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How to Choose the Right Industrial Cellular VPN Router ...

May. 06, 2024

How to Choose the Right Industrial Cellular VPN Router ...

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q. What is the primary purpose of an industrial cellular VPN router?

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A. The primary purpose of an industrial cellular VPN router is to provide a secure and reliable way to connect IoT devices to the cloud or other networks. Industrial cellular VPN routers are designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions often found in industrial settings.

Q. How does 4G connectivity benefit smart city projects?

A. 4G connectivity offers a number of benefits for smart city projects, including:

  • High bandwidth and speeds: 4G can provide bandwidth speeds of up to 100 Mbps, which is sufficient for most smart city applications.
  • Low latency: 4G has low latency, which means that data packets are transmitted with minimal delay. This is important for applications that require real-time data transmission, such as industrial automation and control systems.
  • Wide coverage: 4G networks have wide coverage, both in urban and rural areas. This makes 4G a viable option for smart city projects in a variety of locations.

Q. What security features should one look for in an industrial router?

A. When choosing an industrial router, it is important to select a router that supports a variety of security features, including:

  • Encryption: Encryption protocols, such as AES-256, encrypt data traffic to make it unreadable to unauthorized users.
  • Authentication: Authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication, verify the identity of users before they are allowed to access the router or the network.
  • Firewall: A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.
  • VPN: A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts data traffic and tunnels it through a secure connection.

Q. Why are outdoor antennas crucial for industrial IoT?

A. Outdoor antennas are crucial for industrial IoT because they can boost signal strength and improve reliability in challenging environments. Industrial settings often have obstructions, such as buildings and equipment, that can attenuate cellular signals. Outdoor antennas can help to overcome these obstructions and provide a reliable connection for IoT devices.

Q. How to assess the scalability needs of a project?

A. To assess the scalability needs of a project, you should consider the following factors:

  • The number of IoT devices that will be connected to the network: The more IoT devices that are connected to the network, the more bandwidth and processing power the router will need.
  • The types of data that will be transmitted over the network: Some types of data, such as video streaming, require more bandwidth than others.
  • The future growth of the project: If you anticipate that the project will grow in the future, you should choose a router that can be scaled to meet your changing needs.

Q. Are there specific certifications that guarantee router quality?

A. There are a number of certifications that can help you to assess the quality of an industrial cellular VPN router. Some of the most common certifications include:

  • CE (Conformité Européenne): CE certification indicates that a product meets the health, safety, and environmental requirements of the European Union.
  • FCC (Federal Communications Commission): FCC certification indicates that a product meets the technical requirements of the United States Federal Communications Commission.
  • UL (Underwriters Laboratories): UL certification indicates that a product meets the safety requirements of Underwriters Laboratories, an independent safety certification organization.
  • ATEX (ATmosphères EXplosibles): ATEX certification indicates that a product is safe for use in hazardous areas where flammable gases, vapors, or dust are present.

Q. What are the common mistakes to avoid when choosing a router?

A. Some of the common mistakes to avoid when choosing an industrial cellular VPN router include:

  • Not considering your specific needs: Before choosing a router, it is important to carefully consider your specific needs. This includes factors such as bandwidth requirements, security features, and environmental conditions.
  • Choosing the wrong router for your budget: Industrial cellular VPN routers can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It is important to choose a router that fits your budget without sacrificing the features that you need.
  • Not considering scalability: If you anticipate that your IoT project will grow in the future, you should choose a router that can be scaled to meet your changing needs.
  • Not properly installing and maintaining your router: It is important to properly install and maintain your industrial cellular VPN router. This will help to ensure that the router operates reliably and securely.
  • Not having a backup plan: It is important to have a backup plan in case your industrial cellular VPN router fails. This could include having a spare router or using a different cellular network.

Q. How does the cost of ownership impact the decision-making process?

The cost of ownership (TCO) of an industrial cellular VPN router is an important factor to consider when making a purchase decision. TCO includes the initial purchase price of the router, as well as the cost of maintenance and support over the lifetime of the router.

When evaluating the TCO of different routers, it is important to consider the following factors:

  • The purchase price of the router: The purchase price of industrial cellular VPN routers can vary widely, depending on the features and performance of the router.
  • The cost of maintenance and support: The cost of maintenance and support for industrial cellular VPN routers can also vary widely, depending on the vendor and the level of support that you choose.
  • The lifespan of the router: Industrial cellular VPN routers typically have a lifespan of 3-5 years. However, some routers may last longer or shorter depending on the environmental conditions in which they are used.

It is important to choose a router that has a TCO that fits your budget. You should also consider the lifespan of the router when making your decision. If you need a router that will last for several years, you may be willing to pay a higher purchase price for a higher-quality router.

Q. Can industrial routers be integrated into existing infrastructure seamlessly?

Yes, industrial routers can be integrated into existing infrastructure seamlessly. Industrial routers are designed to be compatible with a variety of protocols and interfaces. This makes it easy to connect them to existing devices and networks.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind when integrating an industrial router into existing infrastructure:

  • Make sure that the router is compatible with the protocols and interfaces of your existing devices and networks.
  • You may need to configure the router to work with your existing infrastructure. This may involve changing the router’s IP address, subnet mask, or gateway address.
  • You may also need to configure the router’s security settings to match the security settings of your existing network.

If you are unsure about how to integrate an industrial router into your existing infrastructure, you should consult with a qualified networking professional.

Q. What technical support should users expect from router manufacturers?

Users should expect router manufacturers to provide technical support for their products. This support should include the following:

  • Help with troubleshooting and resolving problems with the router.
  • Access to firmware updates and security patches.
  • Assistance with configuring the router for specific applications.

The level of technical support that users receive from router manufacturers can vary depending on the vendor and the type of router that they purchase. However, all router manufacturers should provide some level of support to their customers.

Q. How do I connect my external 4G antenna to my router?

To connect your external 4G antenna to your router, you will need to use a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable should be connected to the SMA connector on the router and the antenna.

Once the coaxial cable is connected, you will need to configure the router to use the external antenna. This can be done through the router’s web interface or management console.

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Q. Why do 4G routers have two antennas?

4G routers have two antennas to improve signal strength and reception. The two antennas can be used to create a diversity reception system, which can help to reduce interference and improve the overall performance of the router.

Q. What is an industrial cellular router?

An industrial cellular router is a type of router that is designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions often found in industrial settings. Industrial cellular routers are typically more durable and have a wider operating temperature range than consumer-grade routers.

Industrial cellular routers also offer a number of features that are essential for industrial applications, such as support for industrial protocols and ruggedized enclosures.

Q. Are the antennas on LTE routers for WiFi or for 4G LTE?

One antenna on LTE router is for 4G LTE. Industrial LTE routers have outdoor WiFi antennas also.

An LTE router typically features an antenna dedicated to LTE signals, along with antennas for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. In many cases, these routers are equipped with internal antennas for LTE and external antennas for Wi-Fi.

How to choose a 4G router for your business

There are many 4G routers on the market, offering a wide variety of features. You need to make sure that the router provides functionality and flexibility for your solution needed. Here are the main things to consider when you a compare 4G routers for your business.  

Multi-SIM

For speed and reliability in a 4G WAN connection, you’ll need a router that supports more than one cellular connection. This is usually referred to as multi-SIM.  Look out for a router that supports this.

SIM Capacity

The performance and throughput of a Multi-SIM router is ultimately limited by the number of simultaneous cellular connections it can support.   This is usually referred to by the number of SIMs it can accommodate.  However, be aware of the difference between connections and SIMs:  a router may allow you to insert two SIMs in case one of them fails, but not be able to use both at the same time.  We normally choose a router with the SIM capacity required for your expected usage (eg 6 SIMs).  Some routers can be stacked to allow more SIMs (we’ve often used 18 SIMs) in heavy usage scenarios.

Cellular Technology

Most routers today support a version of the 4G standards called Category 4 LTE.  Some manufacturers are rolling out support for Category 6 LTE, which uses two chunks of spectrum rather than one, to double the theoretical maximum download speeds from 150 Mbps to 300 Mbps.  Cat 6 LTE is still being rolled out by the mobile carriers, so it isn’t available everywhere.   However, it’s worth considering routers that support it, in order to future-proof your investment.   There are a number of interchangeable terms:  look for Cat 6 LTE, LTE-Advanced (aka LTE-A) and 4G+.

Bonding

A router that can bond (ie combine) the traffic streams from multiple SIMs into one, will allow you to have a faster, more reliable connection to your company network.  This is essential if you’re planning to connect a multi-user site to your company network using 4G WAN, and especially if you need a very reliable connection for sensitive applications (see Managed Hubs). The rationale for bonding is primarily to provide a reliable and stable connection, with performance as a by-product.

Load Balancing

Alternatively, a router that can Load Balance can spread the usage of several separate users and sessions across several SIMs.  This can provide flexibility, but no single session can be faster than the SIM its using can support, and if any single cellular connection drops out, the reconnection time can be measured in seconds, which the user will notice! Find out more here in our blog: 4G WAN Bonding vs Load balancing.

SIM Failover

Typically found in single-connection routers, SIM failover allows two SIMs to be inserted, so that the second can be switched-in if the first fails (or if the first is blocked when usage climbs too high).

Prioritisation by traffic type

Some routers can be set to optimise the performance of your 4G WAN connection.  They might prioritise (and de-prioritise) different traffic types.  They might route those traffic types over different cellular connections according to the real-time performance of the connections (eg latency and reliability of the connection).  If you have performance sensitive applications, or if you are delivering traffic using performance sensitive applications like Citrix, you will need these features for optimum results.  This is only really relevant when bonding, because bonding allows you to control priority in both directions, both to and from the site.  If you load balance on multi-sim, you can only control priority in one direction (outbound) – you cannot influence the inbound priority.

Caching

Some routers will allow you to cache data. When multiple users access the same intranet pages or stored files, for example, caching allows them to access it faster and with less data usage.

Other WAN interfaces

Some routers will allow you to connect an additional WAN circuit that can be used alongside the cellular connections.  The rationale would be to allow the use, where available, of a connection that is faster, cheaper or has more capacity than the cellular connections. The additional connection might be a DSL, EFM or satellite circuit, or perhaps the ability to connect into a WiFi hotspot.  It might be implemented as an Ethernet port, or perhaps a dedicated DSL port.

WiFi

Some 4G routers provide WiFi, access for users, reducing the need for additional equipment in small installations.  Some will provide isolated guest access. Some will provide private corporate access as well a public guest access via a captive portal to enable you to force guests to provide details about themselves.

WiFi controller

Some routers can act as the WiFi controller for a number of WiFi access points, simplifying WiFi deployment and extending the coverage in larger installations.

Modular Design

Some router manufacturers use fixed router configurations, keeping the deployment as simple as possible. Others employ a modular design in which cards are inserted for the particular application.  For example, two 4G cards might be installed on one occasion and a 4G card plus a DSL card on another. This can be helpful if you envisage re-using the device in different locations. It can also allow you to install with 4G and then later to migrate seamlessly to a fixed circuit (eg DSL or EFM) once that is installed.  This is particularly useful if you need to install rapidly and/or if you would like to retain the 4G card for backup once a fixed circuit is installed. See our Rapid Site Deployment for a next day infrastructure delivery.

Power over Ethernet (POE)

Some 4G routers can provide Power over Ethernet, to devices that are plugged into their Ethernet ports. This allows you to provide power to Wireless Access Points or IP phones without having to buy separate power over ethernet switches or power injectors.

Reporting

Some devices provide detailed reporting on cellular usage, including information on which devices are driving the usage.  This can be very helpful in managing costs.

What Hardware do we use?

Having explored the features to compare in a 4G WAN router, an obvious question is: “ What is the best 4G router for business use?”  We have built up a lot of experience from deploying 4G WAN technology to hundreds and hundreds of sites. Over the years we have settled on one manufacturer for the majority of our installations: Peplink.

Peplink offers:

  • True multi-SIM, multi-carrier bonded connections.
  • The ability for remote site users to access the service via WiFi (without additional hardware)
  • The ability to configure local breakout to the internet (not through the tunnel to the data centre)
  • The ability to have 2 SIMs for every modem (even on single modem devices) … so that if you lose one carrier, you can continue working.
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