Best PI setup for mobile WiFi

[GEE_911]

I'm about to attempt my first Pi project which requires the device to receive 3G/LTE and GPS, while making a WiFi hotspot for 10+ devices to use as a mobile hotspot.

I understand that the Raspberry Pi has no built in SIM card adapter, or GPS. Since it is my first project, I would like some advice as what the best (and most affordable) way to do this is. It is also imperative that roughly 10-15 devices can connect to the device simultaneously.

From the research I have done, I have found that the Orange Pi has built in GPS and SIM card capabilities, but I have also heard meany people complain about the quality and reliability of the device. It is quite important that the device does not crash often, and is as reliable as possible, as it will be running for roughly 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. Can anyone here confirm/deny this? This is the model I am talking about: http://www.orangepi.org/Orange Pi 4G-IOT/

What I am asking, to put it simply, is if it is better to go with the Raspberry and purchase the relevant adapters/peripherals to accomplish my task, or if the Orange Pi is suitable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Exaelea]

If the main purpose is just being a hotspot and reliable.. just get a mifi device. then later get a pi to play around with/hook up to the mifi
If you need to control what happens on the wifi etc, then get a mikrotik that supports a dongle/simcard

Link to an el cheapo mikrotik with wireless ac and a usb port for dongle Mikrotik hap lite ac

 

[Thor]

GPS is not possible, why do you need it?

As for the rest, pi plus 3g USB modem plus freeradius

 

[Gravedigger]

Depends on what you want to do with GPS?

The Raspberry Pi setup seems cheaper, but then you have to flash the OS, write scripts, etc. I had my Pi 1 as a hotspot as well, was working fine with one client, but as soon as more users was on the hotspot, it timed out, etc. (2014/2015 side project) and it was POWER hungry. It ate through a 2000 mAh power bank in 5-7 mins...

Also, SD card corruptions can happen, because of unexpected power loss, etc.

I'd say, get a device that is dedicated, like another user posted, a MiFi. They should be able to handle more than 10+ devices? And get a beefy power bank, if you want that thing to last longer.

The some simple, the better. Less stuff can go wrong.

My two cents.

 

[Gravedigger]

And as for the Orange Pi , I'd stay away, it may look good, but software support, well, let's say, ridden with bugs, ugly workarounds, little to no tech support, uses old EOL kernels, the list goes on...

I had my personal experience with a Banana Pi Zero, similar to Orange Pi type SBC's, won't use it in a project or system that requires reliability... A hobby, maybe.

Depends on what you want to do with GPS?

The Raspberry Pi setup seems cheaper, but then you have to flash the OS, write scripts, etc. I had my Pi 1 as a hotspot as well, was working fine with one client, but as soon as more users was on the hotspot, it timed out, etc. (2014/2015 side project) and it was POWER hungry. It ate through a 2000 mAh power bank in 5-7 mins...

Also, SD card corruptions can happen, because of unexpected power loss, etc.

I'd say, get a device that is dedicated, like another user posted, a MiFi. They should be able to handle more than 10+ devices? And get a beefy power bank, if you want that thing to last longer.

The some simple, the better. Less stuff can go wrong.

My two cents.