"What's that for?": Why you might want a travel router.
Recently I made a mount for a travel router and the first batch sold out very quickly. However, since then I've had countless people ask me why someone would be using a router on set.
As someone that's had a travel router in their kit for over a decade it never occurred to me that people didn't realize why one would want to have one with them. So, I've decided that's it's best to cover some of the reasons why I keep one in my kit and why you might want to as well.
Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient but can pose security risks and often lack reliability. The same can be said with networks at studios and at locations. That’s where running your own wireless network comes into play and having a travel router makes that very easy. Some key considerations are:
1. Enhanced Security
Public Wi-Fi networks can be a security nightmare. When you connect to a shared network, your personal information may be vulnerable. By running your own wireless network by plugging into an Ethernet port on the local router or in a hotel room you can encrypt your data,have a firewall or be on another subnet to gain some security.
2. Consistent Connectivity
Relying on public or location Wi-Fi can be a hit-or-miss Some places offer excellent connections, while others might be slow or unstable. By using your own network, you can maintain a consistent internet connection. Also, it's a network all you devices are familiar with and will auto connect each time without have to deal with a location that has THIS for a password.
3. Fight Congestion
When you run your own network, you have control over the the channel, frequency and connection settings. You can prioritize your devices and manage how much data is being used. This is especially useful when at a location with lots of wireless networks and devices. Additionally, you can use an app like WifiMan to scan the local networks and fight the least congested channel to set you router to operate on to optimize the performance. You can watch a video with more information about this HERE. Also, by having control of the network you can control the placement of the router to optimize you connection so it's not blocked by a large group of people or part of a set. I've also covered proper placement in a previous post, you can read that HERE
4. Access to Your Devices
Setting up your own wireless network allows you to connect to your devices seamlessly as I mentioned previously.
This is especially useful for Capture One Live For Studio (the replacement for the Capture Pilot) Now that C1 has put some effort into providing a replacement for Capture Pilot that actually works it's worth running your own network (even without internet) just for supporting Capture One Live For Studio. Software like this offers many benefits over wireless HDMI transmitter/receiver units like Hollyland or Accsoon. But both options have their own pros/cons. An in my opinion, they are both tools worth having in your kit.
In other instances it can be handy to use a pinch for something like screen sharing or file transfer when something like AirDrop isn't an option.
You might be thinking that's all well an good... But my computer can do an ad-hoc network! Why have another device to do this?
Well, Apple has now hidden the ability to create an ad-hoc network in the OS and you have to jump through hoops to re-nable/set-up (see HERE) It's not as simple as toggling on one setting. Also, you're computer and OS aren't really designed to work as a router. It's fine for one device to another but adding multiple devices can get into IP and DCHP control territory that's outside it's abilities. Furthermore, routing the data can be very resource heavy and reduce the performance of your software that you need like Capture One.
Now you know why you'd want a router... Now you'd like to know what to look for in one?
I suggest any of the GL.iNet lineup. They can be powered by USB-C, are compact, lightweight and offer great firmware to control them.
I used to carry a TP-LINK N300 (which saved my butt a few times) but It's now a bit dated with only 802.11n and 2.4ghz. Now I use the GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) which has more modern features like USB-C power input, VPN, and better throughput for more devices. It's also the model I choose to make a mount for so I can position it anywhere I'd like and just connect it to a power bank that can run it for a full day.
You could also just use a standard household router on set. The one caveat with these is that they aren't as easy to power with a battery source and might require the use of a portable power station like an EcoFlow. So it can get clunky.
In summary, having a router in your kit is not just a convenience—it's a
necessity for anyone who values security, reliability, and seamless
connectivity while on set or on the go. Whether you’re relying on
software like Capture One Live For Studio or simply want to enjoy
uninterrupted streaming and secure browsing, a router allows you to take
control of your network experience and reduce some headaches on set.
