3G Aircard With Cradlepoint Router

[osmond]

With the demise of CDMA I need to 'bin' my EVDO EC226 device and replace it with a 3G/HSPA+ Aircard which is compatible with a CradlePoint MBR1000 3G router.

I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who has already found one that works OK with the MBR1000. I am planning to use MyCat and having looked at totalaircard.com. Not sure what the best options are.

Thanks for any advice in advance

[thaimite]

I have an MBR1000 and will have the same issue soon, however I beleive the solution is to look for a generic 3G unlocked dongle that can take any SIM card. and insert the SIM from your 3G provider.

Many Huawei modems are supported.

Also look for firmware updates that add support for new modems.

A search on the Cradlepoint web site will help.

[Prichard]

Three days ago I terminated my CAT CDMA service and changed to My Click CAT 3G. I'm so glad I did. The CAT engineer recommended me to get a Truemove H Aircard 3G+ 21Mbps (CAT has no aircard available for sale). I then signed up with CAT 3G internet for 590 bath/month unlimited with 4GB data cap.

However, I could not use the new 3G aircard with my beloved MBR1000 that I used with CCU680 for CDMA previously. I tried a few times to connect my CAT 3G using MBR1000 without sucess. It appears that MBR1000 does not have a set up option to enter CAT 3g data input: Country, ISP, *99# and APN=catinternet. My MBR1000 has the latest firmware.

So I bought a new 3G router dlink DWR112. It is not great but workable and cheap. With its latest firmware the CAT3G data is preset. I also like its 2 USB ports: one for 3G aircard and the other is for USB share port. I connected a 7-port powered USB hub and I now have a printer and a 500GB hard drive shared among my 5 computers at home. Sweet feature. I love it.

Anyway, if anyone can use MBR1000 with 3G aircard, please let me know too. Thanks.

My 3G connection beats the pants off my previous CDMA connection. I'm a happy surfer again. I hope the 4GB data max cap will not be a problem because I don't do much downloads except for emails. We'll see. Cheers.

[TongueThaied]

I have a CradlePoint MBR95 3G router that I use with a Sierra 308 3G aircard. But be advised the 3G aircards that are compatible with AIS are not compatible with DTAC. I have DTAC with my Sierra 308. The person who said "I beleive the solution is to look for a generic 3G unlocked dongle that can take any SIM card. and insert the SIM from your 3G provider." is wrong, because the DTAC and AIS use different frequencies for their 3G and the aircard must match. True uses the same frequency as either AIS or DTAC, but I cannot remember which.

I bought my Shockwave Sierra 308 USB aircard from eBay in the US for $34, and had a friend send it over. If you buy in the US, be damned sure it is unlocked. Amazon had one identical to the one I bought in eBay that did not mention locking. Upon email inquiry to Amazon, I learned it was locked to AT&T. Close call. Glad I checked.

The CradlePoint MBR95 was their latest when I bought it from Amazon for $94 in January. Of course, it was not available in LOS! It is a sweet little router with both "public" and "private" wireless channels. Really a nice feature. It also has this one touch feature for adding wireless devices. The easiest set up I have ever experienced. The MBR95 gets much better reviews than the MBR1000, but may still not be available here. Don't know. I don't even look for this stuff here anymore. Premium prices and yesterday's technology. No thanks.

[lomatopo]

However, I could not use the new 3G aircard with my beloved MBR1000 that I used with CCU680 for CDMA previously. I tried a few times to connect my CAT 3G using MBR1000 without sucess. It appears that MBR1000 does not have a set up option to enter CAT 3g data input: Country, ISP, *99# and APN=catinternet. My MBR1000 has the latest firmware.

This struck me as strange. A quick review of the MBR1000 User's Guide, page 81, "Modem Specific Settings", seems to indicate that one can indeed enter the dial string and APN info. Of course I am unable to determine if your USB modem is approved to work, or known to work, with the unit?

Here is a list of approved and known to work modems: http://www.cradlepoint.com/mp_finder/db/modemreport.php?products=MBR1000&report=all

For MyCAT you'll need a USB modem which supports 850 MHz 3G at a minimum. I suspect any Huawei or ZTE modem will function with the unit but you may be able to match one which is available here from the CradlePoint list?

Edited July 31, 2012 by lomatopo

[osmond]

Many thanks to you all for the info to date.

The Cradlepoint MBR1000 is nearly 2 years old now ,and yes not cheap at the time either (~9K baht ). Together with a Novatel and Huawei CDMA modem, it is a lot of equipment to ditch ( ~20K ). No option with the CDMA dongles, but obviously I would prefer to keep the router.and find a 3G modem that is compatible with the Cradlepoint and works with CAT/True system.

So the search will continue and hopefully based on the MBR1000 compatability list will succeed assuming the model is available here as suggested.

I have also successfully used an 'unsupported' Huawei EC226 with the MBR1000 and used a dial string to connect to the network. That was until the firmware was upgraded to version 2.0.0 - now it doesn't recognise the device. The Novatel MC760 still works.

Edited August 1, 2012 by osmond

[lomatopo]

So the search will continue and hopefully based on the MBR1000 compatability list will succeed assuming the model is available here as suggested.

The Huawei E173 shows as supported, at least for one network (Reliance/India). It does support 850 MHz 3G.

http://www.totalaircard.com/products/Huawei-E173-3G-USB-Aircard.html

Some modems listed here:

http://www.totalaircard.com/products/Cradlepoint-MBR1000-3G%7B47%7D4G-Mobile-Broadband-N-Router-WiFi.html

http://www.surfnshop.biz/index.php?lay=show&ac=article&Id=348104

Maybe troll some of the Thai forums, with Google translate, to see what people might be using successfully with the MBR1000 and My by CAT/TrueMove H?

[Sayonarax]

Why would CDMA technology work with 3G? Kinda like putting LPG in a diesel truck.

D-LINK DWR-112 WIRELESS 300N 3G WI-FI ROUTER B1300-1500

This model allows you to plug your 3G USB card in to it when your at home and disconnect it when your on the go.

D-LINK DWR-530 3.75G MOBILE ROUTER B3100 to B3400

Just plug in a sim card and away you go.

Edited August 2, 2012 by Sayonarax