topic Re: EE5G USBC Only - How to Connect to External Router and Keep Charge in Mobile Broadband

EE5G USBC Only - How to Connect to External Router and Keep Charge

Waggaz — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:28:11 GMT

Hi all,

I just got a small EE5G home hub setup. It only has the one USBC port which I'm currently using for keeping it charged.

I'd like to connect it via ethernet cable to a much more powerful TPLink NX210 router to boost the signal, but i cant see how i can both plug in a USBC/ethernet adapter, and keep the hub charged.

Are there splitters or switches anyone can recommend that would allow me to connect it via ethernet cable to the external router and keep it charged?

Re: EE5G USBC Only - How to Connect to External Router and Keep Charge

XRaySpeX — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:40:01 GMT

The other router would need to provide PoE (Power over Ethernet). That TP-Link doesn't!

Why can't you use the TP-Link on its own & ditch the small EE5G home hub?

Re: EE5G USBC Only - How to Connect to External Router and Keep Charge

Waggaz — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:03:22 GMT

Because of ZScaler which is needed for various applications.

I can get a connection with the smaller EE5G hub when I turn off the 5GZ channel - Zscaler is fine with the 2.5GZ one. When I try switching off the 5GZ band on the TP-Link hub ZScaler still wont connect to the 2.5GZ band.

I thought I would try to use the EE5G hub and TP-Link one together, using one for Zscaler apps.

I'm not sure anyone else here has had issues with Zscaler?

Re: EE5G USBC Only - How to Connect to External Router and Keep Charge

XRaySpeX — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 15:03:25 GMT

ZScalar should be able to connect to the 2.4 GHz band of either router. Possibly the higher spec TP-Link's more stringent WiFi security is not suitable. Try downgrading it to WPA2-PSK.

Re: EE5G USBC Only - How to Connect to External Router and Keep Charge

Waggaz — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:52:08 GMT

Hey, that's the default security - I tried some of the other options but still no luck. Any other settings in the TPLink server you can think of that isnt an issue with the EE one?

Re: EE5G USBC Only - How to Connect to External Router and Keep Charge

Waggaz — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:32:17 GMT

Finally got it working. I had to setup a new profile for the WAN that used IPv4. Google AI created some nice instructions here: https://www.google.com/search?q=tplink+cant+change+pfp+mode&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB1141GB1141&oq=tplink+cant+change+pdp&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCQgCECEYChigATIGCAAQRRg5MgkIARAhGAoYoAEyCQgCECEYChigATIJCAMQIRgKGKABMgkIBBAhGAoYoAEyCQgFECEYChigATIHCAYQIRiPAjIHCAcQIRiPAtIBCDQ2MjRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8