A couple of days ago I wrote about the MiFi 2200 portable 3G/WiFi hotspot from Verizon Wireless. That brought up the subject of portable WiFi access points in general.
These days everybody with a digital media collection or an electronic device in their pocket needs WiFi. Right now! All the time.
So here's a quick run down on what's available in small, portable, and easy to use devices for setting up WiFi access wherever you go.
These days everybody with a digital media collection or an electronic device in their pocket needs WiFi. Right now! All the time.
So here's a quick run down on what's available in small, portable, and easy to use devices for setting up WiFi access wherever you go.
First, if it's truly "anywhere" that you want, then you need to go with a broad-coverage mobile network and the MiFi 2200
is the current choice for that.
It's tiny, weighs very little, runs on
it's own battery or USB power and shares your 3G connection with up to
5 devices. $150 at Verizon with a 2-year contract for 3G.
Functionally similar to the MiFi is the Cradlepoint CRADLE-PHS300 Personal Hotspot (pictured at right). The main difference is that this one is made to work with a USB mobile modem or USB connection to a broadband capable phone. (It will charge your phone from it's battery. Nice touch.) They have a list of tested compatible devices at the Cradlepoint website. Availabe at Amazon for around $180.
If you don't have a mobile network account but just want to be sure to have WiFi access wherever you can get wired access to the Internet, then you need a portable router or access point.
"Portable" is the operative word here. Most routers for small office or home use are pretty small but they all also come needing be plugged into a power outlet via wall-wart transformer that weighs more than the router itself.
But what we're looking for is something that's:
Here's a list of devices that come closest to fitting all these criteria. If I missed any that you know of, please let me know. (And if you represent one: send me a copy. I'll try it out and review it here.)
Note that, unlike the MiFi 2200, these all assume some sort of access to the internet: either by cabled ethernet or by extending access to an existing WiFi network.
Number one for doing it all: the D-Link DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router/AP. That's a long name for such a tiny little thing, but it fits all the criteria including the client device option. Power is either with a wall-wart or via USB. (Nice option; so you don't have to use up your laptop battery.) This one sells for around $52 at Amazon and elsewhere.
The D-Link device has a web interface for configuring the device with both very easy "wizard" modes or quite detailed technical access to all settings. This easily passes the "easy configuration while on the road" test. Overall, the DWL-G730AP is a winner.
Next up, in many folks opinion, is the Apple "Airport Express". It is sort of borderline on many of the criteria. It is very small and quite nicely self-contained but it has no option for sell- or USB power and must be plugged into a standard AC outlet. It is nicely designed as it's own wall-wart with a flip-out power plug. That's fine most of the time but if you're traveling and the AC outlet is inaccessible or space around it is too tight, once again, you're out of luck.
The Airport Express configures easily but it has not built in web interface. What up with that? It requires Apple software that only works on a Mac or Windows computer. If you're using Linux you are SOL without at least configuring a Windows VM just so that you can reconfigure the Apple device. (?) Not having web-based configuration is a weird mistake on Apple's part and since it's been out for years this way, and they've surely heard all about it before, so don't count on it to be changed.
The Airport Express does have one built-in trick the others don't have though; it is designed for streaming media content to your iPods. If this is an advantage, it's mooted in some cases by things like Simplify Media and other media servers/streamers.
Airport Express lists for $99 but goes for around $60 at Amazon stores.
It's tiny, weighs very little, runs on
it's own battery or USB power and shares your 3G connection with up to
5 devices. $150 at Verizon with a 2-year contract for 3G.Functionally similar to the MiFi is the Cradlepoint CRADLE-PHS300 Personal Hotspot (pictured at right). The main difference is that this one is made to work with a USB mobile modem or USB connection to a broadband capable phone. (It will charge your phone from it's battery. Nice touch.) They have a list of tested compatible devices at the Cradlepoint website. Availabe at Amazon for around $180.
If you don't have a mobile network account but just want to be sure to have WiFi access wherever you can get wired access to the Internet, then you need a portable router or access point.
"Portable" is the operative word here. Most routers for small office or home use are pretty small but they all also come needing be plugged into a power outlet via wall-wart transformer that weighs more than the router itself.
But what we're looking for is something that's:
- -- really tiny; like pocket sized
- -- either self-powered or USB powered or both
- -- be easily configured when you're on the road and not require special drivers or a setup disk
- -- be able to function as a WiFi router &/or access point,
- -- "G" or "N" WiFi protocol support.
- -- Optionally, if it can also function as a WiFi client device, as a wandering tech support guy I know that can be handy once in awhile too.
Here's a list of devices that come closest to fitting all these criteria. If I missed any that you know of, please let me know. (And if you represent one: send me a copy. I'll try it out and review it here.)
Note that, unlike the MiFi 2200, these all assume some sort of access to the internet: either by cabled ethernet or by extending access to an existing WiFi network.
Number one for doing it all: the D-Link DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router/AP. That's a long name for such a tiny little thing, but it fits all the criteria including the client device option. Power is either with a wall-wart or via USB. (Nice option; so you don't have to use up your laptop battery.) This one sells for around $52 at Amazon and elsewhere.
The D-Link device has a web interface for configuring the device with both very easy "wizard" modes or quite detailed technical access to all settings. This easily passes the "easy configuration while on the road" test. Overall, the DWL-G730AP is a winner.
Next up, in many folks opinion, is the Apple "Airport Express". It is sort of borderline on many of the criteria. It is very small and quite nicely self-contained but it has no option for sell- or USB power and must be plugged into a standard AC outlet. It is nicely designed as it's own wall-wart with a flip-out power plug. That's fine most of the time but if you're traveling and the AC outlet is inaccessible or space around it is too tight, once again, you're out of luck.
The Airport Express configures easily but it has not built in web interface. What up with that? It requires Apple software that only works on a Mac or Windows computer. If you're using Linux you are SOL without at least configuring a Windows VM just so that you can reconfigure the Apple device. (?) Not having web-based configuration is a weird mistake on Apple's part and since it's been out for years this way, and they've surely heard all about it before, so don't count on it to be changed.
The Airport Express does have one built-in trick the others don't have though; it is designed for streaming media content to your iPods. If this is an advantage, it's mooted in some cases by things like Simplify Media and other media servers/streamers.
Airport Express lists for $99 but goes for around $60 at Amazon stores.
Leave a comment