Kyocera KR2 EVDO Mobile Router Reviews - KR2

Pros: The Kyocera KR2 works like a charm. It does everything we hoped it would. Works well with the Sierra Wireless Compass 597 modem. Our son's xbox is wired to the router for on-line gaming and the speeds are very good even with others sharing the connection. We recommend this router!

Cons: The router is a little bit pricey and the installation instructions were lacking. From reading support documents prior to purchase, we knew we would need a firmware upgrade for the router to work with our air card, but never having installed a router before we relied on the instructions that came with the router and the kyocera website. Unfortunately, we couldn't figure it out from what we read and had to seek outside assistance. This is bad because both my husband and myself work in computer applications.

Other Comments: Since the KR2 will be used in many home networks, Kyocera should put more emphasis on helping their customers set up their networks. It wouldn't have been at all difficult with a little more documentation.

Pros: Very nicely made case, all the standard features including many ethernet ports, easy setup.

Cons: This unit used the same firmware (WiPipe) as the Cradlepoint 500 router and as such inherited the same defect that I saw on the Cradlepoint. Once the EVDO data card disconnects at the 12 hour limit you are dead in the water. The router does show that you have a 0.0.0.0 ip address (probably a clue that you are not connected!) but it does not take action to reconnect to the EVDO network. Enter new firmware, with much optimism for a good fix: No joy, after applying the latest firmware the router would barely work at all...no chance to see if it would handle the 12 hour timeout. The network would work fine for a few minutes, then slow to a crawl, to the point that many network apps would not even connect. Disconnect and use the EVDO card directly on the computer and voila, the snappy response is back and everything works with no degradation.

Other Comments: EVDO routers sound like a super useful tool, and I would pay $200 for one that worked. Since I could not find a functional one I took the time to set up IP forwarding through my computer with the directly connected EVDO card to the old Netgear wireless router, just using the Wifi link. Then the internet connection is available to my other computer, and my networked printer is accessable too.

Pros: Simple to install and operate. Works with ATT wireless system even though the name implies otherwise. I use it share one wireless data modem with three office computers. Works great.

Cons: Required a firmware download to get it to work with my ATT USB data modem. That was a bit more complicated than normal since the data modem was my main connection to the internet, not my backup.

Other Comments:

Pros: Super easy to set up -- plug and play both Cricket and Verizon USB modems. Administrator log-in tools easy to use and configure.

Cons: Non-upgradable antennas. Guess they saved about $.50 per unit production cost by using fixed antennas. No firmware updates from Kyocera in over a year (latest 9/8/2008 ver. ZE1.0.04) and indications they don't plan any in the future. I think some of Kyocera's large customers like Verizon have put pressure on Kyocera to stop supporting these since the carriers have since starting selling their own portable equipment -- pure speculation.

Other Comments: I have bought 5 of these from Sewell. No DOAs and all work great with good range. On one unit having trouble with range in a big house with thick adobe walls I took the liberty of disassembling it to install new coax cable leads from the 3 connectors on the comm card that had reverse SMA connectors so I could upgrade antennas to higher dB versions. Results were mixed and probably not worth the effort. But still a damn fine product.

Pros: Great product, Easy to setup, Fast

Cons: None

Other Comments: I will shop here again and fast shipping