Okay, this is pretty cool. Cradlepoint has fairly recently released the Cradlepoint E300 5G-ready router.
Great. What does 5G Ready mean?
It is a nebulous term. But let’s start by saying that the next iteration of mobile networks, 5G, stands for fifth generation. It’ll deliver a much faster and much more capable service than its predecessor 4G. Fort example, download speeds of up to 10Gbps and latency (the time taken to open a downloaded file) of 1 millisecond.
To put this into context, the phone you’re most likely using right now is capable of download speeds of 300 Mbps. To download a full-length film on 4G it’ll probably take you around 2-3 minutes, but on 5G you’ll be ready to press play in 4-40 seconds.
So, in order to connect to the 5G network, you’ll need to be using a 5G-ready device. That means things like a 5G-specific modem, a larger battery and faster, more powerful processors to support the more data-heavy tasks enabled by using 5G.
Cradlepoint E300 use cases
As a result of all this the Cradlepoint E300 is very suitable for high-traffic pop-up sites like quarantine centers, small clinics, and treatment facilities. Obviously, it’s a very appropriate technology for a COVID-19 world. It’s also great for distributed voting sites, traditional enterprise branches where wireless WAN connectivity is required, and even individual work-from-home situations involving sensitive data or communications.
Of course, the E300 has many, more traditional uses, such as retail stores or pop-up shops where there is a lack of wired connectivity.
The ultimate mobility of course is with vehicles, where Internet connectivity can easily be provided by LTE routers like the E300. For example, think of cases where the vehicles are part of a mass transportation system such as buses or trains. Some other uses include mobile clinics, first responders, and law enforcement.
A router like the E300 can even be used to power surveillance cameras, access points, manager’s PCs, and so on.
But the E300 is more than just a home router, right?
Yes. For starters, Gigabit-Class LTE routers like the E300 contain a built-in LTE broadband modem. Plus, they enable local Wi-Fi and/or Ethernet devices to share the LTE connection.
Basically, The E300 is similar to the AER1600 in terms of basic features However, it includes Wi-Fi 6, a SPF+ Ethernet port (10 gigabit Ethernet), and future compatibility with 5G adapters. In total, it has 5x gigabit ports and 1x SPF+ (10gigabit) port. All LAN/WAN switchable.
Performance of the Cradlepoint E300 5G-ready router
The Cradlepoint E300 can support up to 248 connected devices. It has a dual-band concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi router, with Wi-Fi 6 LAN connectivity. The E300 carries 2 internal Wi-Fi antennas, and has 4×4 MIMO support. Additionally, it pushes 940 Mbps of Firewall Throughput, and 20 VPN tunnels.
NetCloud IoT Package
The Cradlepoint E300 5G-ready router is sold as a package with a cloud-based plan called NetCloud. It is a secure networking plan built for Internet of Things and machine-to-machine uses. It’s similar to the bundles that firewalls often come with. This cloud-based service adds greatly to the features and capabilities of your E300. For example, NetCloud offers secure, cloud-based management and control of your E300. Netcloud is offered in one, three, and five-year software subscriptions that include 24×7 support.
In conclusion, if you need to provide wired networking and powerful Wi-Fi to an entire remote office, or you need a second dedicated cellular modem for instant failover – the E300 might be worth a look. It is perfect for the most demanding mobile users, but honestly, it might be overkill for some.
If you have any further questions about the E300, Wi-Fi, LTE, or anything else, please email us or call Corporate Armor at 877-449-0458. Thanks for reading!