Inseego MiFi Pro M4 as WAN?

[Greg_E]

Anyone use or have tips on using a MiFi device as WAN source? I just bought an Inseego MiFi Pro M4 to use with my lab and for use in the car on trips. It says it has USB tethering, but also has rj45. It's T-Mobile so probably behind CGNAT, but that's the world I live in now, Netbird can get me around that for remote work. Everything I do now is behind multiple NAT of one form or another, yes it is less than desirable, just have to work with what you can get.

The hardware does support static IP, so I might look into that later and pay for an IP if T-Mobile can offer that (then run a local Netbird or other server).

Why did I go with that specific device? It was the only in stock 5g device that they offered that also has external antenna connectors (2 of them). External antenna can be a make or break feature depending on your location.

Any tips to get this working with OPNsense would be appreciated, lots of open USB ports if tethering is the best way forward. Link to the product https://inseego.com/products/mobile-hotspot-routers/mifi-pro-m4/

[pfry]

[...]Why did I go with that specific device? It was the only in stock 5g device that they offered that also has external antenna connectors (2 of them).[...]

Invisagig? Can't comment on stock, and the Inseego appears to be considerably cheaper.

I'd think the Ethernet would be the way to go from a connectivity standpoint, but only if the device can bridge, like most 802.11 devices. That's always been a question for me, and I'm not curious enough to purchase a service to answer it. Particularly since I need multiple static IPs, and I haven't seen such an offering from any (somewhat reputable) U.S. carrier.

[Greg_E]

This device says it can offer IPPT (IP passthrough) so I think that would be as close to bridge as possible. But it might also be restricted by the carrier, should know more soon. There seem to be a lot of business oriented features in the OS, I'm guessing this is a pretty common thing to use for backup or other remote office.

I wish it had Netbird built in, there are some more common vpn choices, but didn't see anything I'm currently able to use.

Would also be nice if this could be POE powered, but I didn't see that in the manual either. Would just make my lab system easier to handle. It does have a battery that can be removed for in place uses like business backup wan. It also has a battery saver mode for constant power connection that keeps charge between 70 and 80 percent, might end up using this feature.

Bought the 100GB plan, that will probably be plenty as I look at what I actually use in a month at home and this will get less use.