Wireless Internet Anywhere

Submitted by Jordan on July 4, 2008 - 9:48pm.

I recently picked up a Compass 597 EVDO Rev. A card from Sprint, allowing me to access the internet nearly anywhere. I also picked up a Cradlepoint PHS-300 wireless router. The PHS-300 is a very small, battery powered, Wi-Fi router designed specifically for USB EVDO cards or supported phones. By plugging the C597 into the router I have Wi-Fi for a about two hours.

Speed varies, in areas where Sprint has rolled out EVDO Rev. A I see anywhere from 800 to 1,600 kbps, which is about the same speed as DSL. The C597 is sold by Sprint, for $50 with a two year contract. The PHS-300 runs about $150 at the time of this writing.

Yes, $200 to start out and $60 a month is an awful lot to swallow, but sometimes it's worth it for the convince of having any of your Wi-Fi enabled gadgets online wherever you are.

Pictures of the router and card are here.

Do you do something different for wireless internet? Is there a cheaper, better way? Let's hear it in the comments.