Most digital nomads buy the wrong connectivity gear because they optimize for the wrong problem. They buy a cheap portable hotspot when they actually need a travel router. They buy an eSIM data plan before checking local SIM prices. Then they lose an afternoon to a video call that sounds like a robot drowning. Here is the actual order of operations that works in 2026: test the local network first, carry a router that can fix bad Wi-Fi, and only then buy data. This guide covers the gear, the testing method, and the specific products I would buy right now.…