Mobile Broadband - Cheap 5G Modem Recommendations

whitfords on 26/09/2025 - 01:39

I currently have mobile broadband through Belong and supplied my own basic 4G modem and it has been sufficient for our needs and has made moving between properties over the last few years easier by not having to worry about transferring internet services. I also have a Google mesh + router that I’m happy with.

From what I understand my plan supports 5G but I’m obviously unable to access higher speeds with a 4G modem.

Ideally I would like to get a cheap no frills modem similar to my current one which is a Netgear with no wifi and a single Ethernet port as I intend to continue using my Google router.

I don’t see many that match this criteria, most are massive boxes with wifi included, and it also seems that there’s a HUGE price jump for 4G to 5G modems. Crazy to think that a lot of 5G phone costs way less than a 5G modem.

I did find a new modem from Inseego for ~$200 but reviews aren’t great.

FB marketplace has a few 5G modems come up but it sounds like I need to worry about whether they are network locked. Is this a thing? Are there certain brands or models that are on marketplace that are always unlocked, or can they be easily unlocked? If I am with Belong does that mean a Telstra locked modem would work?

I’m also open to doing something like a 5G phone and Ethernet dongle setup but would like to know more about this before I go down this path. I have read there could be some NAT issues or something with this approach and don’t know enough about it.

TIA

Internet Mobile Broadband Modem

Comments

  • whitfords on 26/09/2025 - 01:53

    To complicate second hand purchases even further I just read that the current Telstra smart modems are geolocked.

  • shadyscab on 26/09/2025 - 06:04
    +1

    Get a marketplace modem.

    Most of them are unlocked, just do your research, I got two for $40 each, one Telstra, one Optus both worked well with belong, Telstra was smaller so resold the Optus one for $50 within a few days.

  • geek001 on 26/09/2025 - 09:48

    When I had mobile broadband, I used an old phone connected to a Raspberry PI. The Raspberry Pi was connected to my mesh router and routing traffic via USB tethering. I would imagine you can probably do the same if you have an old 5G phone sitting in your drawer. If the Raspberry Pi is too intimidating, there is no reason you can't use an old laptop running Windows and just share the connection. Might be an option if you have an old laptop and an old 5G phone lying around.

    • GordonD on 26/09/2025 - 17:28

      if you have an old 5G phone sitting in your drawer

      And who hasn't got one of those.

      Oh, wait, you mean one the isn't blocked from connecting to the mobile phone network because it uses 3G.

      • geek001 on 26/09/2025 - 19:55

        5G has been around for a while now. I actually have an old 5G phone sitting in my drawer at the moment, not because I got money to burn, but mostly because the phone has very poor battery life and a pretty badly cracked screen.

        Sorry to hear your phone got blocked for no reason.

    • dcep on 27/09/2025 - 00:43
      +1

      does that mean the phone battery is constantly charging at 100% status 24/7 ?

      phone won't heat up during data tethering ?

      battery won't swell / explode ?

      • geek001 on 27/09/2025 - 08:14
        +1

        I think on Android phones there is a setting to protect your battery by limiting max charging. Anyway, I was on mobile broadband for around 2 years before FTTP came to my area. I didnt have any issues with the phone tethering setup.

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