Adding a local network to my portable homelab/desktop

A key component for this portable homelab/desktop is to be able to run a LAN so I can serve files between multiple devices and use as a hub at an event, hotel, AirBnB, etc. Realistically, I’ll use it to setup a little network in my truck while parked for a few hours or when I’m out with the family and want to share stuff with the gorls.

This is a key feature to a portable homelab. I need to be able to deploy the various “lab” aspects of this portable device to other local devices.

I can’t spend any money on this and have to use what I have around. I have three options:

1. The GL.iNet device in cyberdeck.
2. Using the existing Pi Zero v1.3 that is also the boredom_hotspot
3. Use the Royoko MiFi device.

I am not going to disassemble the cyberdeck kit yet, so skipping that device.

Custom buit Pi Zero hotspot

I built this over the summer to be a EDC boredom buster. It is an all-in-one build that has a small collection of TV shows, movies, and YouTube videos, along with some browser-based games. It broadcasts its own wifi network and is built with a bunch of random parts I had laying around. I was even able to use it recently with great success.

Pros:

The boredom_hotspot is something I already carry, so doesn’t add any additional weight or components to my EDC. It is ultra low power and will run from a USB port on the laptop. Can customize the network and install other features as needed.

Cons:

Sloooooow. It only broadcasts in 2.4GHz and from a very, very old USB wifi adapter. Measured speeds are between 1-3 mbps (between LAN devices, not public internet). Distance is limited. Not only is it 2.4GHz only, it is a hacked together build with that old wifi adapter so range is like 5 feet. I am unsure how many devices it could handle, I’m guessing below 5 and only for small file transfers. I know it can handle multiple video streams, but that saturates the performance and can’t do anything else during that time. Powers with micro USB. Using as a general network access point was not the purpose of the boredom_hotspot build.

Royoko MiFI

Just gonna say up fron: Do not buy this device. This is my experience for this build, not a review. This thing is probably a scam.

I picked this device up from The Goodwill for $5 about a month ago. It is the Royoko Pro wifi device. This funky device is actually a mobile service and MiFi bundled. When you purchase new it comes with a SIM card and then you pay monthly for service. Honestly, I would never buy this thing. Not only is the data expensive through their partnered mobile data provider, but the MVNO data provider seems real scammy. In fact, everything about it seems scammy.

However, you don’t have to use their SIM card. I didn’t. I pulled it out and threw it away. You can put in another SIM and it will work. It will just constantly complain about not being setup. If you ignore the screen on the device, it works just fine. At least for me.

I also tested if it will create a little LAN without a SIM card. Sure enough, it will setup a network without internet access and assign all the devices an IP address, which is really fucking neat for $5.

Pros:

It broadcasts at 5GHz and the range is quite good. Speeds are decent as well, between 20-30 mbps (between LAN only, not public internet). It can handle 5-10 devices and I had two streams going and didn’t find any hiccups doing other stuff at the same time. It has a SIM card slot and accepts my Mint Mobile card. Using the SIM slot I can give internet to all the devices connected. So, if I am setup for working remotely, I can give wifi to my laptop and phone and have a LAN instead of just the hotpsot on my phone. USB-C port for charging, so will work with all my existing cables in the EDC kit. Has a built-in battery, so can run independently.

Cons

Unsure of the battery health and what happens if the battery goes out. Battery swelling or failure could make me dispose of the device. Limited customization of the network. All I can do in the settings is change the network name, password, IP range, and similar. I can’t install other features. It has a constant nag on the screen about not having a SIM card and not setup with the service that it came with. Charging uses more watts than I like. In a power constrained situation I would have to send the device 10W while it charges the battery.

Choice: Royoko MiFI

I am going with this device because the speeds are so much better and that I can put my SIM card in it. I can use the boredom_hotspot as a backup. If I use the Royoko I can even connect the boredom_hotspot to it as-needed.

More devices, better speeds, and potentially add access to public internet are the differentiators.

I have been testing it today and had two devices connected for a few hours. I setup a file server and a Jellyfin instance on the Dell Latitude 7490 and then accessed it all from my phone on the Royoko LAN without internet access. All worked as well as I hoped.

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