You probably already have a wireless router in your home or office that connects to a cable or DSL Internet connection and broadcasts a signal that can be received wirelessly by laptops and Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices like the iPod touch. The Overdrive hotspot works the same way, but instead of using a wired connection, it sends and receives Internet signals through Sprint's high-speed 3G and 4G data networks. It's similar to the Verizon MiFi, although it can connect with faster 4G speeds and is slightly bulkier.

The hardware looks very simple. It's a 3-1/4" square box with rounded corners, about 5/8" deep, and weighing around 5 ounces. It's small enough to fit in a trouser or jacket pocket, and although it gets slightly warm while in use, it never seems to get uncomfortably hot.

The hotspot comes with an AC adapter for charging, some simple instructions, and not much else. There's a surprisingly-bright display about 1-1/4" square, where data is displayed, including the Wi-Fi network name it defaults to something like "Overdrive-321", but both the network name and password can be changed. The network password is displayed on the screen, too, although that can be turned off for additional security. The screen also displays data about signal strength, whether one is connected via 3G or 4G, the hotspot's battery level, and the amount of bandwidth one has used during the current session.

Posted 2010-09-10 and updated on Sep 30, 2010 10:27pm by noel