Connecting to mobile and home network via 2 WiFi adapters

[SosigMasta]

Apologies if this has been asked/answered before - I've had a search, but couldn't find what I was looking for. Also, sorry if this should be in the Wireless subforum, but I figured this is more of a routing issue.

I'm currently without a phone line, so I'm using my mobile as a wireless access point. I've still got my wireless router (Technicolor DGA0122NLK), but it doesn't seem to support using a phone as a 3G/4G modem, or logging in to another WAP for internet access. I'd like to be able to wirelessly connect to the router in order to access my legacy ethernet devices (NAS box, printer, etc) while also connecting to the internet through the phone. I'm using a Windows 11 laptop with a built-in WiFi card.

I bought a USB WiFi dongle as a second adapter so I can connect to the phone and router at the same time, but it's trickier than I'd anticipated, as my internet access dies as soon as I connect to anything through the router. I presume that I just need to set up some routing rules so that traffic to the home network is sent to adapter #2, while everything else goes to adapter #1, but I've never done this before and I'm not sure where to start.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[deanwebb]

Mobile devices are severely limited in what they can offer up as a hotspot.

1. Data cap - unless you have unlimited hotspot data (which may be tracked differently from other data, check plan), you may max out your plan's data allowance.
2. Router connection - the router must have mobile tethering as a feature for this to work. No mobile tethering, no router connection.
3. Security - some VPN providers have difficulty setting up if they're going through both an IP router and a mobile hotspot.

One suggestion that could save you much trouble would be getting a *cellular router*. That's a device that presents to your network as an IP device, but connects to the Internet via mobile service. Looks like they're around $100 US in price, with some fluctuation for high-end and low-end models.