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CradlePoint introduces pair of 4G routers, one for home, one for the road
We're in Vegas this week, enjoying the sights and sounds of Sin City -- and the 4G wireless. Blistering city-wide wireless is great, but everyone having to have their own USB adapters isn't so much fun. If only we had one of the new 4G routers that CradlePoint is launching this week. The first, a portable model, can beam WiMAX out again as an 802.11n signal to up to 16 people, sporting VPN, WEP, and WPA security. Should you go out of 4G range (not hard to do) there's a USB port through which you can connect a 3G modem, and four hours of battery life should get you through the most grande of lattes if you can't find an open plug at the coffee shop. For the wired lifestyle there's the CBA750, adding a WAN port and four LAN ports to the mix, ditching the battery, and taking its power exclusively over Ethernet. That's convenience. The CBA750 is available right now for $249, and we expect the portable version to go for the same price whenever it hits the Strip.
Tim Stevens01.05.2010
New Cradlepoint firmware turns MiFi into -- wait for it -- a 3G WiFi router
You might imagine that Cradlepoint's feeling a bit of heat since Novatel released its fantastic MiFi series, since the whole idea behind Cradlepoint's gear is to turn 3G modems into WiFi access points. It's cool, though, Cradlepoint managed to find a tricky angle: you can't charge the MiFi, use it as a USB modem, and have WiFi enabled at the same time! We still think we'd stare, point, and laugh if we were walking through an airport and saw some dude with these two cute little boxes tethered to one another, but we've got to admit that this is a pretty big Achilles' heel that Cradlepoint's managed to solve here; all it takes is a firmware update for your Cradlepoint, and voilà, you've now got MiFi compatibility.
Chris Ziegler07.10.2009
CradlePoint bringing WiMAX to existing fleet of portable routers
While Clearwire's Clear Spot (which is really just a refashioned PHS-300) will handle WiMAX right out of the box, those who own one of CradlePoint's existing portable routers are flat out of luck... or are they? Said company has just announced that starting today, shipments of its business-class routers -- including the MBR800, MBR1000, and MBR1100 line of mobile broadband routers, CTR500 mobile broadband travel router, and CBA250 cellular broadband adapter -- will have WiMAX compatibility built in. Furthermore, a forthcoming (April 6th) firmware update will enable existing CradlePoint products to accept select WiMAX devices, and yes, it'll be made available for no charge at all. Talk about throwing a bone to your loyal customers.
Darren Murph04.01.2009
Clearwire's Clear Spot portable WiMAX / WiFi router now official, coming early April
Good news for those who happened to live in Portland -- and elsewhere in the years to come. Clearwire's announced that the CradlePoint-manufactured portable WiMAX-equipped WiFi router we saw back in January will be hitting stores in early April as the Clear Spot Personal Hotspot. Up to eight 802.11 b/g-compatible devices will be able to share the 4Mbps bandwidth. Price is $139 for the unit, but of course you'll have to pay The Man beyond that to actually use the service. The company promises more devices like this in the coming months.
Ross Miller03.31.2009
Clearwire to produce portable WiMAX / WiFi router
We can't say a device such as this was inevitable or anything, but given how limited the adoption of WiMAX has been thus far in America, it's definitely a win for everyone involved. According to Sidecut Reports, Clearwire will soon unveil a portable WiMAX / WiFi router built by Cradlepoint (prototype pictured), which will utilize a Motorola WiMAX USB stick to enable WiFi-capable devices to gather 'round and surf on the delightfully speedy WiMAX superhighway. In other words, non-WiMAX handsets that have WiFi modules can tap into the WiMAX network (if they're in a lit locale, that is) via this device, which -- if we may say so ourselves -- is a brilliant design move. There's no word yet on when the box will ship nor how pricey it'll be, but this could be just the thing you've been looking for to replace that painfully expensive cable modem at home.[Thanks, Jeremy]
Darren Murph01.13.2009
CradlePoint CTR500 travel router gets reviewed
Yeah, travel routers are still a rare breed, but when the entire family (or team, for you suits) needs to hop online in the hotel which conveniently provides absolutely no WiFi, it's a real gem to have around. CradlePoint's recently introduced 3G-ready CTR500 was taken for a test drive over at PC Perspective, and all in all, the unit performed as advertised. For those unfamiliar, it simply enables USB or ExpressCard-based WWAN modems to be connected, and from there, a variety of computers can retrieve WiFi from it. Better still, the unit did equally well when acting as a traditional WLAN router. The only real dig was the $179.99 price tag, which seemed a bit steep for the majority of folks who "probably would not need the functionality it offers." Give the full writeup a look in the read link below.
Darren Murph06.14.2008
Cradlepoint announces 3G-ready CTR500 travel router
It's been a while since we've heard anything from the mobile-friendly folks at Cradlepoint, but it looks like they've hit all the right marks with their new 3G-ready CTR500 travel router, which takes all the features of the previous CTR-350 model and adds a few welcome additions. The biggest of those is an ExpressCard slot, which complements the existing USB port to accommodate whatever 3G modem or 3G-capable cellphone you might have. You'll also, of course, get a 10/100 Ethernet port, and full 802.11b/g compliance, along with support for an external 802.11 antenna (sold separately) if you need a bit more range. If that sounds like the upgrade you've been waiting for, you can get your order in now for $180, although the routers apparently won't start shipping until June 1st.[Via Electronista]
Donald Melanson05.15.2008
CradlePoint reveals PHS300 portable hotspot
Merely months after cranking out the CTR-350, CradlePoint has upped the ante with the even more portable PHS300. This bugger enables a selection of handsets and USB cellular modems to create a "personal WiFi hotspot," and unlike its sibling, this one sports a built-in Li-ion to keep the connection alive (for a few hours, anyway) where there's no AC outlet in sight. Furthermore, you'll find WEP / WPA security features, an integrated firewall and the ability to charge up your phone via USB if necessary. Sound like just the thing you need? If so, you can drop your pre-order in now for $179.99 and patiently await the December 20th ship date. [Via The Boy Genius Report]
Darren Murph12.09.2007
CradlePoint busts out CTR-350 cellular travel router
Those still not satisfied by the range of portable 3G routers currently on the market now have another option to consider from CradlePoint, which recently introduced its battery-powered CTR-350 travel router. It'll either connect directly to a cellphone or to a USB modem (or a wired Ethernet connection if one's available), giving you an instant WiFi hotspot compliant with 802.11 b/g standards, along with all the usual security measures you'd expect from a router of any sort. What's more, if you're in a pinch, the router can also be used to charge any cellphone that supports charging via USB, although you'll of course need to find a more conventional way to charge the router itself. If that sounds like the peripheral that you're mobile office has been missing, you can order the router now directly from CradlePoint for $150.
Donald Melanson09.07.2007