HTG Reviews the HooToo TripMate: Travel Battery & Wi-Fi
The All-in-One Gadget for Tech Enthusiasts
For individuals who frequently travel with multiple devices, managing and carrying all necessary tech can become cumbersome. We're evaluating a versatile device designed to streamline this process.
This innovative gadget functions as three separate tools in a single unit: an external battery pack, a Wi-Fi router, and a micro NAS (Network Attached Storage).
Functionality Breakdown
The primary aim of this combination device is to reduce the number of items a tech-savvy person needs to carry. It attempts to consolidate functionality into a single, portable solution.
Let's examine each function individually to determine if it successfully integrates these capabilities.
- External Battery Pack: Provides supplemental power for smartphones, tablets, and other USB-chargeable devices.
- Wi-Fi Router: Creates a personal Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing multiple devices to connect to the internet.
- Micro NAS: Enables wireless file storage and sharing, offering access to documents and media.
Can it Truly Replace Three Devices?
The central question is whether this all-in-one solution effectively replaces the individual devices it aims to emulate. A thorough assessment of performance and usability is required.
We will investigate if the convenience of consolidation outweighs any potential compromises in performance or features compared to dedicated devices.
Our review will determine if this gadget genuinely achieves its goal of simplifying the mobile tech experience and eliminating unnecessary bulk.
Introducing the TripMate Device
The TripMate functions as a versatile, multi-purpose tool. It integrates the capabilities of a portable power bank, allowing for convenient recharging of devices while traveling. Furthermore, it operates as a Wi-Fi router, configurable for both LAN-to-Wi-Fi conversion and independent Wi-Fi access.
Additionally, the TripMate incorporates a NAS (Network Attached Storage) function. Users can connect a USB hard drive or flash drive to facilitate file sharing and media streaming.
A Challenging Combination
Given the prevalence of subpar batteries, portable Wi-Fi solutions, and NAS devices – each often struggling with its primary function – successfully combining all three into a single unit presents a significant challenge.
Does the TripMate succeed in this ambitious endeavor? An extensive evaluation was conducted, involving both office and on-location usage. The following details the setup process and a comprehensive performance review.
Key Features and Functionality
- Portable Power: Recharges smartphones, tablets, and other USB-powered devices.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Serves as a Wi-Fi hotspot or extends existing LAN networks.
- Network Storage: Enables file sharing and media streaming via connected USB storage.
The TripMate aims to consolidate multiple essential travel and networking tools into a single, compact device. Its performance across these diverse functions will be thoroughly examined.
The device’s ability to effectively manage these roles is crucial to its overall value proposition.
Understanding TripMate Functionality
The primary function of the TripMate centers around its battery capabilities. It operates similarly to other external battery packs, as detailed in guides like The HTG Guide to External Battery Packs. Charge it by connecting it to a power outlet, then take it with you when you're on the move. When your devices require power, simply connect them to the battery pack, press the power button, and enjoy recharging while traveling.
What distinguishes the TripMate from conventional external batteries is its expanded functionality. Let's explore the steps required to transform this compact battery pack into a functional Wi-Fi node. Unlike typical power banks, the TripMate features an additional port beyond the microUSB port (for charging the battery itself) and the standard USB port (for powering connected devices).
Network Connectivity
Located on the device's top panel is a standard RJ45 network jack:
This port allows you to connect a network cable from a wall jack, effectively bridging an available LAN connection to the Wi-Fi node and creating an instant hotspot for your devices.
While the TripMate is largely operational immediately after unboxing with minimal setup, we advise some pre-configuration before extensive use. This includes updating passwords and ensuring the device functions according to your specific needs.
Initial Setup and Wi-Fi Connection
To begin, connect the Ethernet cable to the device. Then, press and hold the power button until the Wi-Fi indicator light illuminates. Once the light stops blinking green and becomes a solid blue, the router component has completed its startup process.
At this stage, you should be able to connect to the device via Wi-Fi. The default SSID is TripMate-xxxx, where xxxx represents a unique identifier. The default password is 11111111. Connect to the TripMate as you would any other Wi-Fi network: select it from your device’s list and enter the password.
Assuming you’ve correctly connected the TripMate to a live network connection with Internet access, you can now begin using the internet.
Advanced Configuration
However, we recommend further configuration to fully explore the device’s capabilities. Once connected to the Wi-Fi node, navigate to the router’s local server at the IP address 10.10.10.254. This IP address is consistent across all TripMate devices.
Log in using the username "admin" and leave the password field blank.
Upon login, a setup wizard will guide you through customizing the SSID and password:
Similar to a conventional router, numerous settings are available for adjustment. It’s generally best to leave these settings at their defaults (such as Dynamic IP and the admin server’s IP address) unless a specific LAN connection necessitates changes.
We maintained the default settings throughout our testing and encountered no issues connecting the TripMate to various networks.
After completing the SSID and password update via the wizard, the device will reboot. Search for the new SSID and reconnect to the Wi-Fi node. If your sole intention is to utilize the device as a travel router, the configuration is now complete.
NAS Feature Access
If you wish to access the Network Attached Storage (NAS) features, a few additional steps are required. After reconnecting to the Wi-Fi node, plug in the desired flash drive or USB device.
Log back into the admin control panel at 10.10.10.254. You will then see the full dashboard:
Select "Disk" to verify that your device is connected and recognized by the system:
You should see the connected USB drive (in our case, a 16GB drive). Clicking on "Volume" will display a basic file browser showing the folders and files on the device. Rudimentary file tools like copy and paste are available, though their practical use is limited.
The TripMate documentation suggests downloading a dedicated helper app for accessing the NAS features. However, we found this software unnecessary, as the USB device is shared via a standard SMB-based share – the same type of folder sharing used in Windows networks for years.
We recommend bypassing the TripMate software entirely. It may have been included due to concerns about user familiarity with network shares, but it adds unnecessary bloat. To access the shares on your computer, connect to the TripMate via Wi-Fi and navigate to: \\tm01\USBDisk1_Volume1\. If you have multiple drives connected, you may prefer to use \\tm01\ to view all available disks and volumes.
Enter "admin" as the username and the password you set during the setup process (note that the share password is independent of the SSID password, unless you intentionally used the same one).
You will then have full read/write access to the attached disk, allowing you to save files, stream movies, and more. For portable devices like Android phones, we recommend downloading a network share browsing app from your app store (such as ES Explorer) for convenient access.
How Does It Perform?
Having demonstrated the simplicity of setup and operation, the crucial question arises: how effectively does this device deliver on its promised capabilities?
Functioning as a portable power source, the TripMate operates predictably. It isn't designed to recharge multiple power-hungry devices simultaneously, but its 5200mAh capacity is sufficient for charging smartphones several times or providing a partial charge to larger tablets. Testing the device as a router powered solely by its battery revealed impressive results. It consistently provided Wi-Fi access to a laptop for almost an entire day – approximately 16 hours – and facilitated uninterrupted video streaming from a connected flash drive for around 6 hours.
While typical usage will likely involve a mains power connection, the battery performance offers valuable flexibility. For instance, it allows for seamless video streaming during extended journeys without reliance on external power sources.
Concerning Wi-Fi speeds, we encountered no limitations in achieving the maximum throughput of our internet connection. Speed tests conducted using the TripMate, which supports 802.11 B/G/N standards, yielded results comparable to those obtained with premium routers connected to the same network.
Wi-Fi coverage was also notably strong. Given that most users will deploy the device within confined spaces – like hotel rooms or lobbies – its range is more than adequate. We successfully maintained a connection while moving throughout our office and even extending into the parking area.
NAS Functionality
The NAS functionality performed without fault. It’s not intended as a high-performance server, but it fulfilled its advertised purpose precisely. We experienced no difficulties transferring files to and from the device using a variety of devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Furthermore, we were able to stream HD video seamlessly to these same devices. From a user perspective, there was no discernible difference between accessing content via our primary router and home server versus connecting to the TripMate and streaming from its attached storage.
TripMate Review: A Comprehensive Assessment
Having thoroughly tested the TripMate over the past month, a detailed evaluation is now possible. This review will outline its strengths, weaknesses, and overall value.
Positive Attributes:
- Its lightweight design is notable; despite integrating Wi-Fi and NAS capabilities, the device weighs approximately 10 ounces, aligning with standard battery pack weights.
- Setup is remarkably straightforward. Users can achieve functionality with minimal configuration, simply by plugging in the device.
- Both internet speeds and NAS transfer rates are impressively quick, considering the compact size of this micro-router.
- A comprehensive instruction manual addresses all potential setup inquiries.
- The device offers excellent battery performance when streaming content away from a power source, enabling extended use during travel.
Areas for Improvement:
- The absence of a built-in flashlight is a surprising omission. Given the device’s multifaceted functionality—battery, Wi-Fi router, and NAS—the lack of even a small LED flashlight is noticeable.
- The included file management software appears unnecessary. While not all users are familiar with network shares, the manual could have sufficiently explained connection procedures.
- The 5200 mAh capacity, while adequate and exceeding many competitors, is insufficient for fully charging larger tablets.
Final Analysis: For individuals requiring a travel router and/or a travel NAS, the TripMate presents a compelling option. It functions effectively as a battery pack, and excels as both a router and a file-sharing solution. Its manageable weight—just over 10 ounces—facilitates easy portability. While the 5200 mAh battery isn't exceptionally large, it surpasses the capacity of many comparable devices, some of which offer only 3000 mAh. Despite a desire for an integrated flashlight and minor concerns regarding the bundled software, the TripMate receives a strong recommendation.