Any chance in Hell that this idea could work? can a Router talk to a USB modem?

[space-time]

Dad has a 3G USB modem with unlimited data (don't ask how much, dirt cheap!!!). It works great with his hackintosh, almost everywhere, except at the summer house on the back porch. The signal there is a little weak, so when we do Skype the connection drops out occasionally. The signal is much better a few steps away, or if he goes 3-4 step on the stairs since he's a little higher above round and the signal is stronger.

I sent him a new router, an ASUS, and he noticed the USB port on the back, and he asked me if he could plug in the USB modem in the router, and leave the router in a location wit good 3G signal, and then use WiFi to connect the laptop to the router. The router is currently running Tomato, a version of Tomato that allows you to share a USB hard drive.

I am almost sure that it's not possible to get the router to talk to the 3G modem, but I find the idea very interesting, so I wonder if there is a Tomato or DD-WRT flavour that can do this.

If this is not possible, then I plan to give him a 15 ft USB extension and hand the modem on top of the roof where the signal is much better; it's less elegant but probably a more straightforward solution rather than going through the ruter.

what do you guys this? can the router talk to the USB modem?

Thanks

[Gareth]

Probably not that router, but there are ones specifically for 3G modems: http://www.cradlepoint.com/ They also have simple adapter boxes that simply convert the USB modem into an ethernet interface (though given the cost, may as well just buy one of their routers).

[Paul F.]

I'm going to give it a "definite maybe"....

I think it MIGHT work.

[cbelt3]

Probably not. There is an alternate solution.. Have you tried to put the USB modem at the focal point of a parabolic antenna to improve reception ? You'll have to sweep around to find the cell tower , and you can gin up an antenna from aluminum foil and a plastic bowl ( big popcorn bowl works well) . Use coat hangars to set the modem at the effective focal point.
It will look like a big old science project. But the modem will not be outside.

[space-time]

I guess I'll try these options when I get there in 3 weeks. Thanks

[cbelt3]

Space.. If you find an old dishtv antenna , they work nicely too.

[silvarios]

I'm pretty sure there are builds of Tomato with 3G modem support. Not sure if they are stable, i.e. in the main tomato branch. Fair warning, I've never tried to enable 3G modem support on Tomato, please take my statement as hearsay until independent verification.