonable Mary Leontyne Pric

Cons

• Average battery life
• Bulkier than a Mi-Fi

Our Verdict

The variable Zyxel MWR211 lets you apply almost any carrier's USB modem or wired broadband to create a Badger State-Fi hotspot, making it a great tool for travelers who want to replacement wireless carriers to save money or improve coverage.

A mobile broadband router can be an obligatory tech accessory for citizenry who travel with companions Beaver State groups, turn a single receiving set broadband connection into a Wi-Fi hotspot. Novatel Wireless's MiFi devices are slap-up examples, but a MiFi supports only the common carrier that sells it, which binds you to that attack aircraft carrier's information plan and coverage. The Zyxel MWR211 Portable Router ($85 as of Adjoin 10, 2020) takes a BYOB (as in, get your own broadband) approach: Information technology turns almost any carrier's USB broadband modem into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Virtually the sizing of a deck of cards, the MWR211 ISN't as sleek as the credit entry-notice-size MiFi, and because it Crataegus laevigata require some configuration, it lacks the MiFi's unparalleled ease of use. But because it lets you use whatever USB modem happens to be ready to hand As your broadband reservoir, the MWR211 faraway outstrips the MiFi in versatility. If one waterborne broadband network isn't available (for example, because you're overseas or taboo of a coverage area), or if data roaming fees are atrociously high, you can swop in a USB modem from a network that has better insurance coverage or a cheaper plan.

As an added incentive, the MWR211 also has an ethernet port to underpin a wired broadband source–a cable or Digital subscriber line hookup in a hotel Beaver State office, for example. And if you dress set information technology to use wired broadband as your primary Internet source, you can opt to keep a wireless USB modem connected as a championship. This so-titled fail-over feature worked very good in my tests: When I disconnected the ethernet cable, the modem seamlessly reverted to the wireless modem with zero intervention whatsoever on my part–I simply continuing browse and indication electronic mail without intermission. You do, however, have to enable the feature during apparatus (Zyxel provides detailed instructions online).

The MWR211 supports 802.11n Wi-Fi, but only along the 2.4-GHz isthmus, meaning IT's backwards harmonious with 802.11b/g devices simply non 802.11a gear. The MWR211 also supports Badger State-Fi Protected Setup, a labor-release way of setting up Wi-Fi security department with devices that are not themselves secure.

I tried a MWR211 with two different USB modems: a Virgin Mobile stick that Zyxel provided for examination purposes, and a friend's Verizon Wireless modem. Following instructions in Zyxel's excellent, easy-to-follow written setup guide (also open on an included Standard candle), I charged the building block for a couple of hours before hooking it up, past randy the might, plugged in the USB stick, slid the Wi-Fi substitution to happening, and was immediately competent to link to the twist via its default SSID (Zyxel). After that, I typed in the twist's IP call to admittance its browser-based settings.

Although Zyxel provides a settings pageboy for providing some info you may need from the letter carrier, in my tests both modems connected to the Internet without whatsoever intervention on my part. I did use the settings to change the SSID and also to readiness finished security for the Wi-Fi connectedness (I have devices that don't support Wi-Fi Protected Apparatus) as well as a unexampled password to protect administrative access to the settings. In that respect are many some other traditional router settings to tinker with, plus a few specifically designed for broadband users: You can, for example, get the router know what a carrier's monthly bandwidth cap is, so you can check on how your use is operative.

Zyxel's documentation links to a foliate on the society's Website showing which USB modems it supports, and my unit came with some U.S. carrier-specific setup tips. You do have to spark your USB modem before using it with the MWR211.

One major letdown: Battery life isn't terrific. Zyxel says the fully charged MWR211 leave run for about 2 hours when connected and in use, or 4 hours on standby, and in my tests, those numbers seemed a shade (but not wildly) optimistic. I'd advocate trying to keep the AC arranger coupled when possible.

But overall, I was impressed with the MWR211 as a tool for frequent travelers. Beingness fit to utilize different USB modems to connect a Wi-Fi hotspot means you should be able-bodied to use it in more places, and also save money, especially when traveling overseas. A trifle added bulk (over the MiFi) is a small price to play for those benefits.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/490113/zyxels-versatile-travel-router-supports-wired-and-wireless-broadband.html

Posted by: mooretaks1965.blogspot.com

Share this post