Customer Reviews

Cradlepoint Mobile Broadband 3G/4G N Router (MBR900CP)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I recently was in the market for wireless router to use in extending my Clear WiMax 4G connection to devices that did not support the USB modem I purchased. The USB modem works great for my Windows laptop, but did not work for my older Mac, Wii or Netflix enabled Blu Ray player.
I thought about getting the router directly from Clear, but the device they offer had features I didn't need or want to pay for most notably the ability to run on batteries.

I eventually settled on the CradlePoint MBR 900 because:
It supports the Clear WiMax USB 4G modem
It supports wired connections, which is what I needed for my BluRay player for Netflix
It supports 802.X wireless connections which is what I needed for the Wii and older Mac
It has the needed security features (authentication and encryption

I received the device about a week after ordering it. It was easy to set up with one major issue, configuring the device for Clear WiMax 4G, which required a call to their support staff to resolve.

See the post here on how to resolve this:
[...]

I am using the Cradlepoint mobile broadband router with a Verizon mobile usb device. I had not heard of Cradlepoint before but they are about the only company that really is mostly devoted to mobile broadband routers that I found.
I was very surprised and happy to discover that Cradlepoint has several higher quality features. Such as a quality website, packaging for their product and excellent documentation. Especially these days when you are lucky to get any printed documentation with an electronic product.
I checked Cradlepoint's website first to see if my Verizon mobile device was supported and it was. It was very user friendly to use their website to find the answer.
I set up the router within 30 minutes. I plugged the USB mobile modem into the router but the router could not find the modem. However, in the printed documentation that came with the router it talked about this potential and the need to do a couple of firmware upgrades to fix the problem. The documentation and website walks you right through the process. I did the upgrades and just like that the modem was recognized and I was on the Internet through the Cradlepoint router.
I am using a desktop, a netbook and a laptop in our home network, with a mix of Microsoft XP and Windows 7 operating systems. Everything is working well and has been for about a month now, since I bought and set up the router.

Right out of the box the MBR900 worked flawlessly as a wired and wireless router using a Pantech UM175 aircard for Internet service. Unfortunately, it quit working after less than 4 weeks. Basically, the router locked up and Cradlepoint's technical service was unable to provide a successful solution. They did offer a RMA and would send me a refurbished unit as a replacement, which I declined. Instead I returned it to Amazon for a full refund. Cradlepoint's tech support seemed knowledgeable via their chat service, but be aware that their service is limited to M - F during the Pacific coast time zone business day until 8PM or so. I was given the option to leave an email request which took five days for a response (including the weekend). There are few routers capable of utilized USB style air cards, so I am disappointed, but inclined to wait until Netgear, Belkin, or Cisco have a comparable product before venturing again. Cradlepoint has the right idea but they may have a few quality control issues to contend with as they become more well known and compete with the larger vendors.

I purchased this router a month past. I had never set up a network, much less one using mobile broadband. I had to call Cradlepoint for help in setting the unit up. There was no wait time and my question was answered quickly. I have had no problems with the unit over the month I have had it. One drawback is that with Verizon service you have to go the their website to check usage as the router does not show accumulated use.

This router is 4G capable so I will not have to upgrade if Verizon ever offers 4G.

I love this thing. It actually increased my signal strength. It could have a little more documentation but, all in all, it was easy to set up. It worked with little input from me. I had a minor problem and that's where a troubleshooting guide could have been helpful. Turns out, it was my equipment causing the problem.

The built-in menus are easy to follow and are complete. I really like the option of "On Demand" operation. I plug in my USB760 from Verizon and the 900 connects without any action on my part. I don't have to invoke the Verizon Manager software on any of my PC's to access the Internet. You'll have to insert the Modem into a stand alone PC from time to time to view your usage data. That information is not available when the Modem is plugged into this Router.

After 5 minutes, an adjustment you set, the connection shuts down until a request is made to go on the net. The unit then reconnects and you are surfing again. I don't have to worry about exceeding my current 5 GB data limit because I forgot to shut down the Modem.

I'm not using the WiFi but hardwire connections for my local network. When first turned on, all my PC's were connected via the WiFi. This unit has a slide switch on the rear panel which enables or disables the WiFi option. Really easy to change. No need to log-on and do the changeover via menu selection.

I bought this unit for another reason and that was the response I received from Cradlepoint. I was very impressed with the time and effort involved in responding to my question. The answer was not a "Canned" response and addressed my concerns perfectly.

I haven't used nor do I know what this unit is fully capable of doing but I'm very pleased with my purchase.

The only negative is my desk required a vertical rather than a horizontal orientation of the unit. Cradlepoint doesn't provide means for vertical mounting. My old router was a D-Link and I used the mounting feet from that unit to hold the Cradlepoint unit vertical. This orientation allows for easy access of the USB port for the Modem and puts the Modem higher for better reception.

From my experience, I would recommend this unit. For a photo showing mounting technique, visit
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I purchased a D-Link dual band DIR-825 router for $180 that is now collecting dust because it just didn't work with all my wireless devices, their tech support is horrible the firmware updates don't addresss the problems and taking control of my laptop a tech from one of my wireless devices was still not able to forward ports etc... he couldn't believe what a piece of garbage the D-Link was... anyway, now to the Cradlepoint MBR 900. In minutes it was up and running. I was easily able to navigate and set up everything I needed on my own as I have always been able to do prior to the D-link waste of money. I have an "N" band wireless laptop, a "G" band wireless laptop, a VOIP phone, a wi-fi Blackberry, a GE Simon 3 wireless internet home alarm system, ROKU for Netflix and a 3G Verizon aircard backup failover/back-up protection all plugged into the Cradlepoint MBR 900 all working with ease. Setting security on this router was a few minute breeze! Cradlepoint MRR900 also has a screen to "reserve" a DHCP device which I needed for my home alarm system. That took 3 seconds to do by myself and everything is working pefectly! I would have paid $350 for this. Thanks to Amazons great prices and Cradlepoint making the very best routers available in the world I would have to say this has been my best purchase in a VERY long time! Thank you Cradlepoint for restoring order to my life! I love the fact that as soon as my cable broadband service goes out that my Cradlepoint router quickly turns on my Verizon aircard to restore internet service to my home alarm system and all my other devices in my home. The second my cable broadband is back up the Cradlepoint turns off my Verizon aircard so it only uses time from the aircard when it is needed saving my aircard minutes. So that is a cool feature if you have an aircard? If not it's nice to know you can always use an aircard as a backup, or for that matter Virgin Mobile now offers unlimited 3G internet aircard for $40 so you could run your entire home off of just that with this router. I'm tied into Verizon for now. It's nice to have the choice if you want. You can use it as a regular run everything router or you can expand to all these really cool features. If I can run all of this on my Cradlepoint router I'm sure you will also be very pleased with this purchase not to mention it's about half the price of my worthless D-link dual x-treme N band router.

I purchased this router b/c of the low price, great coverage range, and that it worked with Sprint's 4G service (using a U301 USB connection card). I had done quite a bit of research and knew that this router would not come out of the box able to use the U301, but I have a wireleine connection and knew I could update the firmware & be off & running with little inconvenience. So, I unpacked it, upgraded the firmware (both the router firmware & the 4G firmware) with little trouble. Took it back upstairs, plugged it in and connected with my laptop. I was able to connect with the router easily and did a quick setup on it. First webpage I had no problem loading, second webpage BLOCKED. Hmmm, what happened, it says DNS error. Did some research, changed settings to optimize for 4G, lots of modem restarts later I'm surfing the net. Going along fine then BLOCKED. Says DNS error again. Once one page blocks surfing the web comes to a screeching halt. Throw my hands up for the day (after about 3 hours) and decide to try again tomorrow. Next day, going along fine for 5 mins then BLOCKED. ARGHGHHHHH what's going on. Spend 3 more hours tweaking settings, getting frustrated etc. I tried the card in my laptop again with no problems and no blocks, it's defintely the router. I surrender, but luckily I'm off on Monday b/c Cradlepoint service is only open on the weekends. Call Cradlepoint, spend some time on with a rep named Mike B. Nice guy, really helpful, try some other things still having the problem. He had never heard of this type of issue, he recommends trying another computer (can't beleive I didn't think of that). My XP laptop works perfect, no blocks all good. Hmmm, so it's Windows 7 interaction with the router fouling things up. GRRRREEEAAATT. Mike B e-mail's me later & said there's an issue & their tech dept is working on it. Doh! Mike keeps in contact with me and ultimately e-mail's me some new firmware that's about to go into production. I upload it, problem FIXED. Whew! It's been running perfect since, cut my cable internet about 10 days ago. The new firmware is out there now so i'm guessing you won't have these problems once you update. Great product, but avg. consumer would have been so ticked off this would have likely been returned. That being said I'm wireless and thrilled about it. Wii connected, Neflix running, 3 computers connected. All goooood

When it works, it's great. However, it requires "re-boot" a couple times a week on the average.

This unit works very well with my USB 760 air card. It keeps the air card active 24 hrs and has automatic restart if the wireless towers disconnect service. I only wish this router had longer range but otherwise is very good!

I bought this unit as it works with my Sierra wireless card. I easily installed the unit, and networked 3 desktop computers and 1 notebook. All was well for the first 2 months, then the wireless crapped out. I called Cradlepoint and they were useless. They did offer me a refurb unit (with no warranty) and I refused. If they have so many refurbs of a "new" unit, I think their quality control is very poor. I'll run this piece of crap until the hardwired connection dies (probably in a couple of months), and then buy a real router.

Save your money, and do not buy this unit!