Sierra Wireless Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot (Sprint) | 
| Brand: Sprint PCS
Category: Wireless
List Price: $299.99
Buy New: $49.99
as of 7/31/2010 14:08 CDT details
You Save: $250.00 (83%)
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 12471
Color: Black
Media: Wireless Phone
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
Model: SWW8013G4G
UPC: 812320003551
ASIN: B0032JTPMK
Release Date: January 10, 2010
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Data not available Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Enjoy wireless broadband connectivity via both Sprint's 3G Mobile Broadband network and its 4G WiMAX network | | • | Connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously--including laptops, gaming devices, cameras and | | • | MicroSD slot for use with cards up to 16 GB in size; can be tethered via USB extension cable | | • | Up to 3 hours of use, up to 36 hours (1.5 days) of standby time | | • | What's in the Box: hotspot modem, battery, back cover for modem, AC charger, USB to USB micro cable, quick start guide |
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Amazon.com Product Description
Connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously--including laptops, gaming devices, cameras and even smartphones from other carriers--through a single connection using the Sierra Wireless Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot from Sprint. Offering the next generation of ultra-fast WiMAX 4G wireless connectivity, the Overdrive delivers the best of both worlds with its compatibility with Sprint's current 3G network. Compact, portable, and easy to carry, the Overdrive also supports memory cards up to 16 GB of shared storage via its microSD slot and has built-in Wi-Fi GPS capability. 
Enjoy both 3G/4G wireless broadband connectivity with this mobile hotspot serving up to 5 devices simultaneously. |  |  | The dual-mode Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot can be used on both the Sprint 4G network and Sprint's dependable 3G Mobile Broadband Network. This flexibility allows enjoy to enjoy 4G performance in any Sprint 4G market or to use Sprint's reliable 3G mobile broadband network when outside a 4G area. Sprint 4G is already available in 27 markets and continues to expand to new cities, bringing wireless speeds up to 10 times faster than today's 3G from any other national wireless carrier. It's a great broadband wireless option for just about everybody: In the Home
Through a single connection, you can bypass your cable provider and stream HD movies from content distribution providers (such as Netflix, Amazon and Blockbuster) right to your TV; connect your Xbox 360 and game real-time with someone located across the globe; move pictures wirelessly from your camera to a digital picture frame and surf the Web on your laptop while streaming Pandora. In the Dorm
Connect virtually anywhere on a campus with 4G coverage at 4G speeds: Turn your iPod Touch with Skype into a voice phone and make a call, or stream a live movie from Hulu or Netflix to your laptop. On-the-Go
Whether you're on a long trip or running a busy day of errands, use Overdrive to keep passengers entertained in the car. Stream your favorite TV show from Hulu to your netbook; use a PSP gaming device to access multiple games and content; download music to your Zune HD; and turn your 3G iPhone into a 4G device. It's all very simple with Overdrive. Mobile Office
Join a video conference, download large files, conduct a virtual home tour and stay in constant contact with your office via unified communications. Key Features - Universal Wi-Fi capability: up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled device sharing one connection
- Compatible with universal Wi-Fi devices: works with all operating systems
- MicroSD slot for shared storage up to 5 connected devices with support for memory cards up to 16 GB.
- LCD screen communicates device information such as Internet connection status, number of people sharing and battery life.
- GPS capable: built-in Wi-Fi GPS capability (on 3G) allows you to pinpoint and map your location
- Easy to use: compact, portable device requires no connector, activation or installation, enabling easy re-deployment
- Extended Wi-Fi range up to 150 feet
- 4G data speeds (WiMAX): Peak download speeds of more than 10 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 4 Mbps; average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps.
- 3G data speeds (EVDO Rev A.): Peak download speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds of 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps.
- Backwards compatible to the EVDO Rev. 0 and 1xRTT Networks
- Seamlessly transitions from 4G to 3G and vice versa
- Device can be tethered via USB extension cable (included) to a computer in order to charge the battery, connect to the network as well as share up to 5 devices/users
- Dimensions: 3.14 x 3.14 x 0.61 inches (HxWxD)
- Weight: 4.51 ounces
- Frequency: 1xEVDO Rev. A, Rev. 0 and 1X (850/1900 MHz); WiMAX 2500 MHz and GPS MHz
- Display size: 1.4-inch LCD (128 x 228 pixels)
- Battery: 1830 mAh with access time of 3 hours of use and 36 hours standby time
What's in the Box
Sierra Overdrive hotspot modem, battery, back cover for modem, AC charger, USB to USB micro cable, quick start guide
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
 Great go-anywhere internet February 2, 2010
Brian Bearden (Austin, TX USA)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
I adore this product. I live in Austin (good 4g coverage) and spend weekends on a boat in Houston (good 3g coverage). Before buying this product I could not get reliable internet on the boat. Now I have extremely reliable, high-speed, internet in Austin and a much slower, but serviceable, connection on the boat (and the drive between). I have been using this for about a month and have had no issues with the hardware or the software. Config was a breeze and I have always had a connection.
That said, there are a few things to be aware of. The 4g on this device is from Clear. They are a Texas company, so have much better coverage in Texas than elsewhere. If you do not live in a location with good 4g coverage, this device is close to useless. The 3g connection is not really fast enough for high-quality streaming video in my experience. Pandora and Skype (voice) work well on the 3g network, but Skype video and Netflix Watch Now do not really work. With the 5 gig 3g data cap, they would be too expensive anyway. On the 4g network everything works fine and the connection seems as fast as the cable modem I replaced with this device. The cost is about $20 a month more than the cable modem was.
March 9, 2010 Update: I am now getting a 4G signal in Houston.
Read the Reviews and was Worried, but I love this Product March 13, 2010
Matt B (Austin, TX)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I was cautious after reading other reviews of the product. I have been a happy broadband card 3g customer and had not had a good experience trying to install the 4g usb single-user wireless device so I had returned that. However, work needs demanded a mobile internet connection for more than 1 user and I took the leap. I think being in Austin, Tx probably helps because Clear's 4g network is great here. I am really impressed by the functionality of the Overdrive. We have been using it as our network solution for 2 weeks during an IT overhaul in our office. The 4g service is consistent. For the first day, the modem initially needed to be turned on and off a couple of times for resetting (sometimes taking out the battery). After the first day rebooting was not necessary. The micro sd data storage capability has proved to be invaluable. I would highly recommend this product.
Why settle for iPad 3G later when you can have 4G now? April 12, 2010
Joseph Turner (Seattle, WA United States)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I was planning on getting an iPad 3G later this month but decided to give the Sprint Overdrive a try first with my current Wifi 64GB iPad.
I'm happy I did!
Sure Apple negotiated a deal with at&t for $30 a month but there will be no tethering and at&t is infamous for having More Bars to Less Backhaul.
With the Overdrive I get the same unlimited usage on their 4G network and all my mobile devices can use it. Plus my friends can use it when we're out and about. Their iPhone's work better on a network that actually has backhaul.
Plus the hardware cost me $50 vs the $130 they want for the 3G only modem in the 3G model iPad. And when faster 4G services come online in the next year I don't have to replace the entire iPad to take advantage of them (or go without if Apple doesn't have an LTE iPad right away.)
Yes, Sprint 4G is problematical if you don't understand the physics involved. Sprint only has a single WiMax frequency for 4G: 2.5GHz. These high frequencies are great for out doors and about 20 feet into lightly constructed buildings. Most networks are dual frequency with both a higher frequency and a lower frequency, usually down around 850MHz, to get better penetration into indoor spaces.
So if you go too far indoors you will find yourself falling back to 3G or even 2.5G. But if you can find a large enough sky light you can generally get your 4G back. Which is my general rule of thumb for my friends: 4G doesn't venture where vampires roam, stay in the sunshine.
Setup was a breeze with the iPad, no "real computer" required. You turn on the Overdrive and when it comes up you enter the password off the LCD screen into your iPad's wifi settings. You then surf to http://Overdrive via Safari and lock down the modem and tell it to go grab the latest firmware.
In 5 minutes I was out surfing on my iPad.
The other thing I like about the Overdrive vs the Mifi is you can use it whilst it charges the battery. Very important for those times when you're going to be depending upon it heavily for Internet access. It recharges using the new cellular standard micro-USB connector and 1 AMP charger at roughly 1% per minute. With good quality 4G service I'm getting 4 hours per charge. With 3G service I get roughly 3 hours.
The only big complaint I have is the boot up time. For a mobile device you whip out of your pocket and want to hop on the Internet with it takes awhile for it to get ready.
But once you get online you and your iPad are surfing at broadband speeds. A very pleasant experience when out and about. And far faster than my friends get with their iPhone 3GS' on at&t. That consistent out-performance of the iPhone 3GS has convinced me I've made the right choice.
Excellent rural internet connection March 27, 2010
marcie (San Luis Obispo, CA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
We live in a rural area, and have relied on satellite internet (with dropped coverage in storms and clouds) for the past 3 years. We just switched over to the Sprint 3G service with the Overdrive unit. While our area is not yet covered by the 4G network, our experience so far has been great. We average 1.1-1.3 Mb/s downloads on the 3G network (close to the max of satellite at a lower cost) and uploads range from 300-400 kb/s. Latency is much better than satellite as well and the overall connection is serving our needs wonderfully. It has been reliable and looks like it will do a good job at replacing our home network, and providing even better connectivity once the 4G speeds arrive.
A few general notes: this unit doesn't seem to do well if it's left on 24 hours a day to power a home network. I have found that it is more reliable if it is turned off at night, and a few times a week I will have to turn it off and restart it to restore internet connectivity. Wireless network signal strength is about 50-60% of what I was getting on opposite sides of the house with our Apple Airport. However, since this is such a portable device I was able to plug it in at a central location without concern for other cords and get the same connectivity that we need. 5GB a month on the 3G service is fine for us, but I look forward to 4G and the unlimited bandwidth to watch online movies etc. Given our rural location and limited internet options, I think that this device and service is a wonderful option that I would readily recommend for others in a similar situation.
Sprint Overdrive, if used in San Antonio, Texas is 5 stars April 2, 2010
S. Glasscock (San Antonio, Texas)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
After reading a number of the reviews it seems that where you are located is of paramount importance as to the results you may obtain.
It's also possible that the more recently you have purchased your Overdrive, the better your chances for good results might be. (Due to improvements made in the service since first implemented?)
I've been using my Overdrive for over a month (since late February, 2010) and have nothing but great things to say about the device.
I live in San Antonio, Texas and have had fabulous results with my Overdrive. Despite the "20%" signal strength I get at my home location, I get consistently great service and speed. (Using [...] to obtain results). Other friends I know here in town that also own an Overdrive get "80%" signal strength and are very happy with their units.
I consistently get from 5 to 7 mbps download speed despite the "20%" signal strength reported by the Overdrive online site. I almost never encounter an outage of service and I have 4G service 99% of the time. My old Sprint 3G broadband device seldom got more than 1 mpbs of speed.
My sister's brand new 3g broadband usb device from Verizon gets 1 to 1.5 mbps at best. If, I connect my Overdrive to her system, at her house, I immediately get at least 2-4 times the speed she does with her Verizon 3G. She uses Windows 7 as her operating system.
Using WiFi on my Android phone via my Overdrive results in consistent speeds of 4 times that of the Android phone on the usual 3G signal it emits. It's no contest. Overdrive in San Antonio, Texas is extremely good.
In fact, I have gone to a number of different provider stores, such as Sprint, Verizon and T-mobile and with my Overdrive in my pocket, connected to 4G via the Overdrive and received virtually the same results at all the locations using their display phones. 4 times the speed they normally connect at was the norm. The absolutely worst improvement was 2 x the speed.
There is one advantage I seem to have over the typical user in my area (San Antonio, TX).
I normally use Linux Ubuntu vs. 9.10 when connecting to the Internet with my Overdrive. I have a dual boot system with Windows 7 as the secondary operating system.
Time and time again, I have tested the download speed, etc. at the same time of day or night. First using the Overdrive with Linux Ubuntu 9.10, and then using it again with Windows 7.
Without fail, my Linux Ubuntu 9.10 system on the same PC gets twice the mbps download speed as the Windows 7 setup does. In other words, Windows 7 is slower than molasses compared to Linux Ubuntu 9.10 on the same PC. Go figure?
Anyway, unlike some others, my rating for the Overdrive is 5 stars. However, it is much slower using Windows 7 on the same PC, so my Windows rating would probably be 4 stars at best.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 34
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