Internet access for motor vehicles

Introduction

Any small 3G Router can be used in motor vehicles to give passengers Internet access for WiFi devices such as iPods and iPads.

This article explains how to power a D-Link DIR-412 3G Router so that it turns on/off with the car ignition.

D-Link DIR-412
DIR412 3G Router This low-cost, relatively small (127x90mm) 3.5G WiFi Router accepts any of a large range of compatible USB 3G dongles for Mobile Internet access. It has an internal antenna for its WiFi access point, giving it a range of approximately 10-15m. It also has an Ethernet LAN Port that can be used to configure the device or for a back-up path to the Internet.

Power Requirements
USB Power Adaptor According to the manufacturer's data sheet, the device requires a DC 5V/2.5A power source. However, when used in motor vehicles, the LAN interface of the device is not used and so the device will run correctly with only a DC 5V/1A power source such as this small plug-in USB Power Adapter for the vehicle's power socket.
Simply solder a 5mm power plug onto a USB cable of the desired length, connecting the red wire to the inner terminal and the black wire to the outer terminal. Then plug in the DIR-412 and it will boot up once the car engine is running. You will have Internet access about 30-60 sec later.

Other Routers

There are many similar products on the market. For example, the Huawei E585 Pocket WiFi router can also be used for WiFi Internet accesss in vehicles. However, because the device is battery-powered, it must be switched on and off manually. Connecting it to a USB power source will simply recharge its battery, it will not turn the device on. When the USB power source is turned off, the device keeps running until its internal battery is depleted.

SEE ALSO

D-Link, Huawei
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