Networks·41,424 discussions

Hotspot which can connect to either 4G or Wifi

Tags: Networking

Hi All,
I own a camper which is going to be installed with IOT devices shortly for heating, security and general internet access on the move.

I am looking for a device which can share internet access to the IOT devices, using Wifi first but then opting to use 4G network if no Wifi is found. The idea is when I’m on a campsite/resort with Wifi I will use that, but when wild camping or on the move, the 4G steps in.

Web searches don’t appear to find anything obvious and I wonder if its the terminology I’m using as the moment you say hotspot and wifi it presumes that you need wifi so as to be a wifi client when I want to use wifi in and wifi out of the device effectively.

Does such a product exist?

Thanks

Phil
Surfless

Topic

My suggestion….

In reply to Hotspot which can connect to either 4G or Wifi

Would be to contact the manufacturer to ask which devices would be compatible for internet access. They should have a list of compatible products.

Re: hotspot

In reply to Hotspot which can connect to either 4G or Wifi

It seems that any smartphone with with WiFi and a 3G/4G card can be configured as a hotspot for both. Easy to try if you happen to have a smartphone.

An alternative would be to use 2 devices, a MiFi router for when there is WiFi and a 3G/4G router when there isn’t. Why do you have a requirement that it needs to be combined in one device?

thanks but….

In reply to Re: hotspot

I want one device so that all devices in the vehicle connect to just one system – not having to flip between wifi and gsm network.

Not a good example.

In reply to thanks but….

But https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=vn.wifi.repeater&hl=en_US&gl=US does work for some so it does show how a smartphone can do this. Setup can be hit or miss but you are the IT person here so give it a shot.

How goes your search for the holy grail?

PS. And yes I know of build your own systems.

In reply to thanks but….

But as I’ve learned most are not interested in building the solution with some dual WAN router and WAPs (wireless access points.) So yes, I know of such but I’ve found folk really don’t want them because they want to avoid being the IT person.

Re: flip

In reply to thanks but….

If you give the 2 devices the same SSID and the same WiFi-password, it’s just turning the one from the WiFi camping site off and turning the 3G/4G/5G one on. And the reverse if you arrive on a camping site with WiFi. Only seems a minor nuisance to me.

Oooooh

In reply to Re: flip

nice idea – now why didn’t I think of that!

Will do this for sure.

Thank you!

Most likely this will be a smartphone.

In reply to Hotspot which can connect to either 4G or Wifi

Example: https://edgewise.app/blog/wifi-disconnect/how-to-auto-switch-wifi-mobile-data-android/

Now set that smartphone as a hotspot. No one I know will assure you this will work. But it’s the most likely.

PS. I disagree this is a simple question. I’ve found folk that want this have exacting requirements and some, not all won’t accept the usual solution.

thanks

In reply to Most likely this will be a smartphone.

it can’t be a smart phone as they are not able to receive and broadcast on wifi channels simultaneously. I effectively need something with two wifi radios.

See above.

In reply to thanks

There are WiFi repeater apps and of course systems you create from various networking gear/parts.

I haven’t seen a reasonably priced all-in-one box that does what you ask out there. And this is me, a person that has a lot of time on networking even with writing router code in the 90’s.

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