The only ISP available is over cellphones (4G). The signal is weak and gets even weaker the lower you go in the building so boosting is needed. However, we do not want to "fry" the whole building with RF signals, it is nice that the signal is weak, instead, we want to use the existing ethernet LAN which covers the entire building. What are some hardware options to interface the ethernet to 4G? Ideally with a roof-mounted 4G antenna?

There are 4G/LTE modems available for just this situation. Many have provision for external antennas as well. (OTOH, D-Link and Netgear both offer such devices to name two vendors.)

1 members found this post helpful.

Cool. Anything you can attach a roof-mounted all-weather antenna to?

Yes, many are equipped for external antennas as I mentioned before. Google '4G LTE modems' and similar.

A rugged model is a Mofi networks model that has a sim card in a few of the models.

I just use an Asus router that has a usb port in it and connect my phone or modem to it. It will then allow both wifi and lan access to 4G. There are other products that can do that too. Maybe the dd-wrt's or openwrt's if they have a usb.

In reality you can use almost any home router if it has the ability to connect to a wifi signal. Then you tether some device to the router.

You may be able to use a newer 4G band that can penetrate buildings better.

USB ones cannot interface to an ethernet LAN though. Home routers with a USB port expect a computer to be connected, not a USB device. Wifi is not an option. Anything with a detachable antenna you can mount on the roof in a plastic vase?

Yes, many routers that have usb can use a usb to connect to the tethered 4G device or a usb 4G modem. I have three in my house.


Anyway, this product I believe can use an outdoor antenna. Some antennas are flat and could be hidden. http://mofinetwork.com/index.php?mai...roducts_id=189

You will have to also calculate line loss versus the signal gain of antenna.

I forget the band but some carriers have maybe band 9 that will go into buildings better. Not sure about the just released 5G stuff.

How long an antenna extension cable can you use with this and where do I buy such a cable?

Just out of curiosity, what model is one of your 3 routers that can connect by usb cable to some 4G modem/router?

I have a rosewill and two Asus routers and I forgot a nano router with dd-wrt. Online you can find out if a third party OS supports a router that may have a usb port. I think the newer WRT devices still have a usb3 and 2 port but under native OS they don't support tether.

All cable has an impedance value. It also has connector descriptions. It also has line loss spec's. All those need to be known or matched to your device. Also the frequencies that may be used for your service would be helpful to be known.

An example of one such product. https://www.amazon.com/50-Coax-Exten.../dp/B012C0AJPQ



Some info here. https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/td...ide_100413.pdf

What's to stop you from saying the model, not just the brand? Of one of your routers that you say can connect over usb to some 4G router? I think your model almost certainly has a device-side usb socket, and any 4G router with usb support also has a device-side usb socket too, so who gives the 5 V?

We might be saying different things. I have a soho routers with usb. Have been using a t-mobile 4G modem for a year cause they had a special on. I don't have a 4G LTE router. T-mobile and other companies offer the latest personal hotspot still usually on some sale. Of course locked.

Just bought an T-mobile branded ASUS AC1900 and it has full support for usb phone and modem as well as wifi bridging.

I think the older Asus is an RT-65??? It's in garage.

The last one is some cheapo Rosewill bought on sale just to play with dd-wrt but you are right it doesn't have usb port. Just an ability to bridge almost anyway in wifi.

Asus does make a LTE soho router like the AC1900 that does have a sim slot. It however isn't easily available in the US. I think it's a RT-12??