New Billion router offers pocket sized mobile Internet options

The feature list seems to go on and on...for such a small box.
 
Neat! I like the functionality of adding a printer to the router for wireless/laptop printing when host computer is off. One big caveat with "always on" connectivity - when PCs are off and people are asleep, it gives would-be hackers a chance to hack into the router. Rather go for something like "Connect on Demand" and disable "Wake on LAN".
 
Mmmmmm I am going to contact them in the morning, to buy one. Could come in handy...

Anyone know who the local agents are.....never mind - I have just found them in Joburg, and Cape Town
 
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Wow... might be worth noting that for 3G connectivity you still need a separate USB modem.

And I'm not sure exactly what the benefit of mobility is in an AP / 3G router.

Still, this beats running a nettop with Linux just to share a 3G dongle. It beats Windows ICS even more.
 
Wow... might be worth noting that for 3G connectivity you still need a separate USB modem.

In that case: lame. Although, a small, low power device that has USB ports, Ethernet, and wireless could still be quite interesting. Just their marketing is misleading.

And I'm not sure exactly what the benefit of mobility is in an AP / 3G router.

Think of e.g. a team of IT workers on site at a client. Rather than each of them having a 3G card, they can share this device. And it means that they can do local communication between each other, without having to resort to P2P wireless, or worse, sneakernet.

Still, this beats running a nettop with Linux just to share a 3G dongle. It beats Windows ICS even more.

Hehehe, indeed!

What interests me is the mention of Samba. AFAIK, Billion routers in the past have used QNX as an OS. Not sure if Samba runs on QNX (it would not surprise me), but this might indicate a switch to Linux. In which case, it could be a nice OpenWRT'able device.

Just googled, looks like Samba has been ported to QNX, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of discussion about it, which may indicate that it is not terribly functional, or well tested. So that might also support the Linux theory.
 
I am looking for a mini pocket product that does this:
1. plugs in to my laptop USB
2. Creates a small WIFI network around my laptop (5-10m is fine).
3. Uses my laptop Ethernet connection to share Internet access with all people using the WIFI network.

Where I would use this: Meeting room that has only 1 LAN point... or Hotel Room... so colleagues can work off the same connection I am using.
 
I am looking for a mini pocket product that does this:
1. plugs in to my laptop USB
2. Creates a small WIFI network around my laptop (5-10m is fine).
3. Uses my laptop Ethernet connection to share Internet access with all people using the WIFI network.

Where I would use this: Meeting room that has only 1 LAN point... or Hotel Room... so colleagues can work off the same connection I am using.

Sounds like all you want is a way to have your laptop operate as an Access Point, rather than a client. Easy enough with Linux, but there are products for Windows too. You won't even need to buy any hardware at all!

2 seconds googling got:

http://www.netlife.co.za/tech-guide...working/35-windows-xp-as-an-access-point.html

http://bink.nu/news/windows-7-as-an-wifi-accesspoint.aspx
 
Too good to be true??

I managed to buy one of these last week, and I have to say I am a little disappointed. If I leave it plugged in for more than 24 hours it won't allow me to connect. The network continues broadcasting, but none of my devices can connect to it. I have a feeling it has to do with it overheating!

Another problem that I found is that the plug has been very poorly designed. The two prongs are fixed to the actual adapter so when you unplug it it leaves the two prong adapter in the plug!

While this device seems like a really good deal it seems that when things seem too good to be true they generally are...

Quite a let down. Seems I will have to look for another solution. Will probably look at the Dovado...
 
I managed to buy one of these last week, and I have to say I am a little disappointed. If I leave it plugged in for more than 24 hours it won't allow me to connect. The network continues broadcasting, but none of my devices can connect to it. I have a feeling it has to do with it overheating!

Another problem that I found is that the plug has been very poorly designed. The two prongs are fixed to the actual adapter so when you unplug it it leaves the two prong adapter in the plug!

While this device seems like a really good deal it seems that when things seem too good to be true they generally are...

Quite a let down. Seems I will have to look for another solution. Will probably look at the Dovado...

Take a look at the plug computers, you may find something you like. e.g. GuruPlug, SheevaPlug, etc
 
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