Most of us don’t travel these days without a full arsenal of gadgets. A phone, a tablet, a laptop, a Kindle, a Chromecast, the list goes on. If that’s you, you’ll also know that setting them all up on hotel Wi-Fi is a bit of a hassle.
The solution is to toss another piece of kit in the bag: a travel router. But what exactly is this and why do you need it? Let’s take a look.
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What is a travel router?
Put simply, a travel router is a Wi-Fi router just like the one you set up at home and it works the same way. It’s just smaller and more portable, making it more suitable for travel.
A travel router is designed to simplify the process of connecting and managing devices on public Wi-Fi networks, whether it’s in a hotel, airport, or anywhere else.
Most major router manufacturers have travel versions in their product range, including Netgear, D-Link, and others. They can also be quite small. TP-Link Nano routers are almost as small as a credit card, while many other models are comparable in size to a portable phone charger.
Advantages of travel routers
The most obvious benefit of a travel router is that it means you don’t have to keep adding your devices to the new Wi-Fi networks you want to use. Keep your devices connected to the travel router instead, so you just have to connect the travel router to different networks.
This also has the effect of hiding all the devices you’ve connected to the network – technically, you’ve only connected one – the travel router. It offers potential security benefits and helps you bypass any arbitrary limits the network owner may have imposed on the number of devices you can connect.
But there are even more advantages.
If your router has an Ethernet port, it can turn a wired internet connection into a wireless one. Travel routers can create a shared network between connected devices, and many have a USB port that you can use with a flash drive full of media.
They can also function as wireless extenders that can remove any Wi-Fi dead spots wherever you are. You’re unlikely to use this feature on the go, but it’s a good way to improve Wi-Fi coverage at home .
Drawbacks of travel routers
There aren’t many negatives, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, many travel routers need an external power source, which will limit where you can use them. Second, most need an existing Wi-Fi internet connection to be online, although some models are available with a built-in SIM card slot for mobile internet connections.
More importantly, while they offer greater security to your devices, they won’t protect the data you share on open public Wi-Fi networks. It is important to take the same precautions that you would take if you connected your laptop directly to a public network.
Related: Portable Dongles and Hotspots: Mobile Internet Devices Explained
What to look for in a travel router
When buying a travel router, you should look for the same types of features that you would look for in a standard wireless router. Additionally, you may also find some extra features that will help you when you are on the go.
Wi-Fi and bandwidth standards
As with any router, check which Wi-Fi standard it works on. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the newest and fastest standard, but if not, 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) is absolutely fine and 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) is fine with a simple push. You should avoid anything older – they will be much slower, more prone to interference, and their age may also suggest they have less modern and less robust security protocols.
Whichever you choose, one that supports the 5 GHz band is preferred. 5 GHz has a range of less than 2.4 GHz, but is less susceptible to noise, so it provides stronger and more reliable signals.
All Wi-Fi 6 routers support 5 GHz, as do those with 802.11ac. Some 802.11n routers are limited to a single band and only offer 2.4 GHz.
Charger
If you want a truly portable solution, get a travel router that runs on battery. Unfortunately, many of them don’t. If you can’t find a suitable model, look for one that can be powered via a USB port. This way, you can connect it to your laptop to use it when you are on the go. It is much cheaper than having to look for a power outlet.
Ports
Ethernet and USB ports are essential in a travel router. With Ethernet, you can turn a wired connection that can only be used with a single device (which has its own Ethernet port, such as a laptop) into a wireless connection that you can use with multiple devices, including phones and tablets.
A USB port has several uses. Primary use is for power – some travel routers can be used to charge other devices. Some routers allow you to insert flash drives or portable hard drives and share the multimedia content stored on them, just like a NAS system does.
Or you can plug in a 4G dongle and share your 4G data plan across all your devices.
Some travel routers have a SIM card that you use for this as well. It’s less essential, though, because you can use tethering on your smartphone to do the same job. Just make sure your data plan allows it.
Multiple use modes
Travel routers have many modes of use that allow them to function in different ways. Not all models will have all of these modes and may not always have the same names, so keep that in mind. The five most common modes are:
- AP mode –creates a wireless access point from a non-wireless internet connection via an Ethernet cable. For use in places where only a wired connection can be accessed.
- Router Mode:The router connects to the network and the devices connect to the router. They remain hidden in the network.
- Repeater mode:The router extends the coverage of the existing wireless network. This is a good use for the router when you are at home.
- Bridge Mode:Takes the existing network connection and broadcasts it with a separate network name and password, effectively splitting the network in two.
- Client Mode:Provides wireless functionality to any non-wireless device via a wired connection.
Each mode must be activated and configured separately when used. See our guide on how to set up a travel router for more information.
Is this a travel router for you?
If you travel a lot and carry lots of gadgets, it might be worth throwing a travel router in your bag.
Travel routers are great for bringing many devices over wireless networks without hassle. They are ideal for hotel rooms that only offer wired internet. And if you choose the right model, you can fill a memory stick with your favorite movies and stream them to your devices too.
You can also use your travel router at home. You can set one up as a wireless extender to remove any dead spots from the farthest corners of your home when you’re not at home. It is also possible to extend the Wi-Fi coverage to your garden. Or you can use the router to turn your old printer into a rather more useful wireless version.
