Major’s Travel Gear: ZuniConnect Travel Router
One of the main challenges I have when travelling is staying connected. When I check into a hotel with my assortment of gear one of the first things I do unpack and set up my mobile office. Phones, PC’s, Tablets – they all need to get online. One of the most important tools I have in my bag is a travel router. This allows me to easily get my gear online quickly. One of the trends that I have noticed is that many hotels have only wireless connections available for guests, so sharing that out with your multiple devices can get tricky as that can often involve much more equipment than you may want to carry in your bag.
The best solution I have found is the ZTRP150 ZuniConnect Travel Router. The Zuni had many of the features you would expect in a normal wireless router, but it has some VERY cool tricks up its sleeve. First, it has 2 USB ports for charging – when you are on the road who doesn’t need a couple of extra USB port for power? Second (and more importantly) this is one of the only affordable routers I have found that can join an existing wireless network and share it out wirelessly. Let me say that again, via the routers web-based interface you can scan the area you are in, see all the wireless networks and then join then with the unit. Then, you can share that wireless network out with the Zuni wirelessly . They call it Wireless ISP Mode – but I call it awesome. I think you can see how incredibly useful that can be when all you have is access to a wireless network for internet.
It’s a pretty good value for being relatively inexpensive – about US $35 (plus it comes with a handy carrying case.) If there is one thing I’d don’t’ like is that it has an external power supply with a proprietary adapter – but knowing what I know about consumer electronics, I understand why they need to do that.
If you are looking for a solid, flexible companion to keep you connected while in the field, I recommend this unit.
Some of the other specs of the router:
- Operation Modes: ROUTER, Wireless ISP
- IEEE Wireless Standards: 802.11N, 802.11G, 802.11B
- IEEE Wired Standards: 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3x
- User Interface: (1) 10/100 LAN Port, (1) 10/100 WAN Port, (2) USB Charging Ports, WPS Button, Reset Button
- Wireless Security: 64-Bit / 128-Bit WEP / WPA / WPA2 Encryption
- Receiver Sensitivity: (802.11N) -69dBm, (802.11G) -70dBm, (802.11B) -85dBm
- Transmit Power: (802.11N) 13dBm, (802.11G) 14dBm, (802.11B) 16dBm
- Broadcast Channel: 11
- Wireless Range Coverage (MAX): Indoor 100′~300′, Outdoor 100′~1000′
- LED Display: Power, WAN, LAN, WLAN, WPS
- Charging Station Output: (Standard Port) Max 1.5 Amp – Typical 1.0 Amp, (QuickCharge Port) Max 2.0 Amp – Typical 1.6 Amp
- Dimensions: 3.86″ x 2.37″ x 0.65″
- Weight: 2.2 oz
- Power Supply: AC to DC Adapter 100~240V, Output 5V/2.5A
(via the Zuni Digital site)