Tether Android Pixel 6 to G3100 router?

[aprete]

Hello.

I subscribe to both Fios internet and Verizon Wireless cell service. Is it possible to tether (via USB-C cable) my Google Pixel 6 to the G3100 router, essentially making my home network into a 5G network?

The reason I'm asking is because last week my Fios went down due to a broken fiber line in the neighborhood. I'm thinking of this as a backup in case it happens again. Fortunately, a VZ technician repaired the fiber line and I was back up within three hours.

I have both wired and wireless connections to the G3100. Wired: Desktop computer, SmartThings hub, Wi-Fi extender, VoIP phone and laptop for work. Wireless: Smart TVs, printer, other phones, other laptops. I can tether the phone directly to the desktop computer and turn on the phone hotspot at the same time. This enables the wireless devices, but not the wired devices other than the desktop computer.

Thanks.

[smith6612 · Accepted solution]

The G3100 wouldn't support this. It is not a dual WAN Router. If you do want to have some sort of backup with a secondary ISP, look into a Dual WAN Router. Some higher end consumer routers such as the ones made by ASUS can support USB-based Cellular connections, although this is something I have not personally tried. Otherwise, with a router supporting Dual WAN, you can use a Cable or Cellular ISP as backup should Fios break.

[Cang_Household]

You want to connection share a cellular connection to a router, that is an interesting idea.

This feature is available in some Linux distributions years ago, as I just learned myself. I was wondering why a Debian laptop is able to get cellular connection through a USB connection to an iPhone SE.

I could go proposing this to Firmware people. It should be somewhat straightforward. Needing a package for the USB binaries, then add USB connection as WAN, then double NAT'ed to the br-lan. The major block here is how Fios TV and small business sensoring apps would work out (or not wort out).

[aprete]

This would be for emergencies so I could do work. I work from my home full time. I would not be concerned about the TV boxes working.

My desktop PC runs Windows 10.

[Cang_Household]

Windows 10 is probably out of luck. Microsoft was very closed down, but is becoming more open-minded in recent years.

[smith6612 · Accepted solution]

The G3100 wouldn't support this. It is not a dual WAN Router. If you do want to have some sort of backup with a secondary ISP, look into a Dual WAN Router. Some higher end consumer routers such as the ones made by ASUS can support USB-based Cellular connections, although this is something I have not personally tried. Otherwise, with a router supporting Dual WAN, you can use a Cable or Cellular ISP as backup should Fios break.

[Cang_Household]

All Fios/Verizon routers can be made to support this feature. The tethering via iOS is supported on Linux kernel upstream.  Like I said, but there are a lot of mechanisms need to change to accommodate a multi-WAN setup, which will take a tremendous time to test, if the firmware people ever adopt this suggestion.

[frizfrelengfan]

I'm not looking to hack the G3100 (which probably does run Linux). But I noticed that there is a USB port on the back, and I wondered if this could be used to connect to a cell phone.

I saw some USB-to-ethernet adapters (very cheap) on the market. If data packets come out of the adapter the same way that they come out of the ethernet connection to the ONT, then this might be an option. My concern would be speed, because any time you convert a protocol, you take a performance hit.

[Cang_Household · Accepted solution]

G3100 runs OpenSUSE. The USB port goes to an embedded controller in the Broadcom CPU. I believe that USB is in fact 3.0 Gen 1, so good for 5.0Gbps. Protocol conversion is not that bad when you have competent hardware. An RTL8156B chip could do full 2.5Gbps on USB 3.0 Gen 1. G3100's maximum NAT throughput is about 3-5Gbps I believe.