Bring Your Own Hotspot!

A new set of routers from D-Link claim to be instant hotspot creators. Simply plug in an EV-DO or HSDPA 3G data card and away you go.The idea is not new. Junxion Box was doing the same thing years ago (and still is) with its mobile hotspots. They saw the potential early on and were pioneers to a degree.

Basically, take a 3G wireless data card from your network operator of choice, stick it into the router, find a power supply, and you're golden! The Junxion Box products, as well as the new DIR-450 (EV-DO) and DIR-451 (UMTS/HSDPA) from D-Link, create a connection to the Internet via the 3G card, and then send and receive Wi-Fi signals, allowing people with Wi-Fi-equipped laptops or PDAs to connect to the Internet in a very ad-hoc kind of way. It may sound a bit creaky, but I assure you the results are very good for the mobile worker in need of a connection.

Believe it or not, this was one of the only ways that many emergency response personnel were able to connect to the Internet in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2004.

The routers are compatible with most, if not all, different types of 3G wireless data networks (EV-DO, HSDPA, etc.) available around the world.

The bottom line here is, not all laptops are capable of handling the 3G networks for one reason or another (too old, no PC slot), and the D-Link and Junxion Box products provide a great alternative when wireless connectivity is a must.