Cradlepoint CTR500 EVDO Router Review Now Online

Alex · Last edited by Alex on Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:27 am; edited 2 times in total

The latest offering from Cradlepoint Technologies is the CTR500 Cellular Travel Router - an EVDO / HSPA router that is portable, yet features both a USB port as well as an ExpressCard/34 card slot!

Check out our full CTR500 Router Review: http://www.EVDOinfo.com/CTR500

The first shipment of CTR500's is already on its way to 3Gstore and we will begin shipping them sometime next week.

Order your CradlePoint CTR500 from 3Gstore.com for only $169.99

karlyn · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject:

Slick! This is just the sort of portable router/workhorse I've been wanting. The failover demonstration clip was a nice addition to the review, too.

whyzeman · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 128

Great. Right after I dropped 200 on the 350. You guys wouldn't happen to give credit on trade-ins would you? Smile

pbcrazyboy · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 25

do they make "splitters" for ethernet cables so you could make many more ports for the ethernet cable than the one provided. Sorry if you don't get this, I am new to this.

would something like this work: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7650357&st=ethernet+splitter&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1134699430298

rjsurfer · EVDO User Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 51

That's exactly what you need...just remember the more devices the slower they all will run, since they are sharing the same source.

Ron W.

whyzeman · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 14 Dec 2007 Posts: 128

I've decided to ebay my 350 to go towards a 500. I'm certain I'm not going to get anywhere near what I paid for it (if anyone's interested), but, after reading the reviews of the 500, it's more tailored for SoHo networks (which I have), has the signal strength indicator, and doesn't need a "go between", meaning the USB adapter, for my KPC680.

As usual, it's designed for Sprint and Verizon, but I can only hope there's no issues with Alltel.

WD0AFQ · EVDO Newbie Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 7

jkbrigman · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 12

Gotta give 4.5 stars (out of 5) to the CRT500 - WITH the default firmware! (1.2.0, 2008/04/28 ). I'm a KR-1 refugee (Hey whyzeman, you could be worse off - I would rather have gone through a CTR300 than a KR-1... Sad

) DISCLAIMER: I am a satisfied Alltel EVDO/KPC 680/CTR500 user with the help of 3Gstore. My initial Alltel EVDO/KPC680/KR-1 experience was "on my own" because I had not found 3Gstore at that time. My comments regarding the KR-1 (w/1101 firmware) should be taken in that context. You may have better experience than I did if you use other EVDO service providers or modem products.

Big wins with the CTR500:
- small size
- excellent packaging - everything about the hardware packaging is right.
- Works like a champ when the LAN ethernet port is connected to a local switch.
- KPC650/KPC680 compatibility with the built-in expresscard slot is excellent.
- USB port means I can switch com device in the future if needed
- wi-fi works great even without an external antenna and does not interfere with the EVDO signal like on the KR-1.
- Solid uptime with the CTR500 vs. a 1-12 minute power cycle with the KR-1
- The CTR500 will attempt reconnect if EVDO connection is dropped, the KR-1 will not.
- DHCP server on the CTR500 works correctly - will re-issue dynamic dhcp information in response to a "ipconfig /renew" on a windows system. (the KR-1 would not do that)
- VPN pass-through w/Cisco 5.x client (TCP port 10000) works like a champ, unlike the KR-1.
- Web administration pages are accurate and dynamically update changing information like the connect time, unlike the KR-1
- NTP works properly on the CTR500 where it barely works at all on the KR-1

The only real advantage to me, of the CTR500 over the CTR300/350 is the expresscard slot. I used a USB-to-expresscard adapter with the KR-1 and it worked fine. So if the 300 or 350 is better for your situation, I wouldn't rule that product out completely.

My ONLY complaint? The reason I gave it 4.5 rather than 5 stars, the CTR500 gets a little warm, so it's not suitable for being closed up in a network wiring cabinet or box. But part of that is the KPC680 as well...it's no block of ice either...

JKB