Sprints Airave Reviewed, Ready for Purchase

By WC Staff
last updated

Sprints Airave was Sprint's way of saying sorry for the sucky service but we have a plan. That plan: drop $99 initially and then another $4.99 per month for current minutes or $10 a month for unlimited minues on your own personal little cell tower connected to your broadband connection. That's the good news. Bad news: Sprint includes a GPS unit that you have to place by a window to verify you're only using it in the U.S. Bummer, because this would be a perfect travel companion, no?

All in all, a little pricey and not as good as we'd hoped, but hey: Sprint just lost $34 million, how did you think they were going to get that back?

Anyhow, Engadget Mobile gave it a review and the thing works just fine -- for bars and calls. If you're hoping this thing will also beef up your EVDO connection, keep hoping. Word is that it just works on the 1xRTT Vision connection, capped at 153 kbps. Lame.

WC Staff
WC Staff
4 Comments
  • Sorry, but I just don?t get how they can charge a monthly fee for something like this. They are using my Internet and my electricity all because they have crappy coverage at my house. Yes if I did this it would be for my benefit, but why should I be charged monthly? It should use my regular minutes and work just like a cell tower, only going through the Internet. This shouldn?t be treated any different than using any other Sprint tower.
    I feel I should only have to pay for the device and after that they shouldn?t care where it is located or who is connecting over it. If a friend came over who also used Sprint I would hope it works for them as well, but I fear that it wouldn?t.
  • Nick, you got the Good News Bad News bass-ackwards. The Good News is that this technology marvel is available for a pittance. The Bad News is that there's a marginal cost of $5/month for it. The fact that it's limited to the US is a bogus red herring that means absolutely nothing to 99.999% of everyone. It's the most foolish criticism to make of such a great product.
    But in your continuing effort to capitalize on any chance possible to kick dirt onto Sprint and the Airave you criticize its inability to do EVDO. But if you spent say oh 5 seconds thinking about this you'd realize the foolishness of your criticism. The Airave requires a broadband connection which presumes one or more connected PCs in the household, so there's no reason/motivation to even HAVE EVDO on the cell. Yet another red herring issue. Is there anyone worthy of doing journalistic quality reviews anymore ?!
  • I'm not sure this costs 5 per month as has been posted.
    The extra charge is ONLY if you want minutes added to your plan.
    If you are willing to use your minutes that you already have on your plan it doesn't cost you.
    Think of it like a add-on..
  • I may be wrong and if I am I agree that that isnt right if they charge for your own minutes..