4g data modem for home network

[snownh2o2]

Hi guys,

 

I have another odd coffeeshop type of question. Is anyone using a cellular SIM card to provide an Internet connection to there home?

I currently use Verizon DSL and my max speeds are 3M down and 700k up. True speeds from SpeedTest are normally 2.4 and 400.

 

For the nearly $100 a month that I pay for phone (rarely used but I like the separate line) and internet, I am less than impressed.

 

I have been researching the StraightTalk unlimited talk, text, and data SIM cards that I have seen at Walmart for $45 a month no contract. Reviews have been good thus far. If purchasing at least 3 months at a time it becomes $41.67 per month. Far less than Verizon, plus YouTube comparison videos are showing SpeedTests of 15M down and 2.5M up.

 

One caveat is that StraightTalk's user agreement states that while data is unlimited, excessive users may see speeds throttled.

 

My home network is used for standard browsing, Netflix, IHeartRadio, ISY99 control, and IP camera viewing, so I would have to do a one month test to see if a speed throttle would become an issue.

 

My network currently consists of a Verizon DSL modem, an Asus RT-AC66U router for routing, port forwarding and wifi access, and a few HP procurve managed switches for LAN networking.

 

I have looked at a bunch of USB 4G SIM card modems, however can't find exactly what I am looking for. My ultimate goal would be to have a faster, cheaper, yet still rock solid network. With this 4G SIM I would like to find a modem that has an external antenna that could be placed on the roof, away from the router. I have found some Hauwei modems with an antenna port, yet they seem to also add a bunch of extra features the may or may not get in the way of a solid network. An example being hotspot features. Does anyone know of a 4G modem, possibly what alarms companies use for a backup connection, that allows for a SIM card and has solid 4G performance?

 

To take it a step further StraightTalk will sell you another no contract device with unlimited nationwide calling that uses a cellular connection for your home phone line at $15 per month. Theoretically the $45 a month feature already gives you this functionality, but I have yet to figure out how to exploit both the data and phone use from a single SIM card. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance as always,

Matt

[arw01]

I have no experience about these to help, but wanted to express my thanks about the home phone line. Comcast is getting pretty outrageous again ($170) with just digital cable, internet, and phone. May take a real serious look at this.

 

Anyone else using the home line option via the SIM?

 

Alan

[Xathros]

I have looked at a bunch of USB 4G SIM card modems, however can't find exactly what I am looking for. My ultimate goal would be to have a faster, cheaper, yet still rock solid network. With this 4G SIM I would like to find a modem that has an external antenna that could be placed on the roof, away from the router. I have found some Hauwei modems with an antenna port, yet they seem to also add a bunch of extra features the may or may not get in the way of a solid network. An example being hotspot features. Does anyone know of a 4G modem, possibly what alarms companies use for a backup connection, that allows for a SIM card and has solid 4G performance?

 

I recently had some downtime on my crappy local cable. I took the opportunity to try something I had been thinking about for a while now. I have a Verizon 4G MyFi device (WiFi Only) and a number of Apple Airport Express Access points. I re-purposed an Airport Express to connect to the MyFi and feed internet to the WAN port on my DD-WRT router. It worked like a charm! Only downside is the 5Gb/Mo cap on the MyFi.

 

To take it a step further StraightTalk will sell you another no contract device with unlimited nationwide calling that uses a cellular connection for your home phone line at $15 per month. Theoretically the $45 a month feature already gives you this functionality, but I have yet to figure out how to exploit both the data and phone use from a single SIM card. Any suggestions?

 

I would think you could just use whatever VOIP service you wanted once you have the network up and running. Vonage, ViaTalk, MagicJack etc.

 

-Xathros

[snownh2o2]

I haven't had much luck with VOIP in the past, though I have always used PC based setups and that may have been the problem.

 

I can get the data connect into my network with a USB SIM modem plugged into my Asus router. And I can get a gsm phone system such as the one on straightalks website. I am still looking for a way that does both with only a single SIM and a single piece of hardware. I visualize something where the SIM is inserted, then configured for the carrier, with one phone wire to the phone system and another network wire going to the WAN port on the router.

 

If I cannot find such a thing, I think I will probably need to just do the USB modem and then give Voip a better try.

 

Here is the name of phone only system I came across on ebay 'NEW Home Linksys T-Mobile UTA200-TM HiPort VOIP Adapter-Home Line w/ Cell Phone'

 

Matt

[snownh2o2]

Just to keep everyone up to date, I read the entire Straight Talk user agreement and hundreds of user reviews and forum comments. What I am trying to do is technically possible however not really practical. The user agreement states that they may block any continuous data feed so home IP Cams may shut me down. Secondly, Unlimited data really means around 2GB per month. This comes to about 70MB per day. While the Straight Talk will not be specific with their numbers, they do state in the user agreement that throttling of speed will occur at an unspecified point. Along with that, an undefined 'excessive data use' may cause the data connection to be shut off. 'Excessive' users have stated that Straight Talk will often turn the data back on if you call them, but prepare to get a speech on 'proper' unlimited data usage and be prepared to wait a few days for the re-activation. 2Gb a month for a cell phone this is normally fine, for a tablet it depends on the user, but for the home where there are devices continually syncing online it appears that there is no way that this will work. One on demand movie will shut you down.

 

To get my home phone and internet bill to a more manageable price, I will need to keep searching. As talked about above, I need to give VIOP another more serious shot. Internet?? My DSL speeds are just no good. Especially on the upload side. Its time to start thinking outside the box. ???

 

With all that said, I have a Straight Talk SIM and 1 month unlimited card on order. I am going to give it a try in my truck which has a radio head unit that runs Android. Previously I used wifi tethering, however the initial wifi tethering connection that occurs each time the truck starts, has be nothing short of unreliable. Plus my tether was on 3G. With a 4G modem hopefully everything run much smoother and allow me to use the ISY to its fullest potential from the road. Using a custom iRule interface should allow me to get the house warmed up and 'ready' for me as I drive home from work.

 

I will monitor the Straight Talk speeds and my data usage, and let you guys now how it goes.

 

Matt