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.

[Kurian @ Jun 14th 2008 12:39PM]

Cool

[tekdroid @ Jun 14th 2008 12:51PM]

Great for 3G users.
Interestingly, no Nokia phones supported in its compatibility list. Seems like its not priced too badly considering what it does. GPS in the unit was a surprise bonus.

[Grey Acumen @ Jun 14th 2008 12:52PM]

It's cool, but the description was accurate. How many people run into a situation where a group of people HAVE to share a hotel room, have to all be online at the same time, and there isn't a wireless network to use?
The likelihood of this occurring just isn't enough to warrant a $180 expense.

[john @ Jun 14th 2008 3:44PM]

How many people have a phone that doesn't have a decent tethering option, but do have a laptop and/or PDA? Say, a phone that only does Bluetooth PAN, and a PDA that only does Wifi and Bluetooth DUN?

or they have a sidekick or iPhone (no tethering) and a macbook?

or they have a poor data plan, and/or their carrier would charge them an arm and a leg to add tethering. (I have MetroPCS for unlimited voice and messaging, but the data is a pain to work with when you've got a phone that will tether, and my current phone wont tether with my PDA; it would cost me less money to add an AT&T or T-Mobile* express card to this mix, than to switch to an AT&T phone that has decent minutes, unlimited messaging, and add a tethering plan)

(* there's a couple options for this that are just now emerging, even though t-mobile isn't directly selling them right now)

Any of those people can use one of these to tether by getting an express card or USB dongle (assuming their phone doesn't do USB tethering to the CTR). And with an external battery pack, they become a mobile/personal hotspot (I just wish they would offer an express-card version of their PHS model). Don't have to worry about whether or not your commuter train has wifi, etc. You've got your own wifi to use on your commute.

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 14th 2008 3:55PM]

Yeah, but my HTC Touch has an application called WMWifiRouter that does the same thing as this. It's the same thing as pairing, except that it's free (sprint requires a $10 monthly fee to tether), and is able to connect to more than one pc at a time, not to mention anything else that uses wifi.

Yay Windows Mobile!

[john @ Jun 14th 2008 4:28PM]

Mike: last I heard, that could only do ad-hoc networking, not access point with security. Is that still true?

[Niki @ Jun 14th 2008 12:57PM]

See, this would be perfect for any kind of long road trip...

[D-Wolf @ Jun 14th 2008 1:00PM]

Ordered one from 3gstore the other day, arrived yesterday (and now they ship to canada, hurray!).. had a chance to play with it ... I love this thing! Excellent product

Works great with my Sierra 597e Expresscard, and loving the evdo rev a speeds/low latency (2624kbps down/ 668kbps up/ 94ms ping) I'm getting in my area. I've had a Telus Connect 75 Unlimited plan for a while, so usage is not an issue (average 20-30gb per month). The WiPipe tech that cradlepoint uses does seem to make things snappier than when i just had the aircard in my laptop.

Xbox Live works great, QoS for Voip calls and video messaging is perfect, and am a happily enjoying my service with Telus and this new litte toy just adds to the experience (can't really express how tiny this thing is)

Mobile broadband is pretty damn cool when your away from your home connection, or require fall-over protection, or just like being connected on the go.

[D-Wolf @ Jun 14th 2008 1:05PM]

@ quag - this unit is not powered by batteries .. that'd be the PHS300

the cheaper, and older unit you are using is the CTR350

This the new CTR500 .. has an expresscard, and the faster processor from the MBR1000.

Read up more here:

http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=876

[De @ Jun 14th 2008 1:10PM]

this seems over priced as WM and nokia phones can do this already

[hugoliva @ Jun 14th 2008 1:20PM]

My N95 with joiku hotspot does the same thing for free.

[John @ Jun 14th 2008 1:45PM]

same with my Mogul and WMWifiRouter

[Rik @ Jun 14th 2008 3:24PM]

True...however (here comes the user expierience, I browsed the internet via my N95 for about three months on 3G (europe) in absence of fixed internet and I tried Joikuspot for some time)

1. I get it that Joiku wants the whole world to know where the software came from... but please, that mandatory joikuspot start page is just plain crazy
2. Due to a hardware limitation programs such as Joikuspot can only create Ad-hoc wifi networks and this is far from ideal since real life ad-hoc implementations kinda suck (it's little used so I guess little attention is paid whether it really works nicely). I guess the same is true for WM phones and that's where a router like this can prove to be usefulle

BTW in the city I used to live in they have this kind of stuff now for about a year or so in busses; WiFi through a UMTS router (and yeah, it's for free)

[Mike10010100 @ Jun 14th 2008 3:57PM]

I have a mogul (not touch, typo) as well, and i love wmwifi router

[john @ Jun 14th 2008 9:58PM]

Thanks for mentioning Joiku ... I hadn't heard of them, and I'm in the process of switching my phone service to something it might work with. Since I would expect it to be both EDGE and 3G compatible, it might work a lot better for me than the Cradlepoint's (which I've been drooling over, but didn't realize they wont fall back to EDGE). You might have just saved me $300 + $20-$40/mo!!

[grull27 @ Jun 14th 2008 1:23PM]

That's pretty cool.

[James @ Jun 14th 2008 10:41PM]

Am I the only one who thinks it would be even cooler if the router included a 3g modem internally?

[john @ Jun 15th 2008 3:49AM]

James: The good thing about the way Cradlepoint does it now is: you can change carriers, or change end devices (USB dongle, Express Card, phone, etc.), and not have to change routers. So, if a new, faster, tech comes out, you don't have to upgrade routers just to upgrade your mobile radio (perhaps, from EVDO rev0 to EVDO revA).

The good thing about this device is: it's not as unwieldy as having a dongle hanging off of the router (as shown in the picture). Instead, you can use an express card, which is slightly more like having 1 solid device (though it probably hangs off the side a tiny bit).

But, if they took the next step and fully integrated the mobile radio... you'd lose a bit of the flexibility of being able to easily change carriers and devices.

Instead, what _I_ want to see is have the Cradlepoint incorporate a small jabber server that acts as a laptop/PDA -> SMS gateway, a SIP server that acts as a Wifi VOIP -> cellular voice gateway, and something (SMTP? the Jabber server?) that handles the same for a MMS gateway. Depending on what's actually built into an express card, you might be able to do that with an express card ... but it might require fully integrating the radio into the router. But, anyway, that's what I want to see next: the router becoming a full spectrum mobile/cellular communication gateway and not just an IP data gateway.

Then you can use a VOIP capable PDA (like a Nokia Internet Tablet, which has Jabber, SIP, and email built in) for the end device, or you can use your laptop and your favorite wifi SIP phone, etc. It's all up to you at that point. The hypothetical router is just acting as a gateway.

[JaySki @ Jun 14th 2008 2:32PM]

Got mine yesterday. Happened to be the day I was leaving to go camping with the family.
I ordered this as it would make life a bit easier with sharing internet access with the wife and the added simplicity of being able to set it up and not deal with turning the laptop one way or another trying to improve the signal.
Set it up, configured the security(you can even require the user enter a password upon opening a browser).
I am actually typing using the CTR-500 at the campsite. (Ok, it's not really camping hen you have internet and satellite TV, but it's my kid of style).
It works very well and for 180 bucks.. Well worth it to me just for the simplicity in the RV.

[quag @ Jun 14th 2008 3:14PM]

This model is powered by batteries, which is handy if you are working someplace where there is no power (for example, a construction site, a marina, etc).

They also make a slightly less expensive model ($149) that is AC powered. I use one in my office all day long and it works like a champ.

The statement that this device is too expensive for people who "probably would not need the functionality it offers" is moronic. If you don't need this capability than any price is too high. On the other hand, if you do need this specialized capability than the price is reasonable, especially considering the limited choices in this market.

[JaySki @ Jun 14th 2008 2:32PM]

This model DOES NOT run on batteries at all. It requires a 110 source.

[TechIsCool @ Jun 14th 2008 4:08PM]

This does not run on Batteries i own one and its 120v powerered 5v DC @ 3Amps so it does work with the ATT HSDPA devices in att but when you drift into EDGE you can not connect it only Supports EVDO and HSDPA

[john @ Jun 14th 2008 4:31PM]

No EDGE support when you're running on a GSM/WCDMA card!? ugh. that's a painful disappointment. AT&T doesn't even support 3G where the second half of my commute is. That changes my purchase plan by quite a bit.

[TechIsCool @ Jun 14th 2008 4:38PM]

Yah i know its not confirmed or denied but it does not work for me... i have the Option GT Max it does not work in Edge but only HSDPA and my Razr V3xx works when in 3G (HSDPA) but not Edge

[Dave Zatz @ Jun 14th 2008 4:40PM]

I posted two days before those guys. :p Then again, I didn't do a formal review - I know it kicks butt since I had the MBR1000. So if you want to see a few more pics, visit here:

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2008-06/new-cradlepoint-ctr500-3g-wifi-router-released-i-gots-one/

[phanbouy @ Jun 14th 2008 5:36PM]

hey, here's a poser: if you're bold enough to say "WWAN" in real life, do you say each letter separately or do you say "WAN!" a la "WAAHMBULANCE"?

[tnkgrl @ Jun 14th 2008 8:58PM]

Here's my review: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/05/31/cradlepoint-phs300-review/

[john @ Jun 14th 2008 9:19PM]

That URL is for the PHS-300, not the CTR-500.

[PEZ @ Jun 15th 2008 1:46PM]

The reason why this is a peice of crap is......(drumroll).... both devices should be together - in one chasis.. and not dangling so some twinkie eating idiot can snap one off the other.

=JUNK.

[john @ Jun 15th 2008 2:38PM]

So put an express card into it, instead of hanging a USB dongle off of it.

[Don @ Jul 10th 2008 1:39PM]

The CTR500 is great for those that want to set up a "hot spot" to allow additional user on to the internet. It allows an Express card or a USB card to plug in. The CTR350 provides the same service on a USB card only. It is priced a little lower $139.99 vs $169.99 both have a 50' wifi range and will allow up to 10 users... You will lose bandwidth as you add on users. contact me if you want to it out

[EV-DO in NS @ Aug 20th 2008 8:07PM]

The Telus (Canada) "Connect 75 Unlimited" data plan is being killed off (not just unavailable to new subscribers, but terminating existing subscribers). If you use more than about 5GB per month, and if you're not under contract, then you'll be getting a call soon in priority order of your usage (heaviest users first). You'll be given about 30 days notice. If you have a contract, they will try to get you off the plan by invoking the prohibition against Streaming Multimedia (LOL) or VOIP or whatever. Never admit to anything when you're forced to speak with them (it might delay your disconnection). The real issue is your bandwidth consumption (they have admitted this to me) - not the particular protocol you use. 5GB is the actual monthly bandwidth limit for the Connect 75 Unlimited data plan.

All the details are on my blog: Google: EV-DO in NS.