Customer Reviews

Cradlepoint CTR-350 Cellular Travel Router (Black)

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The CTR350 is a great little Mobile Broadband/Wifi router. It's designed to use a mobile broadband data device (I'm using Sprints U595), and provide access to it via Wifi. It worked right out of the box in a default configuration, though you probably want to enable security after testing it out, or else everyone will have access to it.

Set-up is via the usual web-browser interface, and this devices interface is laid out pretty well. It struck me as being more sensible than most of the Linksys/Netgear devices I've used. Its got a nice full featured firewall, various WEP and WPA authentication modes, and can be used as a wired access point too (there's an Ethernet port). Apparently the port can also be used to provide wired access to the mobile data device too, but I haven't tested that yet.

The router is not battery powered (see the PHS300 for that). It comes with a standard ac power adapter. There is also a dc power adapter available for use in a car. I've mounted mine in my car, and hardwired a cable for it into the wiring harness of the car so that I can have internet in my vehicle wherever I have Sprint service. Cool!

I barely write any review. The problem is I am not that good at writing. But, I just love this "little" POWERFUL router. I recently started working at home. I tried to connect my broadband internet. The problem is the drive way too long (over 600 feet to the street)to bring a cable wire to the house. I have my Sprint U720 air card for my wireless internet almost a year. I have done a lot of research. I found a very good info source from evdoinfo.com. I was convinced that the Kyocera KR1 is the one for me till I found CTR350. Then I decided to give a try.

The product arrived much sooner than I expected. It took me only two minutes to set it up. Then my own WiFi hot spot is ready to go. I have four PCs running at the same time and the speed of the internet just got faster. According to the manufactor, you can have 16 PCs running at the same time. This little "palm" sized router with a built-in WiPipe technology to ensure the responsive, uncomplicated user experience. I can assure you that I am more than happy with the speed it provides. I also like the password feature that will allow user to set up a higher level of security. The only AC charger feature does not bother me at all. I figured that if I have to meet a client or go on a trip, I will take my U720 with me. However, Cradel Point makes another model PHS300 is a battery powered router for moble users. The battery works up to 2 hours and if you think that will help a lot. To solve this problem, I found a car charger (converter) from Home Depot. Then you can take this little router any where you go.

So far, all my 4 PCs users are very happy with the speed. They all told me it is so much faster than connecting by U720 itself. I think it is the WiPipe thing. I just enjoy the convenience of technology bringing to our life and I am very thankful.

This is a fine but very tiny router, works well in all applications that i need in a mobile router. When this router is coupled with the tekkeon battery pack you are truly mobile for hours on end. Cradle point has also come up with the PHS-300 that has it's own battery pack built in. If you truly need a travel router look no further.

I bought the CTR 350 and then bought a AT&T USB Connect Mercury 885 Sierra Air Card Modem from AT&T. The CTR 350 does not support the AT&T USB Connect Mercury 885 Sierra Air Card Modem from AT&T at this time. I contacted Cradlepoint and they said that until their engineering department tests the AT&T USB Connect Mercury 885 Sierra Air Card Modem from AT&T it won't be supported and won't work. The modem does work in all 3 of my laptops. The CTR 350 is a good product but until it supports the AT&T USB Connect Mercury 885 Sierra Air card Modem from AT&T I can't use it.

This is an excellent product. Works as designed.

I have not had a problem at all with the product. The only drawback that I see is that it doesn't take batteries and requires an AC adapter. The AC Adapter is small though, so everything can be carried in a small accessory bag. The only catch is that you need an outlet to use it.

But other than that, it works great. My Sprint 595U broadband adapter works perfectly with it.

By the way, the router is full featured, similar to other routers, but I didn't care to mess with it, since the purpose of this travel router is much different than an at-home router, where it's on all the time.

This router is fantastic and super easy set up. Currently using a Verizon USB 720 modem, when it was plugged in to the desktop itself is worked OK with internet speeds around 750 to 1000 kbps but when adding the CTR-350 ( also added a wireless network USB ) to the desktop we get internet speeds of 1.7 to 3 mbps with the desktop and 2 laptos running at the same time! Set up is a breeze, plug in the device, plug in the USB modem, go to the internet, put in the supplied password and its done! A great product! Also we have approx 3000 sq ft house and device is in a back bedroom, signal strength is excellent to all parts of house, about 100 ft from device at farthest point. Highly recommened product!

It's so rare to make a purchase and have ZERO complaints. This product works exactly as described. I have yet to find any downside to it whatsoever. Setup was a piece of cake. It may be my imagination, but the modem connection even seems to run a bit faster than when connected directly to my laptop.

I would recommend this as a must-have for anyone who currently runs a USB-based broadband modem.

I got this so I could finally have a wireless network in my house. My son wanted to play his friends on his Nintendo DS via Wi-Fi connection, I wanted both of my computers to have wireless access via my Sprint Aircard 595U, and I wanted to network my printer. This little unit is perfect for the job.

The initial setup is very easy. I just plug in and asks for a password and there is a wizard to set the security level. It was a little frustrating at first when some things didn't work, but it was not the fault of the router. Rather, the other computer and the Nintendo DS did not support WPA2 that I had configured the router to. Nintendo DS accepted WEP and my other computer would only do WPA. I can choose to use WEP or WPA with this router, if I want to make it compatible with my other devices.

My printer gave me the biggest headache. Again, not the fault of the router. I just didn't know how to set it up correctly. It was recognized by the network computers, but it wouldn't print. I had to make sure the computer was set to "online" and reboot the printer. I thought at first the WAN port did not accept printers, as I've read that in other forums. Apparently, that was dated information. My CTR-350 came with updated firmware that does allow the Ethernet port to accept LAN connections. That was my biggest concern and worry when deciding to buy this. I am very happy I can use that port.

My computers are not next to each other. One sits in my office and the other sits in the kitchen about two large rooms away. The signal is very strong between the rooms. For some reason, maybe the size of the router, I just thought it would be a little flimsy in the signal department. It's hefty enough to provide signal in my house.

THINGS I LEARNED
- watch the security level you set the router to and make sure it matches with the devices you are connecting.
- CTR-350 has an Ethernet port that will connect to printers and computers. It has WAN/LAN connectivity.
- if you connect a printer, make sure the printer is set to "online"!

WHY I LIKE CTR-350
- it's small and compact.
- it will network my printer via Ethernet cable.
- it doesn't need batteries (it needs to be plugged it).
- I can use it to network up to 16 other users.
- it has WPA2 security.
- it is easy to set up.

WHAT I'D LIKE IMPROVED
Nothing. It's way perfect.

SUMMARY
This router would be so easy to take along with me on the road, but I'm using it for home networking. It's great for that, too. If you need more than one Ethernet port, you'll need something else. Otherwise, this little one's a terrific pick!

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UPDATE: I still love this thing. It take it everywhere with me and we use it at home, too. Just one improvement I found I'd like: it would be nice to have it wireless. Next time, I'll try the Cradlepoint PHS300.

I recently purchased the Cradlepoint CTR350 router for home use. I live in the country and have no options for broadband internet except via a 3G network, (Verizon). I had searched for a few months, and asked several people what my options were and I was told that there were NO options with regards to a router for a USB modem. Then I found this little gem.

Being somewhat frugal, and cautious when buying online, I did some research and decided to buy.

The router is very small, smaller than I had anticipated. Setup took literally less than two minutes. I opened the box, glanced at the quick start guide, and pluged it in. I then plugged in the USB modem. Before my laptop could boot, the router was working. I logged into the interface, set up security, saved and rebooted. Since then, I have had NO problems.

Usually reviews tend to lead you to believing that a product is too good to be true, in this case, I would say that it is true. Ease of set up, size and functionaltiy of this unit is unbelievable.

While I don't use the unit other than the way I described above, it can be used as a wireless hotspot with an incoming cabled internet connection; the cat-5 connection can be configured to be either incoming or outgoing.

If you are on a 3G network, and want a wireless hotspot ANYWHERE you go, BUY THIS ROUTER, you will not regret it.

How cool would it be to have a device about the size of a deck of cards that was a personal/portable 'hotspot' that could provide instant wifi access anywhere, not just for you but for a dozen friends or devices? Laptop, iPad, iPod Touch? It's not science fiction, it's the Cradlepoint CTR-350 Mobile Broadband Travel Router.

I took it out of the box, plugged in my 3G wireless card, and my netbook and iPad were online with almost no configuration, in about two minutes. Ok - that wireless card is the "catch." This Travel Router has a USB slot where you can plug in a "3G data modem" card which typically is used to connect a single laptop to the internet via a 3G mobile service plan. The card I have is the Sierra Wireless 881u which works well. The cost for the data plan varies, but isn't too expensive with a 1-2 year plan.

IF you already have some kind of data modem, the CTR350 travel router lets it work simultaneously with up to a dozen wifi devices and is a super buy. Some people can instead use a smart phone with "tethering" capability to provide the access. If you don't yet have the modem, and either travel a lot or don't yet have broadband it might be worth considering.

If you have a data modem that is an express card, instead get the model Cradlepoint Travel Router CTR-500. If you want a battery powered personal hotspot, Cradlepoint has a model called the Cradlepoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot (Black). The CTR-350 and CTR-500 have the added advantage of an Ethernet jack, so you can use it to either hook up a computer without wifi, or you can use the router with your cable model as a Wifi access point.

Even better, talk your boss into getting your team one, so that you can be productive at all times, even on the road, as a passenger in a car on a long drive, or on-site at a client's location.