Update 2/7/2022 06:15 PST
The creator of this project has provided an update on this project. The project now uses a WD My Passport Ultra 5TB HDD and features a HDHomeRun Extend HDTV tuner. More details can be found in the original reddit post.
Original Article
We’ve seen Raspberry Pi hotspots before but this one, created by Reddit user Treasurehunter613, has a few extra features that really add to the on-the-go experience. This Pi-powered LTE WiFi hotspot doubles as an NAS and comes with all of the support provided by the Raspberry Pi.
According to Treasurehunter613, the module uses very little power which makes it ideal to take on trips. Expanding the NAS storage capacity is as easy as attaching a second drive. The NAS aspect of the build is via Samba a free software re-implementation of the SMB networking protocol. Samba is very popular with Raspberry Pi network storage project creators.
The project doesn’t even require the latest Pi, relying on a Raspberry Pi 3B+. While still a formidable Raspberry Pi, the Raspberry Pi 4 has the horsepower and support for Gigabit Ethernet. For LTE support, it has a Waveshare 3G/4G/LTE HAT along with dual Proxicast 3G/4G/LTE antennas. To keep things compact, a SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB SSD Flash Drive is used for NAS storage space while battery makes the whole operation mobile.
Treasurehunter613 has documented the parts and configurations steps necessary for anyone recreate the project. The steps include setting up Wi-Fi access points and setting up the 4G HAT.
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While plenty of modules already exist that provide mobile WiFi support, the benefit here lies in the versatility of the Pi. Attaching a larger MIMO antenna or bigger drive for the NAS is always an option. It also adds functionality that can be shared with multiple users who can access media hosted on the NAS using their mobile devices locally.
To get a closer look, check out the original project thread shared to Reddit and be sure to follow Treasurehunter613 for any future updates.
Ash Hill is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware with a wealth of experience in the hobby electronics, 3D printing and PCs. She manages the Pi projects of the month and much of our daily Raspberry Pi reporting while also finding the best coupons and deals on all tech.