Recycle your Android smartphone in a portable router with Mini Nas!

► In short

  • Your old smartphone can be practical
  • It can be transformed into a portable router with mini nas
  • The operation only takes a few minutes of configuration

What if your old phone did not go to the trash? After all, even if you no longer use it, and it no longer receives technical support, it can always be useful. Its many components and software still functional make it a very practical technology concentrate, and alongside which we should not pass.

Come on, follow the guide, today Android MT explains how to transform an old Android smartphone into a portable router with mini-nas in a few minutes.

Portable router: more than just hotspot

First of all, let’s take a point of detail together. We might be tempted to wonder: but what good is it to do this manipulation? After all, if you are looking for network access, your smartphone can already provide network access, by creating a hotspot. Certainly. However, if you are looking for something more customizable, and above all more secure, you could be looking for an alternative.

And here, the best option is therefore to find a router with NAS Mobile. A solution that allows you to create a real closed network, going beyond the connection point, notably offering a local LAN ecosystem as well as a plethora of other features. Where it becomes even more interesting is that you can set up such a device Simply with an old Android smartphone.

What is the use of a portable router?

But, to fully understand the difference between the classic hotspot and the mobile NAS router, let’s look at the subject. To do this, what could be better than a painting, in order to see more clearly on the subject. Here are the features specific to each of these solutions:

Function / Use

Hotspot

Router + Mobile NAS

Internet connection sharing

Oui

Oui

LAN at home

Non

Oui

Access to smartphone files (NAS)

Non

SFTP/NAS

Removing access via VPN

Non

Oui

Static IP

Limit

VPNHOTSPOT (optional)

Without sim card

No (or not very useful)

Yes (LAN + NAS LOCAL)

Connection of external devices (USB, Ethernet)

Non

Yes (with USB-C hub)

VPN sharing

Impossible

Possible with root + vpnhotspot

Transfer rate – Local NAS

None

~200 MBps en Wi-Fi local

In short, therefore, the router with NAS Mobile is more complete, offers much more features and goes far beyond a simple access point. Better still, through its characteristics, it offers a much more secure local and global connection environment. The icing on the cake, this solution can be operational in a few minutes and after a few manipulations.

How to transform your old Android smartphone into a portable router?

So, finally come to the heart of the subject: how can you transform this old unnecessary phone into a pillar of your local network? Very discussions, here is our tutorial, stages in stages.

What you need

First, make sure you have the right components to design this router. Here are the key elements you need to design your portable router:

  • An Android Rooté smartphone
  • A 5 GHz network, ideally and for more stability
  • Diverses applications :
    • VPN Hotspot – for VPN sharing and awarding a static IP
    • PRIM-FTPD-To expose SFTP on phone storage
    • Wire Guard – for remote secure VPN access

How to transform your phone into a router?

If everything is good on the side of the checklist, then it’s time to get started. Here are the steps to follow to set up your mobile router:

  1. Prepare le smartphone
    1. Proceed to factory reset device
    2. Install a boutique d’applications alternativelike F-Droid
    3. Install them essential applications to the router:
      1. VPN Hotspot
      2. Prim-ftpd
      3. Wire Guard
  1. Configure the hotspot
    1. Activate the WiFi access pointideally in 5 GHz
    2. Activate the connection sharing VPN sur VPN Hotspot
    3. Activate The static IP option On VPN Hotspot, if desired
  1. Activate L‘NAS access
    1. Configure Prim-ftpd on internal storage or microSD storage
    2. Launch it server
    3. Check the right operation by accessing the device files via SFTP from a computer or other smartphone
  1. Add one VPN remote access
    1. Install Wire Guard
    2. Activate remote access To secure your home network and remote services
  1. Make sure you have a Reliable power source
    1. Connect a Battery external To keep the nomadic appearance of the router
    2. Configure a 80% load limiter To preserve the battery

And that’s it! Keep the continuous power need for this device in mind, and take advantage of your mobile router. According to the Reddit user, here are the observable results:

  • Wan up to 100 Mbps
  • LAN up to 200 Mbps
  • SFTP around 5 to 10 Mbps

Be careful however: if it is secure, this solution is not as much as a dedicated NAS. It remains a low-cost troubleshooting solution, designed for nomadic use at a lower cost.

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