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    Is there a reliable an external USB LTE available for laptops?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by mnd99, Jul 1, 2019.

  1. mnd99

    mnd99 Notebook Consultant

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    I see some laptop manufacturer's like Lenovo has LTE cards for some of their thinkpad series. I was wondering if it's possible to have some sort of external LTE usb card or something for laptops who didn't have WWAN option. Any known solutions?
     
    mnd99, Jul 1, 2019
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  2. TreeTops Ranch

    TreeTops Ranch Notebook Deity

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    NetGear makes a nifty little device that plugs into any USB port. Wife is using one in an old Dell computer that had no wifi but this device works perfectly. Just Google 'netgear usb wifi'. We use the $13.00 one.
     
    TreeTops Ranch, Jul 1, 2019
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  3. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

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    I think OP is looking for a LTE adapter, not a WiFi adapter.




    Speaking of LTE and WiFi, why not a LTE hotspot?
     
    jeremyshaw, Jul 1, 2019
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  4. mnd99

    mnd99 Notebook Consultant

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    pretty much yes. an LTE adapter. I walk around a huge building all day and we don't have wifi access in the whole building.
     
    mnd99, Jul 1, 2019
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  5. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

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    @mnd99 m.2 and minipcie LTE modules actually use USB for communication. Something like a Sierra Wireless EM7455 would work great inside an adapter like this, if you are not satisfied with compact off the shelf solutions.
     
    Starlight5, Jul 6, 2019
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  6. Dennismungai

    Dennismungai Notebook Deity

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    Excellent!

    I currently rely on the Glocalme G3 portable hotspot (when moving between countries and for long trips) and the Netgear MR1100 (both at home and the cafeteria) as I no longer use the (now dead) P751DM2-G on the road. That is now handled by the Zephyrus M.

    The adapter you linked above is extremely useful, and will be getting one for use with a spare HP LT4120 Snapdragon X5 module.
    In the case of the P751TM2-G that's replacing the P751DM2-G, the 17" chassis omits the M.2 3042 slot, so the USB adapter above is the only way out.
     
    Dennismungai, Jul 10, 2019
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  7. FXi

    FXi Notebook Deity

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    2 things to consider

    Most recent phones can run as a hotspot. While not utterly perfect in speed, the "always with you" phone can be a very real world useful method of getting LTE connections to your laptop.
    I also have a hotspot that I pass around to family, whomever is going away to more fringe areas or needs the extra speed to handle more people connected at once.
    Netgear hotspot page (so you can pick based on your LTE provider)
    I have used the 791L (VZ) with very good success. Modern hotspots provide in excess of 15 hours of battery life, charge easy off of USB and you can hook up external antennas (they are flat but still bulky) to help out in the more remote places. They give you a 802.11ac connection back to your laptop so you get good speed both to the laptop itself and the chipset do link aggregation so the LTE speed is generally very good (within the limits of how good an LTE area you are connecting from).

    https://www.netgear.com/home/products/mobile-broadband/hotspots/
    https://www.netgear.com/home/products/mobile-broadband/hotspots/AC791L.aspx

    I have not used anything 5G, but imo, that tech is way too new to be paying a premium for.
     
    FXi, Jul 27, 2019
    #7