Last Thursday Telstra and NetComm Limited announced the release of a secure, high-speed device that enables multiple users to enjoy the benefits of mobile broadband, at the same time – the Telstra Turbo 7 Series Wireless Gateway.

Having a somewhat passionate interest in anything new, I thought this would be a great opportunity to put the Wireless Gateway through its paces, and let you know how it went.

First things first

What exactly is a Wireless Gateway, and why would you need one?

According to Wikipedia - the modern day source of all things editable on the web (i.e. use with care) – “A wireless gateway is a computer networking device that routes packets from a wireless LAN to another network…A wireless gateway combines the functions of a wireless access point, a router, and often provides firewall functions as well; thus they are converged devices.” Pretty interesting stuff...

The Turbo 7 Series Wireless Gateway combines three – that’s right – three capabilities into one device:

• Super-fast Next G mobile broadband
• A secure Wi-Fi gateway, and
• Ethernet connectivity

Flexibility, simplicity and convenience – are some of the words that popped up in my mind as I was doing my research.

Convenience

Ever been away from your office – say at a trade show, or with a team of auditors at a client’s premises, and needed to gain access to your work files? Got a holiday house or caravan and want occasional access to work? The opportunities are endless – as long as you are within Next G coverage and have power. This device is truly (a wireless) “plug and play”

Security

Its one thing being able to access your data remotely – but how secure is it? I mean, would you be happy to go to the local internet café and send sensitive data across open lines? I don’t think so. The Turbo 7 Series Wireless Gateway has enterprise-grade security with the latest features including WPA2 data encryption, business grade SPI firewall, and VPN pass through.

What’s in the box

You pack includes the following:

• Telstra Next G Mobile Data Modem with 11g WiFi
• 2 x 3G Antennas
• 1 x Yellow Network Cable
• 1 x Telstra Turbo Series 7 Connection Manager USB Key
• 1 x card with the wireless security details (DON’T THROW THIS OUT!)
• 1 x Quick Start Guide
• 1 x power plug
• Your Next G Service

Included in your pack will be a Next G SIM card. Make sure your dealer or Telstra Shop representative activates this SIM (as it activates the mobile broadband service!) If you want to use a different Next G SIM then you must ensure that the PIN is disabled before you run the start up wizard.

Set up

Congratulations to the folk at NetComm – setup was actually fun! Simply attach the Connection Manager USB key to your computer / laptop, and follow the screen prompts. It graphically guides you through the box content (see above) and tells you the correct order to connect the Gateway (attach antennae, insert SIM card, power up). You then confirm the correct security and network information that is on your screen – and you are up and running. All in all about 10 minutes.

What do you do if your PC or Mac does not have wireless or you have lost the Connection Manager USB Key? Don’t panic. The Quick Start Guide “read me first” card has full instructions to assist you here, AND there is a “yellow networking cable” included in the pack!

Connecting the first device…then another…and another….

For this review, I attached my Toshiba laptop, then an iMate 9502. Both connected easily – and wirelessly.

Make sure you have the card with the wireless security data on it – you will need this to connect any device.

Before connecting the iMate 9502, I turned on WiFi and turned off Phone – this ensured I was travelling on WiFi only.

I stopped at three devices, but you can attach many more – just remember that you will compromise your speed per device if you go overboard.

Given there are also 4 Ethernet wired ports at the back of the unit, you have even more flexibility if you need it.

Also good to remember is the wireless gateway can support both PC and Mac.

Speeds

Typical download speeds of 550kbps to 3Mbps, bursting up to 6Mbps and typical uplink speeds of 300kbps – 1Mbps, bursting to 1.3Mbps in most places in the CBD, metro and other areas. Speeds may vary due to congestion, distance from the cell, local conditions, hardware, software and other factors.

So what can you do with the Wireless Gateway?

Coupled with the speed and coverage of Next G, the Telstra Turbo 7 Series Wireless Gateway can be the ideal solution for a wide range of industries and applications including:

• Regional health – uploading medical imagery for diagnosis
• Education and training – multiple users can access intranet and shared databases, wherever there is power and Next G coverage – ideal for field trips!
• Internet connection for commuters – where public transport providers can enable commuter access to commuters
• Remote monitoring – ideal for farming, security and automated production facilities
• Outdoor and multi-venue events – such as sporting events, film and music festivals / concerts, rural shows
• External auditors and financial services – providing a secure office within an office with security, mobile lenders etc
• Seasonal activities – farming and construction – where the portable network can be set up as required then moved to another site
• Accommodation, tourism and short term stays – convention centres, holiday and caravan parks can offer visitors the ability of staying in touch with work and home
• Caravan and boats – Access the Next G network whilst on the road and some areas off shore, and reduce your reliance on satellite services
• The list is endless …

Technical Specs Summary

• Integrated 802.11g AP – backward compatible with 802.11b
• Worldwide coverage through tri-band: HSUPA/HSDPA/UMTS
• Quad-Band EDGE/GSM/GPRS
• 4 port Ethernet interface for wired connectivity
• Powerful (removable) antenna for more remote areas
• Routing functions NAT / PAT & DNS Prox – translate your network
• UPnP and IGMP snooping – improving your overall networking experience
• Remote administration
• Configuration back-up and restoration
• Dimensions 205mm (w) x 47mm (h) x 145mm (d)
• Power : external power adapter, 100 – 240Vac to 12Vdc/1.5A

Coming soon…

With a version for BigPond available soon (watch out for the Bigpond 7.2 Wireless Broadband Home Network Gateway) the opportunities are almost endless.

Imagine – Broadband in your car. That’s right – no more bored kids on long trips. Plug your BigPond 7.2 Wireless Broadband Home Networking Gateway (who thinks of these names?) into a DC power converter, and you really do have internet on the go!

Watch movies, download music or access e-mail without the need of a fixed line internet connection.

Watch this space!

Overall impression

I like the ease of setup, the flexibility and portability of the wireless gateway. I also appreciate the time and effort spent on making it user friendly. Certainly worth considering if you are in the market for a new gateway.

Once again, thanks for reading – and I welcome your comments.