A reader who would like to remain anonymous sent in a laundry list of cellular routers, both those currently offered via OEM and those not yet released. We don’t have hyperlinks for them, but it’s still a good place to start if you’d rather purchase something rather than build your own.
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/wireless/wifi/index.php#stompbox-homebrew-evdowifi-router-100297
He writes: There are quite few cellular routers that are currently available on the market beside the one from “EVDO Info”. Here are a few more:
EVDO Info MB-8000. See China Top Global below
C-Tek Skyrouter – Industrial enterprise grade $1295 radio included
Has lots of inputs for industrial controls
Proxicast LAN-Cell – Industrial enterprise grade $895 radio included
Has VPN. Believe this is the orignal cell router
Alliant Networks – More SOHO $599 + PCMCIA card radio
Have been bought by Broadcom and shut down
Possio PX30 – SOHO unit from Europe $795 + radio
Kyocera KR1 – SOHO coming 12/05 – priced at $190 + PCMCIA radio
Trial balloon shown at the CTIA show
Motorola Cellular Residential Home Gateway – Shown at CTIA 2005
This unit is being sold in Brazil now but may come to the US
MultiTech – Showed one at the CTIA show
Digi Int DigiConnect – Currently only EDGE but will have EVDO soon
Junxion – SOHO WiFi Hotspot based on Soekris $699 + radio card
China Top Global – They make the routers that “EVDO Info” sells
Soekris Engineering – This the Junxion Box, just add cards & linux
See the Stompbox website
Also, rumors have it that many cellular phone manufacturers have cellular routers in the works and will be selling them through the cellular carriers in the winter of 2005-2006.
Shop carefully each of these products are different and have different pluses and minuses. Some are better than other for certain applications. I would be sure to contact all the manufacturers and discuss your application needs with their sales reps.
Cellular routers are a very tricky thing. Ask about demo hardware or trial policy. Actually check out how each product works in the field. Don’t just assume that because you saw it on a web site that it is going to work for you and your application.
