Review: Solwise 3.5G Wlan Mobile Server Router

This wireless router, NET-3G-3GWIFIMRW, allows you to share a mobile broadband connection just as you would a domestic ADSL or cable service. In router mode, the device connects your Lan to the internet via a 3.5G mobile network.

Alternatively, you can use a normal Ethernet wired broadband modem or connect up both to allow the device to divert automatically from conventional to mobile broadband should your wired service go down.

It can also function as a wireless access point or as a simple wireless adapter, enabling you to hook up multiple devices to an existing Wifi network. Two USB ports allow you to connect a variety of devices. If you want to use the device for mobile broadband, you'll need to plug your 3.5G dongle into one of these sockets.

But you can also use them to attach a USB printer for network sharing or a USB webcam for remote surveillance functions. Similarly, a USB hard drive or flash memory dongle can be shared. Along with 802.11b/g Wifi, two Ethernet ports allow connection of a traditional Ethernet broadband modem and connection to a 100 Base-TX wired network.

Setup is straightforward, but getting the mobile broadband connection going can be troublesome. Solwise provides a short and incomplete list of 3.5G dongles that are known to work, but it's up to you to match these up with those provided by the various mobile operators that often don't provide the required hardware information.

Of the three adapters we tried, two worked (one from Three and T-Mobile), but one proved incompatible (also from Three). You are also required to enter some operator-specific connection information, which may require a support call to your mobile operator.

As long as you have a compatible 3.5G dongle, though, this is a neat little device.