Connect router to wifi hotspot

[mike37]

Would like to lose the comcast modem (BYE-BYE Comcast!!) and connect my ac-68 to an iphone mobile hotspot. Also want to keep the firewall, yazfi, skynet, diversion, etc. tools. Do not want to use cables to make the connection. IIUC, one way to do this is to use a wireless/wifi internet adapter. Questions, please:

1. Can the ac-68 be configured to connect to a hotspot without the adapter AND keep the firewall/etc. functions?

2. Can a newer Asus-Merlin router do that?

3. Anyone have comments/stories about doing this?

Thank You in advance.

 

[eibgrad]

1. No (the router would need to support client-mode (aka WISP router), which it does NOT)
2. No (same as above)
3. Only thing I know that works is patching a wireless ethernet bridge to the WAN port (I presume that's what you mean by "adapter")

 

[bluzfanmr1]

Would like to lose the comcast modem (BYE-BYE Comcast!!) and connect my ac-68 to an iphone mobile hotspot. Also want to keep the firewall, yazfi, skynet, diversion, etc. tools. Do not want to use cables to make the connection. IIUC, one way to do this is to use a wireless/wifi internet adapter. Questions, please:

1. Can the ac-68 be configured to connect to a hotspot without the adapter AND keep the firewall/etc. functions?

2. Can a newer Asus-Merlin router do that?

3. Anyone have comments/stories about doing this?

Thank You in advance.

Have you considered buying your own cable modem and putting it in bridge mode? This eliminates the Comcast monthly modem fee.

 

[Tech9]

Do not want to use cables to make the connection.

You are going to have to. Asus routers don't support WISP mode.

 

[mike37]

1. No (the router would need to support client-mode (aka WISP router), which it does NOT)
2. No (same as above)
3. Only thing I know that works is patching a wireless ethernet bridge to the WAN port (I presume that's what you mean by "adapter")

Thanks eibgrad! I'll go ahead and try 3.

 

[mike37]

Have you considered buying your own cable modem and putting it in bridge mode? This eliminates the Comcast monthly modem fee.

You are going to have to. Asus routers don't support WISP mode.

You are going to have to. Asus routers don't support WISP mode.

Have you considered buying your own cable modem and putting it in bridge mode? This eliminates the Comcast monthly modem fee.

Have you considered buying your own cable modem and putting it in bridge mode? This eliminates the Comcast monthly modem fee.

Thanks, bluzfannmr1! If I stay with or return to Comcast for some reason that'd be the first thing I'd do.

 

[mike37]

You are going to have to. Asus routers don't support WISP mode.

Thanks Tech9! Wifi adapters/connectors seem cheap enough - I just didn't want to buy one if I had "wisp" mode.

 

[Tech9]

Wifi adapters/connectors seem cheap enough

What Wi-Fi adapter/connector you have in mind?

 

[mike37]

What Wi-Fi adapter/connector you have in mind?

Thanks, Tech9! I was hoping someone would ask that, as it seems easy to get the wrong device and there are likely better devices hidden out there. Current candidates:

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075KR7Y4D/?tag=snbforums-20>

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0118SPFCK/?tag=snbforums-20>

 

[Tech9]

Anything Wi-Fi to Ethernet should work, but I'm not sure how good your iPhone hotspot as WAN idea is.

 

[mike37]

Anything Wi-Fi to Ethernet should work, but I'm not sure how good your iPhone hotspot as WAN idea is.

YEP......I have concerns too; biggest one is that, though the connection is encrypted, can it be hacked and either the adapter or my iphone compromised? Little iphone and/or adapter might be easy to overwhelm.

I like snort - used it years back in the windows day. I plan on looking into some sort of "mischief monitor" on the connection that'll alert me if under attack - maybe take countermeasures of some sort. Sigh.....The $ savings of getting rid of comcast will buy lots of toys (though I'm old, and don't really want toys anymore).

If I can get two sim cards for the same account, another option is this: <https://www.newegg.com/netgear-lm1200-100nas-cable-modem/p/N82E16825124047?Item=9SIA2F8DVJ8006>

<https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FP1CQLS/?tag=snbforums-20>

 

[Tech9]

Mobile Internet has higher latency compared to traditional cable/fiber connections and the speed is less guaranteed. The more people connect to the cell tower, the slower the connection. Your potential savings plans will impact the performance.

 

[mike37]

Thanks!! I hadn't considered that. I'm situated in an AT&T 5G area and presumed I'd be good for 5G or LTE. I get HDTV off the air - but do stream Netflix. Think I'll test it as a "hotspot" for a while before investing in a cellular modem! Mildly degraded streaming will be acceptable - REALLY want to loose Comcast.