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Computer: Network: Medium
3G data cards with RJ45 connectors   (+3, -2)  [vote for, against]
3G cards primarily have USB connectors, replace them with RJ45

3G USB devices require drivers, and can be OS specific. 3G cards often contain their own drivers and utilities but often require specific OS support.

I think its fair to assume if youre using a a 3G USB card, your network port is not being used. A 3G NIC card with an RJ45 connector frees up the USB port. If set up properly, it could have a simple DHCP server, router, built in. Management of it could be via an embedded webserver. It would appear to the computer as an IP router, rather than a modem. It would therefore be platform agnostic.

I would suspect CPU usage would be lower, as its not on the USB bus, maybe incorporating a TCP/IP offload engine could help. I have no idea of the electronics involved but looking at a modern NIC there doesnt seem to be much too it.

(edit - power.. i forgot power. Could/do a laptop incorporate POE ports? Is the tradeoff the reason why USB is used?)
-- dja, Jan 08 2009

CradlePoint CTR-500 Mobile Broadband Router http://cradlepoint....le-broadband-router
Also does WiFi, and they have other models too. [krelnik, Jan 08 2009]

Somewhat baked by CradlePoint's products, though they don't actually provide the 3G part themselves. You plug Ethernet into one side, a 3G modem into the other and boom. See link.
-- krelnik, Jan 08 2009


One could instead easy-bake the same thing themselves with an old laptop, for a whole lot less.
-- Spacecoyote, Jan 08 2009


A good idea, but in my opinion could be a little bit more sophisticated...Instead of RJ45, why not add 802.11 (WIFI) to those 3G cards?
-- alexandre, Jan 10 2009



random, halfbakery