Junxion intros updated JB-120 Junxion Box

It looks like the cellular signal-sharing Junxion Box is back and just as green as ever, this time with some new firmware and a few fairly significant upgrades. Among other things, the new JB-120 model (and updated 2.0 firmware) adds support for 802.11g WiFi with WPA Enterprise, so-called "GRE tunneling" to allow for more flexibility in establishing enterprise VPNs, a 50% faster boot time, a slightly modified enclosure that can accommodate more cellular antennas and, perhaps most notably, HSUPA support for some improved 3G action. If that's enough to convince you to upgrade, you can apparently grab one now $700, with a WiFi-less version also available for $600.

[raerae @ Dec 11th 2007 3:53PM]

And they wonder why people try to keep these out of site..GEEZ this thing is FUGLY

[Eric @ Dec 11th 2007 4:29PM]

Honestly I think it's gorgeous!
Real hot, minimal.
I dig it.

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 11th 2007 4:51PM]

come on, you love ninja turtle green.

[john @ Dec 11th 2007 3:54PM]

I'll get one when they shrink it down to pocket size, and give it an internal battery. (like the cradepoint PHS)

[chris @ Dec 11th 2007 4:18PM]

FINALLY something faster than 11Mbps

[ND @ Dec 11th 2007 4:48PM]

Save yourself $300 and build a Soekris/StompBox. Trade in the Junxion neon green for the soothing and pale insitutional green of the Soekris.

[Paul @ Dec 11th 2007 4:52PM]

Thats ridiculous, $300 more just for wireless?

[Cam @ Dec 11th 2007 6:30PM]

700-600=300?

Man, looks like I strayed off the path somewhere...

[Paul @ Dec 11th 2007 7:56PM]

Well, I was at work and just glanced at the article, thought it was $900 for the one with wireless. Still, $100 more fore wireless when you are already spending $600 for the base unit seems excessive.

[oliver @ Dec 11th 2007 6:53PM]

I have no idea what any of those abbreviations mean, but I think I must have one of those boxen. I love them. Santa, are you listening?

[Chino B @ Dec 11th 2007 7:03PM]

Screw that, just buy a Linkys linux and DD-WRT it up.

[Geoff @ Dec 11th 2007 7:39PM]

Junxion is really excited about this new release. While we are aware there are many options for customers looking to connect a computer remotely (stomp box, cradlepoint, cellular card, etc.), we are really focused on enterprises looking for durable, fixed installations where wire line is not feasible.

In fact, we think the Junxion Box makes it easier to extend enterprise data networks with cellular broadband by making routers that install easily, connect reliably and can be managed remotely.

•Install easily. Slide a 3G cellular data card into the Junxion Box, plug in the Junxion Box, and you’re connected. Upgrading is easy too. As new networks and services are available from your carrier, simply insert a new modem into the Junxion Box.

•Connect reliably. The Junxion Box is designed to optimize a cellular WAN connection to ensure reliable connectivity for mission-critical applications. When used with Junxion’s mounting bracket, the solution is tested for reliability to military specifications.

•Manage remotely. With the Field Commander remote management solution, you can monitor and manage one unit or thousands from Junxion’s secure, hosted web management tool. Optional email alerts can notify you of any outage or unusual activity.

Junxion is exclusively focused on providing enterprise and government organizations with the best cellular WAN solutions possible. The Junxion Box is relied on by thousands of organizations every day for secure enterprise data.

Thanks for your support!
Geoff McNeely
Marketing Manager
Junxion, Inc.

[Shane @ Dec 11th 2007 10:11PM]

I'm curious...What are the advantages of something like the Junxion box compared to something like this?
http://www.digi.com/products/cellulargateways/connectportwanvpn.jsp

[Mike @ Dec 12th 2007 10:19AM]

Read this if you're even considering a Junxion unit.

Here's the deal with Junxion. The organization I work for purchased 3 as a trial. The Junxion units are meant to act as an EVDO backup to existing network circuits at remote sites we operate. The Junxion units were nothing but trouble. The interface is extremely dumbed-down and does not scale to the requirements of any network-centric organization. The configuration options were limited (could only configure 10 firewall rules, IPSEC VPN options were very minimal and required an tricky configuration on our VPN hub, remote management took very odd routing tricks to work, don't even try to get more than one subnet over it without GRE, software updates wiped out your configuration and can't be done remotely). Then, the reliability went to crap. The units would drop connections every few hours and would take 20 - 30 minutes to recover. Junxion blamed the cellular carrier (Sprint) and the fact we didn't have the static IP option on the card (costs more $$). I ended up working directly with a data engineer from Sprint and he stated that many customers had been pulled in by the Junxion hype and found the product lacking. He was great and gave us a static IP card for free, but the issues persisted. We even tried an AT&T card and had the same issues. Junxion continued to state the carrier was the issue and finally I got fed up.

Then we purchased a ZyWALL 2WG made by ZyXEL. Let me start by saying it's about a 1/4 the price of the completely overpriced Junxion units. They've been in the network game for a while. The interface on this unit is really slick and the configuration is much more robust than Junxion is willing to provide. Something as simple as static routes can completely ease the configuration of these units. If you want a cellular router solution with integrated VPN and that can scale to any organizations needs, buy a ZyXEL. If you want to waste a lot of money, get a run around from support about issues, and sink weeks into bandaging a weak product, send $600 to Junxion and get set to take it on the chin.