San Felipe Life

USB 3G Modem

To get the 3G internet on one computer, it's easiest to buy a modem from CSI or some other Telcel dealer in town, for around US$100 with the first month of prepaid service included. You can also get the modem “free” with a long contract, but in general the Amigo prepaid offer is better value, especially for somebody who is away from San Felipe for part of the year. Previous articles covered getting the sim and service. in round figures it's just under 480 pesos (U$40) per month for the months you need.

But, to share the signal amongst several computers, or other devices such as IP phones, you need a “mobile” router (or use software internet sharing solutions, which can get complicated).

Mobile Router

A “mobile” router is a bit of a misnomer. It doesn't have to be able to travel (although some can), what's mobile about it is it has a USB slot that accepts a modem for “mobile phone” internet, which around here currently means Telcel's 3G data service. It's the USB slot (and some internal software) that makes a “mobile router” different from a normal router.

So to distribute the signal by wi-fi (or wire) around your house there are two components: a USB 3G modem (same as you'd use for a single computer), and a “mobile router”, which is a box the modem can plug into (instead of into your computer).

It's important to select devices that will work together. The router software has to be capable of sending the right commands to the modem, so if you have a fairly new one of either they may not yet understand each other. Check the router manufacturer's website for a list of what works with it.

Modems and Routers

I've tried a couple of combinations of router and modem that work, there are many others possible.

For a while now I've used an ex-AT&T Sierra 881U 3G modem (which is now semi-obsolete), the vertical grey thing in the first picture, standing in it's docking station. This cost around $70 off eBay at the time (make sure it is “unlocked”). Initially I connected that to a spare netbook and used routing in the netbook to send the signal around the house with wi-fi, which got complex, so I've now replaced it with a proper router.

The router I have is a Zoom 4501, around $55 from Buy.com via Amazon. That's the black horizontal box in the first picture. It's about six inches square by an inch high. The USB modem normally plugs into a slot at the back of it, in my case the cable from the docking station goes there and the modem sits on top.

Setup

The setup is simple. Take your Amigo sim card with activated data service on it. Put it in the 3G modem (there's a slot for it inside, make sure it's the right way round and secure). Plug the modem into the router. Power up the router, which also supplies power to the modem.

Then simply wait. It takes a while for the router to work out which modem is connected, to identify the type of mobile network, send the correct settings to the modem, and make the connection. Allow several minutes. I was very surprised when It Just Worked – no manual configuration, no software to load, no nothing. A working internet and wi-fi system (defaulting to an id of “Zoom”) within five minutes of opening the box.

You'll want to secure the wireless network (see below), but using one of these routers can be simpler than plugging the modem into your computer.

The router also has a wired (RJ45 ethernet) output, so you can connect that directly to a computer, or to another router, with a network cable. You could turn off the wireless on this router, and connect it by cable to your existing router, if you're happy with your existing router (or don't want to change the configuration of your devices to connect to a new router). In that case, the mobile router is just a bridge between the 3G and your existing router.

The wi-fi signal from the router isn't quite as strong as my previous router (WRT 54 GL), mainly because the wi-fi antenna is smaller (it can be replaced if needed). But it's good enough for a smaller house and garden, if centrally located. If you need to pick up a weak 3G signal, a USB extension cable can be used to put the modem in a better location, but for extreme range locations you should pick a different modem that has an external antenna.

This combination is a lot more stable than my previous connection (that used the same modem plugged into a netbook), often keeps a connection for 12 hours or more. However there are days when the connection drops far more often, probably due to problems at the transmiter. If the connection drops, the router automatically redials.

Travel

As a complete backup, and for travel (using different sim cards), I have a second set of modem and router.

The modem in this case is an Option Icon 452, a much more recent model that supports more bands (including 1700 MHz AWS which is useful for T-Mobile in the US, and some new providers in Canada). Last November it was over $200 but I got it new recently on eBay for under $60. It's a really small device, about the size of a fat USB memory stick. That's it sticking out at the side, on the second picture.

To complete the pair, I have another Zoom router, the 4506 which is the mobile version of the 4501, a bit smaller and lighter, and a bit more expensive at around $65. Unlike the other router it has a rechargeable battery inside, so can run for several hours without being plugged in. You can see the size of it compared to the credit card alongside it (and there's no wires!).

Again this pair “just worked” out of the box. Since both routers have the same software they each should work with both these modems (and many others).

This mobile router doesn't have an external wi-fi antenna connection, so has slightly less range. It still has a wired connection, so another router could be plugged in there.

Power

Both these routers have small power adapters that supply 5V, and use very little power. So either is suitable for use in RV's (Telcel can only be used within Mexico) and solar power areas, with a 12V to 5V adaptor (or just plug the power adapter into an inverter).

Router Setup

Router setup is something that should be done to all wi-fi routers, not just these mobile routers. But it becomes more important to secure your network when you have a data download limits, as you have with Telcel and most other mobile networks.

Both routers have the same control panel, reached (when you're connected to it, by wi-fi or cable) at the address http://192.168.1.1 .

At that control panel, you should:

1. change the admin password from the default, so nobody else can change the settings
2. change the channel of the wi-fi to channel 1, 6 or 11, to minimise interference with others. If you can see other wi-fi networks in your area, try to pick whichever of the three channels is unused (or furthest away)
3. set security on it. Unless you have a good reason not to, go for the maximum security (WPA 2), with a long password. It's nice to share wi-fi, but 3GB or 6GB can be consumed very quickly by a careless sharer.

Summary

So, either of these combinations (costing around $130 each), and likely many more, will work with Telcel's 3G, and distribute the 3G connection around the house by wi-fi to multiple devices, very simply.

Compared to what was available at places like El Dorado Ranch just a year or so ago (slow or satellite), it's a revolution. A long way from being totally reliable, but very usable.

The biggest problem will be: with more devices, your download limit will go much faster!