InHand IR302 Compact Industrial 4G Router

InHand IR302 compact industrial 4G router

The InHand IR302 is a compact industrial 4G router for IoT and machine-to-machine sites that need a small, rugged, cloud-managed connection. This page covers the IR302-FQ58-WLAN-S: LTE Cat 4 for UK, European and APAC networks, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, dual SIM and an RS232/RS485 serial port in a full-metal fanless case. It runs from 9 to 36 V DC across a -40 to +75 degrees C extended range, so it suits cabinets, kiosks and remote plant. Dual-SIM failover, a full VPN suite and InHand Device Manager keep unattended sites online and reachable.

Key features

• Compact industrial 4G: LTE Cat 4, up to 150 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up, with 3G and 2G fallback.
• Europe and APAC bands (FQ58): 4G FDD B1/B3/B5/B8 and TDD B38/B40/B41 (plus B34/B39); 3G B1/B5/B8; 2G B3/B8.
• Dual SIM redundancy: ICCID binding and RSRP signal-threshold switching for network backup.
• Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n, AP, STA or AP+STA mode, up to 32 clients.
• Ethernet: 2 x 10/100 Mbps, one WAN/LAN switchable and one LAN.
• Serial DTU: RS232/RS485 with TCP/UDP/MQTT transparent transmission and Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP bridging.
• Full VPN suite: IPsec (IKEv1/v2), OpenVPN, WireGuard, ZeroTier, GRE, L2TP and PPTP.
• Cloud managed: InHand Device Manager and InConnect for remote access, batch config and firmware.
• Rugged power: 9 to 36 V DC wide voltage, reverse-polarity and surge protection, under 10 W peak.
• Industrial build: full metal, fanless, IP30, DIN rail or wall mount, -40 to +75 degrees C extended.
• Certification: CE and UKCA certified for the UK and EU market.

What is the IR302 used for?

SCADA and PLC remote access

The RS232/RS485 serial port runs InHand’s DTU, so a Modbus RTU PLC or meter on the serial line can reach your platform as Modbus TCP or over MQTT. Pair the serial session with an IPsec or WireGuard tunnel and engineers can maintain a remote PLC from the control room without a site visit. The compact case fits inside an existing control cabinet.

Utility and metering telemetry

Distribution monitoring, remote pumping stations and smart metering need a small router that survives a cabinet with no cooling. The IR302 is fanless and rated to -40 degrees C extended, and it streams field data to a platform over MQTT or a VPN. Dual SIM keeps the telemetry link up if one network drops in a remote location.

EV charge point connectivity

Charge points need a reliable backhaul for OCPP messaging, remote billing and firmware updates. The IR302 provides the mobile link in a compact DIN-rail format that fits the charger enclosure. Dual-SIM resilience and remote management through Device Manager reduce truck rolls across a distributed estate.

Unattended retail, ATMs and kiosks

ATMs, vending machines and ticketing terminals must stay online for payments. The IR302 gives these self-service terminals a resilient cellular connection, with a firewall and VLANs to isolate the payment device from other traffic. Dual SIM and VRRP hot standby keep the site trading through a single-network outage.

Environmental and infrastructure monitoring

Water and air quality stations, flood sensors and streetlighting controllers sit in exposed roadside and field cabinets. The IR302’s wide-temperature fanless design and surge-protected power suit these outdoor enclosures. Serial and Ethernet DTU modes backhaul sensor data to a central platform, with alarms raised through Device Manager.

Pro tip

Use the serial port as a protocol bridge, not just a passthrough. The RS232/RS485 port runs the DTU, so a Modbus RTU meter or PLC on the serial line can be presented to your platform as Modbus TCP, or streamed over MQTT to a broker, without a separate gateway. Terminate the RS485 A and B lines correctly and match the baud rate to the field device. For SCADA back to a control room, wrap the DTU session in an IPsec or WireGuard tunnel so the serial data crosses the mobile network encrypted.

Building a resilient cellular connection

The IR302 holds two SIMs for network diversity, but failover is not automatic out of the box. Set the switching rules in the web interface or Device Manager, using ICCID binding, an RSRP signal threshold and a maximum dial-attempt limit, so a weak or failed primary hands over cleanly. Put SIMs from two different networks in the unit to survive a single-operator outage. For inbound remote access and VPN, a fixed IP SIM removes carrier-grade NAT. Wide-voltage input and surge protection let you run the router from a small UPS or the site DC supply, and Device Manager alerts you when a link degrades.

Frequently asked questions

Which mobile networks does the IR302-FQ58 support?

The FQ58 module covers 4G LTE Cat 4 on FDD B1/B3/B5/B8 and TDD B38/B40/B41, plus 3G on B1/B5/B8 and 2G on B3/B8. That works across the main UK and European carriers on 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz. It does not include the 800 MHz (B20) or 700 MHz (B28) low bands, so for deep-rural sites that rely on 800 MHz coverage, call us on 0300 124 6181 to confirm the right variant.

Does the IR302 have a serial port for Modbus, RS232 or RS485?

Yes. The IR302-FQ58-WLAN-S has an RS232/RS485 combo serial port with DTU transparent transmission over TCP server, TCP client, UDP or MQTT. It also bridges Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP, so serial field devices appear as Modbus TCP to your SCADA or platform.

Does the IR302 support dual SIM failover?

Yes. Two SIM slots give network backup with ICCID binding, RSRP threshold switching, packet-loss triggered switching and a maximum dial-attempt limit. These rules are configured in the web interface or Device Manager, not enabled automatically, so set them up during commissioning.

Can I manage the IR302 remotely?

Yes. InHand Device Manager handles batch configuration, firmware and monitoring across a fleet, and InConnect gives secure remote access for maintenance. SNMP v1/v2c/v3, SSH and an HTTP/HTTPS API are also supported. A fixed IP SIM card makes inbound access and VPN simpler. For an overview of secure tunnels, see our guide to VPNs on cellular routers.

Is the IR302 UKCA certified?

Yes. The Europe and APAC variants of the IR302, including the FQ58 covered here, are CE and UKCA certified, so they are approved for sale and use in the UK. Call us if you need the certificate documentation for a compliance file.

Related products and further reading

Browse the full In-Hand Networks router range or add an external antenna from our 4G antennas for cabinet installs where a stub antenna is shielded by metal. For connectivity, see our fixed IP SIM cards and IoT SIM cards. For background on secure remote access, read our guide to VPNs on cellular routers.