Mobile wifi hotspot
Do you want to take your own wifi network with you on holiday or on the road? This is possible with a mobile wifi router, also known as mifi. This page describes what exactly a portable wifi router is and which routers there are.
Also read about mifi broadband data plans.
Mobile hotspot router
You have to place a SIM card in a mobile wifi router, just like in a smartphone. This allows the mifi router to connect to mobile internet. Most portable routers work on 3G and 4G, but there are also some 5G compatible mobile routers.
The mobile router then creates a wifi network that other devices can connect to. In this way all devices use the same data plan of the sim card in the mifi router.
A mobile router often has a much better antenna than most smartphones. This gives you a faster connection and also better range. Some mobile wifi routers support an external 4G / 5G antenna for even better range.
These 4G mobile routers have a good price-quality ratio:
For most people, the maximum speed of these routers is good enough. Are many people using the connection at the same time? Then also check out the best mifi routers.
Read all about mifi hotspot plans. Or view all mifi sim cards.
Best mobile hotspots (mifi devices)
The very best mobile hotspot routers naturally support the fast 5G mobile network. However, there are only a few 5G mobile routers for sale. One of them is the Inseego M2000, to which an external 5G antenna can also be connected.
Netgear has been making very good mobile routers in the top segment for years. Below are the best mobile routers for 4G and 5G:
4G mobile router
5G mobile router
View mifi sim cards.
Tip: external antenna
Especially in rural areas you often suffer from a weak 4G signal. With an external 4G antenna you can often make a better connection. Only with the Netgear portable routers above such an external antenna can be connected to the TS-9 connection.
It is wise to always check the 4G coverage at your destination. This way you avoid unwanted surprises, such as buying a mifi data plan that you can't use due to bad coverage. By using an external antenna, you are less likely to be without a 4G signal.
Check out these external 4G / 5G antennas:
