I was thoroughly impressed with the CradlePoint PHS300. With Verizon activating the UM150 in the store, there was absolutely no setup required to get things working. By simply plugging the modem into the router and flipping the on switch, the laptop recognized the wireless signal and connected, and we were browsing online within seconds. Similarly, if you purchase your wireless modem from 3Gstore along with the router, they will pre-activate it for you so that everything is ready to go right out of the box. It's best if you do allow the unit to receive a full charge before using it without the AC adapter, however there was enough juice to fully configure the router without the cord.

If you're familiar with setting up most home/consumer routers, the GUI interface should be relatively easy to navigate. All of the common router/firewall options are present and help screens are available if needed. Plus there is a setup wizard you can use to simplify getting started. The PHS300 supports WEP and WPA wireless security standards and was a snap to configure even with the Windows wireless configuration on the laptop. I did not find any settings lacking, but in fact, just the opposite - there were many features I did not need or take advantage of, but it is nice to know that the unit is fully customizable if needed.

The CradlePoint PHS300 was purchased through 3Gstore.com for $169.99, with another $14.99 spent on the soft, padded travel case. While this is certainly more expensive than the average home Cable/DSL wireless router, it seems a small price to pay for the small size, portability and convenience of battery operation that you don't get with your average device. I spent an afternoon researching different WWAN router options available and CradlePoint seemed to provide the best value and widest compatibility of all manufacturers, plus they always got outstanding reviews everywhere you looked. After purchasing and using the PHS300 for myself, I can certainly see why.