FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About 3G Router Store

Who is 3G Router Store?

3G Router Store is the UK’s specialist supplier of industrial 4G and 5G connectivity. We supply routers, antennas, IoT and roaming SIM cards, and the technical expertise needed to deploy them properly.
Founded in 2008 and acquired by Millbeck Communications in 2020, the business focuses exclusively on professional and industrial markets where reliability matters.

We are a Diamond Teltonika Partner and authorised for Proroute and Robustel, while also sourcing other trusted industrial brands where projects demand specific features or form factors. Our approach is consistent: quality hardware, proven performance, and direct technical support.

Why do you only sell to businesses?

Industrial connectivity isn’t plug-and-play WiFi. It involves fixed or private IPs, VPNs, VLANs, remote diagnostics, and resilience planning.

Home routers don’t cut it. We sell and support professional hardware used by engineers, system integrators, and IT teams. That focus allows us to maintain deep product knowledge and responsive support.

What industries do you serve?

We support connectivity across:

  • CCTV and remote security
  • Construction site offices and temporary networks
  • Renewable energy (solar, wind, battery storage)
  • Utilities, water, and environmental monitoring
  • Manufacturing and automation (M2M / SCADA)
  • Smart buildings and BMS systems
  • Transport, logistics, and remote telematics
  • Retail kiosks, signage, and IoT infrastructure

If it connects over 4G or 5G and uptime matters, it’s in our wheelhouse.

What makes you a single-source supplier?

We hold UK stock of routers, antennas, cabling, power supplies, and IoT SIMs—all tested to work together.
That means one order, one invoice, and one point of support. No mismatched parts or conflicting advice. We design, supply, and support the complete connectivity chain from SIM to antenna tip.

Router and SIM Selection

Do you only sell Teltonika, Proroute, and Robustel?

They’re our featured ranges due to build quality, firmware maturity, and long-term availability.
We also source other reputable industrial router brands for niche applications or customer-specified standards.
Our priority is always the right tool for the job, not a limited catalogue.

4G or 5G for industrial use?

  • 4G LTE: the stable, proven backbone for most CCTV, telemetry, and BMS systems.

  • 5G: the higher-capacity option for bandwidth-heavy jobs—multi-camera systems, SD-WAN, edge compute, or rapid-deploy offices.
    All 5G routers support 4G fallback, so you can deploy now and grow into future coverage.

LTE categories explained

  • CAT4: up to 150 Mbps – ideal for most IoT, telemetry, and small CCTV.

  • CAT6: up to 300 Mbps – solid all-rounder with carrier aggregation.

  • CAT12+: higher throughput and more aggregation – for sites pushing upload limits.
    Real-world performance depends more on antenna and signal quality than theoretical numbers.

Dual SIM vs multi-network roaming SIMs

Dual SIM routers were originally used to switch between two single-network SIMs for failover.
Today, multi-network roaming IoT SIMs often make that redundant by automatically roaming across all major UK networks on a single profile.

Use this as guidance:

  • Single-slot router + roaming IoT SIM: usually sufficient for most modern UK deployments.

  • Dual-SIM router + roaming SIM: still valuable for mission-critical sites where you might combine roaming coverage with a secondary private IP SIM.

  • Two different roaming providers: maximum redundancy for security, energy, or infrastructure use.

Fixed IP or VPN?

  • Fixed Public IP — direct remote access and port forwarding. Easy, but ensure strict security.

  • Fixed Private IP (VPN) — operates inside a private network accessed via VPN; best for multi-site, higher-security applications.

  • Dynamic IP (CGNAT) + VPN client — suitable if you manage your own head-end or cloud server.

We supply public, private, and VPN-based IoT SIMs (including multi-network variants) to match your architecture.

How much data do I need?

  • Light telemetry or monitoring: 1–5 GB/month

  • Single HD CCTV camera: 20–40 GB/month

  • Multi-camera or office use: 100–300 GB/month
    Always add 25% margin for remote access, firmware updates, and unexpected activity.

Antennas and Signal

Do I need an external antenna?

If your router sits in a metal cabinet, portable cabin, basement, or anywhere with poor indoor reception, yes.
The goal isn’t to “boost” signal but to relocate the antenna to where signal already exists—on a wall, mast, or roof.

If signal strength indoors is already strong and stable, an external antenna may not improve anything.

Omni vs directional antennas

  • Omni: receives from all directions, ideal in towns or where towers are close or unknown.

  • Directional: higher gain, must be aimed precisely, ideal for rural installations or known tower locations.
    If unsure, start with a Fullband or Poynting wideband omni. Move to directional later if tests show it helps.

2×2 vs 4×4 MIMO

  • 2×2 MIMO (two connectors) is standard on most 4G routers.

  • 4×4 MIMO (four connectors) is used by 5G models like Teltonika RUTX50 and RUTM51.
    Always match antenna type to router capability—mixing paddles with externals cuts performance in half.

Cable quality and placement

  • Keep cables short to reduce loss.
  • For runs over 5 m, use LMR-240 or LMR-400 instead of RG-58.
  • Mount antennas high, in the open, away from metalwork.
  • Avoid water ingress at connectors—seal and weatherproof properly.
  • Never coil spare cable tightly.

Reading signal properly

Bars mean nothing. Check RSRP, RSRQ, and SINR in the router interface.
A steady RSRP (−80 dBm range) with good RSRQ and positive SINR means a strong, clean link.
Band-locking or manual network selection can often stabilise tricky sites—we can advise case-by-case.

Security and Reliability

How can I keep my installation secure?

  • Change admin passwords before deployment.
  • Disable remote admin unless protected by VPN.
  • Use IP allow-lists where port forwarding is unavoidable.
  • Enable ping reboot or scheduled reboot for unattended sites.
  • Keep firmware current and verified.
  • Separate LAN traffic using VLANs or firewall zones.

What is ping reboot?

A simple but essential watchdog: the router pings a target (e.g. 8.8.8.8) every few minutes.
If it stops getting replies, it reboots or reconnects automatically.
It keeps remote systems alive without needing a site visit when the mobile session stalls.

Support and Service

How do I get technical support?

The quickest and most effective way is to email support@3grouterstore.co.uk with full details of your setup and issue (router model, SIM type, network, configuration summary, screenshots if possible).
Typical email response time is within one hour during business hours.

If you require a telephone call, an engineer callback will be arranged under our standard SLA of four hours.
Priority response and direct-dial engineer access are available under maintenance agreements.

We encourage detailed email requests instead of “please call me” messages — it saves time, allows engineers to prepare, and ensures the right person responds first time.

Can you pre-configure routers before shipping?

Yes. For multi-site or time-critical projects we can pre-load:

  • APN and SIM credentials
  • WiFi and LAN details
  • VPN or fixed IP settings
  • Ping reboot / scheduled reboot rules
  • RMS or RCMS registration

Pre-configuration is quoted per project and saves hours on site.

Delivery, warranties, and returns

  • Next-day delivery available across the UK.
  • Free shipping on qualifying large orders.
  • Manufacturer warranties: typically 2–3 years.
  • We triage and handle warranty claims directly to minimise downtime.

Do you handle large rollouts?

Yes — bulk pricing, configuration templates, stock reservation, phased delivery, and technical project support are our core strengths.
Call 01937 534 914 or email sales@3grouterstore.co.uk with your rollout details.

Example Deployment Profiles

  • Compact CCTV system: Teltonika RUT241 or Proroute H685, 2×2 MIMO omni antenna, multi-network IoT SIM with Fixed Public IP, ping reboot enabled.

  • Medium CCTV or BMS: Teltonika RUT901 or RUT951, dual-SIM failover or private-IP VPN SIM, external 2×2 MIMO, band-locked to stable frequencies.

  • High-demand / 5G site: Teltonika RUTX50 or Robustel R5020, 4×4 MIMO antenna, multi-network roaming SIM, fixed private IP via VPN.

  • Critical infrastructure: two independent SIM providers, private IP with VPN, RMS or RCMS monitoring, allow-listed jump host.

Every project is scoped individually—email us your application details and we’ll specify the router, antenna, SIM, and configuration as a complete working solution.

Contact

Sales: sales@3grouterstore.co.uk
Support: support@3grouterstore.co.uk
Phone: 01937 534 914
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 17:00