teltonika router

content/log/2025/teltonika-router.md

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+---
+title: "Teltonika Router"
+date: 2025-01-18T22:42:23+02:00
+draft: true
+---
+
+This is my first product review. I really wanted to write it, because:
+
+- from my very limited use, it promised a really good start.
+- I haven't heard of the product line, even though the company HQ is a few
+  kilometers from me (and is a well-known brand and employer, but not for
+  routers!).
+
+Background
+----------
+
+I am building a house. Huge thanks to my very helpful neighbors for putting a
+webcam on his windowsill and sharing the feed (and recordings), I was able to
+see a view the construction. It was *extremely* helpful for reasons I will not
+get into here.
+
+The construction will soon continue, and, thanks to the success of the
+neighbor's camera so far, I decided to set up my own for a better, closer-up
+view. I spent a good amount of time over the last few days looking for a device
+combination that would:
+
+- Do the feed. Friends of friends at [jpg.lt][jpg] recommended going with
+  Dahua. The recommendation is consistent with [Frigate][frigate] [hardware
+  recommendations][frigate-hw] page. I bought the camera from jpg.lt.
+- 4G/5G modem, so the feed can be downloaded by the NVR. My first choice is
+  Frigate, we'll see how it goes.
+- WiFi router, so I have more on-site troubleshooting options, besides climbing
+  a 4m pole to attach the RJ45 cable.
+- Should be installable and service-able by a non-specialized contractor.
+- Highly desired, but optional: tailscale support.
+- Highly desired: as little devices as possible.
+- All equipment will be outside, on a pole, in [Vilnius climate][vilnius],
+  during winter & summer seasons.
+
+Having been Mikrotik user for the last few years, that was obviously my first
+choice. However, Mikrotik does not have a device that is both an LTE modem and
+a WiFi router. Internet searches for this combination uncovered Teltonika
+Networks. Teltonika, as you may know, is headquartered in Lithuania. I did not
+know they are making routers right until this search. Bad marketing?
+
+Anyhow, [RUTX11][rutx11] is the cheapest 4G+WiFi router that meets my spec (not
+that it's cheap; they have more expensive stuff that's higher-specced, which is
+just unnecessary for me). They also sell a [separate enclosure][enclosure] that
+makes it into an outdoor-capable device (IP67).
+
+Setting it up felt like using a yet-another consumer router, which is good.
+This is a prerequisite, so I can recommend it to my non-geek friends. Setting
+up tailscale felt like setting it up on a consumer router, glitch-free, which
+is great.
+
+OpenWRT origins
+---------------
+
+RutOS is based on OpenWRT, which is great, as OpenWRT is a solid choice
+engineering-wise. Teltonika is a hardware company, not a Router OS company.
+Talking from my personal experience, customizing OpenWRT does not take much
+Router OS is not something where one needs to "differentiate". The
+differentiation is in:
+- the hardware build, which is very solid,
+- hardware reliability and service-ability, about which feel free to ask me in
+  2-3 years.
+- software and hardware integration (the "add-ons").
+- system upgrades.
+
+[jpg]: https://jpg.lt/
+[frigate-hw]: https://docs.frigate.video/frigate/hardware
+[frigate]: https://frigate.video
+[vilnius]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilnius#Climate
+[rutx11]: https://teltonika-networks.com/products/routers/rutx11
+[enclosure]: https://teltonika-networks.com/products/accessories/antenna-options/outdoor-ltewi-figpsbluetooth-antenna-for-rutx11-and-rutm11-routers