The Best of Both Phone, and TabletSprint Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hot Spot
Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless Part number: SWW8013G4G
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- For road warriors, the Sprint Overdrive mobile hot spot offers reliable and fast 4G speeds, provided you live in a coverage area. If not, it does 3G, too; we just wish it had a longer battery life.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Sprint Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hot Spot price range: $49.99
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 04/01/2010
The good: The Sprint Overdrive offers 4G speeds, GPS support, and shared storage. Its Web client is easy to use.
The bad: Sprint's 4G coverage is limited at this time. The Overdrive is a bit bulky and has short battery life.
The bottom line: For road warriors, the Sprint Overdrive mobile hot spot offers reliable and fast 4G speeds, provided you live in a coverage area. If not, it does 3G, too; we just wish it had a longer battery life.
Introduced at CES 2010, the Sprint Overdrive is a mobile wireless router much like the MiFi, except that it's capable of both 3G and 4G speeds. It works on Sprint's WiMax network and allows you to connect up to five devices at a time. The only drawback is that Sprint's 4G network is limited at this time, so not everyone is going to enjoy the broadband-like speeds. That said, Sprint has plans to expand its 4G coverage to reach 120 million people by the end of the year and you still get 3G support. The Sprint Overdrive worked well during our tests and proved to be an invaluable tool during a recent business trip. It's a great way for road warriors to stay connected on the go while getting some of the fastest speeds out there from a mobile wireless router. The Sprint Overdrive costs $100 after a $50 mail-in rebate, and requires a two-year service contract for Sprint's 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Connection Plan, which costs $59.99 per month.
The Overdrive, which is manufactured by Sierra Wireless, measures 3.14 inches tall by 3.14 inches wide by 0.61 inch thick and weighs 4.51 ounces; it's not quite as travel-friendly as the MiFi or USB sticks, but it can easily be thrown into a bag. On front, you'll find a power button and an LCD display the size of a stamp that shows you signal strength, battery life, and connectivity. There's a mute button on top, and the bottom of the device has a Micro-USB port and a microSD card slot, which can be used for shared network storage (up to 16GB) for up to five devices. You'll have to provide your own microSD card, however, as only a charger, a USB cable, and reference materials are included the box.
There is no installation CD or desktop software, so all you have to do to get started is power up the Overdrive. Once on, simply search for the Overdrive in your available wireless networks and use the provided passcode on the modem's LCD to complete the connection. There isn't a desktop client, but you can point your browser to http://overdrive/ to see your data usage as well as enable GPS, map your location (via Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing, or Yahoo), install updates, and more. The Web client is easy to understand and use, and it works in a number of browsers, including Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Safari. It's compatible with both Windows (XP, Vista, and 7) and Mac (OS X 10.4 or higher).
Sprint's 4G network is currently live in 31 cities but will expand the service with partner Clearwire to Miami, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, New York City, Houston, Boston, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Denver, Minneapolis, and the San Francisco Bay Area by the end of this year, at which point Sprint says its 4G network will cover 120 million people. If you don't live in one of these cities or wander out of a coverage zone, the Overdrive will switch to 3G. Sprint says its 4G network can provide wireless speeds of up to 10 times faster than today's 3G, with average download speeds ranging from 3Mbps to 6Mbps, compared with 3G's 600kbps to 1.7Mbps.
We tested the Sprint Overdrive in Las Vegas during CTIA 2010. Based on five tests using Speedtest.net, the Overdrive averaged download speeds of 2.61Mbps and upload speeds of 0.2Mbps; a 3.46MB photo took 1 minute and 40 seconds to upload with a signal strength of -45dBm. For comparison's sake, the Verizon Wireless MiFi offered around 1,000Kbps download and 500Kbps upload, and the Sprint Sierra Wireless 598U USB stick averaged 890Kbps for download speeds and 381Kbps for upload speeds.
The Overdrive came in quite handy during our week at CTIA, providing reliable 4G coverage and good speeds. It actually saved our sanity on more than one occasion when our hotel's Wi-Fi slowed to a crawl and in fact, we had completely switched to just using the Overdrive. Hopefully, Sprint will continue to roll out its WiMax network at a steady pace so others can enjoy the benefit of the Overdrive soon. Our only major complaint is about battery life. It's rated for 3 hours of continuous use (1.5 days of standby time), which is pretty much what we got on a single charge, but that isn't much, so keep your charger handy.
User reviews
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Solid so far
by BigCroat on March 23, 2011
Pros: Small, protable, works
Cons: Some connection dropping
Summary: Had it for 3 weeks now. On certain days it drops connection, on certain days it does not at all (stays on for 9 hours - al lthe time while ...
Summary: Had it for 3 weeks now. On certain days it drops connection, on certain days it does not at all (stays on for 9 hours - al lthe time while at work). It seems that it works better if the connection is not idle. For instance, having Pandora on. Had USB modem before - and there were the same issues, but the differnece was that the software would then lose the modem, etc. 20 minutes for start. This is definitely better.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great for whole family
by kharknox on April 26, 2010
Pros: Ability to use several computers at the same time. Internet is fast on 3 & 4G networks. Easy to use and set up. Can charge with USP port.
Cons: Sprint 4G will not hit our town until 2011. Battery life on this thing is terrible. The device tends to get hot when turned on for long periods of time. Nintendo DSIs do not support this type of Wifi.
Summary: This is a solid device for the price. My family loves not having to share internet connections during travel and at home. But just keep this thing plugged in.
Summary: This is a solid device for the price. My family loves not having to share internet connections during travel and at home. But just keep this thing plugged in.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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JUNK! Can not hold a 3G (forget 4G) signal for 10 min
by waxrash on July 17, 2010
Pros: Small, portable. Great Idea!
Cons: It's just unusable. I have latest firmware and 4G disabled. The 3G signal will fluctuate from 60 to 40 to 0 to 40 to 0 to 60. This is sitting still on a flat surface. I put my Palm pre right beside it (also sprint) and 3G signal is fine.
Summary: Don't waste your money.
Summary: Don't waste your money.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Failed design- year of multiple warranty replacements.
by RANTG1 on April 18, 2012
Pros: Works well when it sits on a ice pack and stays plugged into A/C power. Must override settings that allow it to switch between 3G and 4G to keep a 4G connection.
Cons: Overheats. Disconnects when too hot. Battery life under an hour if not plugged in. Battery life about 2 1/2 hours when plugged into computer USB port. Disconnects and reconnects between 3G and 4G several times an hour.
Summary: Have been fighting Sprint for a year now regarding this device. Surprised they were not just safety recalled due to the overheating battery issue.
Summary: Have been fighting Sprint for a year now regarding this device. Surprised they were not just safety recalled due to the overheating battery issue.
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Save yourself the trouble and don't buy this.
by alliemay37 on September 4, 2011
Pros: Internet access
Cons: -Comes in a cute little box with instructions for a quick set up, but does not include an actual manual. To see the manual for any problems, you have to download it from online. Ironic, isn't it? Especially when it decides to not work, and you have no int
Summary: (Continued Cons)
-It says it can connect up to 8 devices, but we have had it running on 2 computers and it struggles to allow us do basic tasks online(...Summary: (Continued Cons)
-It says it can connect up to 8 devices, but we have had it running on 2 computers and it struggles to allow us do basic tasks online(forget about streaming videos or long downloads, it is impossible on this thing). And I read on another help forum that having it connected to several devices causes it to overheat.
-Waaay too expensive.
This was a gift from my Mom to me, and I have asked her to cut the service because it is just not worth it. From what I understand it cost around $60/ mo? Correct me if I am wrong. But I would much rather have a stationery connection that you don't constantly get disconnected from. Anyway, if you go to the Sprint website to figure out what the heck is wrong with the device, you'll find hundreds of other people having problems with the thing. Seriously, don't get it. Never trust a phone company to provide internet access is my new policy. -
I give it a poor because at least it works.
by Julibelle23 on August 25, 2011
Pros: It works-most of the time.
Cons: It is slow, slow, slow and did I mention slow. It gets really hot(temperature hot) and the battery expanded in the compartment so we removed it. It's supposed to be 4G and it is clearly not.
Summary: An inferior product. Not worth the money. Sprint should be embarassed.
Summary: An inferior product. Not worth the money. Sprint should be embarassed.
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Mediocre at best.. I think that should be Sprints logo
by jwb77 on July 22, 2011
Pros: mobility... if it works, I am only able to connect to the 4g network, it has never connected to the 3g network; so if I'm out of the 4g network range, it is completely useless
Cons: super slow... they said it should run at 3-8 MB, but it averages about 0.3 MB, on the device it's misleading b/c it will say 300 MB, but should say 300 Mb... drops signal often. I live right in the center of a major city & should not have these probl
Summary: Don't do it, stay away from the overdrive & stay away from Sprint... terrible service & terrible customer service. For example, I average a few dropped calls & dropped ...
Summary: Don't do it, stay away from the overdrive & stay away from Sprint... terrible service & terrible customer service. For example, I average a few dropped calls & dropped internet signals a day (at least), & when I call to complain, they say it only shows you've had one dropped call in the last 6 months... total LIES
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Way more expensive than cable or dsl
by celts89 on June 24, 2011
Pros: - buying it let me end relationship with AT&T
Cons: - 4G drops all the time and 3G overages are hit by my family about half-way through the month meaning $150+ internet charges per month
- VOIP really, really, really poor quality over this
- husband is very insistent that we return to landline internet conSummary: Technology is not there yet--neither the 4G capacity, nor customer service, nor billing, nor quality
AVOID, DO NOT BUY!Summary: Technology is not there yet--neither the 4G capacity, nor customer service, nor billing, nor quality
AVOID, DO NOT BUY! -
Miserable Service
by M2johnson on May 22, 2011
Pros: Portable. It looks cool. That's about it.
Cons: Takes forever to boot and connect. Drops and reconnects frequently. Battery very hot. Sprint service abysmal.
Summary: Wish I had never bought it.
Summary: Wish I had never bought it.
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Unreliable, slow
by DBistrow on February 28, 2011
Pros: It's portable
Cons: It heats up, it's slow, it's unreliable, needs frequent rebooting and or resetting, customer service is poor.
Summary: The bottom line is I've had this "box" for two months, had it replaced once, the Sprint store employees couldn't get it working on my laptop but I ...
Summary: The bottom line is I've had this "box" for two months, had it replaced once, the Sprint store employees couldn't get it working on my laptop but I finally did once back at home.
Many times my service has gone down and tech support, depending on who answers the phone, can be anywhere for irritating, not at home between the ears, repeats the same question asking for your account number, phone number, zip code - they don't listen or are preoccupied doing something else. This is not a one instance observation but over many phone calls.
Try spending over 4 hours on the phone, talking to 5 different CSRs and then finally getting to a solution. One guy tells me to hold while he checks his tutorial. Another keeps leaving to talk to his/her supervisor.
I'm a systems engineer but with a third party device and service you are at their mercy. I find myself answering my own questions over the phone call. One guy told me it seems I know a lot about systems. Ya Think?
Long and short of it - I personally have spent too much time dealing with a device that works poorly and that's an understatement. Now the 3G in my area has been down for 16 hours as of this writing. What? I have to go to Starbucks or Mickey Ds?
I made the mistake of purchasing the Overdrive so I could use it on multiple devices at one time - IPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Laptop or any device my business partner is using. I'm going back to the aircard which always worked, never went down.
If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it or in my case - upgrade.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sierra Wireless
- Part number: SWW8013G4G
- Description: Extend your mobile broadband experience to any Wi-Fi enabled device and break away from today's fixed Wi-Fi hotspot locations. Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot allows you to connect to any Wi-Fi-enabled devices and up to 5 simultaneously - including laptops, music players, gaming devices, and cameras - through a single connection, and provides a network connection that is up to 10 times faster than today's 3G speeds from any national wireless carrier. Sprint 4G provides faster speeds and more capacity to enable user experience for high-bandwidth applications like streaming music, interactive gaming, transferring large data files or downloading videos in second. The dual-mode feature of Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot allows users to enjoy 4G performance in any Sprint 4G market or use Sprint's Mobile Broadband Network, America's most dependable 3G network. Compact, portable and easy to carry, Overdrive also supports memory cards via MicroSD slot on the device and has built-in Wi-Fi GPS capability.
General
- Device Type Wireless router
- Connectivity Technology Wireless
- Data Link Protocol IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
IEEE 802.16e - Max Range Open Space 151 ft
- Network / Transport Protocol ICMP/IP ,
UDP/IP ,
PPTP ,
TCP/IP ,
ARP ,
RARP ,
IPSec - Remote Management Protocol HTTP
- Encryption Algorithm WPA2,
WPA-PSK,
WPA2-PSK,
AES,
WPA,
128-bit WEP,
TKIP,
64-bit WEP - Authentication Method Radio Service Set ID (SSID)
- Features DHCP server ,
VPN support ,
Port triggering ,
VPN passthrough ,
Access Point operational mode ,
Routing,
Port forwarding ,
Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) ,
IPSec passthrough - Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11g ,
IEEE 802.11b ,
IEEE 802.16e ,
UPnP - Built-in Devices GPS,
Status LCD Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces USB : 1 x
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 (total) / 1 (free) x microSD
Networking
- Networking type Wireless router
Antenna
- Antenna Internal integrated
- Antenna Qty 1
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Communications
- Type Wireless cellular modem
- Cellular Enhancement Protocol CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO Rev. A,
CDMA 2000 1X EV-DO Rev. 0 - Max Transfer Rate 10 Mbps
Miscellaneous
- Width 3.1 in
- Depth 3.1 in
- Height 0.6 in
- Weight 4.5 oz
- Cables (Details) 1 x USB adapter cable
Software / System Requirements
- OS Required Apple MacOS X 10.4.x or later,
Microsoft Windows Vista / XP / 7 Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature -4 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 131 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 0 - 95% (non-condensing)
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sierra Wireless products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:Sierra Wireless
- Address:
13575 Commerce Pkwy., Ste. 150
Richmond, BC
V6V 2L1 Canada - Phone: 604-231-1100
- Email: support@sierrawireless.com
- Fax: 604.231.1109
