I have a tablet computer running Android 4.4.2, and a
Sprint MiFi 500 LTE wireless modem/router which I use
to connect to the Internet via the Sprint LTE cellular phone
system. I do not have phone capability, though.
The Sprint modem/router picks up the Sprint LTE cellular
signal containing Internet data and converts it to a WiFi
signal which is transmitted to the tablet.
Each device is battery powered, and charged by plugging
a USB cable with a micro USB connector into the device
and a male A-type USB connector into the charger.
Instead of plugging into a charger, the tablet can connect
to a computer by plugging the A-type connector into the
computer. This allows both data transfer and charging
the tablet from the computer.
The Sprint modem/router can connect to a computer in
exactly the same way. This allows a direct USB connection
between the computer and modem/router without using
WiFi, and also charges the modem/router battery.
Can I connect the tablet and modem/router by USB cable?
— Jeff, in Minneapolis
Maybe connecting through a USB hub
could do the trick. The objective is to connect the tablet
to the wireless modem/router via USB so as to eliminate the
need for the WiFi connection between them, the same as I know
can be done with a desktop computer. A hub might also allow
you to connect a keyboard and mouse at the same time as both
the tablet and modem/router are charging.
If the tablet is a wifi only device (no Ethernet/cat-5 port) then I suspect you can’t use usb to connect it to the router in order to connect to the web etc.. But not having tried it I could of course be wrong…
My memory is that with my iPad/iPhones I can connect to my assorted computers (Mac/Windows) via usb, and like you transfer data; but they cannot actually get online that way. My router is cat-5 (and of course wifi) only so to test out a usb connection to my router isn’t possible.