Overview

Wireless mobile router is not similar to those traditional broadband wireless routers. Traditionally you share the wired broadband internet connection (either Cable or DSL) in home by using broadband wireless router which connects to the modem with wired connection to the ISP. You cannot use traditional broadband wireless routers for impromptu outdoor activities.

On the other hand, you can share your wireless cellular internet by using wireless mobile router. The good thing with mobile broadband wireless routers is that you don’t depend on the wired internet connection for shared the internet with groups of computers. With a single 3g/4g account, you can share the internet using wireless mobile router anywhere anytime as long as you can access the cellular network.

General Types

There are many types of wireless mobile router in the market from different manufacturers. Some of them have similar features but some of them are featured to support small business class environments. As general there are three types of mobile broadband wireless routers as follows:

1. Those that can only be used for cellular (3g/4g) network
2. Those that can be used either for wired (Cable / DSL) or wireless (cellular 3g/4g)
3. Those that can be used for both wired and wireless internet with failover feature or load balancing

Networking Diagram

The figure below shows networking diagram for this types of router which supports dual WAN connection both Cellular and Cable modems

Various Models

The following routers show different types of broadband wireless mobile routers which may fall into one of the above categories.

1. Netgear MBRN3000

The form is simple, black box with two external antennas and impressed a simple and low profile device.

Netgear MBRN3000 is a true wireless mobile router which can only support the 3g cellular network. It’s specifically designed to share your 3G cellular connection with some PCs in areas where DSL or Cable services are not available. It’s an easy way to create a hotspot in impromptu outdoor activities. Powered by wireless N standards and includes four fast Ethernet ports for wireless and wired connection. It doesn’t include WAN port for Cable or DSL connection but WAN port for USB cellular modem.

Pros:

• Create wireless N hotspots easily to share your cellular data plan
• Includes usage meter to help you control data costs
• Advanced security including dual firewall, IDS and DoS protection and free live parental control
• Guest network support
• All Windows are supported as well as Mac

Cons:

• It doesn’t support battery to power the router in case you require it to support outdoor activities. But it supports convenient Universal Car Power Adapter, available separately (optional)

Click here for MBRN3000 manufacturer description and spec details.

2. D-Link DIR-412

This product is also just as simple as Mbrn3000 above, a box with shiny black on the upper side and the USB port connection at the upper side of the device. The rear panel, there is the operating mode switch between WAN and 3G that you can slide as needed.

The D-Link DIR-412 wireless mobile router works based on wireless N150 technology and is backward compatible with wireless G devices but donnot support wireless B anymore. I think it’s time you upgrade all of your wireless B devices to work with new generation of wireless N standard. DIR-412 supports both wired and wireless internet services. It includes one 10/100 WAN port as the primary connection and one USB port for the USB cellular modem as the fail-over when the primary connection fails.

Pros:

• Supports both wired internet (cable / DSL) as the primary connection and USB for cellular modem (as failover system)
• Compliance with HSUPA/HSDPA/EV-DO/TD-SCDMA Networks
• UPnP

Cons:

• Doesn’t include LAN Ethernet ports
• Doesn’t support guest network for security segregation

Click here for D-Link DIR-412 manufacturer’s description and spec details.

3. Cradlepoint MBR1200 Business Series Router

The appearance of this device does not seem to be for consumer user, looks sturdy with some LEDs indicator display in front and some Ethernet ports on the left side. Form factor should be laid out horizontally and on a special place in order UTP cable towards the switch could look neat.

Unlike the two above the MBR1200 Cradlepoint is one of business class mobile broadband wireless routers. The router is based on wireless N standards and it supports 3G/4G cellular network.

Unlike standard wireless mobile router, the MBR1200 includes five WAN ports (3 USB ports, 1 Express-Card port and one PC Card port). it supports all major USB modems either 3G or 4G cellular networks. Moreover, the router includes one gigabit WAN Ethernet port for wired connection to the cable or DSL modem.

Pros:

• Supports both 3G/4G cellular networks as well as Cable / DSL services with failover features
• Supports all major USB modems with multiple modems connections: 3 USB modem ports, one Express-card modem port and one PC Card modem port.
• Gigabit Ethernet ports both LAN (4xports) and WAN interfaces. LAN ports can be configured for WAN ports.
• Includes modem security enclosure

Cons:

• Doesn’t support guest network (multiple SSIDs)
• every configuration change you make to the router results in a reboot
• advanced users for advanced configuration including multiple WAN for load balance or failover

Click here for MBR1200 manufacturer’s description and spec details.

4. Cradlepoint MBR1400 Business router

The model is almost the same as the 1200 series, but there are additional three external antenna SMA male plugs.

Cradlepoint MBR1400 is the newer version of the business class wireless mobile router for small businesses, branch offices or retail locations which supports both wired and wireless internet connection with failover or load balancing features. Like the previous MBR1200 router, this router includes five WAN ports (3USB and 2 Express-card) for 3g/4g cellular networks. It doesn’t support PC-Card modem anymore.

Pros:

• supports all major cellular modems including 3 USB modems and two Express-card modems
• dual band selectable either 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands
• Gigabit Ethernet ports for both LAN (4x) and WAN (1x) ports – ports are configurable for WAN ports for load balancing
• Multiple SSIDs for multiple users and QoS

Cons:

• Dual band but not simultaneous

Click here for MBR1400 manufacturer’s description and spec details. For small and compact version for travelling, consider new generation or Cradlepoint CTR35.

For homes to support your iPad and other multimedia environment, see also best wireless router for your iPad.

By Ki Grinsing