With the spectacular advancement of mobile devices and the presence of increasingly fast networks, it makes sense that users want to stay connected even when visiting other regions. The market has responded with a wide range of travel routers and portable modems that enable access for multiple devices, whether through a traditional connection or using local mobile networks. Today we are going to recommend some of the most popular models.
So, how do they work exactly? In reality, it depends on the type of connectivity available at your destination. If the residence offers connections via Ethernet or WiFi but they are limited to one or two devices and you need to connect more, the best alternative is a compact router. Instead, if the plan is to use mobile networks, you will need to purchase a travel modem/router and a local SIM card that includes a good data package. This is essentially what is known as MiFi, a trademark registered in many countries. The key is that travel routers must be “free” to work with any operator's network, while the SIM card requires deactivating its PIN number (this can be requested when buying the card). The rest is a matter of comparing prices and confirming which provider gives us more GB for less money without entering a contract. For example, two options very sought after in Spain are Tuenti and Amena (both require a certain level of manual intervention in their configuration), but we recommend that each potential traveler do their homework beforehand.
The Best Travel Routers
Our selection tries to cover all cases and all prices. The overall average is about 80 euros per router, but we have decided to include a couple of budget options, and a real powerhouse that costs more than 300 euros. Would you like to meet them?
Alcatel LinkZone MW40V
Alcatel promises with the LinkZone support for LTE up to 15 devices, 2.4 GHz WiFi n, downloads up to 150 megabits per second, quick connectivity via WPS support, advanced administration with the use of whitelist, an external USB storage mode when we install a memory card, and a battery that provides six hours of autonomy.
TP-Link TL-WR802N
TP-Link presents the TL-WR802N as a ‘nano router’, and they are not lying. The device does not reach six centimeters on a side, and it is ideal to take anywhere. However, this router is not LTE; it works with existing connections or networks. For less than 25 euros you can create an access point, a range extender, or make it work in client mode if a device does not support wireless links.
Huawei E5577
At first glance anyone could confuse the Huawei E5577 with a mobile phone, but it offers more than we could expect from a travel router. It has a small 1.4-inch LCD screen where we can see the connection status, two physical buttons, two TS9 ports for external antennas, an SD slot, and a 1,500 mAh battery, which translates to about six hours of operation.
TP-Link M7300
We return to TP-Link, and this time with a model that offers LTE compatibility, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. The TP-Link M7300 includes dual-band support, a fundamental resource to avoid congestion from other WiFi networks locally. Its 2,000 mAh battery provides about eight hours of autonomy, and the microSD slot can share data from a card wirelessly, meaning all devices get access to the same files.
Netgear Nighthawk M1
I understand that the price of the Netgear Nighthawk M1 can be intimidating, but there is not much to argue about here: It is one of the best options on the market. 1 gigabit per second downloads, 20 devices at once, dual-band WiFi, multiple LTE modes, IPv6 support, a microSD slot that turns it into a mini media server, 24 hours of autonomy thanks to its huge battery that also works as an emergency power source for other devices… in short, the Nighthawk M1 is a beast.
D-Link DWR-730
Our last recommendation is a bit odd, but there is a reason for it. All the models presented here can work with 3G mobile networks without major problems, however, if you need a travel router that works on 3G at most for compatibility reasons or issues with local SIM cards, the D-Link DWR-730 should be more than enough, with 21 megabits per second downloads and five hours of autonomy.
That's all for today. If you have recently traveled and used a portable router, we would love to know which model and how well it worked. The search for the best travel routers is not simple, and sometimes we have to resolve many technical whims, but in general they are excellent allies, and we recommend always bringing one. Good luck!
