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Question

WiFi router with Internet access to attached Ext Hard Drive?

Mar 13, 2018 2:15PM PDT

I want to replace my Netgear R4500 with a new router that has a USB port for an external hard drive, and the functionality that allows my geographically distant family members to see the photos and videos I store on that external hard drive by using their own internet browser functionality. The Netgear R4500 does have a USB port that can connect to an external hard drive, but the contents are accessible only to my home network devices, not to the outside world. I do not need the functionality of a commercial server, such as an NAS, just the ability to share content over the internet with my spread-out family. I have used Dropbox, but that does not meet my wishes. Price of a new router matters some, but not nearly as much as simplicity to setup and use.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
This router already seems to do this.
Mar 13, 2018 2:22PM PDT
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It may seem to, perhaps, but does not seem to for me
Mar 13, 2018 3:15PM PDT

I have had that PDF manual for a long time, and I phoned Netgear not long after I bought the router. The support person told me that this model R4500 did not have internet accessibility from afar. That page [45] does not tell me that I was misled by Netgear. You probably already know that Netgear offers no phone support for older purchases.

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If the Netgear R4500 allows remote access, how exactly?
Mar 13, 2018 3:29PM PDT

The manual was written for persons much more sophisticated than I and my family members are. If indeed remote access is possible, I and they would need much simpler instructions. Do these exist? I am sorry that Netgear does not provide telephone support except for recent purchasers. I need more support.

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In that case, I can't rewrite this.
Mar 13, 2018 4:21PM PDT

The manual says it does this but not only must you turn it on and configure I find folk LOST about the EXTERNAL IP ADDRESS to the router. If folk do not know the basics then no router I know of will work today.

Maybe you are a candidate for Dropbox?

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Dropbox does not meet my wishes.
Mar 14, 2018 8:52PM PDT

My geographically remote family members found it difficult to download the images, etc. from the site. I posted the link and they could see images, but from there they were stumped. I need something simpler.

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If they can see the images, they can right click and save.
Mar 14, 2018 9:11PM PDT

This is how you do this on so many sites. It's almost a standard. The router share will be just as hard since HTTP sharing will still show the picture and the user has to right click save.

I don't know of anything simpler today.

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Sorry it was on page 47 and on.
Mar 14, 2018 9:41PM PDT

It seems pretty easy to me but I have the basics down about IP addresses. That is I know what my LAN address is and when I share like this know to look up what my external IP which I share to folk that are not on my LAN.

RIGHT HERE!! RIGHT THERE is where I see a lot of folk get lost. While this is the cheapest way to share a folder of items, not only do you need to know this and why but then you get to test away from your home LAN to see if it's working.

I see both FTP and HTTP are supported but everyday users rarely use FTP. Many just don't know what it is and more will refuse to look it up.

My suggestion is to use the HTTP feature so you can give them an address that works for browsers.

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Clarification Request
Another Cloud. 2TB. Lifetime for 50 bucks?
Mar 15, 2018 7:57AM PDT