Hello,
I'm using OpenWRT on Xiaomi “Redmi Router AX6S”/”Xiaomi Router AX3200” and enjoying the capabilities of OpenWRT for almost 2 years now.
I found that I can create access-point in my 4G/LTE smartphone, connect to it using the router as WAN, and provide internet to everything that connected to the router's LAN.
I would like to eliminate the smartphone, and connect the SIM card directly to a router.
Physically there is no SIM card slot, or USB slot, so I'm trying to figure if there is a way doing so.
Will appreciate any assistance.
Thanks!
You'd need to obtain a 4G/LTE modem/hotspot type device. In your situation, the ideal would be one that has an ethernet port so that you can connect it to the wan port on your router. For modems that lack an ethernet connection, they will have a wifi SSID to which you will connect your router in sta (client) mode. Ethernet is preferable.
The only OpenWrt specific thing you may need to do is to ensure that the upstream device (regardless of wired vs wireless status) does not have an overlapping subnet with your OpenWrt lan. If so, you'll need to change one or the other (here's how to do it on OpenWrt).
But given that you're talking about a network based (ethernet or wifi) connection to the OpenWrt router you have now, there is no concern about drivers/packages or configurations on the OpenWrt side -- any device with ethernet and/or wifi should be able to be used. (and as such, this is also about the limit of what is on-topic for OpenWrt discussions).
As I mentioned, I already did that
I'm looking for a way to eliminate the need for the smartphone and connect the SIM card directly to the Xiaomi router, without the need for another modem/router/smartphone.
From you answer I understand that there is no such way with this Xiaomi router.
Sorry if it sounds pedantic, but I was answering this specific question -- how can you eliminate the smartphone. I didn't see anything in your original question that you'd be opposed to another small cellular device that would provide an uplink via ethernet and/or wifi -- that device being specifically not a smartphone.
You have no means of connecting anything other than via wifi or ethernet, so yeah, there is no other option with that device. Quite obviously, some routers have USB ports and/or a cellular modem with a SIM card slot which would allow you this functionality, but without that, there is no way to make said connection. Now that I understand that you don't want to have another small cellular device (even if it is not a phone), the answer is indeed "no."
If you do search for a new router, your two options are obviously a built-in cellular modem and/or USB. If you're looking to minimize the physical number of devices involved, look for one with a built-in cellular modem since you'd otherwise need a cellular USB stick which would only be slightly more convenient than a separate wifi/ethernet cellular hotspot device.
Thank you for bein pedantic, I was not 100% clear in my first question, sorry for that.
You really helped, thanks a lot.