What feature do you want on CradlePoint Router?

bill_best · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 15

For me it would be a combination of features.

built-in battery
dual purpose WAN/LAN port
external wireless antenna jack
external signal strength indicator

..and a feature that wasn't in the poll

internal connector for mini-pci modem

I wish I could take apart my u720 and put the modem right inside the router!

BajaMnstr · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 11

wyclefcupcake · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 17

here is the reply they sent me and the email that i sent them:
they responded very quickly, nice

so everyone: please PLEASE beg them to support this asap!!! the sooner the better! and you know they will be working even faster to get this done if everyone keeps asking them about it!
*****************************************

We are pursing this request and hope to have it available as soon as
possible. Keep up to date with our firmware releases to be sure and get
this when it is available.

Thank You,
CradlePoint Technology

-----Original Message-----
From: me
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 1:04 PM
To: Suggestions
Subject: CradlePoint CTR350

i am requesting a feature that i need immediatley on the ctr350 Dual
Purpose Ethernet port (WAN & LAN)

this would be the most useful,
because then people could hook up their own routers/switches/hubs to
this cradlepoint ctr350. i have a linksys router flashed with dd-wrt and
it has every configuration i could possibly want. i would just like to
use this ctr350 to provide internet access to my linksys router. i think
many people could benefit from using it this way. plus i could have
wired configurations which are much more secure than wireless

CommSoft® · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:24 am Post subject: Re: HSDPA support!

Alex · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject:

3GStore has exclusive CTR350 EVDO Router firmware to enable Ethernet-As-LAN port

tz1 · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:31 pm Post subject:

The UM-150 has the "external" signal strength indication which is why I am interested in that particular EVDO adapter - it might be better on the CP itself, but if I really want it I can get the UM-150, and then I would have it on my Linux laptop.

An external wifi antenna (reverse SMA connector, perhaps recessed) would help since I could put the router where the best EVDO strength was and the antenna would reach to where I might want to sit. There are some areas where it might need to go near the window for best EVDO signal, but I would use the laptop through a wall or two or some distance away.

The LAN port is already appearing, apparently here first.

Bluetooth tethering would also be an advantage, including being able to attach a bluetooth dongle (even one specific model or chipset) in place of the USB modem. Even better if it would do bluetooth serial to a TCP and/or UDP port (BT GPS, etc.). But it is less of an issue with my Nokia N810 which has built-in GPS and can attach to Bluetooth GPS and various other things.

Something not mentioned, but now becoming more common would be some filesystem access to the memory card on the newer EVDO modems (ftp if nothing else, or an admin page that would display and allow uploads to the filesystem maybe like the old norton commander and clones).

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

The best place for the battery strength indicator would NOT be on the device itself, although it should be there, but on the computer using the wifi...don't you think?

Presently Macs have an icon available on the menu bar for wifi that shows the signal strength. Why not add an icon for the battery strength of the Cradlepoint? Since it is wifi one doesn't expect it to be sitting next to the laptop or MacBook where you can see any lights on the router.

Or, at least merge it with the Internet Connect window.

The Mac's Energy Saver preference has a checkbox for Show Battery Status in Menu Bar. So, let's add a CradlePoint preference pane and the same option!!!!!

Perhaps add a little software so that the CradlePoint will send an email when its battery reaches 10% or so.

Hardware · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 147

I don't like that particular method Jack simply because it means your installing software onto your computer. And that'd never work for an iTouch, or a PSP, or any other mobile device without some code.

By getting my CradlePoint, I got AWAY from all the extra freaking software that I had to install to use my EVDO modem. I personally don't want to put it back on.

People are doing some smart things with batteries these days. But for me, I don't want to have to install software to check a battery on a remote device.

tbhausen · EVDO Junkie Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 158

^^^ What he said ^^^

No extra hardware/software.

Todd/Indy

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

I respect your opinion, as long as you respect mine.

One nice thing about my idea is that it would be optional. Note that none of my wireless icons on my MacBook will show up on your iPhone or Windows pcs. But I still get to use them...

I still want them but I will add to my request that you two not be allowed to use them...

SCRich · EVDO User Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 28

Another request that just came to mind was a network usage feature in the router with possibly a twist. Now that I will be using a CTR350 when it arrives I thought that I will be losing (GRATEFULLY!) my VZAccess Manager. The only feature that I have found usefull there was the RSSI feature either in the about page or in the "test mode" screen but more than that is network usage. I always wondered how much usage my entire family had per month, now that I am 100% EVDO (not by choice) in my home I look at it every day or so to get a feel of things and I find it usefull.

If that can be added along with a feature to send an e-mail out if we reach a predetermined 30 day download ammount that would be great. I worry tonight Christmas Eve, with a Wii for my son under the tree. Don't know much about it but I have heard people speak about it's internet connectivity, wonder how much bandwith he will suck up a month on that thing and how much more I will use mine when I start setting up IP cameras to a home based security server. My first camera should arrive by the end of the week.

Rich

fb314 · EVDO User Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 50

The features that would be important to me would be:
-removable rp-sma wifi antenna (so one could get more range or better antenna with gain)
-the ability to run either aa batteries or rechargeables (with the router auto sensing between regular and rechargeables. reason being reg are 1.5v and rech are 1.2v. I don't like some electronics that use proprietary battery packs that are hard to find a few years after you bought the device when they don't make them anymore)
-evdo signal strength leds
-battery level leds
What the heck, put a small lcd on it with important operating info instead of the leds, it might draw less power than the lights; like the ones you might find on a usb wifi finder doohicky.

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:36 am Post subject:

" I always wondered how much usage my entire family had per month"

DU meter is a great application for this:

http://www.hageltech.com/dumeter/

deparson · EVDO Junkie Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 249

Ok, I have been using the PHS300 for a couple of days now and get about 2 hours of usage while attached to my 8703e.

The thing is, when the PHS is out of juice my BB if fully charged which is good normally but it would be useful if I could choose NOT to charge my BB while connected to the PHS. This way I could get the most battery life out of my PHS by using the built in battery of the BB.

I am not sure if this is possible via software only but it is something to think about.

tz1 · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:44 am Post subject:

This may already be there as the package is due to arrive shortly, but:

Power mode settings, especially for the battery version.

Normally, Wifi will go up to 100mW so as to get maximum speed and range. For EVDO, maximum speed is that of the modem, and I'm likely to be within a 3-10 feet of a single device (so no computer to computer data transfers).

Probes and other chatter from distant scans might push the power.

A setting for max Wifi power (100/50/20/10/5, maybe less?) and possibly other power saving modes (ethernet off entirely?, sleep some background daemons?) might be useful. Or a "one local device mode".

One reason I got the non-battery version (besides the ethernet port) is my Nokia pad will go 4+ hours, but the CP only 2+. If the battery life was similar I might have gone the other way, but if I need an external power pack anyway, I may as well save some money and get the LAN port.