I’m considering buying a GL.iNet router (model GL-SFT1200 Opal) to use USB tethering from my 5G phone (Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, goes up to 450 Mbps download in Ookla Speedtest).
I’ve already tried the connection many times, using a LAN cable directly from the phone to one of my computers, and it seems very good for me: up to 350 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload, ping from 20 to 60 ms. So the current setup is ok, I’m here looking for how the Opal will handle it.
I’m not considering to use any of the VPNs installed, I will only use some ethernet connections for PC and also Wi-Fi on other smartphones.
Main questions:
What is the realistic maximum speed I can expect from 5G USB tethering with this router?
Are there any recommended settings to maximize USB tethering speed and stability?
Will the integrated USB port be able to keep my phone running for a lot of hours without the need to charge it too often? (I don’t need it to completely charge the battery, but at least to keep it “alive”).
Finally: are there some other models you guys recommend for my use?
The SFT1200 is an entry-level model, and you can realistically expect speeds of around 100 Mbps in USB tethering.
If you need higher speeds, you might consider a more powerful model like the MT3000, which can achieve speeds of about 300 Mbps in USB tethering.
The default settings are generally sufficient to provide good speed and stability for USB tethering.
No special adjustments are typically needed.
The USB port on the SFT1200 can provide up to 7 watts of power.
Whether this is enough to keep your phone charged depends on your phone's power consumption, especially when using high-speed networks for extended periods.
If you have a higher demand for internet speed, the MT3000 would be a great option to consider.
I’ve checked out the model you recommended, and it’s really good, but I think it is too expensive for how I’m going to use it, at that price, I would double the budget and take an entry-level 5G Sim modem…
Since that’s a temporary solution and setup (max 1 year), I prefer to buy a cheaper one, but if the minimum budget for a 150+ mbps is 100$, I think I’ll take a 100 mbps mini-router.
Doing so, I will connect it to the A32 5G, getting 100Mbps max, when I’ll need more download speed, I’ll use the direct ethernet cable. Surely better than charging and destroying my battery/phone every day.
I had a look at this model: GL-MT300N-V2 Mango. It appears to have 2 10/100 LAN ports, I assume this shouldn’t be a problem since, as you said, the maximum speed I can get out of USB tethering is limited. So I ask you the same questions for this router, can it fit my needs, or it’s even much worse? (realistic maximum speed, USB 2.0 power, other limitations). Are there similar routers to consider (max 50$)?
