Cradlepoint Travel Router CTR-500

• 150 Feet Of WiFi Range
• Optional +5bd External Antenna Extends Range
• Take Anywhere Size ( 2.9in x 4.8in )
• Ethernet Port f or Failover/Failback
• For 3G/4G USB or ExpressCard Modems
• Compliant with IEEE 802.11 b/g Standards
• Signal Strength Indicator
• Tethers to select Smartphones or over 100 Modems for WiFi access anywhere you have coverage

Before getting the CradlePoint router I was using the Apple AirPort Express as my travel router. However, the CTR500 is now the router of choice in my bag. It works great and has a slew of configuration options. CradlePoint does make a battery operated version, I just wish that this one was one. I also wish that the AC adapter were smaller. Otherwise, this thing rocks!

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though the support site doesn't mention it works with T-Mobile 3G, it does

on advanced-mobem setting, there's a box where you can put AT command that you can specify which APN you use, then use these commands

AT

AT+CGDCONT=1,IP,"(YOUR APN)"

ATDT*99#

it also works with nokia 3555 and Bandrich 3G card for T-mobile (from stelerawireless.com), you have to have microUSB cable and need to use nokia mode with 3555

this is the best solution to tether data card with other wifi based device (tried LocPlayer on PSP with T-Mobile HSDPA), and works well

however, it has some speed hit when using this router, the speed drops around 30% when going through this router

some newer model express cards and SE phones don't work with this router

a side note: you can modify PSP external battery with compatible DC plug to make it 100% portable, the external battery can provide an hour of continuous streaming

Read Best Reviews of Cradlepoint Travel Router CTR-500 Here

I travel quite a bit for work and I got this router to share my Verizon EVDO RevA card between my laptop and UMA VoIP phone. It works great. In less than 10 minutes from opening the box I was up and running.

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I've had a 3G card for quite a while. Love it. But sharing the connection was hard, until I got a Cradlepoint. This little router works as advertised and very little fuss. I always expect a little work setting up. That's normal. A lot of work is not normal. Thankfully Cradlepoint is quite easy and no hair-tearing.

The firmware as a little old out of the box, so the first thing to do is go update. No major fixes but the latest firmware adds support for the new 4G modems, which is really awesome given that 4G is brand new. This is a great incentive to go grab a 4G even if 4G doesn't have modem drivers for your computer (Mac, linux).

Setting up the Cradlepoint was a snap: plug in the USB 3G modem (I use a Sprint Compass 597U) and watch for the blue lights. Just be sure the Cradlepoint wifi transmitter is turned on -mine had wifi off out of the box.

Now you are ready to surf! This is the only other tricky point: by default, the Cradlepoint will ask users for an access passcode. The admin PC is already "known" by this point and won't see this screen; only other users will. So be sure to test the wifi with more than one PC. How to turn off this passcode thing is Cradlepoint's number one FAQ item so it seems to be an issue for a lot of people. The passcode it wants (and they never tell you this) is the same one used for the router's admin password. Probably not the best info to go sharing with people. I recommend using a good WPA/WPA2 password and just disable Cradlepoint's access passcode feature.

Once you do this, it just works. Every time. Plug in the USB, wait for the blue lights, and you are online. This is how a router should work and I am very pleased. Highly recommended.

I was having a lot of problems with getting my AT&T Option 3.6 expresscard to work and set up a network, so I began troubleshooting on cradlepoint's website. They suggested to update to the latest firmware, which my CTR-500 did not come with, it was one update behind. I downloaded the firmware update, and I was very skeptical. After downloading the update, I set up my new network via expresscard in literally a minute. I was up and running, and no complaints thus far!

Its very lightweight and tiny, again, I was extremely skeptical that this would help me at all, but it did boost my signal and let me share my expresscard!