While preparing to spend the next several weeks out of town, I was introduced to the CradlePoint CTR500 Cellular Travel Router by wireless guru orbitalcomp in the Pocketables Forum. It’s an ultra-compact EVDO/HSDPA router that creates a WiFi hotspot from a USB modem, ExpressCard modem, ethernet connection, or select cell phones, making it perfect for traveling and the newest addition to my gear bag.
The hotel I’ll be living in has a hardwire-only connection, which leaves my husband with no way to get his internet fix on his WiFi-dependent gadgets while I’m online. And since the iPhone 3G has laughable Bluetooth support (another one of my gripes), I can’t share its HSDPA connection with anything he has.
So what we plan to do is plug the hotel’s cable into the CTR500 and blanket our room with secure wi-fi coverage. I haven’t started packing yet, but based on what I think I’ll be bringing, I believe we’ll end up with eight WiFi-enabled gadgets between the two of us. Fortunately, the router allows up to 16 users, leaving us with quite a bit of room for spontaneous purchases.
CradlePoint makes two other travel routers, including one with a built-in rechargeable battery, but I chose the CTR500 for its ethernet port and ExpressCard slot. See compatibility list.
I’m having trouble getting my ExpressCard modem (Option GT Max 3.6 Express), which has no problems with the Kohjinsha SC3 and Sony Vaio TZ, to work properly with the router at the moment, but the ethernet connection is flawless. I definitely want to get the ExpressCard working eventually, but since all we really need for this trip is the LAN wire, I’m not fretting over it too much right now.
Although the CTR500′s reliance on AC power makes it less mobile than if it were battery-powered, something like the Tekkeon portable power station is an easy workaround. The external battery charges lots of other devices (including notebooks and UMPCs), too, so it’s already on my list of traveling must-haves.
In addition to being incredibly compact and providing so many different ways to get online, substantial firmware upgrades are another highlight of the CTR500. The latest one, version 1.3.1, adds load balancing, failback to ethernet, and more supported devices. For more information, check out EVDOinfo’s fantastic CTR500 review.
Needless to say, our temporary home-away-from-home will be more like home because of this router.
The CradlePoint CTR500 Cellular Travel Router retails for $180 but can be found for a bit less on Amazon
Since you’re Honolulu based, I was wondering if you’ve subscribed with Mobi Hele before, and if you can give your opinions on the service?
I’m very interested in mobile broadband but the cost is somewhat prohibitive.
Hi, I’m actually looking for a travel router outside of America. Any good ones to recommend? Thanks and regards
@ Brian: No, I’ve never tried Hele. I use the $20 GoPhone unlimited 3G data plan for all my on-the-go and out-of-town mobile broadband needs. Here’s the tutorial if you’re interested in trying it out.
@ TK: Where outside of America? This router supports two Canadian networks as well as some generic UMTS/GSM devices that may work internationally.
@Jenn: I go on trips to Asia frequently, so I am looking for one that doesn’t use mobile broadband. Thanks and regards.
I have been pretty pleased with the combination wmwifirouter.com and a winmobile 3G-phone with wifi (htc s730 ex.) for quite some time. It creates a access point on the phone and my laptop’s on the net
Another one to consider is the Kyocera KR2 (http://www.phonemag.com/kyocera-kr2-and-kpc-680-hands-on-review-063444.php); again, it has an ExpressCard slot and USB port for WWAN modems, together with the usual WAN port, four LAN ports and WiFi b/g. Still no battery power, and it’s larger than the CradlePoint, but it’s totally plug’n'play.
We used it for a couple of weeks, with a Verizon EVDO card, while AT&T got their act together to hook up our ADSL. It worked really well.
@Jenn
WOW! I didn’t realize such a thing even existed! Do you think you can use the old EDGE network with this plan? I use a Sony UX and if this SIM will allow me to access the internet using it, that’d be awesome!
I’m a bit confused on this whole 3G vs GSM stuff, and I was under the impression that anything 3G related didn’t have a SIM card? Are there any 3G USB modems that would work with AT&Ts network and that SIM card?
@TK, if you are looking for a travel router that has WAN input and does WiFi, it would be hard to find something better/smaller than the CTR500′s little brother, the Cradlepoint CTR350 — http://www.EVDOinfo.com/CTR350
The CTR350 is tiny — only about the size of a deck of cards or a pack of cigarettes! In this photo, the CTR350 is to the right of PHS300 and CTR500:
http://www.evdoinfo.com/images/stories/CTR500_CTR350_PHS300.jpg
as a bonus, it is also a cellular router like the CTR500 is.
@Jenn thanks! will look into it. Enjoy your trip!
@ Brian: Verizon and Sprint EVDO 3G data cards won’t have SIMs, but AT&T and T-Mobile GSM (i.e. HSDPA/HSUPA) data cards will. Think of them as cellphones without screens, keypads, speakers and all the rest: just the connectivity core left.
You can find plenty of GSM 3G modems, and they have the benefit of working (if the correct bands are supported) outside of the US.
@ Brian: No, it’s CDMA (the main competition to GSM) that doesn’t use SIM cards. Sprint and Verizon are both CDMA, while T-Mobile and AT&T are GSM. GSM’s 3G/3.5G service is HSDPA, while CDMA’s is EVDO. AT&T has several 3G USB modems called USBConnect. Their newest one is the Mercury, which is about the size of a thumb drive and doubles as a microSD card reader.
I’m not 100% sure on this, but I think anything that supports 3G/3.5G also supports EDGE.
@ Chris: Sorry for repeating most of your comment. I posted mine at the airport and didn’t refresh the page for a long time, so I missed yours.
Best place in Canada to purchase the CTR-500, best to call instant rebates
Can’t go wrong with these guys, they shipped to my rual address where we live on a farm within 3 business days. These guys are pioneering the Canadian market.
http://www.impactwireless.ca/accessorydetails.aspx?id=1430
Love all the great pics. To see video of the CTR500 go here: http://moremobileinternet.com/product-reviews/#CTR500 Also, videos comparing the CTR350, PHS300 to the CTR500.