Staples guy tells me it will allow iPhone to project signal through this device thereby creating wifi for iPad or laptop use.
I questioned him as to the need to change plans from unlimited to 'metered'. He said it will work with unlimited $90 on the shelf.
It was a zoom travel router..
Are you referring to the Zoom 4506? For what you describe, I'm skeptical. How are you going to make your iPhone the source of the connection? If you have an app on the iPhone to create a WiFi source, you don't need this thing, and you cannot plug the iPhone into it to create one either, as that does not work with an iPhone.
For that matter, any modern phone capable of being used as a wireless modem has the capability to generate a WiFi hotspot without the need of additional hardware.
This thing is supposed to be used with a mobile broadband cellular modem device, which is a USB dongle and runs on its own cellular access number. And IMO, if you're going to go that route, you may as well just get the MiFi for your carrier.
I was looking at the mifi but there is an additional monthly cost.
Staples guy said this would take iPhone signal (after plugged into the zoom) and make it a hotspot
I will be by staples today. I may ask for a demo.
i think that's a great idea. please report the outcome. in the meantime if you're looking for a cheap 3G alternate with month-to-month pricing check out Millenicom http://www.millenicom.com/. their 'Advanced Plan' piggybacks onto the VZW data network. $60 for 20gb of data. we activate it from time to time while on our RV trips. works well. and i have no connection to the company other than as a customer. their USB modem should easily plug into the Zoom modem creating a multi-user hot spot.
-----Went to staples andtried it. Brought my iPad in with wifi only activated.
Plugged travel zoom router into AC.
Plugged iPhone into USB.
iPad saw the zoom, was able to connect to it but no 3G was sent from the iPhone.
Some staples guys tried their Verizon iphones. The only one that worked was the one that had the tethering plan.
The only 'legit' / reliable way to tether is to pay for the tethering plan with the limited data plan - will work via WiFi, USB, or Bluetooth.
-----Agree
I tried
if you're referring to the "Zoom 4506 3G Wireless-N Travel Router" you should know that it is designed to take a USB 3g modem. i don't see how you would connect an iphone to it. why would you need the iphone to "project" a signal through the Zoom in order to create a hotspot when the iphone itself can be made to be a wireless hotspot? that's a neat little gizmo, though. and amazon has them for $65.
-----I wanted to use my iPad. Right now the iPad blows through the $25 plan (plus) quickly.
-----3G iPad? All you'd be doing is shifting that usage from one cellular data plan to another. And you don't need the router to do that, just activate the hotspot app on the iPhone. Oh, and pay your provider the $25 or so a month more it'll cost.
