Cradlepoint is a well respected mobile router manufacturer focused on enterprise and fleet deployments, competing primarily with Peplink's Pepwave router lineup.
Cradlepoint used to have options for "average" users, all of which have been discontinued over the years as Cradlepoint has focused exclusively on the higher-end and enterprise segments of the market.
This guide runs down the key options in the Cradlepoint lineup and goes over some of the details that are universal across Cradlepoint models of interest to the nomad community.
Despite Cradelpoint's focus on enterprise users, individuals with particularly demanding needs are often drawn to Cradlepoint hardware - and in particular, Cradlepoint's COR Series of mobile routers have earned many nomadic fans.
Here are the Cradlepoint models we specifically track:
ALERT - NetCloud Subscription Required:
In June 2019 Cradlepoint announced a new policy where an active $180/year NetCloud subscription would be required to maintain access to basic firmware security updates. Everyone considering purchasing a Cradlepoint router should keep this new requirement in mind.
With this change, we have dropped our 'Top Pick' designation for this product line.
Table of Contents
Public Content
- Cradlepoint Lineup Overview
- COR Series Mobile Routers
- AER and E Series Branch Routers
- ARC Series LTE Adapters
- Cradlepoint LTE Modem Overview and Options
- Cradlepoint NetCloud
- Where to Purchase
- Related News Stories
Member Content
- Cradlepoint Product Line: High-Level Thoughts
- Favorite Features
- Downsides
- Hands-On User Interface Notes
- Should You Consider a Cradlepoint Router?
Cradlepoint Lineup
Cradlepoint primarily targets the enterprise market with LTE gigabit-class capable mobile routers and LTE access points.
Most Cradlepoint products come with an embedded modem plus the option to add a separate Cradelpoint MC400 modem module, giving dual-modem capability. Cradlepoint has LTE Category 4, 6, 11, 12 and 18 modem options available, depending on the model and available options.
Here is an overview of the products of potential interest to mobile users:
- COR Series Mobile Routers:
- Consists of the IBR900 and IBR1700 models. These two models are similar, but the IBR900 is more compact and designed specifically for mobile connectivity.
- It comes with an Embedded Cat 11 or 18 modem. A second Cat 4, 6, 12 or 18 modem can be added (IBR900 requires the optional COR Extensibility Dock)
- AER Series Branch Routers:
- Consists of the AER1600, AER2200, E300, and E3000 models.
- The Cradlepoint Branch router can be configured with various embedded modem options as well as the option for a second modem.
- The AER1600 comes with an embedded Cat 4 or 6 modem. A second Cat 4, 6, 12, or 18 modem can be added.
- The AER 2200 is the "big brother" to the 1600, with more Ethernet ports, support for POE, and 4X4 MIMO. It comes with an embedded Cat 11 or 18 modem. A second Cat 4, 6, 12, or 18 modem can be added.
- The E300 is the newest router in the line and is designed to be compatible with future Cradlepoint 5G adapters It comes with either an embedded Cat 4 or 18 modem and a second Cat 4, 6, 12, or 18 modem can be added.
- The E3000 is the "big brother" to the E300 with more ports and a lot of extra processing power to handle multi gigibit connections. It is only available with an embedded Cat 18 modem, but a second Cat 4, 6, 12, or 18 modem can be added.
- CBA Series LTE Access Points:
- Consists of the CBA550 and CBA850. The 850 is of most interest to nomads. These models do not have Wi-Fi.
- The CBA850 does not have an embedded modem but is sold with an MC400 modem module (Cat 4, 6, or 18) included.
Cradlepoint LTE Modem Overview and Options
As of April 2020, Cradlepoint products are available with a wide variety of modem options. Cradlepoint sells worldwide, so regional modem options are also available, but we focus here on the North American versions.
Here are the North American modem options available for the products we cover:
- Category 4 modems: Cradlepoint offers a few variants of category 4 modem designed for AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint.
- LTE Bands supported: 2, 4, 5, 13, 17. Some variants also support Band 25
- 3G Support: Can support WCDMA, EDVO, and HSPA+ depending on the model.
- Category 6 modem:
- LTE Bands 1-5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41. The AT&T FirstNet variant supports Band 14.
- 3G: WCDMA/DC-HSPA+
- Category 11/12 modems. The Cat 11 modems have the same peak download speed as Cat 12 (600Mbps) but have 75Mbps peak upload instead of the 150Mbps peak upload for Cat 12. Currently, the Cat 12 option is only available in the MC400 module.
- Cat 11 600M:
- LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66
- 3G: WCDMA & HSPA+
- Cat 12 600M-AC-AT
- LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 29, 30, 46, 66
- 3G: WCDMA/DC-HSPA+
- Cat 11 600M:
- Category 18 Modems. Currently, there are two variants, the 1200M and 1200M-B
- 1200M: A North American Specific version designed for AT&T and Verizon
- LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66
- 3G: WCDMA/DC-HSPA+
- 1200M-B: A Global version available for North America
- LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12(17), 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 48, 66, 71
- 3G: WCDMA/DC-HSPA+
- 1200M: A North American Specific version designed for AT&T and Verizon
NetCloud Subscription Required
NetCloud Manager is Cradlepoint's subscription cloud service that allows IT managers to remotely manage fleets of mobile Cradlepoint routers running Netcloud OS from a centralized web-based console.
You can track a fleet of police vehicles on a map, manage data plan usage for ambulances, offer paid internet options to hundreds of passengers on a train, or administer widely dispersed remote offices - all from one dashboard.
But if you have a single Cradlepoint router installed on an RV or a boat - 99% of what NetCloud offers is completely superfluous.
For a long time a Netcloud Manager subscription was not necessary - consumers could get Netcloud OS firmware for routers, including important security updates. But in June 2019 Cradlepoint announced a new policy where an active $180/year NetCloud subscription would be required to maintain access to even basic firmware security updates.
Everyone considering purchasing a Cradlepoint router should keep this new requirement in mind.
This Review Contains Additional Member Exclusive Content
We are honored to be able to present the above overview for free without 3rd party advertising or sponsorships. We are not paid by the manufacturer of this product to provide this listing or review, and nor are we selling this equipment or plan (purchasing links are provided below as a courtesy and some may be affiliates).
Our members have funded this resource center and any extensive hands on time
we have spent with the product to review it.
The in-depth portions of this review are made available to them which might contain: hands on testing notes, field testing data, user interface tour, product analysis, comparison to alternatives, setup tips, video tutorial, insider tips, vendor discounts and fellow member experiences.
If you're a member, please log in to continue with this review.
If you're not a member.. please consider joining us!
Purchasing Options
Members - be sure to check the Member Discounts page for some potentially very substantial savings.
Related News Center Articles
The guides below have been hand-picked to help further your education about selecting & using mobile routers.
The Mobile Internet Resource Center is brought to you by Two Steps Beyond LLC, and hosted by the technomads of