Netgear were kind enough to lend me one of their new “travel routers” while I happened to be travelling. What exactly is a travel router, I wondered after receiving the package, and after using it a few times, I can tell this – it’s not just one thing.
The Netgear travel router has many tricks up its sleeve. Firstly, it is a standard router – plus an ethernet cable in from a modem and it will share that internet connection to anyone that can access the wi-fi signal, which you can set up with a password.
Secondly, it is an ethernet adaptor – you can take a wi-fi signal, and repackage it as a wired connection through the travel router to provide online connection to any product that only has a fixed ethernet port.
Then, it is a wi-fi extender – you can take an existing wi-fi signal, and boost it through a home or business space. Wi-fi extenders are all the rage right now, with the hunger and demand for constant online activity being one of the big drivers of network device sales.
As well, the travel router can act as a firewall between a public wi-fi hotspot and your device – simply use your travel router to connect to the hotspot and access the internet through the already-established connection between your device and the travel router.
And before you put your hand up and yell “come on, what public space has a power outlet?”, let me tell you that the micro USB port acts as a power distributor, using your 5V USB port on your notebook to power the travel router. Smart, eh?
There’s also a full size USB connection so you can charge your smartphone or tablet without the need to tie up another powerpoint.
Check out the video to see more on this quite inexpensive and very handy piece of tech gear.