How to Choose an Industrial 4G Router: Complete Guide

In an industrial environment, where reliability and performance of communications are crucial, the choice of an industrial 4G router should not be taken lightly. This type of router is used in various applications, such as automation, surveillance systems, or even remote management of equipment. Here is a guide to help you choose the industrial 4G router best suited to your needs.

1. Understand Your Specific Needs

Before you begin, it is essential to understand your application requirements. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

How much bandwidth is needed? Some applications, such as video surveillance, require high bandwidth, while others, such as data collection, can get by with lower throughputs.

Where will the router be installed? Environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, dust, etc.) can affect the router's performance.

What level of security is required? If you need to protect sensitive data, it is crucial to choose a router that offers advanced security features.

How will the router be powered? The power supply is to be considered, the routers will be powered by DC 12 volts / 24 volts / 48… or by Ac on a mains socket.

Mounting type? Din rail, wall, outdoor.

2. Technical Characteristics to Consider

Once your needs have been identified, here are the main technical characteristics to examine:

Network Compatibility:

Make sure the router supports 4G frequency bands in your area and is compatible with LTE, 3G, and possibly 5G networks for greater future-proofing.

Connectivity and Ports:

Number of Ethernet ports available, presence of serial ports (RS232/RS485), USB, GPIO if you need to connect specific equipment.

Robustness:

A rugged enclosure that can withstand harsh conditions (extreme temperatures, vibrations, etc.). IP (Ingress Protection) certifications can be a good indicator of durability for routers deployed outdoors.

Redundancy and Failover:

Redundancy options, such as automatic failover to a secondary network in case of primary network failure. (Dual SIM). This is crucial to ensure an uninterrupted connection.

Security :

Advanced security features, such as built-in firewalls, VPN, data encryption, and multi-factor authentication.

3. Remote maintenance and management

Maintaining and monitoring deployed routers can be challenging as your router fleet grows. The ability to monitor and configure the router remotely is a major asset and ensures the security and stability of your fleet.

Example of a remote maintenance and management solution:

RMS TELTONIKA : for Teltonika range routers
Device Hub: For Milesight Series Routers

4. Budgetary Considerations

Cost is always a key factor, but you shouldn't sacrifice quality to save money in the short term. A quality industrial router costs more, but it offers better durability, more reliable performance, and less downtime, which can be more cost-effective in the long run.

5. Our solutions

Sparwan, offers a wide range of industrial 4G routers from three industry leaders: Teltonika, Milesight, PUSR-IOT.
The ranges of these manufacturers allow us to respond to all the problems that can be encountered in industrial environments. Do not hesitate to consult our experts to guide you in this process.
With the right router, you can ensure reliable and secure connectivity, essential for the success of your industrial operations.