3g/4g dongles known to work well with Ubuntu?

[Chris Green]

On Mon, Dec 28, 2020 at 08:22:09AM +0000, Shamim Shahriar wrote:
> 
>    My personal preference is to use independent 3G/4G dongles -- which
>    does not rely on the main machine. That way it is easier to diagnose,
>    dialing is handled by the device itself (freeing up the main server
>    from the nitty-gritty of matters), and if something goes wrong, I can
>    simply swap the device with a different one without having to touch my
>    primary systems.
>    I have had very good results with devices like
>    [2]https://www.netgear.co.uk/home/products/mobile-broadband/lte-modems/
>    LB2120.aspx

That's a good idea, no timing issues vis-a-vis the computer connected
to it as it provides a straightforward ethernet/RJ45.  It requires a
12 volt power supply too which is handy for me on the boat.  Quite
expensive though at around £100.


>    and I have heard good things about devices (from real users) like
>    [3]https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-Portable-Support-Configuration-Requ
>    ired/dp/B00634PLTW/ (this one needs an external USB dongle)

External dongle is always a *bit* risky, as regards compatibility etc.
It's much cheaper though.


>    [4]https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unlocked-B535-232-External-Antennas-Worldwi
>    de/dp/B07ZFSX8LB/

Ooh, expensive, £120 for a refurbished one.


>    [5]https://www.amazon.co.uk/GL-iNet-GL-AR750-300Mbps-pre-installed-Incl
>    uded/dp/B07712LKJM/ (a friend uses this every time he is traveling, and
>    he needs really good bandwidth for VoIP)

Ah, now that looks good, among other things it runs Openwrt (i.e. an
accessible Linux) and it's only £42.


>    All of the above, to my knowledge, "Just Works (TM)". I have not heard
>    anything bad about any of the above from the users I know. The beauty
>    of the most of the above are they have independent power as well (not
>    relying on internal battery to die out)
>    Hope this helps.

Yes, thank you very much for all the above.  Running off external
power is necessary for my use of course because it's going to have to
run for months at a time without any interaction.  (The boat has *big*
12 volt batteries and solar panels so is basically self sufficient)


-- 
Chris Green