A USB router is a device used to share a broadband Internet connection between multiple computers. It is designed primarily for use with cable services where the modem does not have an Ethernet connection. It is also possible to use a USB router for mobile broadband devices.
A variety of USB cables, used with USB routers.
The most common setup where a USB router is used is when a home user gets their broadband services from a cable company. In such a situation, they will get access to the Internet through the main fiber optic cable instead of a standard telephone line. This requires a cable modem, which connects and transfers data between the computer and the fiber optic cable, typically filtering data from the cable television signal.
A mobile broadband dongle that can be connected to a USB router.
In most cases, this cable modem will have an Ethernet port. It can be directly connected to a computer or a router that can provide Internet access to multiple machines. In most cases, this will include wireless connections.
Unlike traditional routers, USB routers are generally mobile.
In some cases, however, the cable modem will only offer a USB connection. This will work fine if the user just wants to connect to one computer and is happy with a wired-only connection. If the user wants to use multiple machines or needs a wireless connection, a USB-only cable modem will not suffice.
The solution is a USB router. This is simply a router that connects to the cable modem via USB instead of Ethernet. Once configured, it works exactly the same way as a standard router. The downside is that fewer companies produce USB routers, which means there’s less price competition.
There may also be situations where a broadband provider provides a USB modem even when the service comes from a standard phone line. This configuration has become somewhat obsolete. Even when the USB modem is the default option, the broadband provider will often offer an Ethernet router for an additional fee.
The term “USB router” can also be used for a device that connects to a computer with Internet access and shares its connection with other machines wirelessly. This is often referred to as an ad-hoc connection. It is much less flexible than setting up a traditional router, as it requires the main computer to be on and connected to the Internet at all times. If the main computer is turned off, the other machines will not be able to connect.
Some routers with a USB socket can be connected to a mobile broadband “dongle” and can share that connection with multiple machines. This could be useful if, for example, two people are traveling together and want to share the same mobile broadband connection on their laptops. In practice, the relatively low connection speeds and monthly data caps on mobile broadband mean that sharing a connection is generally not desirable.
Most cable modems contain Ethernet ports.
