The 3G/4G Sprint
Overdrive is not only a convenient bringing the internet with you anywhere, but
a business asset allowing a total of 5 devices to be connected at once and use
internet off of Sprint’s 3G or 4G network.
Although the 4G network is not yet available everywhere, it is in
several larger cities and when the 4G network isn’t available, the device automatically
switches to Sprint’s 3G network.  You can
check to see if you have 4G coverage in your area by visiting Sprints’ webpage
(http://shop.sprint.com/en/stores/popups/4G_coverage_popup.shtml).

The overdrives
small size lets you take it with you almost anywhere without being a
burden.  At 4 ½ ounces and about the size
of a wallet it’s easy to put in your back pocket and just forget it’s even
there.  Anything from gaming systems, to
mp3 players, to laptops can all piggyback off the Overdrive’s signal
simultaneously within its 150 foot range.
This makes it ideal product for college students or anyone who is on the
go for the majority of their day.  You
can easily access the internet through Sprint’s 3G or 4G networks during a car
ride or outdoors and not have to worry about needing to find a coffee shop or a
rest stop in order to check your email or Facebook. It comes in very handy if you don’t have a
Blackberry or Smartphone to do this, and sometimes phones just can’t cut it and
it’s just easier and faster to use a computer.
The device even allows you to stream videos from sites like Hulu and
YouTube without missing a beat.

The design and
features included on the Overdrive are quite handy.  It has a MicroSD slot can hold up to 16GB of
data which can then be shared with the devices you currently have tethered with
the Overdrive.  Its LCD screen can be
programmed online to show a variety of symbols and status messages. Its Micro
USB slot allows you to connect it to your computer directly and charge it;
however this will run down your laptop battery fairly quickly. It also has a setting to decrease the
broadcast range of the Overdrive which will increase its battery life quite a
bit.

Setup of the Overdrive
couldn’t be much simpler.  All you have
to do is turn it on and it will come up on your computer’s list of available
networks.  There are no CDs or
programs/drivers to install and it is password protected so you don’t have to
worry about someone using your network and running up your allowed usage on the
3G network.  The network name and
password is even displayed on the device’s LCD screen so you don’t have to
worry about remembering it or writing it down. This is a great feature because many people
have been in the position where they write their network password down and then
can never find it again.

The overdrive is
not without downfalls.  Its battery lasts
around 3 hours which can be inconvenient if it dies in the middle of a trip,
writing an email, or watching a video and you’re stuck back in the Stone Age
with a computer that needs to find a commercial hotspot or get within range of
a modem.  It also took a long time to
start up, longer than most laptops, and in a society where time is money,
sitting around waiting to get access to the internet can be very
frustrating.  The device can also gets relatively
hot to the touch.  It can get to the
point where it feels about as hot as a running laptop that’s sitting on your
lap.  This doesn’t seem like a big
problem but it carries with it the potential to overheat so it is important to
take that into consideration when purchasing this product.

Verizon offers a
similar device called the MiFi.  Many
people ask why not just go with Verizons device?  It’s smaller, sports a longer battery life,
and can also connect 5 devices at once.
Also Verizon 3G network is more extensive than Sprint’s. But the key deal breaker could be the 4G
access which the MiFi and Verizon lack. Sprint claims that their 4G network is up to
10x faster than 3G with download speeds averaging from 3-6 Mbps and peaking at
more than 10Mbps compared to 3G’s 600 kbps-1.7 Mbps. This speed boost is what
lets you play games and watch videos with minimal buffering time in relation to
3G.  Another convince is the LCD screen
present on the Overdrive that the MiFi is missing.  This makes status messages and symbols easier
to read and decipher on the Overdrive than on the MiFi.

The Overdrive
costs about 100 dollars if you’re willing to sign a two year contract with Sprint.  After that it’s about 60 dollars per month
for 5GB of downloads on their 3G network and unlimited on their 4G network.  This is about the same as the deal that’s
offered with Verizon’s MiFi device except their plan doesn’t include any 4G
coverage. So if you’re in an area where
Sprint already has, or will soon be developing 4G and you know that you’re
going to be using more than 5G of downloads, which is easy to do if you like
watching full movies or are into gaming, then you could save a lot of money by taking
advantage of Sprint’s plan.

Specifications

·
Dimensions: 3.14 inches (h)
x 3.14 inches (w) x 0.61 inch (d)

·
Weight: 4.51 oz.

·
Frequency: 1xEVDO Rev. A, Rev. 0 and 1X (850/1900 MHz); WiMAX 2500MHz and
GPS MHz

·
Main Display Size and Type:  1.4”
LCD

·
Main Display Total Pixel Count:
128 x228 pixel

·
Connector: Wireless or Micro USB for tethering

·
Chipset: Beceem
250 (WiMax) & MC5728 (CDMA module with QSC6085)

·
Battery mAh:  1830 mAh with access time of 3 hours and 36
hours standby

What’s in the Box:

1. hotspot
modem
2. battery
3. back
cover for modem
4. AC
charger
5. USB
to USB micro cable
6. quick
start guide