dependable internet connection is something we rely on daily for both our jobs and entertainment, yet whenever I am on the road, dealing with Wi-Fi can be quite frustrating. While there isn’t an ideal fix, using a travel router has significantly improved my experience, plus it’s as compact as a tiny portable charger.
Hotel Wi-Fi Frequently Has Restrictions
If you’ve done a lot of traveling, you might have run into a Wi-Fi network that limits the number of devices that can connect. For instance, during a stay at a hotel in New York City, I came across one where each room was restricted to just two connected devices. Any additional ones required an extra fee.
I wasn’t traveling solo; we were two people together. Just linking our phones immediately filled up both available spots. In the end, we had to find an alternative solution.
attach our laptops to our smartphones
To get around the device restriction. It wasn’t hard, but it was incredibly bothersome, particularly since it was just for two smartphones and two computers for two individuals.
If your space is bigger and accommodates more individuals or simply has additional gadgets, this issue escalates dramatically.
And at times, even more problematic, you might have to pay for each individual device.
A travel router can entirely avoid this issue. Simply connect the travel router to the Wi-Fi, and then
Connect each individual other device to the travel router instead.
That spares you the hassle of establishing a complicated network of connected links.
I typically bring along at minimum two gadgets (a laptop and smartphone). However, those who accompany me generally have an additional portable gaming device each, alongside their own smartphones and laptops.
Configuring Wi-Fi Numerous Times Is Frustrating
Although you might not face charges for individual devices or restricted Wi-Fi connections, configuring the Wi-Fi settings on every gadget often remains bothersome. Particularly frustrating is navigating through cumbersome captive portals repeatedly—these are the interfaces where you must accept terms and conditions just to get online.
Many travel routers can manage this process on their own, or, at most, they might need you to set them up initially for connection purposes. Once done, all your other gadgets simply connect via the travel router, making things much easier for you.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a room with an Ethernet port, most travel routers allow you to connect directly to it instead. This setup usually provides superior performance compared to using Wi-Fi in most scenarios.
Internet Safety Can Vary Wildly
If you frequently connect to public Wi-Fi networks, you’ve likely encountered warnings from your phone or laptop regarding their weak security measures at some point.
Even though they have significant weaknesses, many public Wi-Fis still employ outdated and less stringent security protocols to maintain compatibility across numerous gadgets. Despite WPA3 having been around for approximately seven years, I could likely tally up the instances where hotels or other public venues use this protocol on just one hand.
Theoretically, this shouldn’t have significant implications for highly critical applications.
HTTP with encryption (a secure protocol)
It’s utilized when interacting with sites such as your bank. Nonetheless, perfection doesn’t exist, and there’s no downside to employing a VPN for additional security measures.
In this scenario, travel routers prove their worth once more. They enable you to encrypt all of your online activity prior to connecting to any Wi-Fi network, thereby minimizing the risk of your information being compromised down to nearly nil.
Many travel routers provide several alternative choices. Of these, the model I’ve used the most thoroughly—the TL-WR3002X—supports various protocols including OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP, L2TP, as well as services like Surfshark and NordVPN. Personally, I prefer using WireGuard because it allows me to establish a connection with my home network initially. This setup lets me easily reach certain gadgets at home, such as my Network Attached Storage (NAS), which is quite convenient.
Local storage is incredibly convenient.
Although not every portable router includes this feature, numerous models can act as compact NAS devices. Simply insert a microSD card or connect a USB drive (whether a flash drive or a portable SSD) into the USB port, and voila! You’ll be able to access your files via an accompanying app.
I’ve utilized this from time to time to ensure that everybody can get hold of offline versions of maps, save work-related documents, and a handful of additional items.
If you’re looking for high-end options, consider travel routers equipped with a built-in cellular modem. This lets you insert a single data SIM (or eSIM) and share the connection among multiple devices via one data link. Personally, though, I tend to steer clear of gadgets that try to do everything at once. Instead, I suggest opting for a dedicated cellular modem that connects via USB or Ethernet to your standard travel router rather than going for an integrated solution.
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