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##The No Holds Barred Approach

###Cellular Devices from Home that Work at the Destination I travel a fair amount, so one of my criteria for selecting cellular network devices is that they have a hope of being used in other countries and with other mobile network operators. Here are the criteria that I look for in a cellular device for traveling:

###A Second Handset that Works on Your Home Network and Can Roam on the Foreign Network

###SIM Card Adapter Kit (smaller => larger)

###SIM Card Trimming Tools (larger => smaller)

###Personal Hotspot on A Different Network at My Destination As a backup for my devices with built-in cellular data, I use a cellular data personal hotspot. The hotspot is deliberately activated with a different mobile network operator from my other devices. That way, I have slightly better geographic data coverage because I can use data from either network. I have also used this device during an outage on the network that my phone was on.

###Car-type Cell Signal Booster

###Tablets, eReaders, etc. with Built-In Cellular Data I have cellular data built-in to as many of my connected devices as possible. There are a few different reasons this helps achieve better connectivity:

###USB Battery Pack

###Phone and Network Cables I find that four cables is all I need to carry to make the best of almost any terrestrial internet connection:

###Phone Splitter

###Wifi Access Point I use my own Airport Extreme when traveling in two different situations:

###Laptop with MIMO Wifi For the case where the only desk is far from the only internet connection, a laptop with a good MiMO wifi chipset (and my own wifi access point) is necessary if I want to make the connection without cables. My preference is the Intel 6300. I have had productive work days using a connection to my AirPort Extreme from remarkable distances.

The No Holds Barred Approach

Cellular Devices from Home that Work at the Destination

I travel a fair amount, so one of my criteria for selecting cellular network devices is that they have a hope of being used in other countries and with other mobile network operators. Here are the criteria that I look for in a cellular device for traveling:

A Second Handset that Works on Your Home Network and Can Roam on the Foreign Network

SIM Card Adapter Kit (smaller => larger)

SIM Card Trimming Tools (larger => smaller)

Personal Hotspot on A Different Network at My Destination

As a backup for my devices with built-in cellular data, I use a cellular data personal hotspot. The hotspot is deliberately activated with a different mobile network operator from my other devices. That way, I have slightly better geographic data coverage because I can use data from either network. I have also used this device during an outage on the network that my phone was on.

Car-type Cell Signal Booster

Tablets, eReaders, etc. with Built-In Cellular Data

I have cellular data built-in to as many of my connected devices as possible. There are a few different reasons this helps achieve better connectivity:

USB Battery Pack

Phone and Network Cables

I find that four cables is all I need to carry to make the best of almost any terrestrial internet connection:

Phone Splitter

Wifi Access Point

I use my own Airport Extreme when traveling in two different situations:

Laptop with MIMO Wifi

For the case where the only desk is far from the only internet connection, a laptop with a good MiMO wifi chipset (and my own wifi access point) is necessary if I want to make the connection without cables. My preference is the Intel 6300. I have had productive work days using a connection to my AirPort Extreme from remarkable distances.

Sometimes I am able to save on international roaming costs by getting a SIM Card from a mobile network operator at my destination. In this case, I travel with a second handset and keep my home network's SIM Card in it. Its sole purpose is for me to see who is calling and SMSing my home mobile number. Without a second handset, I have no record of missed calls, and I would need to swap my home network's SIM Card back into my handset in order to get SMS messages for that number.

Sometimes I am able to save on international roaming costs by getting a SIM Card from a mobile network operator at my destination. In this case, I travel with a second handset and keep my home network's SIM Card in it. Its sole purpose is for me to see who is calling and SMSing my home mobile number. Without a second handset, I have no record of missed calls, and I would need to swap my home network's SIM Card back into my handset in order to get SMS messages for that number.

Despite that these boosters are designed to be used in a car, they can be used in buildings as well. Sitting at a desk with marginal cellular coverage, I often power the booster over USB from my laptop and use it to boost my phone for voice calls and internet.

Despite that these boosters are designed to be used in a car, they can be used in buildings as well. The antennas are designed with magnetic bases to mount to the exterior of a car. This arrangement provides both a physical mount and a ground-plane for the antenna. Sitting at a desk with marginal cellular coverage, I often power the booster over USB from my laptop and use it to boost my phone for voice calls and internet. In that case, I have found that I can usually find a metal baking sheet or roasting pan to use as a ground-plane and mounting surface.