5 Best Industrial Cellular Routers for Business

Whether for primary or backup internet connectivity, traditional cellular routers are not enough for all industrial environments. A more robust solution, like an industrial-grade cellular router, is typically needed. However, with so many cellular routers calming to be “industrial”, it can be difficult choosing the right one for your specific applications. Thus, in this blog, we’ll be going over things to consider before you buy and providing our top 5 recommendations.

What’s an Industrial Cellular Router?

Using the cellular network, industrial cellular routers provide reliable wired or wireless internet access for multiple devices. More robust than your typical cellular router, they can withstand higher temperatures, vibrations, dust, and moisture. Often packed with advanced features, they meet the needs of varying industrial applications.

What’s the Difference Between Standard and Industrial Cellular Routers?

Standard cellular routers are perfect for basic everyday use in homes and offices. They provide:

• User-Friendly Design: Typically easy to configure and set up.
• Basic Functionality: Offer basic features like WiFi over cellular and WAN/LAN ports.
• Affordability: Standard construction and features allow lower cost.

Due to their lack of advanced connectivity features and robustness, they are not the best option for industrial settings.

Industrial cellular routers, on the other hand, prioritize reliability, durability, and advanced features to ensure consistent performance in industrial spaces. They offer:

• Sturdy Construction: Built to operate in harsh conditions.
• Next-Level Connectivity Options: Provides various ways to connect devices (will vary across models), such as WiFi over cellular, WAN and LAN Ethernet ports, serial ports, and GPIOs.
• High Performance: Failover features coupled with higher processors enable greater data handling without interruptions.
• Advance Management: Interface tends to allow more customization, allowing better control over performance.

Things to Consider Before Buying an Industrial Cellular Router

Choosing the best cellular industrial router for your specific needs requires careful consideration of various factors. Here are a couple of features to look out for:

Connectivity

As mentioned, cellular routers use the cellular network to deliver reliable internet. Some work with the 4G network, while others are 5G ready.

• Industrial 4G cellular routers offer high speeds and wider coverage, making them suitable for most industrial applications.
• 5G industrial cellular routers work with the latest technology, offering greater capacity and ultra-fast speeds. Backward compatible with 4G, they’ll ensure a strong connection even when 5G is unavailable. They are ideal for bandwidth-demanding applications and futureproofing.

Data Speeds

All cellular routers feature different maximum data speeds. Usually, those capable of providing higher speeds are more expensive, but that doesn't make them better. It all depends on your speed requirements. Make sure to select a router that can provide the speed your business needs.

Total Users

Consider the maximum number of devices that will connect to the router simultaneously, and select a router that can handle your expected user load.

SIM Card Slots

If you want redundancy for continuous uptime, consider the number of SIM card slots the cellular router features.

• Single SIM: Only supports one card from one carrier. Provides basic cellular connectivity.
• Dual SIM: Supports two cards from different carriers. Connectivity between the two SIMs will automatically alternate depending on signal strength and data limits. This ensures uninterrupted connectivity.

Ethernet Ports

In some cases, WiFi is enough to keep your business running smoothly. Some industrial environments need Ethernet ports for added stability or extra redundancy.

• LAN Ports: Allow wired connections for devices lacking WiFi capability. Also allows a more stable connection.
• WAN/LAN Port: Enables industrial cellular routers to be used with a traditional broadband internet source (WAN) or as a backup. If not utilizing the WAN function, it can also be used as another LAN port.

Industrial cellular routers will vary in the number of ports they have. Ideally, you’ll want to get one that offers the ports you need. If unable to find one, consider a networking switch.

Serial Ports

For those legacy devices that send and receive data in a sequential manner, serial ports are a must. This feature is not available on all cellular industrial routers, so if you need it, make sure to check the specs.

GPS Capabilities

This is a crucial feature for fleet management. Cellular routers with built-in GPS and geofencing functionalities allow you to keep track of your vehicle and assets with ease.

Security

To safeguard sensitive data transmission, ensure the industrial cellular router meets your security requirements. It should have advanced security features like firewalls, VPN tunnels, and encryption protocols.

Remote Management and Configuration

For easy remote control over your network, consider an industrial router with user-friendly management tools. You can effortlessly configure, monitor, and troubleshoot your network from anywhere for optimal performance.

Best Industrial Cellular Routers

Here are five of the best industrial cellular routers we offer:

• Dual SIM 5G Router with GPS
• SA & NSA 5G Architecture Support
• 4G Backward Compatibility
• Cellular Speeds Up to 3.4 Gbps
• Auto Failover, Backup WAN

Whether for your office, remote IoT devices, or fleet of vehicles, the RUTM50 5G Cellular Router by Teltonika Networks delivers the performance and flexibility needed for any business to run smoothly. Supporting standalone and non-standalone 5G, it offers high-speed, low-latency internet access. Dual-SIM with auto-failover allows uninterrupted operation. Devices can connect over WiFi or its 5 Ethernet ports (4 LAN and 1 WAN/LAN). Also equipped with GPS capabilities, it can increase fleet management.

• 5G/LTE Router
• Dual-Band WiFi 6
• Next-Gen Multi-Core CPU
• Fixed and Mobile Applications
• Requires Cellular SIM Card

The MAX BR1 Pro 5G Cellular Router by Peplink is the best industrial cellular router for businesses seeking unbreakable internet connectivity. Using 5G and WiFi 6 technology, it delivers exceptional speed and reliability for multiple devices. Its sturdy design makes it perfect for fixed locations or mobile applications, keeping your business connected wherever you go.

• Single SIM CAT4 Cellular Router
• Speeds Up to 150 Mbps
• 1 LAN & 1 WAN Ethernet Port
• Compact Industrial Design
• Configurable OS, RMS Compatible

The Teltonika RUT241 is the best industrial cellular router available for IoT devices. Its compact size and sturdy construction make it easy to deploy in tight spaces. Combining cellular, WiFi, Ethernet, and auto-failover, it provides dependable wired or wireless internet connectivity.

• Industrial-Grade Mobile Router
• Dual-Band WiFi 6 / Dual LTE Modems
• Multiple Power Input Options
• Edge Computing Supported
• Requires Cellular SIM Card

If seeking a reliable internet solution for transportation applications, the Peplink MAX Transit Pro Duo Cellular Router is a no-brainer. It can be deployed in trains, ships, buses, and emergency vehicles. It’s equipped with WiFi 6 and redundant SIM cards. Enclosure houses two cellular modems with redundant SIM cards, ensuring strong connectivity and superior uptime.

• Dual-SIM 4G Cellular Router
• CAT4, Data Speeds Up to 150 Mbps
• WiFi and 4x Ethernet Ports
• Seamless Auto-Failover
• Rugged Housing, Versatile Applications

The Teltonika RUT951 is a dual-SIM industrial cellular router designed to provide consistent and secure internet connectivity for the toughest industrial applications. Its C1D2-certified housing ensures it meets the requirements needed to operate in the harshest conditions. It delivers versatile connectivity options with built-in LAN ports, WiFi hotspot capabilities, and support for up to 100 devices. Its sister, the RUT956 Industrial Cellular Router offers the same features with bit with serial port support.

Contact Us to Boost Your Business Connectivity

Whether cellular or internet, Wilson Amplifiers aims to eliminate all connectivity challenges across all industries. We are a leading provider of cell phone signal boosters and industrial cellular routers. If unsure of which router is best for your business, give us a call at 1-800-568-2723 or email us at sales@wilsonamplifiers.com to get started. Our signal experts are happy to help! To learn how to enhance performance, visit our guide on ways to improve cellular router signal.

Interested in Learning More? Check Out Our Signal Boosting Info Center